800 want to quit Northumberland Council jobs
Oct 20 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal
HUNDREDS of council workers across Northumberland have expressed an interest in taking voluntary redundancy in the run-up to the biggest local government shake-up in the county’s history.
More than 800 town hall employees have come forward to say they would consider accepting a payoff and getting out when the new unitary super council comes into being in April.
About half are workers in jobs such as refuse collection and highways maintenance, most of whom will not be allowed to go because of the need to continue providing front-line services.
The employees have responded to a workforce trawl for interest in voluntary severance at the county council and the six district councils – which will all be abolished when the all-purpose authority takes over in less than six months time.
The exercise is being carried out amid claims that between 600 and 800 redundancies will be required next year to help the new council make budget cuts totalling almost £28m.
Yesterday it was stressed that the expressions of interest are not binding on either side, and no decisions have been made yet on how many posts will have to go or who will be allowed to leave.
The extent of the interest in voluntary redundancy is said to reflect widespread disillusionment with the imposition of a single unitary council in Northumberland, which was opposed by a majority of residents who voted in a referendum.
Blyth Valley Borough Council – which was recently listed as ninth in the national Times Best Councils to Work For scheme – has received expressions of interest from 193 of its 500 employees.
Wansbeck Council’s figure is 113, roughly 25% of its workforce of 450, while Berwick Borough Council’s figure is 38 from a workforce of 160. It is believed that more than 300 employees of the county council – which employs 5,800 excluding school-based staff – have registered an interest in leaving.
Last night Blyth Valley Council leader Dave Stephens said: “I am not surprised by these figures, but it is a very sad situation. We have proved to be an excellent employer and I have heard staff say they are not looking forward to going to a single unitary authority.
“Staff at Blyth Valley Council were confident we would have two unitaries and were looking forward to that challenge. Now the message coming from county is that the single unitary is going to be cutting this and cutting that, and staff don’t relish that prospect.”
A county council spokeswoman said more than 800 employees at the seven authorities had expressed interest in taking early retirement or voluntary redundancy. Of these, about 50% are in front-line jobs such as refuse collectors and road workers.
“It is unlikely that many of these can be supported at this time as we need to protect front-line services as far as possible. It must be emphasised that the exercise was undertaken on the basis that there is no commitment by either party at this stage, therefore the numbers could be misleading.”
