Council jobs shake-up to save £90,000
Last updated at 11:36, Thursday, 19 April 2012
COPELAND Council is having a management shake-up to help save money.
The two top corporate posts under chief executive Paul Walker are being rolled into one – a new single director position for director of services.
This move alone will save £90,000.
The shake-up is still subject to consultation for internal views on the proposed restructuring proposal, although Joanne Wagstaffe, who holds one of the posts to be axed, has already accepted another senior job in Worcestershire.
She is Copeland’s director of resources and transformation on a salary of £75,458. Extras such as pension and national insurance contributions make for the £90,000 saving.
The other role being axed is director for people and places, which carries a salary of £68,500.
Joanne Wagstaffe, who has held the higher-paid position for less than two years, has already secured a new senior job with Wyre Forest District Council at Stourport-on-Severn.
The other director, Pat Graham, is expected to apply for the new director of services post.
Chief executive Paul Walker, who earns £110,000 a year, told The Whitehaven News: “The budget proposals we have recently made will mean we have saved over £3 million in two years – a significant achievement.
“However, it is clear that further tough decisions will need to be taken to ensure we deliver the services our customers value in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
“By the end of the four years of savings, Copeland will be a small organisation with a budget that has reduced from £14.8million to just over £10million. In further reviewing our spending it is important that senior management continue to make a contribution to our savings.
“For these reasons I have brought forward a proposal to remove the two corporate director positions and create a new post of director of services, saving up to £90,000 per year for the council.
“Consultations on these proposals is now taking place and following this a final recommendation will be made.”
Copeland is cutting more jobs in other departments, mainly confined to middle management. Final redundancy numbers are expected to be available shortly. Assurances have been given that no staff delivering front-line services will be made redundant.
First published at 11:08, Thursday, 19 April 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk
I have to say this is a pretty unambitious move. Surely Copeland should be looking at sharing services and management overheads with neighbouring local authorities or even at County level.
View all 7 comments on this article
Have your say
How very patronising Crisby.
Posted by Rich on 25 April 2012 at 15:38