STAFF are being offered voluntary redundancy by Ryedale District Council as it looks to make savings, a report states.

The authority asked staff to take redundancy last December and the closing date for applications is due shortly.

The council is unable to say how many people have made inquires but its overview and scrutiny committee wants a report into why the action was taken.

But the council’s policy and resources committee said the cuts were based on tough projections for the financial year starting in 2011.

The authority is thought to need annual savings of £300,000 to balance its budget and it is felt that Government grants to councils are to be slashed.

If the voluntary redundancy applications are approved then the staff will be made an offer and they will leave between April 1 this year and March 31 next year.