Bosses to pay fee for out of hours staff

STAFF who want to work late at the city council's headquarters will have to ask their boss to pay to keep the building open.

Council chiefs have ruled that Waverley Court has to shut at 8pm during the week and remain closed during the weekend.

Department heads who decide they want to allow staff access outside of these hours have to pay 10 an hour for up to ten staff - or more at the weekend.

The saving that is made from not needing to provide 24-hour security is estimated at 87,000 a year - while the reduction in energy use could save thousands of pounds more a year.

The drastic measure is one of dozens of efficiency savings introduced in the last year, which have saved the cash-strapped local authority 22 million.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's finance leader, said: "This is just one example of the savings that we are achieving while maintaining services."