GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council is proposing to cut its workforce by 1,000 and radically overhaul its library and youth service over the next four years in a bid to slash its budget.

The county council has announced that it plans to share back office support with other public sector bodies and transfer buildings to local communities.

These are the “two big ideas” announced by council leader Mark Hawthorne yesterday as the council seeks to save £108 million over the next four years following the coalition government spending review.

The council originally was facing cuts of £120 million but the government’s decision to invest more in social care has reduced the anticipated shortfall.

However, it still means the county council workforce will be cut dramatically with one in six jobs being lost.

And the council is proposing a “Big Community Offer” to give the public the chance to take over services and provide them in the way their local community needs them. Other plans include a radical rethink of the library service and youth support.

A detailed report will be discussed by the council’s Cabinet on Thursday, November 18.

Councillor Hawthorne said: “After an extensive review of our services and with the help of feedback from public and staff – we’ve made some pretty radical proposals. We have prioritised social care services for adults and children, which means changes will be made elsewhere.”

“These have been difficult decisions and we will now enter a period of consultation. I know we will be judged on how we handle such huge change, but I hope Gloucestershire residents take time to understand the reasons behind these changes.”

The key proposals in the report include:  A radical overhaul of the county library service with nine main libraries, 11 so-called “library express”; seven libraries sharing buildings with others; 11 libraries offered to local people to run and a 24-hour virtual library with online services and e-books. The report says there will be support to help elderly and vulnerable residents access library services.

 A £40million reduction in office costs. Reducing one in three management posts; sharing buildings, HR, IT and finance support with other public sector bodies; selling off unused assets such as property and farms.

 Setting up the Big Community Offer where buildings or assets such as library and youth facilities will be offered to the community for peppercorn rents or up to 50 per cent asset share.

 A stepping back from providing traditional youth service buildings. Focusing efforts on vulnerable teenagers and stepping back to allow the voluntary sector to take a bigger role with youth activities. This includes increasing funding to district councils and handing buildings back to the community. Spending on ‘at risk’ youth will increase by £1.3million.

 Cancellation of a planned £5.7million new storage facility for council records  Prioritising road maintenance, pothole fixing and gulley cleaning – with cuts to funding for traffic calming, road improvement schemes and speed cameras.

 Complete overhaul of the transport system; including a review of subsidised bus services and paid-for transport to faith and grammar schools  Continuing to fund 63 police officers until March 2013.

The council launched the Meeting the Challenge programme in August 2010 in response to planned cuts in funding from central government. During September, approximately 5,000 people took part in roadshows and surveys asking them which services they would protect, reduce or stop altogether.

Overwhelmingly, people voted in favour of protecting services for older and vulnerable people, child protection and Fire & Rescue.

The most popular choices to stop or reduce included parking, school transport, archives and libraries.