A COUNCIL has announced plans to restructure in a bid to save money.

Senior councillors at Harrogate Borough Council are proposing to cut the number of departments from seven to five.

Council leader Mike Gardner said: "As a new administration, we want to streamline the council as far as possible in order to save money, particularly in the light of current financial pressures and the threat of Government capping.

"While there is no doubt that the current structure has been very successful in delivering first class services, we have lost some corporate direction, which needs to be addressed.

"By reducing the number of departments from seven to five, the council can make significant cost savings and it will also give us the chance to bring services, which now sit more closely together, into better aligned departments."

Council staff and unions have been consulted on the report, which councillors say will not lead to enforced retirements or redundancies.

A meeting of the full council will consider the recommendations on December 1.