Job cut fears as authority plans ahead
POLITICIANS are worried that the Isle could be hit by more job cuts at North Lincolnshire Council.
Over 140 jobs at North Lincolnshire Council could disappear before April as the local authority tries to claw back cash in the face of yet more cuts.
They would add to a total 43 senior management posts which have already have gone to save almost £800,000.
Labour councillor Trevor Barker, of Crowle, said: “I’m very disappointed that yet more jobs are at risk. I don’t think the heartache that being made redundant can cause people is ever fully realised.
“Those who have worked in one place for all of their life suddenly feel they are on the scrap heap. It’s a devastating situation and not the way we should be going. Alternative employment offered to people isn’t always suitable.”
North Lincs Council currently has 5,891 workers.
Senior managers who have already lost posts were either redeployed or took early retirement. Only two lost senior posts have been compulsory redundancies.
Despite the proposed losses, it is reported that all affected employees will be offered alternative positions, within newly created opportunities. Bosses insist that frontline services will remain untouched.
Council leader Liz Redfern claims job losses have been kept to a minimum by a stringent clampdown on waste.
The controversial use of highly-paid outside consultants has been hacked to save over £1 million in fees.
But Humber regional officer for the union Unite, Dave Monaghan, said fear for the future of their livelihoods spread stress among staff members and their families.
Labour councillors fear the situation is unlikely to improve, given the Government’s announcement of another swathe of cuts to council budgets for this year and next. Government funding to local authorities is set to be slashed by 1.7 per cent, and will impact heavily on spending.
Just over a year ago North Lincs Council had over £30.6 million in reserves, after amassing cash to allow for the Building Schools for the Future scheme and other major spends including waste management. This pot may be dipped in to as crisis points are reached.
Coun Redfern was unavailable to comment personally to the Bells this week.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Thorne
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
