Staff from Wiltshire Council’s education department face the threat of losing their jobs, because the council is losing income from schools which are now running their own finances.


The workers have been being called to a consultation meeting at Trowbridge Civic Centre on Wednesday.


The council will explain the effects of a reduction in government funding and more schools across the region becoming academies.


This has seen them lose £3.5m from their budget. The council has already saved  £2.4m but there still remains a £1m shortfall.


A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “Unfortunately Wiltshire Council is experiencing a reduction in government funding, this is due to a number of factors including the conversion of schools to academies.


“The council is working to reduce the impact directly on staff by removing vacant posts and restructuring services to reduce management and further improve efficiency.


“Where we do need to reduce staff we aim to manage this through a voluntary redundancy process.”


After schools switch to academy status they can choose whether or not they buy their services from Wiltshire Council or get a better deal elsewhere. This is believed to have had an impact on council finances.


Wiltshire Cllr Lionel Grundy, portfolio holder for education, said: “Obviously academies are a fact of life, we are not opposed to them, but inevitably they will have an effect on us. All will be revealed on Wednesday.”