Up to 10 high-ranking officers at Cherwell District Council could lose their jobs under a management restructuring scheme put forward by new chief executive Mary Harpley.

The positions of about 30 members of staff are being reviewed. The Oxford Mail understands that the workers will be freed from their contracts, their jobs will be advertised internally and some externally, and those who want to continue will have to apply for a reduced number of jobs, thought to be 20.

Two top officers have taken early retirement. Head of planning Alan Jones and district treasurer Graham Simcox have both left the council recently.

Mr Jones said: "It was very amicable and the council has been very decent in this.

"In my case, it was brought about by the Government's new age laws and my existing contract. I thought it best not to hang around, and that I would leave sooner rather than later."

On the restructuring, Mr Jones said: "As I understand it, cost is not the issue. It's about helping the council concentrate on what it should be concentrating on."

The issue was discussed in private by the council's executive on Monday, and the proposals were approved.