DORSET Council is saving more than £1million a year in just one department by not immediately filling vacancies when staff leave.

Jan Britton, executive director for place, said the council's annual budget took into account a level of vacancies which meant the council was unlikely to ever get 100per cent of its posts being filled.

"When staff turnover occurs we hold a vacancy to achieve a saving every year – the annual vacancy factor in the Place directorate is a little over a million pounds," said Mr Britton.

He told councillors that, in addition to the normal holding of vacancies, the authority was also keeping posts vacant in anticipation of fewer staff positions in the years to come.

"We need to find ways of delivering services in the medium term with fewer members of staff," said the director, "where vacancies occur we are asking ourselves whether we replace like for like, whether we hold the vacancy, or do we need something different."

He said, despite the vacancies, he remained confident of the Place department continuing to meet the expected standards.

The question over vacancy management was asked by Alderholt councillor David Tooke who went on to warn that the costs of likely automation by the council for customer service could run into millions of pounds.

The council has identified a wider use of 'smart' technology, including artificial intelligence, as a way of driving down costs and, ultimately, staff numbers, with the potential for more than 260 job losses expected in the coming years.