Never cut customer service in a downturn

Sir, - Your story on Angus Council cuts and job losses gives me great concern.

I note phrases like redesigning, reducing and stopping services.

I note consultancy firm EY has been paid £467,000 since August 2014 and will be retained to find more savings.

The firm works for the Transforming Angus Board which consists of six councillors. I can only assume the board has no business experience if it needs a consultant to do the job the councillors signed up for.

I worked in the oil industry for 40 years and saw eight major cycles where we did not use consultants as it was an expense not required.

There are five basic steps to weather a downturn.

Get rid of the nice-tohave costs and departments.

Go back to basic remuneration for all employees including managers and directors and remove all bonus payments.

Look for efficiencies in all services and manufacturing using a number of tried and tested methods.

Reduce stock in hand and extend deliveries.

The last reduction is people but starting with management by combining departments.

You never reduce the service to the customer as this is the short road to administration, unless you have a captive income in council tax.

Competent managers do not need consultants to implement the above.

I have been in correspondence with Angus Council on the removal of the food-waste service in country areas.

This is an excellent example of a lack of knowledge or experience. There are pods that fit the existing bin lorries that could allow food to be collected with the same truck and staff.

George Sangster. Woodlands, Logie, Montrose.

Angus Council’s headquarters at Orchardbank, Forfar.