Cllr's should not threaten employees with job losses (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Cllr's should not threaten employees with job losses

November 23, 2004 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrats have criticised a maverick Conservative backbench member of the Council for causing unnecessary distress to Council employees.

Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems, Cllr Wendy Johnson says:

"As the Conservative-run Council seeks opportunities to cut expenditure in a desperate bid to keep next years Council tax level below 3%, increasingly one councillor has been threatening staff with redundancies".

Councillor Lister of Abbey Meads has renamed the Council as 'Swindon Borough Charity' because he believes there are too many employees not working effectively and so draining resources from the Council's £186million 2004/05 budget.

Tories bully Council Staff

Cllr Johnson continues:

"Elected Councillors have a responsibility to all residents of Swindon to ensure that the Council spends its money wisely and is accountable for that spending. But we also have a duty of care towards our 8,000 employees be they teachers, refuse collectors, managers in Leisure Services or office administrators assisting the delivery of services. It is not within our remit to threaten people with job losses."

Cllr Wendy Johnson will ask the following question at the Full Council meeting:

"Does the Leader of the Council agree with me and his own deputy leader that remarks by Cllr Lister welcoming 400 job-cuts at Swindon Borough "Charity" do not help boost morale within the workforce at a time when we are striving to lift ourselves out of a failing Corporate Performance rating; work against the challenges before the current Single Status review of Pay and Grading within the Council; and finally gives a very poor impression of elected members to our dedicated workforce?"

Cllr Johnson concluded:

"The Conservative administration has suggested 100 employees will lose their jobs by April next year through voluntary redundancy or early retirement. The Tories made an election pledge to cut costs when they won control of the Council this year. They expected this reduction in staff. But some Tory councillors rubbing their hands with glee that people will lose their livelihoods brings the Council into disrepute as a good employer in the town."

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STOP PRESS

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In January 2005, Tory Councillor Lister apologised for his remarks