THE chief executive of Wiltshire Council could lose his job in a cost cutting move to slim down senior management.

Andrew Kerr, who joined the unitary authority last year, has been told his post could be deleted. Four corporate directors have also been given notice that their jobs are at risk.

The proposals, set to go before the cabinet on September 26, are expected to save £500,000 in the first year.

So far 220 jobs have been axed at Wiltshire Council, which was created two years ago from the former Wiltshire County Council and four district level authorities. The redundancies saved £8 million.

Speaking at last night’s Malmesbury area board meeting, deputy leader John Thomson said the authority was considering a reduced top management structure without a chief executive and with only three corporate directors.

"The staff have taken a lot of pain and we feel that the senior management should not be immune from those changes," he said.

He said the emphasis was on protecting frontline services.

However the authority was having to face some difficult decisions because more than £30 million was being cut from its government funding next year.

A two-week consultation procedure was being carried out before the cabinet meeting.

Earlier this year Mr Kerr handed back a £6,000 pay rise that would have taken his salary to almost £190,000.