The new Cornwall unitary authority is heading for trouble if the staffing situation is not sorted out soon.

An official of the new authority confirmed to the Packet this week that the proposed staffing structures for all services were still being scrutinised by the senior managment team.

When functional the new unitary authority will be employing 22,000 staff, many taken from the exisitng county council and the six district councils but there also expected to be numerous redundancies and early retirements.

Trade Unions have also to be involved and consultation periods ahered to.

The management team led by Kevin Lavery, newly appointed chief executive, “will be taking an overview of the proposals, to ensure that any possible areas of duplication are eradicated, that service designs fit the budget, and that opportunities for further service improvements have not been missed,” said a spokesman.

“Once the new structures have been finalised and agreed we will begin the process of moving staff into the appropriate jobs. We envisage that in the majority of cases this will be done as easily and straightforwardly as possible particularly where there is a close match from an existing job in the old structures to a new one. We are hoping that this approach will speed up the process and minimise the number of people having to re-apply for jobs.” In the case of a reduction in the number of posts, there will be an internal recruitment process which will be agreed with the trade unions.

“At this time, we cannot confirm the number of redundancies. However, due to the number of vacancies across all seven councils, normal turnover and temporary agency staff we will, as we have always said, seek to minimise the impact in terms of redundancies.”

Staff have been reluctant to talk about the changeover but those who have spoken to the Packet say they are all concerned at no knowing. One said: “It changes from one day to the next.” Another who did not wish to be named but has been at one district council for many years in a managerial position said: “ I do not know if there will be a job for me.”

Most members of the district authorities and of the county council have been unable to arrange holidays this year not knowing when or if they have a job.

Officials at County Hall refuse to discuss further the situation concerning staff but the new authority is due to come into being on April 1.