TAXPAYERS have had to fork out £4.3 million on "exit packages" for departing Worcestershire County Council staff over the last year - with the axe falling on hundreds of jobs.

Your Worcester News can reveal how the likely bill for slashing 1,500 roles by 2018 is now set to spiral to multi-millions as the authority steadily shrinks in size.

New figures the 2013/14 financial year, which ended in March show:

- 297 council staff were let go, which included 123 compulsory redundancies

- A number of workers were let go for "business efficiency" reasons and given pay-offs, while some others opted to take voluntary redundancy or retire early

- The council has issued a fresh warning that a "substantial net reduction" in jobs is on the agenda as more services get handed to outside providers

The 297 job cuts cover departments across the council, and took place between April 2013 and March this year.

It means the average payout was £14,478, although the figures vary wildly depending on length of service.

The findings come as the council prepares to shed 1,500 jobs by 2018 by handing over 85 per cent of services to new providers.

Bosses hope the tactic, known as commissioning, results in many departing workers having their employment transferred across to the third party organisations.

The council says by scrapping such a large amount of jobs last year it reduced the wage bill by around £7.5 million.

But the findings have been branded "very concerning" by opposition politicians, who say they want fresh lobbying to central Government.

Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader, said: "We're very concerned about people being forced out because of the sheer costs of it and the impact on the economy.

"We're cutting areas across the council, affecting areas like youth centres and care and at the same time stripping away the very people we need to provide services."

But the Conservative leadership insists it has "always been clear" about the changes.

Councillor John Campion, cabinet member for transformation and change, said: "We have always been clear that the council will be a smaller organisation in the future as we strategically commission services and provide fewer services directly.

"We remain committed to minimising compulsory redundancies and are open to all providers to ensure we source the right service, from the right provider at the right price for the taxpayer.

"These savings are not insignificant and have contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the council's challenging overall savings targets.

"Clearly we have had to fund one-off redundancy costs, but this has been planned for and there is a substantial net reduction going forward."