Council Leader Edward Lister has sent a letter to all Wandsworth Council employees after proposed cuts to its staff terms and conditions were given the green light last week.

The letter, sent from Coun Lister on October 14, follows Deputy Council Leader Maurice Heaster’s presentation of a draft paper at a committee meeting on October 13, where a number of cost-cutting measures were outlined and subsequently approved by the committee.

The changes include charging council staff for car parking, changing severance pay conditions, reducing overtime payments and changing sick-pay rules including not paying staff for their first day of sickness.

Coun Lister praised staff for their contribution to the council's achievements but confirmed that future redundancies would take place.

His letter said: "We already have an exceptionally efficient workforce with lower staffing ratios than most other London boroughs and the main reason that we have been able to achieve so much with these resources is down to the motivation and commitment of our staff.

"Unfortunately, achieving the level of savings required will inevitably lead to the council having to manage with reduced services and fewer staff."

He added: "The council will try to protect front line services but the scale of the savings required will mean that we cannot continue to operate as before."

Coun Heaster said of the changes: "The council is having to face up to the difficult task of finding around £55m in savings over the next four years as the nation gets to grips with the budget deficit."

He added that the council were not willing to let the tax payer ‘pick up the tab’ for the budget shortfall and that they will strive to cut staff costs where possible, to help reduce the deficit.

But the cuts have come under fire from staff union GMB.

It is concerned about the impact these cost-cutting measures will have on its members.

Paul Grafton, GMB organiser, said: "Wandsworth Council employees are going to be made to pay the price for the election of the Tory-led government.

"The cuts in sick pay will impact on people who have been victims of cancer, heart attacks and other serious illnesses."