THE END OF PUBLIC SERVICES AS WE KNOW IT
UNION CHIEF’S WARNING AS HUNDREDS OF COUNCIL JOBS ARE AT RISK
Hundreds of jobs could be cut as council chiefs try to plug a £45million budget blackhole over the next three years, a union boss has warned.
The local authority has confirmed plans to tackle the huge funding gap by clawing back £25million in savings.
John McMenemy, GMB Renfrewshire branch secretary, fears the drastic move will see hundreds of jobs lost and mark “the end of public services as we know it”.
The need to manage the workforce over the three year period was described as
“inevitable” in a council report - dubbed ‘ Right for Renfrewshire’ - by finance bosses.
The stark report comes as ambitious plans to attract 9,000 new jobs to the region over the next decade were unveiled by business chiefs.
Mr McMenemy, told the Paisley Daily Express: “My fear is what we’re looking at is the end of public services as we know it.
“I’m talking about council services, which include bins, street cleaning and the wardens service.
“I am genuinely concerned the job losses will run into the many hundreds, as £ 45 million is a massive gap in funding.
“There’s no flesh left on the bone to cut, so there’s going to have to be a serious conversation about the planned savings.”
The council will review existing short term contracts and determine if there is a need for them to be extended.
However, according to the report, it has been considered “unlikely” this and other measures will generate “an adequate reduction in workforce numbers” over the three years.
As a result, the council will gauge workers’ interest on voluntary redundancy or early retirement from services under review.
The local authority has recognised the potential scenario of existing employees who want to stay at the council being displaced from their current roles.
In those circumstances it would look to redeploy workers into another job.
Plans are in place to work with service directors to “develop and deliver a range of smaller scale service led efficiencies” and “identify budget reallocation opportunities”.
Increasing the council tax as part of the annual budget setting process also remains an option.
The report was debated at the Leadership Board and, while some councillors called for the report to be rejected, a majority voted for its approval.
Renfrewshire Council has since released a statement.
It said: “Right for Renfrewshire will review all aspects of the way we work and the services we deliver to ensure we are sustainable for the long term and continue to deliver the services many people rely on – this is a priority.
“There are a number of factors we need to manage now and in the future.
“These include growing demand for our services, our changing population, changes to the way we work and how people expect to use our services and managing increasing cost pressures.
“As a council we are constantly changing and have a good track record in making changes to improve the services we deliver to communities, while supporting our workforce and improving our efficiency.
“We expect the programme will change the size and composition of our workforce and this will be carefully managed through reviewing contract arrangements, managing our vacancies, voluntary redundancy and voluntary early retirement, redeployment and retraining.
“Staff and trade unions will continue to be consulted throughout the programme.”