CUTS to council staff and managers’ salaries which could save Monmouthshire county council £585,000 will be discussed by councillors today.

As part of the proposals regarding posts and salaries in the council’s operations department that have been put forward in a report by the council’s head of operations, Roger Hoggins, a chief officer’s salary would be £55,000, half that of the chief executive’s.

It says the pay “fairly reflects the roles and responsibilities” of the jobs.

The council is currently consulting with unions on the plans.

But the report says it is “quite possible” the staffing structures could remain unchanged.

The council’s report says redundancies will be “avoided as far as possible”, but it will be looking for people to leave their jobs voluntarily by reducing posts in the operations department from 170 to 149.

The cuts are part of plans passed at the recent budget meeting, and will be phased in over the next financial year and 2015/16.

Monmouthshire council’s cabinet member with responsibility for county operations, Councillor Bryan Jones, said: “The council is endeavouring to protect services to the public as far as possible.

“We are looking at alternative ways of service delivery but we have also looked at how we might maintain the services with reduced management and administration costs.

“We recognise the value that our employees bring to the authority but we have asked officers to look at how we might change the way we work without reducing the front line service.

“The exercise has indicated ways in which the staff numbers might be reduced and officers are now seeking member approval to proceed with the changes.”

Salaries for apprentices are not included in the council’s proposal, but it is proposed that next year

As part of the plans, the waste and recycling group of the council will be moved to an environment and customer contact section.

Two two managers’ positions, who both earn £49,525 every year, will be merged to make a head of waste and street services, who will earn £55,000.

The grounds and facilities group will keep its name but the most senior member of its management will see their job title change.

The grounds and facilities manager, who earns £49,525 a year, will move into the operations and commercial manager’s job, and will earn £45,627 a year.