Hundreds of council jobs move to Hanley
CONTROVERSIAL plans to transfer almost 800 council jobs to a private company are being brought forward to help accelerate the regeneration of Hanley.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council had intended to transfer 498 staff to a new £250 million joint venture company next year.
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But the authority now wants to increase that number to 793 employees by completing two phases of the transfer process at once.
The first phase included 226 facility management, 128 IT, 65 property, 31 payroll, 30 human resources and 18 other administrative staff.
They will now be joined by 167 revenue and benefits workers, plus 120 from the council's contact centre and eight from the internal postal service by the end of June next year.
The council is considering three shortlisted bids for the 10-year strategic partnership contract, which may be extended to 15 years.
The winning bidder, which will be chosen in November, will automatically become the anchor tenant for Hanley's £120 million Central Business District when it opens in 2012.
But the firm will also be obliged to significantly expand its workforce there during the contract period.
A report to next week's executive and members' board (EMB) meeting says that the three bidders – Capita Symonds, Balfour Beatty Workplace/BT Global Solutions and Serco – all want to speed up the staff transfer in order to create those extra jobs sooner.
And Business District builder GenR8 Developments is keen for the added security of having more workers lined up to move to the new office quarter.
The council's portfolio holder for resources, councillor Kieran Clarke, below, said: "Bringing forward the transfer of services will support investment and job creation earlier in the contract. It will provide greater certainty for the developer and also means staff will transfer to the strategic partner with the services they support."
But Potteries Alliance leader, councillor Peter Kent-Baguley, said he has serious concerns about accelerating the plans. He said: "I think we are entering into an agreement far too prematurely.
"If anything goes wrong with the Business District, and it doesn't materialise, then there is a real risk this work could be carried out far from Stoke-on-Trent."
Stoke-on-Trent Unison branch secretary Colin Walton said the union has asked local government consultants to scrutinise the partnership proposals.
He said: "We are opposed in principle to any outsourcing of council jobs, but if it happens then we need to ensure staff move over under the same terms."
The full council will decide whether to award the contract for the strategic partnership once the preferred bidder is chosen.
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by David, Fenton
Friday, April 24 2009, 10:25PM
“Whats the use moaning about whats happening in Stoke we need to stand and be counted for a worthy cause!
Any ideas?
Apark4Stoke
@LUZ”
by John, packmoor
Thursday, April 23 2009, 5:16PM
“We truly are "JOKE ON TRENT" aren't we. Give us a break Councillors - I've seen all of this before and we will have no control over our City - this is supposed to be LOCAL GOVERNMENT!!!”
by Jayne - Stoke, Stoke
Thursday, April 23 2009, 5:08PM
“Does this even begin to surprise any of us. These Councillors have made a hash of the schools and now transferring jobs over to the private sector. Can the Councillors be transferred over as well - what an absolutely ridiculous idea. Then you turn round and try to hoodwink us Stokies by saying this will create jobs. What a load of rubbish, you simply have to think again. Use your vote wisely folks in May 09. Also the executives need to be transferred over as well, these should be the first to go over, try it - then decide if its good enough for your bog standard workers. We need to stand up to these people who are ruining our City.”
by william, Hanley
Thursday, April 23 2009, 11:30AM
“Moving council staff to a stategic partner in Hanley will do nothing to regenerate our city. I agree it could kill some businesses in Stoke or elsewhere if they manage to move other staff in. The partner would need to earn a profit which would cost the council more. By employing staff directly any profit or savings are spent in and around the city where as most of the partners profits would leave the city and could end up anywhere in the world. The partner would be required to take new jobs, but in a service industry these would not really be new jobs. in reality the company would compete for public and private sector contracts for existing work in the area. So if you are a cleaner, caterer, estate agent, architect, quantity surveyor, book keeper, accountant, give legal advice etc it could be your job they would take or your company put at risk. I agree the people behind this decision have no doubt made certain there jobs will not transfer and will either stay in their over paid senior roles or move on having gained status to destroy another council elsewhere. As for the councillors they will lose even more control of how functions are undertaken. We need new jobs not a recycling of existing ones. No wonder those that run the city council are considered a joke. Now we truly know they would shaft all of us, even their own staff, for their own gain.”
by sid, boothen
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 7:03PM
“A few Years ago the citizens of Stoke Town asked the question "Why is everything located in Hanley?"
The City Council stated that whilst Hanley is the entertainment and Shopping capital of our fair city - Stoke remained the Civic Town.
If 800 employees (for now...) relocate to Hanley what will that do for the traders for Stoke Town Centre?
I expect Stoke Town will soon be putting up signs - "Closed".
I predict Doom and Gloom for all Residents and Traders for Stoke Town. Centre.
Thanks for nothing Stoke on Trent City Council...!”