UNION officials today said they were treating proposed job cuts at York council "with caution" as the future of more than 30 posts hung in the balance.

The Unison warning came as talks continued between council chiefs and the union over proposed savings ahead of this year's budget.

These include possible job losses in front line posts like benefits and council tax advice offices - and may also affect reception staff dealing with planning inquiries.

Resources officials have already warned that scaling back of face-to-face services at bill payment centres could see the equivalent of at least seven full-time jobs disappear.

Resources executive member Quentin Macdonald stressed direct contact would still be available, but he said alternative payment methods would emerge.

Council leader Steve Galloway said the total number of jobs likely to be axed represented a tiny fraction of the total Guildhall workforce.

But Peter Household, Unison representative at City of York Council, said any staff reductions would hit service quality, and increase the workload for remaining employees.

He said: "I don't care how much they try to present this as improvements to services, it's quite clear it's a cut to save money. I'm quite sure York people will wish to join us in opposing these proposed cuts. We are viewing them with caution."

In a separate development, Mr Household said the council had agreed not to touch staff overtime payments at this stage. Unison had warned that strikes were a distinct possibility, if payments like double time for weekend workers were slashed.

Wage reviews had been outlined in October as part of council plans to tighten purse strings.

However, Coun Galloway said the loss of 30 posts from a workforce of about 4,000 should be put into perspective.

He said six months ago the council had to find £17 million to balance the books, so he said staff would generally be relieved by the budget plans.

Given the turnover of council staff he said he would be surprised if there were compulsory redundancies, although some staff may transfer departments.

Meanwhile, fresh plans to overhaul computer systems and transform customer access to York council services will be discussed next Tuesday by executive members.

Councillors are expected to discuss hi-tech proposals for a one-stop shop in St Leonard's Place, allowing customers to make calls, send emails or make interactive email hits to deal with bills, benefits and planning queries.

York council pulled out of a county-wide e-government project with IT firm Agilisys last October, fearing high risks and unaffordable costs.

The deadline to deliver e-government is the end of the year.

Updated: 11:09 Thursday, January 13, 2005