Top job goes as council makes cuts

Barnsley Council's chief executive Phil Coppard has warned a threatened reduction in the funding provided by the coalition Government could have severe consequences.

Earlier this year, Mr Coppard told the Yorkshire Post that he planned to meet the challenge by reducing costs and providing the "minimum necessary" level of public services.

The council will cut 40m over the next four years, which Mr Coppard said would involve a "substantial" number of job losses when the authority is the town's largest employer.

It is expected that tomorrow, the ruling cabinet will approve plans to "delete" the post of director of customer and neighbourhood services as the first step in the process.

In a report to the meeting, Mr Coppard makes more gloomy predictions about further cuts, and says a review of all council positions will begin "in earnest" from next month.

He adds: "The senior management team has been working for some time now, in conjunction with the cabinet, to construct a four-year plan to reduce the size of the council to cope with the anticipated severe reduction in central funding.

"The plan is based on the concept of the minimum council, that is the least amount of expenditure that the council needs to incur to meet its statutory obligations, provide the minimum level of public services and protect the most vulnerable people and neighbourhoods.

"It is to be expected that this 'downsizing' will require a reduction in management costs at least commensurate with the overall reduction in the size and scale of the council's activities."

Barnsley Council's director of customer and neighbourhood services, Kate Roe, recently left the authority to take up the deputy chief executive's post at Northumberland Council.

Yesterday, the council said the 170,000 annual saving to be made included salary and pension costs for the director post, as well as a salary for a secretary.

The chief executive said Ms Roe's departure was an "opportunity to begin the process of cost reductions" by passing her responsibilities on to other directorates and saving the salary.

The council's directorate for children, young people and families will remain unchanged, while a new directorate for adults and communities and a directorate for development environment and culture will be created.

Mr Coppard's report says: "The proposals will delete to posts from the establishment – the executive director and the associated PA post, and will result in other small savings.

"It will be for the executive directors of the new directorates to consider how best to incorporate new functions. Reductions in management costs across the corporate departments, will be brought forward as part of the 'minimum council' plan."

The report also warns senior councillors to expect further upheaval as the Government's cuts begin to bite, with changes in cabinet structure also likely.

Mr Coppard says: "As ever, I counsel members that there is no perfect organisational structure. The proposal in this report is for the quick and simple transfer of functions within their existing divisions, with the minimum of disruption at this time.

"It is inevitable that further examination will be given to the priority, cost and value for money of all services as we move through the next few years."