Council lets staff take a £46k break over Covid

‘An insult to taxpayers’

EXTRA holidays have been handed to council staff as a reward for their response to the pandemic.

Angus Council is giving more than 4,500 employees an additional day off to thank them for performing their duties during the coronavirus crisis.

The bonus will see services disrupted, schools shut early and an additional bill of £46,000 to the taxpayer, according to officials.

But councillors opted to go ahead with the plan, giving it the green light during a meeting last week.

Last night, critics accused Angus, which this year announced cuts to teacher numbers despite an inflato tion-busting rise in council tax bills, of ignoring the needs of locals.

Danielle Boxall, media campaign manager at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Giving council workers an extra day off is an insult to hardpressed taxpayers already facing a huge tax bill.

‘Angus Council heedlessly handing out holidays is made worse by the looming recession in which many residents face losing their livelihoods.

‘Instead of putting their feet up and patting themselves on the back, council employees should be putting residents first and pulling out all the stops to help residents devastated by the Covid crisis.’

Angus, led by a coalition of Tory, LibDem and independent councillors, first mooted the extra holiday in June as the pandemic’s initial surge was receding, however, the idea met with a mixed reaction.

Employees are already entitled 32 days off a year, rising to 37 among long-serving staff and 65 for teachers.

Independent councillor David Cheape, who voted against the move, told last week’s meeting: ‘At a time when the council budgets are under the worst ever pressure, I think there are many people who will simply consider this as another example of council profligacy when we are asking everyone to tighten their belts.’

However, SNP councillor Julie Bell replied: ‘We need to recognise our staff and value them and this is a tiny token.’

Councillors were told the move would cost an extra £46,000. The council will now consult with the Angus negotiating committee for teachers as the holiday ‘impacts on schools opening’.

It is suggested that classes will now end at lunchtime on the final day before the Christmas and summer holidays, which will leave many parents with childcare problems.

Council leader David Fairweather said the holiday is ‘recognition of the amazing work [employees] have undertaken throughout the pandemic so far’.

He said: ‘The way in which Angus Council staff responded to the immediate and continuing threat of coronavirus, adapting to new ways of working, whether from home or in the community has been fantastic. I am in awe of their commitment.

‘The demands placed upon them from have been unprecedented. But as it stands there is no end in sight to this pandemic and if we can show our appreciation with an additional day’s leave, I am happy to do so.’

Earlier this year, Angus increased council tax bills by 3 per cent – but also scrapped more than 25 teaching posts.