Unions gave notice this week that Teignbridge Council could have a fight on its hands if it scraps annual pay rises and other benefits.

And a trade union spokesman said that all its members were getting was an attack on pay and conditions after helping the council to become the best in Devon.

Teignbridge executive is to discuss six options on Monday aimed at saving up to £400,000 a year.

The authority's director, Simon Barnes, pictured left, has prepared a report in which he identified staff costs as the single largest expenditure.

Things like abandoning nationally-agreed rates for car use could save £170,000, for example.

But a Unison spokesman declared that it seemed all the council was doing was attacking conditions for staff who had helped make it the best counci in the county.

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