UP TO 100 jobs could go as the council wields its spending axe in the first stage of budget cuts.

A meeting of full council in Redbridge Town Hall last night heard that the losses will come as part of a shake up of staffing structures designed to cut costs.

Just under �4million in cuts were approved at the meeting, which saw the council chamber divided.

Councillors heard a report drawn up by chief executive Roger Hampson which recommended reducing the size of the council’s senior management board by 17 per cent and cutting the number of chief officers from 20 to 17.

Some services will be merged and a number of senior managers will lose their jobs.

Labour Cllr Bob Littlewood said it is not clear how many of the 100 job losses will be vacant posts which will not be filled but “certainly over 80” jobs will go.

He described the losses, as well as other spending cuts, as “unacceptable.”

He said: “I believe they are too much and too soon.

“We don’t know whether that structure will fit the future we have to face.”

Chadwell Labour Cllr Wes Streeting accused the council’s coalition leadership of lacking a strategy and vision for the long term.

But council leader Cllr Keith Prince hit back at criticism, saying the opposition party had “brought no amendments to the table.”

He said: “We’re consulting and looking at the shape of the borough.

“As always we will involve as many people as possible and discuss our vision with the public.”

The senior management re-structure, as well as cuts which were drawn up at the last cabinet meeting, were approved after Conservative and Lib Dem councillors voted in favour.