A council looks set to axe the post chief executive and with senior managers to save money.

Hasting Borough Council’s proposal is part of a major cost-saving reorganisation that could eventually save the local authority around £400,000 a year.

The move will reducing the size of the council’s senior management team.

40 council posts were lost earlier this year.

The council say they echoing plans implemented in Lincolnshire where three councils are set to share one chief executive.

Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council have been sharing a chief executive for the last four years while Chichester District Council have said they are also considering sharing the role following John Marsland’s retirement in December.

The plan to remove the role of chief executive was proposed by a staff commission comprising of staff members below senior management level and from different parts of the council.

The council’s current chief executive is Roy Mawford who is paid £98,553 a year.

The authority has three directors and eleven heads of service which include heads responsible for housing, policy performance and sustainability, regeneration and community services, environmental health, legal and democratic services, financial services, chief auditor and communications and marketing.

Under the new proposal this would be reduced to three directors and seven heads of service with responsibilities from the redundant posts shared out between the remaining senior management.

The council has not yet identified which senior roles would go.

Councillor Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said: “"Going through a restructuring process is never an easy task.

“All our current senior officers are highly professional and very dedicated to their jobs and to the future of the town.

"But in this very difficult financial climate we are being forced to make tough decisions and I know once a new structure is in place everyone will work hard to make sure it succeeds."

Councillor Matthew Lock, leader of the opposition, said he was concerned what impact the move would have on accountability.

He said: “Without a chief executive, where does the buck stop?

“If something goes wrong, which one of the directors will take the blame?

“We might save £130,000 by removing directors but it could be a recipe for disaster if the council starts making mistakes because of the loss of directorship.”

A final decision on the proposals is expected by mid-November.