Council apologises over staff shortages

Senior Scarborough Council members have apologised to businesses and members of the public over delays arising from a lack of staff in certain departments.

Speaking at a meeting of the authority’s cabinet, Cllr Liz Colling apologised to members of the public and businesses over delays “around planning and the issues we are having around retaining and recruiting planners”.

The cabinet member for inclusive growth added: “But I understand it may be more widespread than just the planning department which is in my portfolio.”

At the cabinet meeting it was revealed that Scarborough Council is facing a “perfect storm” in relation to staffing in some departments.

Both the upcoming local government reorganisation as well as a shortage of qualified planners has left the authority struggling to meet targets.

The local government reorganisation will see Scarborough Council replaced by a new North Yorkshire Council next April, with plans for greater local decision-making.

This summer a Freedom of Information request revealed that more than 600 Scarborough Council staff had left their jobs since 2018 due to resignations, redundancies, and dismissal.

The authority has stated recently that second on the list of 10 top risks currently facing the council is a failure to “recruit and retain staff ”.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting, the council’s CEO, Mike Greene, who is leaving his position in November, also addressed the staffing issue while paying tribute to the hard work put in by employees of the council.