THE boss in charge of holding the purse strings at a Hampshire council has refused to divulge how many jobs could go as it attempts to shave £1 million from its budget.

Eastleigh council’s chief executive Nick Tustian said he didn’t want to “put a figure” on how many posts could be axed or lost through natural wastage.

He said went on to say that part of the huge sum would be clawed back through “technology” and “efficiency savings” but when pushed he would not reveal what that meant.

The finite detail of exactly how the council intends to slash its budget from £10.9 million to £9.8 million today remains shrouded in secrecy, days before councillors meet for a crucial vote on it the matter.

As previously reported, cabinet members met on Thursday night to approve a budget where the council tax would be frozen yet again.

Council bosses would only confirm that frontline services would not be affected and jobs would be protected “where possible”.

Budget documents – which are public documents available which taxpayers can access online – do not reveal how reduced spending will be achieved.

Speaking last night Mr Tustian, said: “We don’t have a target in terms of jobs that will be lost. The outcome we are trying to achieve is to protect our resources.”

He added that the council has a “very effective efficiency strategy” and that they would be relying on the council’s property portfolio for income.

He said: “Of course I’m not going to say there aren’t going to be job losses, you can’t expect to run any organisation and not expect there to be. I wouldn’t even want to put a figure on it.

“That’s part of being an efficient organisation.”

Financial details for the 2016-2017 budget are contained in a complex 200-page document.

Mr Tustian told the Daily Echo that while people may be looking for the detail they “won’t be able to find it”.

He said it was the council’s investment portfolio and the introduction of new technology which would help keep it in the black.

“We have a £60 million budget. In terms of a percentage you’re talking a minimal percentage, the sort of amount that comes through savings,” he said.

But the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat-run council, Anne Winstanley, refused to comment about the budget.

She said: “Anything that affects staff wouldn’t be inappropriate for me to comment on.”

Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, Keith House, did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him.

The leader of the opposition, Godfrey Olson, said that people should have the opportunity to scrutinise the documents in order to determine for themselves how their money should be spent.

He said: “I don’t see any reasons why a draft document can’t be available to the public.

"People should be able to see what the proposals are and comment on it before the budget meeting.

"There may be someone who wants their council tax increased in order to fund a better service.”