Liberal Democrats concerned over treatment of staff and lack of openness with Councillors (Suffolk County Council Liberal Democrats)

Suffolk County Council Liberal Democrats <info@suffolkcclibdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrats concerned over treatment of staff and lack of openness with Councillors

July 18, 2007 4:22 PM

Today Liberal Democrats on Suffolk County Council expressed concern over the way the Conservative Administration is treating the staff at the council and councillors.

Concerns were initially raised by Liberal Democrats last September when the Conservatives pushed through changes to the redundancy terms and conditions of staff. Partly these changes were necessary to reflect changes in National Law around age discrimination, but the Administration used these changes to force through lower payouts for all staff.

The moves came at a time when the consultants KPMG were working with the Conservatives to draw up their secret plans for a mass privatisation of the County Council. Plans published earlier this week saw the Administration outline a potential saving of £7.8 million over three years by creating the "Strategic Centre" at the top of the County Council with the loss of up to 116 jobs.

The plans also outlined further potential savings of up to £31 million over three years. This would however not cover the expected funding gap of £75 million the Administration claimed it was facing - there will be a shortfall of £36 - £44 million.

Speaking about the moves Group Leader of the Liberal Democrats Cllr Kathy Pollard said, "The paper which came to full council last year really emphasised the need to change the staff's redundancy terms and conditions because of age discrimination laws, it also contained short, cryptic references to sustainability. The paper was presented to councillors as a housekeeping issue. They were preparing their secret plans for privatising the council at the time this paper was presented to councillors, it's clear now why they chose to make some of the changes. The Tories have cut compensation payments for all staff and didn't want to be up front with councillors or staff about it.

Staff at the council work very hard to deliver services and I believe do actually understand the need for a leaner, less bureaucratic council. Sneaking through a lowering of redundancy terms for all staff however and disguising it as simply sorting out discrimination just shows the contempt the Conservatives have for anyone who gets in the way of their relentless drive towards dogmatic privatisation. In truth they have discriminated against all staff by cutting redundancy compensation for all. I think it's a real shame and a poor way to treat staff."