redundancy

It was the second round of 200 redundancies this year that allowed the hierarchy to pursue a different staffing model, so finance could be used in what was felt to be a more efficient way.

But the document argues that one council would mean "greater redundancy costs", and calls the expected savings of the rival submission "theoretical" as it relies on more complicated reforms.

Thousands of NHS staff redundancies in England will now go ahead after a deal was reached with the Treasury to allow the health service to overspend this year to cover the cost of pay-offs.

A Sheffield Hallam University spokesperson said "tough decisions" had to be made due to "financial challenges", but the university had managed to avoid compulsory redundancies.

The university said while compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out, every effort was being made to try to find savings "through voluntary means".