by political editor Paul Francis

Cutting 500 jobs at Kent County Council has cost nearly £5m in redundancy payments in just a year.

The jobs have been shed as part of a major shake-up in the way the authority is run and in response to far-reaching budget cuts caused by the loss of government grants.

According to a report due to be considered by county councillors tomorrow, KCC made 518 staff redundant in 2011-12 - leading to payouts of £4.9m.

A further 55 jobs have gone this year, at a cost of £89,000 and KCC says its restructuring programme will lead to "a further significant reduction in posts".

KCC is consulting on a fresh round of redundancies, which unions say has placed 367 jobs at risk in its 1,000-strong education, learning and skills directorate.

The job cuts form part of a package of cost-cutting measures aimed at saving £13.7m in the department.

Over the next three years, the council expects to cut 1,500 jobs as it slims down the workforce.

Cllr John Simmonds, KCC cabinet member for finance, said the figures were in line with forecasts and the final redundancy bill once the shake-up was complete could be less than expected.

"We have started at the top with higher grade staff so the costs have been higher but the figures are slightly under what we forecast," he said.

KCC says that once the re-organisation is complete, the council will save millions in salary costs.