SAVINGS of £1 million may be slashed from the Guildhall resources budget, under plans going before City of York Council.

Executive member for resources, Coun Quentin Macdonald, outlined cuts in the authority's financial, property and IT services as the authority looks to tighten purse strings.

But he stressed 99 per cent of proposed changes would not alter front-line services.

Under recommendations, the city's recently revamped Register Office would become self-sufficient.

If it became one of the first in the country to recover all costs after some fees increase, councillors hope it will generate £55,000 savings. Liberal Democrat member Coun Macdonald also unveiled plans to scale back the face-to-face service for council customers.

He said a personal service would still be available, but £20,000 savings would be made by cutting the number of cashiers and offering alternative bill payment methods, through 24-hour automated phone calls and at other sites like post offices, corner shops and petrol stations.

The council also said efficiency savings of £50,000 were possible from the new benefits and council tax payment computer system - heavily criticised by customers who have faced payment delays.

A total of £485,000 of additional interest savings have been identified by the council's treasury management team. Elsewhere, £100,000 needs to be found to update the computer accounts system, and an extra £25,000 will fund extra council tax staff in the wake of the city's property boom.

Julie Wright, assistant director of resources, said the plans could see the equivalent of seven full time jobs lost.

The resources department employs about 350 people. She confirmed union officials had been informed about the plans.

She said: "£685,000 of savings come from us managing our debt and investment better, so in that respect people will not notice any difference."

Plans to save £1.036 million will be discussed by councillors on Tuesday.

Updated: 10:14 Wednesday, January 12, 2005