Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The Chief Executive has now admitted what the rest of us already knew.

In a message to staff outlining the cuts they can expect, the Chief Executive, Andrew Kerr, has conceded that the council is going to have to cut bureaucracy and waste.

"We are looking at finding significant savings through improving how we purchase goods and services...and how we can transform our services to cut out bureaucracy and waste, and focus on what our customers need" he said.

Cuts in government subsidies will total about £44million over the next four years. WC has already taken steps to make itself more efficient by 'deleting' 222 management posts. 71 managerial staff have already left, and a further 70 applications for voluntary redundancy are being considered. Compulsory redundancies are not ruled out.