SIX IW Council staff will lose their jobs as the authority slashes its budget for street-based services, such as dog wardens, environment officers, cemetery and beach inspectors, by £65,000 a year.
Following a review of services, the number of posts will be cut from 17 to 11 and remaining staff will be trained to carry out multiple roles.
The resulting service will be more efficient, according to strategic manager for recreation, leisure and public spaces, Alex Minns.
He told Wednesday’s meeting of the council’s economy and environment scrutiny panel: "I believe we can make the savings and get a better service as a result, by up-skilling staff to deliver a range of functions and reducing duplication.
"Although it’s a difficult time for staff, they support the idea of grouping functions together and believe it will work well."
Mr Minns said it was hoped the new service structure would be in place by August.
Street-based services, which includes inspecting parks and beaches, providing memorial trees and benches, maintaining play facilities, monitoring toilet cleaning contracts and enforcing rules against littering, fly-tipping and graffiti, were important to Island people and local communities, he added.
Scrutiny panel member Cllr Paul Fuller said it was important environment officers worked closely with their communities and attended parish council meetings to 'keep their ear to the ground’, as the now-defunct Environment and Neighbourhoods Officers (ENOs) had done.
Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox pointed out a great deal of money had been spent on uniforms and equipment for the former ENOs and urged officers not to waste more money on new items.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk