COLCHESTER Council is struggling to hit a £515,000 savings target because none of its staff want to leave their jobs.

Finance chiefs at the town hall set themselves the target of saving more than half a million on on the £26million annual pay bill for the council’s 958 full-time and 437 part-time employees.

In previous years, this has been achieved from savings made between the time staff leave and replacements are interviewed, hired and eventually start work.

However more than four months into the financial year, only £20,000 has been saved in this way.

Finance manager Sean Plummer told a finance and audit scrutiny panel meeting this was largely because staff were reluctant to quit their jobs during the recession. He said: “We don’t assume we have vacancies during the year, but of course, we will always have that. So far, there have not been a lot.

“Turnover perhaps is not so high and perhaps that’s a reflection of the economic situation.

“Heads of services are looking towards savings they can make towards the target.

“At this stage, we’re still anticipating we will achieve that target.”

Panel vice-chairman Christopher Arnold said he knew some posts could be left empty or temporarily covered by another member of staff..

However, he asked officials if workers might have to lose their jobs if the £515,000 was not found.

He said: “If we are to go on doing it all the time then I’m at a loss to understand why only £20,000 of the £515,000 is found when we’re four-and-a-half months into the year.

“There is going to have to be some much more aggressive intervention in order to achieve the £500,000 saving.”

Executive director Ann Wain stressed no jobs would be lost.

She said: “That £500,000 is not about putting people out of jobs.

“A senior management team is now looking at every vacancy.

“We are challenging each other about how quickly these vacancies should be filled or not.

“There is always a gap and that, traditionally, has been how this salary saving has been delivered.”