Spelthorne Council’s staff have been asked to consider voluntary redundancy or reducing their hours to help save money.

In a letter to the authority’s permanent staff - dated today - employees are warned the council is facing its most challenging budget situation for many years and needs to make savings to balance its books.

The council is hoping to save £150,000 this year and the subsequent two years if some staff agree to change their working patterns.

The letter from chief executive Roberto Tambini also states it hopes to avoid compulsory redundancies so is investigating ways to reduce staffing costs by agreeing requests for reductions in working time, voluntary redundancy or early retirement.

Mr Tambini said the council may also be able to make savings by delaying recruitment for some vacancies.

A spokeswoman for Spelthorne Council was keen to point out there was no element of coercion and there were no quotas to be filled.

Lib Dem opposition councillor, Lawrence Nichols, said: “Spelthorne's Tory executive must take responsibility for this problem. They have repeatedly failed to properly balance the books, preferring instead to misuse our reserves.

“This policy was doomed to failure one day, and that day has now come."

What do you think? Are you a member of staff at Spelthorne Council? Have your say using the comment feature below.