Warden roles could be cut to plug budget gap Union says reducing number of jobs is ‘short-sighted’
The number of community wardens tackling antisocial behaviour, dog fouling and crime could be slashed as part of efforts to plug the gap in East Renfrewshire’s budget.
The local authority first unveiled plans to save £90,000 by reducing the number of community wardens serving its 100,000 population to ten last year.
A historic low, the service was once served by 20 members of staff and is currently operating with 13.
The GMB has blasted the move as “short-sighted” and argues the move - due to be fully implemented this year - would render the current standard of service unsustainable.
Kirsten Muat, GMB organiser for East Renfrewshire, said the majority of staff had rejected the proposals which would also see them work more weekends for less money.
She said: “The proposals will strip this service beyond the point of sustainable delivery, put hard-pressed staff in financial detriment, and severely hamstring local law enforcement and public safety efforts – it’s incredibly short-sighted.
“Leaving East Renfrewshire with just ten community wardens to serve nearly 100,000 residents isn’t credible; our members have a wide range of responsibilities, from anti-social behaviour resolution to suicide prevention, and the removal of hazardous materials and waste from public spaces.”
She added: “They are community champions and the real-world consequences of further cuts to reduce staffing and their value will only see an acceleration of the challenges that have risen after the previous decade of austerity and the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns.
“It’s clear that council chiefs need to think again and consult properly with our members and communities on the future delivery of this vital service.”
Kirsten has highlighted that the proposed saving only represents 0.02 per cent of the money required to be saved by East Renfrewshire going forward, suggesting it does not represent value for money.
The GMB has now requested a meeting with the council to discuss these concerns and to explore other options which could meet the needs of the service and staff.
A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council told the Express: “As part of the budget set in March 2022, a re-design of the wardens service was approved.
“This consultation process is still ongoing and we remain committed to working with our staff and GMB colleagues to work through the issues highlighted.”
The proposals will strip this service beyond the point of sustainable delivery