The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Workforces will continue to shrink as austerity bites
Hundreds more job cuts will have to be made, councils have warned.
Angus Council has seen the biggest staffing cull in Tayside and Fife over the last few years, with its workforce shrinking by 17% since 2010.
It is looking at axing a further 800 posts as austerity continues to bite.
Dundee is not far behind with a 16% drop in numbers, compared with 13% in Fife.
Perth and Kinross (6%) has fared better for job losses than its neighbours. However, extra staff cuts are all but certain after it was handed the biggest reduction in Courier Country for its 2018-19 revenue grant.
While much of the reduction is down to squeezed finances, some of the losses are down to organisational changes such as the creation of arm’s length organisations (ALEOs), which run things like leisure services for councils, and health and social care integration.
A spokesman for Angus Council warned of further job cuts.
“We are a smaller council than we were,” the spokesman said.
“Our workforce has reduced by more than 500 FTE in the past six years and this could reduce by a further 800 FTE over the coming three years.
“We have sought to ensure that compulsory redundancy is a last resort by following our managing change policies that includes managing vacancies, seeking redeployment for displaced staff, working with other partners to seek other employment opportunities and early retirement/ voluntary redundancy.”
Sharon McKenzie, head of human resources at Fife Council, is in no doubt that the workforce will continue to get smaller.
“To meet the continuing financial pressures over the last few years the council has looked to improve efficiency and minimise the impact of any reductions on frontline services,” she said.
“Our workforce reductions have been on a planned and phased basis and we know that our workforce will continue to reduce.”
She added: “We know that our ability to deliver long-term, sustainable and positive change rests with our employees and we will invest to help create renewed confidence, capability, and capacity to meet the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
A Dundee City Council spokesman said they have operated a voluntary redundancy scheme following structural changes.
“The council has been in regular discussions with trade unions around the issues involved with voluntary early retirement or voluntary redundancy,” he added.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman expects future losses, saying: “Any future reduction in our workforce will continue to be tied into our future skills requirements, reflecting council priorities and the changing nature of how services are delivered.”