Executive cuts to improve council

PLANS to slim down senior officers’ jobs at Oldham Council will help it to become the best in class, councillors were told last night.

Incoming chief executive Charlie Parker’s plans to cut five executive director posts to three were approved by the Liberal Democrat-led Cabinet.

Only Labour opposition member, Councillor Dave Hibbert, abstained from voting.

He said the Labour group supported the plans in principle, but added: “We will inspect and monitor the improvements in quality of service.”

And he added that Labour could not agree with getting rid of a deputy chief executive officer, but to include a new assistant chief executive. The council should also decide where its loyalties lie, he said.

“Is it going to be a dormitory town, or a developing economy, going to have its own economy and stand alone, or be linked with Greater Manchester, Leeds or Huddersfield?” added Councillor Hibbert.

The 25-minute debate was opened by Oldham Council’s Lib-Dem leader Howard Sykes who said the plans would be reviewed in 12 months’ time to see if they were still fit for purpose.

Mr Parker introduced his report saying there had been improvements on Oldham’s journey to excellence, but added: “Some of the original journey was excellent but the momentum has stalled.

“We can get the council through the next phase of change to make it the best in class.”

Councillor Hibbert said he had been saying for years that there was too much duplication, and a lack of people working in ways which complement each other. “For example,” he said, “people having plans for the same building. It is quite clear this has got to stop.”

Councillor Sykes told Councillor Hibbert: “You call for a debate about where we are going but we have documents coming out of our ears about what we are supposed to be signed up to. If you ask me what the issues are I think we have too many.”

After the meeting, Conservative group leader Councillor Jack Hulme, said: “We fully support the proposals. It is most important to give our citizens value for money. For far too long council tax has risen remorselessly and this must stop.”


40 jobs under threat

ANOTHER round of cost-cutting by Oldham Council could mean 40 more jobs will go.

The first attack on the £17.3 million budget deficit began last month when savings of £8.3 million and losses of up to 150 jobs were identified. In total, the Liberal Democrat group warned that up to 850 jobs could go.

Now a second round of cuts to council posts will mean another 40 jobs going, saving a further £1.8 million. Plans will go to councillors on the Cabinet on Monday for approval.

These are in addition to the changes to the top tier of management, which will slash five £115,000 executive director posts to three. Managers say employees have been briefed on the latest budget options and there will be full consultation with staff and trade unions before any final decisions are made.

Council leader Howard Sykes said: “We are looking at all our costs so we can balance the budget.”