Wiltshire Council culls high-paid staff in cost-cutting exercise
Two new jobs will be created as part of a restructuring at the top of the organisation
Four senior employees at Wiltshire Council are being made redundant as the authority seeks to save hundreds of thousands of pounds from its staffing bill.
At a behind-closed-doors meeting on May 5 the Senior Officers Employment Sub-Committee – chaired by the council’s deputy leader Mel Jacob with council leader Ian Thorn and Conservative Gregory Cooper on the committee – approved the termination of four senior staff.
They include the corporate director, resources, Lizzie Watkin; director human resources and organisational development, Tamsin Kielb; director of IT, Mark Tucker; and director of transformation and business change, Stuart Honeyball.
In a statement, the council said the redundancies would save £300,000 per year, and that the decisions were organisational, not political.
As part of the reorganisation at the top of the authority, which employs around 3,500 people and has an annual budget of £567 million, the council will create two new roles – chief finance officer (S151) and director – organisational strategy and digital.
The council’s chief executive, Lucy Townsend, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Following a review of our senior leadership, we are introducing a new senior management structure designed to better align services, sharpen delivery of priorities and strengthen financial resilience.
“The senior management structure has been determined by me, in line with my statutory role and accountability for the effective management and organisation of the council.
“Politicians are not involved in operational staffing decisions, including the design of the senior management structure, individual roles, or reporting lines.
“While members are informed of proposals and discussions are had about the implications of organisational change, these decisions are not political.
“The structure has been developed to ensure the council is well‑led, financially sustainable, and able to deliver its statutory duties and priorities effectively.
“It is designed to ensure the council is well‑placed to meet future challenges and deliver services efficiently across Wiltshire.
“Voluntary redundancy for four people was agreed by the senior officer employment sub-committee on 5 May 2026.
“The changes will deliver savings of £300,000 per year, making a direct contribution to the council’s savings requirements approved by Full Council in February 2026.
“Wherever possible, the new structure will be implemented from 1 June 2026, and some interim arrangements will be in place to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.”
The council recently confirmed to the LDRS that 25 employees earned more than £100,000 per year in the financial year 2024-25.