‘In the dark’ blast over council jobs

COUNCIL staff fearing for their jobs have been updated on redundancies — but opposition councillors have blasted the lack of detail.

The Chronicle revealed last month how 400 jobs are set to be axed as Oldham Council attempts to find £24 million in savings for their 2012/13 budget.

An initial 122 posts had been identified in the first stage of the process and could go by December as consultation continues.

The council says the balance of 278 posts have now been identified in the second stage of the process.

But it is currently unknown which areas of the council will see a reduction in posts.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Cabinet member for finance and resources, stresses the measures are currently under a “consultation stage”.

He said: “Together the savings we have identified in these first two stages of this process would cover the £24 million in savings that we need to find from next year’s budget.

“We are continuing to engage with and listen to staff, trade unions and residents alike before any final decisions are taken.

“We have a very clear policy here to minimise redundancies and a full package of assistance and support – plus redeployment opportunities – will be offered to any staff affected.”

The authority are reviewing changes to employee terms and conditions, which they claim could save around £1.5 million a year - in an attempt to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies.

The feedback received via the public consultation – plus discussions with staff and unions – will all be placed in the final budget proposals in February 2012.

Lib-Dem Councillor Lynne Thompson, shadow Cabinet member for finance and human resources, said: “This latest document as issued to council members sheds little light on the administration’s plans.

“In the absence of detail, it is hard to assess the impact on services, though a large proportion of job losses seem likely to be in social care.

What I am delighted to see is that all the mechanisms the previous Liberal Democrat administration put in place to support staff facing redundancy – including weekly consultations between management and unions, redeployment and retraining, jobseeking support and voluntary early retirement or reduced hours — remain in place.”