Immediate Release: 17th January, 2024
Staff savings to be made at all levels
Labour has criticised the political opportunism of other political parties after they criticised senior management savings, without saying if they support them.
The comments came after a review of senior management led to a report recommending a restructure that will result in savings of over £250k annually in the future.
Labour’s Executive Member for finance, Cllr Katie Lomas said:
“After the bungling and huge cost from the old Liberal Democrat administration over the removal of the former Chief Executive and its pledge to spend less but ending up spending more on senior management, following their example seems like a fast track to higher costs to the taxpayer and legal action being taken against the council.
“And York’s Conservative Group Leader is criticising these savings without saying if he supports them.
“Even if the two main opposition parties don’t support these proposals, we’ve been clear savings will have to come at all levels of the organisation to help balance the books. We’ve also been clear from day one we will do things properly, legally and take the difficult decisions required to stabilise the council’s finances.
“After such a period of upheaval with senior management decisions taken in the past based on political grievances, we need to allow officers to conclude this review and then allow the council to settle into a period of stability that helps us deliver the best services we can to the residents of York”.
Labour’s Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Pete Kilbane said:
“Under the old Liberal Democrat administration, the number of senior officers earning £60,000 or more increased from 18 to 75, with the pay bill increasing from £1.8m to £5.5m. We are not going to follow their lesson of saying one thing and doing another. We said we’d review senior staff and reduce costs and that’s exactly what this decision achieves”.
-ENDS-
Cllr Katie Lomas. – 07776 141781
Cllr Pete Kilbane – 07845 798332
Notes to Editors:
Original story with Liberal Democrat and Conservative comment: Plan to cut five top jobs from York council sparks row | YorkMix