All Bolton Council employees over the age of 55 are being offered a ‘flexible retirement’ option where they would cut their hours or transfer to a lower paid role.

The move comes as figures show the council has issues arising from an ageing workforce with a third of its staff aged 55 or over, thus giving them the chance to retire early and leave their jobs.

The move, which the council hopes will ‘improve the work and life balance’ for those approaching retirement, will also save the council money, as those approved for the scheme will draw from their pensions to compensate for a lower salary or wage.

In a report to the leader of the council Cllr David Greenhalgh, council deputy chief executive Sue Johnson said the authority faces ‘a significant workforce challenge’ as those over 55 can currently leave the council and take early retirement.

She said: “Local government continues to face pressure to make savings and efficiencies.

“At the same time employees are increasingly seeking diverse working patterns that enable them to balance the responsibilities of their job with other interests and responsibilities.

“Bolton Council recognises these two aims can be mutually complementary and is committed to the principle of flexible working.

“In recognition of both the current age profiling of the workforce and the increased numbers of staff seeking flexible working arrangements, we are seeking to formally introduce a flexible retirement policy and to support employees to improve work and life balance before making the transition to full retirement.

“This will retain valuable skills, knowledge and experience for longer and enabling services to plan for the future.”

Figures in the report show Bolton Council has 3,386 employees, of which 1,020 are aged 55 to 65.

There are 62 workers aged 66 to 75 and two workers who are older than 75.

The policy applies to employees who are in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) who are aged 55 years or over to reduce their hours or grade with the council’s consent and elect for their pension benefits to be paid to them while they remain in employment.

The report said flexible retirement is designed to help ease individuals into retirement by enabling them to continue to work either with reduced hours or in a lower graded post while accessing their pension.

The council will consider flexible retirement requests from employees where there is a reduction of 20 per cent or more of their working hours or salary.

The council said the policy was drafted in consultation with trade unions and the corporate leadership and pensions teams.