SALARIES for council bosses will be cut by a total of more than £285,000 as part of transformation of the authority's senior management structure.

The executive board considered the proposals at the Town Hall yesterday, Monday, before unanimously endorsing the revised structure.

Currently, the three directorates are made up of economic regeneration, growth and environment, families and wellbeing and resources and strategic commissioning.

As part of the move, which will be implemented on June 1, the resources and strategic commissioning directorate will be renamed corporate services.

There are currently 16 senior positions below chief executive Steven Broomhead – but the changes will see the figure reduced to 13.

Executive board documents confirmed deputy chief executive, Katherine Fairclough, has resigned, assistant director for regulation and public protection, Peter Astley, is taking voluntary redundancy and the post of assistant director for early help, currently filled on an interim basis by Vicki Lawson, will be scrapped.

Salary costs currently total £1,607,279, with Mr Broomhead topping the list on £125,778.

However, the transformation will see wages cut to £1,321,897 – a drop of £285,382.

There is also a significant drop to the 'on costs', which includes pension contributions and payroll tax.

The overall figure currently stands at £2,088,292 but will be reduced to £1,718,466 – a drop of £369,826.

In his report to members, council leader Cllr Terry O'Neill said the authority has been on a 'challenging journey'.

He added: "In addition to the £92 million we have saved in our revenue budget during the past five years there is an expectation that we will have to reduce our budget by a further £30 million in the next three years.

"These proposals are part of the wider future proofing and modernisation journey.

"The last major review of the senior management structure was undertaken in 2013 and since then there has been significant policy and financial change directly impacting the council.

"It is, therefore, an appropriate time now to review the senior management structure and to reprioritise resources in order to meet the council's pledges and to ensure the appropriate implementation of the council's approach to becoming more enterprising, being digitally driven with improved customer engagement and the ability to deal with the demand management processes."