MORE than 40 jobs at Brentwood Council are set to be axed in a restructuring move to save money.

The Weekly News believes around 47 jobs are on the line, including the role of Brentwood town centre manager, currently Jane Keane, whose job is to liaise with businesses and retailers, as well as market the town centre.

The council has said the job losses are the result of a radical modernisation programme which is necessary to enable the authority to survive amid “increasingly competitive markets”.

However, anxious residents and councillors have said the cuts will be bad for the town.

Lib Dem leader David Kendall, who is councillor for Pilgrims Hatch, said: “My concern is about us losing some very experienced personnel and being able to maintain the quality and level of service our residents have come to rely on.”

He said as far as he knew, the cuts would be across all departments in the council, so some frontline services could be affected.

Gerry Bender, of the Save Brentwood Action Group, which has campaigned against the William Hunter Way development, said he was shocked to hear the town centre manager post could go.

He added: “I’m very shocked and surprised to hear the council may be doing away with the post when lots of people argued for a long time to have one.

“The current person has been excellent in the job.

“Small businesses at the Weald Road end of the High Street are really suffering, so the role of town centre manager is vital at the moment.”

Lib Dem councillor Barry Aspinell also spoke out against the cuts.

He said: “I just can’t understand how the council is expected to operate efficiently, delivering frontline services.We’re already in a sorry state of affairs as it is.”

Council leader Louise McKinlay said she could not comment on the exact number of jobs or specific positions facing the axe, but added some staff would be leaving voluntarily.

She said: “The council is having to ensure its finances remain in a healthy position, but more importantly, the modernisation programme is about ensuring the right skills are in place to deliver high quality services to our customers.

“We are restructuring our services, meaning some posts are no longer viable within a modern organisation.”

When asked whether the council would resort to using outside agencies and consultants, Mrs McKinlay said: “The council already has some very good partner arrangements in place and we are seeking to build on these further where appropriate.

“We need to ensure we have the rights skills in place to move the organisation forward.”