A CONTROVERSIAL new wage structure for thousands of Hampshire county council workers has been delayed, the Daily Echo can reveal today.

The review is designed to abide by equal pay legislation for men and women. There will be no change for two-thirds of staff; a fifth will see an increase while 15 per cent will have cuts.

It caused a storm as senior managers, including £199,000-a-year chief executive Peter Robertson, were not included in the review.

The county council was due to introduce the new pay and benefits structure on July 1.

But it said today that a delay in a ballot by trade unions meant the start date would have to be put back.

Council leader Ken Thornber said: "Our target for introducing the new arrangements was July 1, backdated to April 1, but it is with great regret that we are now having to advise staff that this is not now going to be possible due to the delay in the ballot."