DUDLEY Council has approved controversial plans to shake up its top management structure which leaders say will save £1m.

The plan had a rough passage through a meeting of full council on October 13 after opposition councillors from the Conservative and UKIP groups slammed proposed salaries for new senior management jobs.

Under the scheme 22 director and assistant director jobs would be scrapped and replaced by three strategic director and eight chief officer positions.

Councillors clashed over plans to pay higher rates for the new jobs, with strategic directors set to trouser up to £127,000 per year.

Tory group chief Cllr Patrick Harley attacked Dudley’s leader and deputy leader, who argue higher salaries are necessary to attract the right calibre of candidate for the jobs.

Cllr Harley said: “Cllr Lowe, Sparkes and the silent partner in all this, finance chief Cllr Turner, try to sell the idea to ourselves and Labour backbenchers that these are different jobs with more responsibility.

“Yet, in the private sector if someone on £100,000 a year was asked under a restructuring programme to take on more responsibilities they wouldn’t be rewarded with an increase in salary.”

Cllr David Sparks, leader of the council, hit back, insisting his vision went beyond saving cash and there will be losers as well as winners.

He said: “The fact is these are new jobs and some people will lose their jobs. We are going to have the most streamlined council in the country.”