NEARLY 80 jobs are to go among bureaucrats in Suffolk.The county council is to axe more than a sixth of its “core” staff in an attempt to cut losses over the next three years.
By Paul Geater
NEARLY 80 jobs are to go among bureaucrats in Suffolk.
The county council is to axe more than a sixth of its “core” staff in an attempt to cut losses over the next three years.
However there was a warning from opposition councillors today that further cuts will be necessary as the savings will be totally inadequate.
The county is to axe 79 staff between now and 2011 as it brings the number of officials employed centrally down to 464 - mainly employed at Endeavour House in Ipswich.
The change is outlined in a paper due to be discussed by councillors at next week's full meeting of the authority.
A more radical option, which would see the number of staff employed reduced by 116, is also being considered although the council is not going to make a decision on whether to press ahead with that at present.
The changes are recommended in a paper to be discussed by the council next week - and the authority said it hoped the changes could be achieved by natural wastage and without the need for compulsory redundancies.
Council leader Jeremy Pembroke said: “This is just the first step on the way to reforming the way we deliver services.
“We are setting up a strategic centre which will organise the way these changes are made. There will be more changes as we look at how we deliver those changes to people on the ground.”
However opposition councillors were quick to warn these cuts could be only the tip of the iceberg - and could herald more dramatic changes.
Deputy Labour leader Kevan Lim said: “Quite frankly I don't see how they can expect to reduce staff by that number without enforcing some compulsory redundancies.”
And deputy Liberal Democrat leader Andrew Cann was doubtful about how effective the cuts would be.
He said: “If you look at the figures they are talking about, they need £75 million of cuts over the next three years and these will only deliver £39 million in the best case.
“Does that mean there is are a further £36 million in cuts to come?
How will these cuts affect you? Write to: Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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