17 December 2004
A local authority rated 'excellent' is to shed 300 posts to keep council tax increases down to low single figures.
West Sussex County Council claimed a very poor funding settlement coupled with the drive for efficiency had made the cuts necessary.
Council leader Henry Smith said: 'Last week's announcement of how much money the government will provide towards next year's budget confirmed our worst fears. We got the worst financial deal of any county council.'
The posts will be phased out over the next three years and the council is insistent that they will come from back-office clerical and administrative functions rather than frontline services.
PFdec2004
