COUNCILS in the Cotswolds have assured residents services will run as normal during strike action.

Council workers and school support staff members will be taking one day of strike action on Thursday in a row over pay.

UNISON is urging employers to get back to the negotiating table after local government employers offered a one per cent pay rise.

Cotswold District Council offices will remain open as normal on Thursday and while there may be a reduction in the number of people working that day the council said it anticipate services will run as normal, including all waste services provided by Ubico Ltd.

Stratford District Council said it aims to keep disruption to its services to a minimum with many areas such as environmental health, CCTV and benefits are likely to be unaffected.

Any scheduled appointments with the Housing Service for Thursday have been re-arranged.

A council spokesman said: "Although it is anticipated most services will be maintained throughout the day, service delivery may be a little slower at the district council’s main headquarters at Elizabeth House in Stratford and the District Council would like to apologise in advance for any problems this may cause.

"The district council’s refuse and recycling collection service, grounds maintenance and leisure centres will not be affected by the action as they are operated by contractors on behalf of the district Council."