More than 400 workers at a Black Country council have applied to take voluntary redundancy over the next year – double the number that will actually leave.

Dudley Council bosses have launched the second year of a redundancy programme which will see around 200 positions go by April 2013.

But the council today revealed that a total of 405 people have come forward and some applications may have to be refused. The redundancies are part of overall cost cutting plans totalling £30million over three years.

Following an announcement last January, the local authority has already shed more than 400 jobs as part of a bid to save £22m.

The move is part of wider plans to axe 800 jobs over the next three years.

Of the 405 requests for redundancy, 54 have been approved. Staff started leaving in December and will continue over the coming months.

Some 67 applications have also been made for flexible retirement and reduction of working hours.

A year ago, more than 1,100 staff applied for redundancy and 535 were turned down on the basis that the council could not afford to lose the posts.

Council bosses say this year’s applications are still being assessed and it is not yet clear how many will be rejected.

Councillor Tim Wright, cabinet member for human resources, law and governance, said: “The council received a total of 405 requests from staff working in areas where voluntary redundancies may be considered and 67 requests for flexible retirement and reduction of working hours.

“We are currently working through these requests and to date a total of 54 voluntary redundancy requests have been approved and leaving dates for these staff started in December and will differ over coming months depending on each individual case.”

Last year councillors approved cutting £1,050,000 off the staffing budget, to be made through voluntary redundancies, a review of staff bonuses and pay freezes.