Council’s £15,000 awards show defended

COUNCIL bosses have deafened an Oscar-style ceremony for staff when hundreds jobs are set to be axed.

Tomorrow’s TOP (Trust Oldham People) Awards will be attended by more than 250 people and cost £15,000.

The annual event — formerly the STAR awards — comes days it was announced that 800 jobs could be axed to save £45 million.

This year the nine categories have attracted 130 nominations from staff and the public. These include employee of the year, community service award and customer service award.

One person, who wanted to remain anonymous, has e-mailed council chief executive Charlie Parker demanding that the ceremony is scrapped.

It states: “Council staff are just learning that they are to brace themselves for further job cuts. The council has a lot of money it needs to save.

“Cancel the staff awards ceremony. It might be laudable that staff be recognised for their efforts, but surely the TOP Awards have got out of control.

“This sort of junket might be common practice among councillors and senior officials but, to the rest, this seems like a waste. I feel sure that the majority of those staff invited would rather the money spend on saving a colleague’s job.”

But Councillor Brian Lord, cabinet member for corporate services said: “The TOP Awards are one way to recognise the efforts and achievements of our staff and have been running for more than five years.

“Regardless of what future plans may be, it is important that the council does not lose sight of the excellent work and commitment that staff have shown and that we make the effort to show that we value their contribution.”

“It is accepted as good practice in any large organisation, public or private, to communicate effectively with staff. The TOP awards are just one part of how Oldham Council does this.”

“This event was planned and budgeted for at the start of the year and all arrangements were finalised some time ago.”