NOTTS County Council is to cut up to 450 posts this financial year, the Evening Post understands.

More positions could go next year, as the authority battles to save £83m.

A County Hall source said the majority of this year's cuts – which have yet to be announced to unions – are hoped to be made up of "natural wastage" from staff who have already left jobs and those taking voluntary redundancy.

But forced redundancies will remain on the cards as the council looks to save £33m next year alone.

A source told the Post: "I have been told by a good source that the maximum figure is 450. That's what they have applied for.

"From what I am told, the majority of redundancies will come from natural wastage or voluntary.

"Of that 450, a certain percentage have already left."

A consultation on next year's budget is set to start earlier than usual, in November.

Officials at County Hall last night refused to confirm or deny whether 450 job cuts was an accurate figure.

Chief executive Mick Burrows would only say it was "too early" to speculate about staffing levels.

Another source told the Post: "You have got a briefing at 2pm on November 10. It is best that it all comes out properly."

The council has said it is bracing itself to find another £30m for the 2011/12 budget followed by £20m saving the year after that.

It is feared that the implications of those figures could mean yet more cuts.

The authority has put aside £6m for redundancy payments – £3m for each of the next two years.

Mr Burrows said: "We will be talking to employees, trade unions and partners next week, about the budget proposals for next year.

"The council has already stated that it hopes to keep redundancies to a minimum through continuing strict vacancy control, redeployment and natural staff turnover."

Letters have already been sent out to staff detailing cuts to their terms and conditions – including a reduction of the maximum 66 weeks' redundancy pay to 45.

Staff are set to protest tomorrow outside County Hall during a full council meeting.

chris.birkle@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk