Challenge over council job cuts

Yet, while people will sympathise with those who face the regrettable prospect of compulsory redundancy – and this, it should be noted is a relatively small percentage of the overall number of jobs threatened – the need for prudence must not be ignored as the country limps out of the recession.

This was reiterated by David Cameron in the House of Commons as the respected Institute of Fiscal Studies warned that the Government may fail to eliminate Britain’s national deficit by the next general election, the coalition’s stated intention, because of below-par growth and “formidable” difficulties delivering cuts. It is a sobering warning, taking into account the scale of the envisaged savings.

However, given the extent to which the local government workforce has increased in recent years, the onus should be on senior council executives, in conjunction with elected councillors, to continue managing their staff numbers in a manner that does not compromise key services.

While the “headline” figures confirmed by civic leaders in Leeds and Sheffield are, at face value, eye watering, they can be largely achieved through natural wastage – provided councils place sufficient emphasis on only replacing front line staff and looking at more efficient ways of fulfilling “back office” functions. Realistically, every council service can be performed more efficiently, if the political and managerial will is sufficient.

If this process had begun when the seriousness of the deficit first emerged, rather than being put on hold until after the election, then there would not be so much angst now. The decisions, though challenging, would not be as difficult as they are proving to be, and in spite of the steps that have been taken to mitigate the impact of the job losses in question.

That council chief executives Tom Riordan and John Mothersole have recognised the need to cut their own salaries is, again, indicative of the largesse that has prevailed in local government for too long. While their gestures are welcome, the onus is on them to manage the cuts process so they protect key services – while also offering taxpayers genuine value for money.