A RE-STRUCTURING exercise at the new Bolton and Bury Chamber looks likely to lead to a slimmed-down staff.

Chief Executive Richard Bindless called three meetings last week to inform the 170 employees of current developments.

He said today: "My belief is that there will be fewer people working for this organisation by the late summer."

But Mr Bindless stresses that he has not used the word redundancy to staff and does not know whether that will apply or not.

"There is now a general policy of not replacing staff who leave," he said.

So far 10 posts have been lost by natural wastage and the policy will include Deputy Chief Executive Mark Lloyd, who is due to leave Bolton to become Chief Executive of County Durham Training and Enterprise Council.

Mr Bindless said the re-structuring exercise was about running an effective business support agency in Bolton and Bury with the right number of staff.

"We recognise that there is concern. Of course there is," he said.

"We are trying to re-form the business for the long-term future."

Current moves follow an extensive consultation exercise with members of the new organisation - formed last year through a merger of Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce and the Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council.

The Board has decided that the new Chamber should be focused totally on the needs of its members and the wider business community.

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