A TRADE union has said the county council must be careful when implementing a new model which could lead to nearly 900 jobs being lost.

On Thursday, Oxfordshire County Council said a plan drawn up by consultants had suggested that it could save £58m for at least three years if it implemented changes that will cost £18m.

The council has said that automated phone lines might be one way of saving money on staff and provide better services to residents. Those changes might mean that staff working in back office roles would no longer be required.

But UNISON's assistant general secretary, Margaret Thomas, said: “UNISON is committed to protecting jobs and services. Many vulnerable users prefer to speak to council staff for their support rather than machines.

"Our members cover a wide variety of crucial roles all areas of the council, and the term ‘back office’ can be misleading.

"Far from being less important, many vital council services simply could not function without these staff. As a large employer within the South East this will have significant impact regionally as well as locally.

"UNISON will listen and act on our members feedback throughout the consultation and continue to engage with the employer to mitigate loses.”

Earlier this week, the leader of the county council, Ian Hudspeth, said the Fit for the Future plan would be a 'golden opportunity to make real changes that would save money and benefit the public'.