Jobs will be lost in the wake of next month's Government spending review but services will not be cut in Hertsmere, according to the leader of the council.

Conservative councillor Morris Bright admitted staff cuts were inevitable as the council looks to streamline services but added that “sound financial management” has left the authority in a strong position.

A BBC survey, which ranked 324 local authorities in order of their resilience to the expected cuts, placed Hertsmere 11th.

Among the reasons cited for Hertsmere's ranking were - higher than average house prices, a high proportion of the workforce being professionals, the average level of household earnings being high and a high proportion of self employed people.

Councillor Bright said: “The ranking doesn't surprise me because we have had our finger on the pulse for a long time. The spending review will affect us but this does not mean we will cut services - we will need to find ways of delivering them more cheaply.

“We will lose staff - I will admit that. But we are communicating with them and seeing if any want to leave voluntarily. My personal feeing is we will get through this.”

Staff make up 70 per cent of the council's costs and, with the authority's pledge to keep services up and running, it seems likely this is an area which will he hard hit.

On the level of cuts the authority is expecting in the review, Councillor Bright said: “We could be talking very large number for a small authority, but we are prepared. I do not want to scaremonger and, be assured, the local authority will get the area through this. I am not saying it is going to be easy but we are ready for the change.”

The Government's spending review is due to be announced on October 20, and Hertsmere's executive committee will meet that evening at the council's civic offices in Borehamwood.