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Cost cuts hit council jobs
Thursday 15th January 2009, 3:05PM GMT.
Up to 400 jobs are to go at the biggest employer in Powys in a bid to cut costs.
Powys County Council is set to shed five per cent of its 8,000-strong workforce in a bid to help save £13 million – but said no employee would be forced to leave.
The council said that there will be no compulsory redundancies and the jobs will go through natural wastage over the next three years.
Mark Kerr, council chief executive, said the jobs would be lost by a policy of not replacing certain posts.
“We are looking to reduce the council’s staffing levels over the next three years and this will be done by people taking retirement and by not filling vacant posts, but obviously some posts may undoubtedly have to be refilled,” he said.
He said the three-year timescale would mean the council had time to plan and manage the workforce without it affecting frontline services.
Councillor Simon Baynes, for Llanwddyn, said: “I think there is scope to shed 400 jobs over the next three years through natural wastage.
“It only represents five per cent of the workforce and I think by doing it this way, frontline services will not be affected,” added Councillor Baynes.
Councillor Ken Harris, for Knighton, said of the move: “If we can’t manage to shed some of the 8,000 jobs over the next few years, then there is something seriously wrong.”
Services across Powys are already facing cuts in the new financial year because of a “disappointing” budget settlement.
The council will get a 1.5 per cent increase in the Welsh Assembly Government budget settlement.
The budget figure is below the average 2.9 per cent across Wales, and the current inflation rate of 4.1 per cent.
It is the second year running that Powys has been bottom of the pile in Wales for budget settlements from the assembly.
The council is now in the process of consulting on a potential council tax rise of almost three per cent.
The proposed 2.99 per cent increase will be determined at a full council meeting, which will be held on January 29.
If agreed it will mean council tax for a band D property will increase from £828.16 to £853, an increase of £24.84.
By Anwen Evans
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Eight THOUSAND people working for Powys County Council?!
Sound to me like cuts are well overdue….
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No, Jeepers, 8ooo are paid by Powys C C . The council has identified that some staff are surplus to requirement but maintain a policy of no redundancy and therefore it will take at least three years to shed staff.
Councillor Les Davies was reported recently stating that we all faced serious service cutbacks, higher rates and that the alternative was to double (yes double) the population of Powys, Where and what would they all do now that the Council is cutting back on recruitment.
The Liberals are saving so much money that soon the Council could be paying your mortgage should you find the liability is too much!! I thought that the UK goverment already had such a scheme in hand. Perhaps they could help all those of us who find paying the monthly rates a heavy burden instead
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Just imagine the rest of UK PLC run on the same fluffy lines as Powys Council.
Yes, I can see that policy of “no redundancies” catching on in the private sector.
Woolworths employee? Well, we need to close all our branches but no-one will be forced to lose their job as we’ve introduced a no-redundancies rule. Carry on as normal.
MFI employee? Well, we need to close all our branches but no-one will be forced to lose their job as we’ve introduced a no-redundancies rule.
Adams employee? Well, we need to close all our branches but no-one will be forced to lose their job as we’ve introduced a no-redundancies rule.
Practically any British private-sector worker? Don’t worry, no-one will be forced to lose their job as all their company has to do is introduce a no-redundancies rule.
And so on, and so on.
When will these people eventually get off “Gravy Train” to change platform and take the waiting train from “LaLaland” to “Real World”, stopping at “Recession” and “Efficiency” on the way?
If you think this is bad, wait until the terms of voluntary redundancies are eventually leaked. Gravy anyone?
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