EXCLUSIVE: Staff unaware of 60 job cuts
Richard Cutcher • Published 3 Feb 2012 08:30
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THE PRICE OF CUTS: Member for finance, Cllr Richard Kellaway, leader of the council, Cllr David Burbage, chief executive, Ian Trenholm, and chief whip, Cllr Phill Bicknell.
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But chief says: 'We kept them informed'
A UNISON representative has slammed the council for not keeping employees informed of job cuts, while the Royal Borough's chief has warned of more redundancies to come.
Council leader, Cllr David Burbage, alongside Royal Borough chief executive, Ian Trenholm, announced a proposed 1.5% council tax reduction for the 2012/13 budget at a press conference last week.
As reported in The Observer last week, included in the preliminary budget, to be put before full council on Tuesday, February 28, is the axing of up to 60 council jobs, but union representatives claim staff had not been informed before the announcement.
Jo Porter, Unison's Royal Borough branch secretary, said: "Unison and all staff within the Royal Borough were totally unaware of this announcement from Cllr Burbage, and not surprisingly this has come as a total shock to us all.
"We are appalled and disappointed by the total insensitivity to the loyal, hard-working staff that the councillors have within RBWM.
"We made sure that we were quick to reassure our members that we are currently asking many questions as to why we should have to learn of more redundancies via the local press."
Mr Trenholm was dismayed at the claim and insisted staff had been regularly kept informed of the council's plans.
He said: "Perhaps there has been some crossed wires but I have certainly stood up in front of large groups of staff and been as open as possible without trying to frighten them unnecessarily. It is likely that we are going to be making more redundancies."
Councillor Burbage said: "I don't think the union's position is accurate. A number of those redundancies have already taken place."
Meanwhile, Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has praised the Royal Borough for its council tax reduction.
Mr Pickles said: "The councillors and officers at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead should be congratulated for cutting council tax for the third year running. The council is at the forefront of embracing innovation and transparency, helping cut out waste and improve frontline services."
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 03 Feb 12
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