Nearly a quarter of Oxford's council bosses could be sacked in an attempt to save money, the Oxford Mail can reveal.

The ruling Labour group on Oxford City Council is considering shedding five of the council's 22 top managerial posts as part of its drive to cut costs by £1.5m.

Stan Taylor, Labour group leader, said: "I would have thought one top manager per about 100 employees would be about right - that's only a guide."

Mr Taylor asked chief executive Bob Block to draw up a list of cost-cutting options and trimming the top staffing layer is a serious possibility. The city council has 1,400 employees and would need to get rid of eight top jobs to hit Mr Taylor's suggested target.

Mr Taylor said: "The one per 100 figure was a guideline so the chief executive could discuss it with his corporate directors. Heads of service would need to be apprised of the situation as well.

He did not rule out redundancies but said Labour group would prefer to avoid job losses if possible, perhaps by keeping people on at a lower grade. He stressed that nothing had been definitely decided yet.

Mr Block said: "When we're looking at cuts of £1.5m we have to look throughout the organisation and it's important that we look at senior management as well as at other staff and other functions that are carried out. We've been making cuts every year because of capping."

One source told the Oxford Mail: "I think they are going to try to amalgamate departments and the people most at risk would probably be the deputies.

There are 22 senior managers and they are going to get rid of five of them. They are fighting it out among themselves and it's pretty nasty."

Mr Block's report on options for cuts is due to be considered by Labour group at a pre-council meeting behind closed doors. The 22 top managers

Bob Block - chief executive

Elaine Keight - assistant chief executive for human resources

Ben Ticehurst - head of strategic development and administration

David Taylor - director of central services

Joanna Irwin - head of legal and committee affairs

Alan Stone - head of finance

Jane Lubbock - head of administration

Sarah Coleman - head of information systems

Maurice Goodin - joint director of City Works

Graham Bourton - joint director of City Works

John Walker - director of environmental services

Linda Wride - head of planning control and conservation

Mike Ford - head of planning policy and economic development

Peter Allen - head of environmental health

Richard Peacock - director of housing

Celia Angel - head of strategic housing

David Magor - head of revenues and benefits

John Arnold - director of property and leisure

Tricia Ormiston-Kilsby - head of leisure policy

Jon Bolton - head of city leisure

Richard Giles - head of estates

Mike Newman - head of finance and administration

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