Up to 200 jobs could be axed at Derby City Council 'in the next year'
BETWEEN 100 and 200 compulsory redundancies could be made at Derby City Council over the next year, its leader has warned.
The job losses would amount to 60 full-time equivalent posts out of the 350 the council previously said it needed to cut over the next 16 months.
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Paul Bayliss
Council leader Paul Bayliss said the compulsory redundancies were needed, after the authority failed to reach its target for staff going voluntarily ahead of the 2013-14 financial year.
He said the 100 to 200 jobs were a mixture of full-time and part-time – and the council was not yet in a position to give specific figures for each.
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Councillor Sarah Russell, cabinet member for finance, said there may be more compulsory job losses announced in a year's time.
She said: "We may be able to reach the target through things like natural wastage.
"But we could, unfortunately, be in a position where more compulsory redundancies are needed at the end of 2013-14."
Nicole Berrisford, Derby branch secretary for the union Unison, said the number of compulsory redundancies needed had come as a surprise.
She claimed the council could have given more applicants for voluntary redundancy permission to take it – and that now some of those who were turned down faced compulsory redundancy.
In total, 206 people were approved to leave on or before December 31 – the equivalent of 162 full-time posts.
Mrs Berrisford said those who had their applications rejected included people in the adult care, health, and housing departments. She said Unison was still in talks with the council about this.
She said: "They were refused permission for voluntary redundancy on service grounds – the council said they were needed for services to run smoothly."
Mr Bayliss said, if voluntary redundancy had been accepted from those areas, the council would have had to recruit into them again later.
He said: "We would be replacing experienced staff with people who have less experience."
The council said it is having to lose jobs as part of plans to save £62 million over the next three years – in the face of cuts to its Government grants, inflation and Derby's growing population.
'Hypocrisy' row
THE leader of Derby City Council's ruling Labour group has accused the Tory opposition of "hypocrisy" – after they withdrew support from a campaign calling for more Government funding for the authority.
Conservative leader Philip Hickson had said Fair Deal for Derby was becoming a "party political vehicle" to attack the Coalition. But, in a letter to Mr Hickson, council leader Paul Bayliss pointed out the contact the authority had made with 10 MPs and ministers about the campaign as proof it was making attempts to discuss funding with the Government.
It added: "I, and the rest of the council, look forward to exposing your hypocrisy on the floor of the council chamber."
Comments
by make_redgreen
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 9:47PM
“I can guarantee you there are more than 500 'vacancies' in DCC.
These are classed as 'jobs', even though they're not filled, or possibly even advertised, but crucially they are in the budget.
Some however will still lost their jobs (it'll be around 20) and the rest will be a council victory for managing to hold onto another 100 odd 'jobs' (vacancies) while the leftovers feed the troughers payrises.”
by Spildabeenz
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 8:26PM
“Andrew Ilson,
Agreed. That people think that it is just making services and the sector leaner & healthier is a complete misnomer.
It is the people without a voice who will be getting hit first. My Nanna has been told that she will no longer be getting home help once a day to help with the most basic of things... changing her bandages & ensuring she keeps taking her medicine. Unless I give up work I cannot be there all the time, it is sickening that she worked in a factory making armour plating in the second world war, then brought my Mum up with little or no money as she was not entitled to anything after my Grandad died.
But no. Cuts to services is apparently the way forward. Most Tabloid readers will not understand what is going on until it is too late. The people that will be made redundant will be front line services, providing care, assistance and lifelines to many people who deserve help.
I fear not many people will wake up and realise what is happening in this country, which incidentally, is the same thing that has happened for over 150 years.”
by Andrew_Ilson
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 6:40PM
“Sadly Spilldabeenz that phrase is all to common. Appalling as it is.
I assume those complaining about pre-recession 'fat' are working on the false assumption that service levels will be maintained.”
by Spildabeenz
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 4:19PM
“......"Sarah Russell, cabinet member for finance said: "We may be able to reach the target through things like natural wastage." What a horrible individual she must be. NATURAL WASTAGE?!!!
We are talking about human beings here you horrific excuse for a public servant.
Regardless of how the council was run prior to this, the marketing speak that these people use makes me sick to the core.
Scandalous verbosity from those who have mismanaged the Council.”
by Spildabeenz
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 4:19PM
“......"Sarah Russell, cabinet member for finance said: "We may be able to reach the target through things like natural wastage." What a horrible individual she must be. NATURAL WASTAGE?!!!
We are talking about human beings here you horrific excuse for a public servant.
Regardless of how the council was run prior to this, the marketing speak that these people use makes me sick to the core.
Scandalous verbosity from those who have mismanaged the Council.”
by CoachOgre
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 2:22PM
“Trouble is as usual it will be the stressed front line staff that deliver the face to face service that will go leaving their colleagues on the front line even more stressed. Stress and over work will lead to sickness which will lead to more stress for those remaining that are still expected to deliver a first class service. Planning Dept already down to one enforcement officer and he is stressed out. Get rid of directors/dept directors and executive and have just one senior manager per dept to run things. They can have a weekly meeting with cabinet members to open and honestly speak their minds without fear of repercussions for their jobs when things go **** up in their departments because councillors cannot be honest with the public at election times. All councillors from all parties need to work together, stop blaming each other and stop point scoring. Bring on two yearly elections not four yearly then if not doing a good job mid-term boot them out, yearly is not enough time to sort a problem and four yearly gives them too long to cock it up.”
by davsl
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 2:17PM
“Rubbish there are now so many agency staff working at the ciy council. or they would not function. there was no fat the roles are still needed and thats why there are so many agency staff .”
by Derby_Stu
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 1:53PM
“thanks for getting my point Derbybnb.
If you think about how many jobs have been culled and how much money has been saved, what that "waste" could've gone on in terms of projects that could've benefitted the city?”
by DerbyBNB
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 11:28AM
“@Gargloit
@Derby_Stu's logic is perfectly fine - what you're talking about is excess within means. When times are good for an individual they can be lavish, when times are good for a public sector organisation they should simply be able to run the same as when times are bad - i.e. efficiently, not simply be lavish because there is more money in the coffers! You're comparing apples to oranges.
With the amount of redundancies being made here you have to wonder exactly how lean the council can get and continue to function. The amount of waste must have been incredible pre-recession.”
by Gargloit
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 11:18AM
“by Derby_Stu
"I know this is horrible for those potentailly losing their jobs but with all the redundencies that have been made so far, exactly how much fat was there in the council to begin with and how much has been wasted over the years on roles that obviously just weren't warranted??"
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Poor logic there. When times are good, you have a nice car, meals out, and a nice holiday. When times are rough, no holidays, start eating at home, and if they get tougher the car has to go. None of the treats were 'necessary' but they made life a lot more tolerable. Mind you, a lot of money would be saved if Adam Wilkinson was given his marching orders, what with his astronomical wage, his equally astronomical travelling expenses to and from home oop 'north, and his astronomical hotel bill in Derby while he's so far from home.”