Wiltshire Council has jobs freeze to save cash (From This Is Wiltshire)

Wiltshire Council has initiated a recruitment freeze to save money.

The council will not fill vacant positions until at least March next year, except for jobs in key areas.

Managers will have to provide a business case to a recruitment approval panel.

Job vacancies being advertised or processed will be allowed to continue.

Since April 2009, the council has made 669 staff redundant in its drive for savings.

It needs to find reductions of £32.6m in this financial year following budget cuts.

The authority has 4,000 full-time staff and expects to save £90,000 in recruiting costs from the move, but has not been able to say how much the change will save overall.

A spokesman said: “This key action will ensure that, where posts are critical to delivering services that support the council’s key priorities, such as protecting the most vulnerable and boosting the local economy, exceptions will be approved.

“Our overall staff turnover is 11.3 per cent and it is anticipated the management of those vacancies will produce significant savings from this year’s budget.

“It is vital that the council continues to make efficiencies, so that resources can be targeted to protect the high quality services that are critical to local people, communities and businesses.”