A UNION has said proposed cuts at Essex County Council revealed in a secret memo will have a “severe impact” on people living in the county.

Unison says it has seen a document which suggests that the authority cut the number of equivalent full-time staff by 85, freeze pay for two years, scrap bonuses for the lowest paid workers and slash working hours.

It says the plans smack of hypocrisy as councillors have just voted to give themselves a 6.1 per cent pay rise, while new figures have also revealed that the council spent £41,000 on lunches, £7,000 on biscuits and £15,000 on tea and coffee last year.

A Unison spokesman said: “We have raised our concerns with the council and have been told that no decisions have been made on these proposals as yet.

“However, it is extremely disappointing that they never approached us to talk about these issues.

“There will be a severe impact on the services our members provide for the people of Essex and staff morale if these proposals are approved.”

The document also apparently suggests stopping pay for the first day a member of staff is off sick.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “Essex County Council believes in being forward thinking, and therefore a number of different areas potentially affected by changes in the economy and political climate have been researched to provide insight to discussions.

"As part of this process we have produced an early discussion paper on pay inflation which is currently the subject of further research.

"The discussion paper explores a wide variety of different options for managing our pay levels in the current economic climate.

"No recommendations on any of these options have been taken forward and the paper established the need for further option analysis.

"This is normal business practice and when any options are considered by cabinet as being suitable for detailed review then in line with usual protocols they will be discussed fully with key stakeholder groups such as the trade unions.”