THE chief executive of Worcestershire County Council admits the workforce faces an "immensely challenging" few years as they battle to balance the books.

Clare Marchant has also issued a rallying for staff, saying within six years they can expect to be free from the mercies of Government funding cuts.

As the Worcester News has reported extensively over the last fortnight, a new five-year vision has been produced for Worcestershire.

It includes an aim of being completely self-sufficient by 2022, meaning all of County Hall's income will be self-generated from sources like business rates and council tax without an additional Whitehall Revenue Support Grant (RSG).

Ms Marchant insisted that message is proving to be "quite compelling" for staff who have faced years of difficult decisions while the Government's RSG has shrunk.

But she also said the process of getting there will be a huge challenge, especially between now and 2019.

"When I talk to staff the ambition to be self-sufficient by 2022 is quite compelling," she said.

"Because this has been a really long haul in terms of a Corporate Plan 'narrative' around savings and having to look after the money.

"To actually know that by 2022, we will no longer be reliant on the Government saying 'you'll have so much less next year', I think that's actually quite optimistic for staff.

"2022 is quite some time away, six years so actually there is a challenge in the short to medium-term.

"But I suppose one of the things in the Corporate Plan is that it's not just about taking savings out, but also about generating income."

She added: "I wouldn't shy away from the fact that it is going to be immensely challenging over the next two to three years."

The aim of becoming self-sufficient ties in with a Government pledge to reform business rates funding so local authorities get to keep all the money they raise.

Former chancellor George Osborne signalled a year ago that the RSG funding pots, which make up around 30 per cent of a typical council's yearly budget, will vanish by 2019/20.

The county council needs to save around £25 million in the current financial year and is forecasting that to rise to a record £34 million in 2017/18, illustrating the size of the task ahead.

In a bid to try and develop workers more, two weeks ago the authority launched a 'Talent Management Programme' which allows them to spend time in the private sector and vice versa.

Ms Marchant made her remarks during a scrutiny board meeting at County Hall.

The new blueprint is called 'Shaping Worcestershire's Future'.