A MAJOR shake-up of working practices at Warrington Town Hall could see key heads of service picking up a £7,250 pay rise.

But current directors will have to re-apply for their jobs under proposals to be discussed at Monday's executive board meeting.

The draft plans call for changes to the working practices among the major departments at Warrington Borough Council to reduce complications that currently cloud working.

The plans call for:

l The salary of strategic directors (such as education or social services) to rise from £85,000 currently to £92,250.

l The salary of heads of service (higher level) to increase from £70,000 to £77,250 and (lower level) £60,000 to £67,250.

l The number of strategic directors to fall from five to four and the heads of service to drop to 15.

As reported exclusively in last month's Warrington Guardian, the rethink has been sparked following concerns that the current system is old and frustrating and a need for the authority to compete with other local authorities in the amount of money it pays its top staff.

David Whitehead, interim chief executive, said the initial proposals, that could see council bosses being forced to re-apply for their jobs, had been met with a positive response.

Mr Whitehead, who wrote the report to be discussed on Monday, said: "It is highly commendable that so many people have put their personal anxieties on one side, and have made objective and constructive comments on the way forward."

Should councillors agree, the proposals will go through another stage of consultation before any firm plans are agreed. For a report on the meeting, read next Thursday's Warrington Guardian.