Angus Council has agreed to radically change its senior management structure to meet increasing financial pressures.
At a full meeting of the council on Thursday, members unanimously agreed to reduce the number of directors from five to three in a bid to save around £385,000 a year.
The council will also dispense of the services of an assistant chief executive in the first management shake-up since 2005.
The changes will result in the costs of the top-tier posts being almost halved from £792,000 to £407,000 a year.
The council’s working group presented three options do nothing, cut the role of its assistant chief executive and one director, or create three new strategic director positions with fresh responsibilities.
Councillor Iain Gaul said change was necessary to prevent a “slow painful death”.
He said: “Option A, to do nothing, isn’t really an option at all and option B would see the council go through a long, slow painful death.
“Option C is a quick surgery less drama for staff, better for staff morale and leading the way forward.
“Angus Council and large companies have to be conscious of change but not just change for the sake of it, change for the benefit of the services that we provide for the people of Angus.”
Under the plans, a new, temporary position, to oversee the changes will be created at a cost of £103,000 per year.
Chief executive Richard Stiff admitted the council found itself under increasing financial pressures, but added changes to the structure would involve one-off costs for people seeking early retirement or being made redundant.
The new directors will be in charge of citizens, community and council.
The citizen brief covers responsibility for services to individuals and families.
The communities role will take on the responsibility for the provision, development and maintenance of community assets and services, currently overseen by several departments.
The council position will create a corporate lead for business support and strategic and government functions.