A PLANNED shakeup of senior Winchester council staff is set to be discussed in private today.

Cllr Stephen Godfrey, leader of Winchester City Council, said the "reorganisation" would help to run a "more efficient council", but declined to comment when asked whether jobs were at risk.

It is unclear what changes have been proposed, but Cllr Godfrey said it concerned senior officers.

He said: "It's part of an ongoing programme of reorganisation that has been going on for 18, 20 months. This is one more step along the way to running a more efficient council so we can deal with the challenges of reduced government funding."

The proposals on "organisational development" were discussed in private last month by the personnel committee, which deals with human resources at the Guildhall.

Plans to hire staff are typically debated in public.

Conservative councillor Rose Burns was last night expected to urge the council to wait until the results of an independent review of Silver Hill and boundary changes at next year's election before staffing moves were agreed.

She was also expected to call for a public council debate, adding in her question to last night's full council that the Guildhall is dealing with an "unprecedented" number of complex projects.

The proposals wil be discussed by cabinet this morning in a session which excluded the public and media.