More than 200 management jobs to be cut from rural Dorset councils

But none are likely to be made redundant until after the new Dorset Council comes into being in April next year – although some could be given the opportunity to leave earlier.

Figures say there will be a loss of 30 senior managers, 127 mid-tier managers and 65 posts in corporate services, although these predicted figures may change subject to agreement on the final structure of the new council. In time the loss of these posts could save between £6million and £8million a year.

The losses will come from North Dorset, East Dorset, Purbeck district, Weymouth and Portland borough, West Dorset and Dorset County Council and will depend on who is successful in job applications.

The amount of money being set aside for redundancy payments is not disclosed but up to £1million had been allocated for the loss of chief executives at Dorset County Council, East Dorset district, and Purbeck District Council. The final figure will be less than this as it also took into account the possibility of having to pay redundancy to Matt Prosser who headed the combined Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and North Dorset councils and is now the Dorset Council chief executive.

A paper written for the shadow executive of the new council warns of the delicate balancing act of keeping senior staff motivated in the coming months, knowing that they may be about to lose their jobs – while at the same time delivering services and making the transformation to a new unitary authority.

The paper outlines that a consultation process will need to take place from January onwards to bring about the final structure of the new council, a process which is expected to also lead to the removal of some lower tier posts in most departments, with the only likely exceptions being social services.

Financial savings from the loss of jobs is not expected to be felt until the 2020/21 financial year, although some savings will start to accrue in 2019 as posts are shed from June onwards.