430 jobs to go at council
A COUNCIL which is paying its absent chief officer £3,000 a week is to cut up to 430 jobs to save money.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has asked staff to apply for voluntary redundancies to save £2 million by April and £10 million next year.
The move comes soon after the authority revealed it has a predicted deficit of up to £17 million.
Outraged councillors are now demanding an emergency meeting to discuss the job losses.
They also want to know whether absent interim chief executive Chris Harman, who earns £157,000 a year, will be granted his wish for a pay-off.
Mr Harman has been on sick leave since September 30, when John van de Laarschot was chosen for the permanent £195,000 chief executive's post.
Council staff were told yesterday they have until 4pm on Thursday to express an interest in voluntary redundancy.
The memo from the council's director of central services, Paul Simpson, which was leaked to The Sentinel, warned compulsory redundancies will follow if the numbers are not high enough.
Mr Simpson, below, said: "The council is looking to identify between 370 and 430 redundancies this financial year.
"This number will potentially allow the council to spread the costs over several years."
He added: "Compulsory redundancies will be an option for future years, although we cannot predict numbers."
Potteries Alliance leader Councillor Peter Kent-Baguley said he is disgusted at the way the news was broken to staff and councillors and wants to know who was behind the decision.
He said: "I find it extraordinary this notice has gone out with a director's name on it and no sign of any political directive.
"It is just an appalling shambles and voters in this city must be wondering why they bother.
"I will be calling for a special council meeting so all members have an opportunity to discuss this and decide whether we should go along with a pay-off for Chris Harman."
He also hinted council leader Ross Irving could face a vote of no confidence over his handling of the Chris Harman situation.
Non-Aligned Group spokesman Councillor Mick Salih backed the call for an emergency meeting.
He said: "Councillors have once again been treated with contempt by officers who don't seem to realise we have a leader and cabinet now, and they are the executive."
Cabinet member for resources, Councillor Kieran Clarke, blamed the cutbacks on the recession.
The cabinet will decide whether to go ahead with the redundancies on October 28.
8 Comments
by james, stoke
Sunday, October 18 2009, 8:26PM
“When stoke became independent from Staffordshire in 1997 the decline of its education service was marked by appointments of many second rate staff who had mainly worked in stoke all their lives. Time to return to Staffordshire. Many employees will tell you privately that they hold these grossly overpaid departmental chiefs in total contempt. Time to return to staffordshire.”
by Chris, Newcastle
Sunday, October 18 2009, 1:00PM
“Harman should be sacked plain and simple. He's crying over his £3000 a week pay cheque because he lost the top job and feels councillors are not supporting him! ahh what a shame poor baby.
If anyone else tried on what he is doing they would be fired. He should never get a pay off he just be shown the door and thats it, its a disgrace.
JUST SACK HIM AND NO PAY OFF EITHER!”
by Ranting, Talke
Sunday, October 18 2009, 7:59AM
“"Stoke-on-Trent City Council has asked staff to apply for voluntary redundancies to save £2 million by April and £10 million next year.
The move comes soon after the authority revealed it has a predicted deficit of up to £17 million."
Well I know where I'd start, making the redundancies, right at the very top and work down.
The newly appointed John van de Laarschot for one, on his £195000 salary and Chris Harman, who earns £157,000 a year,
£195,000!! that's more than the Prime Minister's salary, and top ranking MP "only" earns £65,000. That's £3750 a week.. and Mr Harman's £3000/w
Only two redundancies and the saving is already £352,000.
Keep that up and the £10 million pound deficit will soon shrink. Now if these people worked inside a private company that had a turn over of millions and made a decent profit, you could argue they justify these enormous salaries.
Thing is they don't, they work for you and me on our behalf to get the best out of our money in running the county.
Personally I'd cap the maximum wage at £40,000 for the top tier. You could argue that for that salary you wouldn't attract the calibre of person required to do the job.
Thing is at £195,000 a year they're not up to the job either so why spend the extra?
If you assumed the average employee earned in the region of £16500 a year simply removing these two would keep around 20 in work and paying the mortgage.
I'm stunned that even with a bombshell like this not one high ranking has voiced an opinion. The silence speaks volumes...”
by Sharon Lees, Adderley Green
Saturday, October 17 2009, 9:17PM
“Ross Irving...what a complete waste of tax payers money he listens to NO-ONE it's his way or the highway.”
by N, Hanley
Saturday, October 17 2009, 7:17PM
“Harmen should offer himself up now as one of the 430.”
by L.J., Hartshill
Saturday, October 17 2009, 6:50PM
“The thing is Anthony, Stoke-on-Trent City Council employees have to go and see Occupational Health (at Weston Coyney if I recall correctly) if they have five days off too. Is Chris Harman the exception to the rule or something?”
by stuart, Not Stoke
Saturday, October 17 2009, 5:38PM
“"A COUNCIL which is paying its absent chief officer £3,000 a week is to cut up to 430 jobs to save money."
Stoke On Trent has become such a joke. Everything about it is useless. Put Stoke On Trent on your business address and it's the kiss of death!!!”
by Anthony, home
Saturday, October 17 2009, 2:24PM
“In my job you have to go to occupational health after 5 days off for a medical to see if you are skiving. Make Harmen go.”