Union set to quiz North Ayrshire Council boss

Jul 3 2009 by Lex Brown, Irvine Herald

WHITE collar council workers in North Ayrshire are seeking an early meeting with new boss Elma Murray to express concern about inevitable budget cuts.

They are furious over predictions of up to £30m to be slashed from next year’s spending.

The workers – members of UNISON – say they “are appalled by recent statements made by the incoming chief executive.”

UNISON say they were forewarned about £5m worth of cuts by senior councillors.

But they were unaware of where the £30m figure came from.

This week union officials said: “We have no idea where the figure of £30m came from – we have not even met with the new chief executive yet.”

“She has not shared how she wants to develop her vision – however we have requested an early meeting.”

Last week the new boss – due to take over the reins at the end of August – warned of a five-year cash squeeze on local authorities.

She alerted councillors for the need to brace themselves for a nationwide cut of at least £500m for each of the next two years.

She told the council executive: “The scale of this reduction will require significant changes to be made to the way the council delivers its services.”

North Ayrshire needed a vision for at least the next five years, she told councillors who fear hard times ahead.

In addition, the development of the council’s programme for changes would be a key element in the service plans and budget for next year.

She proposed the creation of an informal cross-party group to meet the “unprecedented financial pressure over the next three to five years.”

The Change Sounding Board group should comprise six or seven councillors drawn from across the political spectrum.

The board would receive thoughts from officers about areas that could be changed and councillors would provide a steer as to their overall suitability.

She added no decisions had been made on where and how savings could be made, but nothing was being ruled out.

North Ayrshire MSP Kenneth Gibson blamed Labour for the scaremongering and said it was impossible at this stage to predict cuts for individual authorities.

He said: “The Scottish Government will only begin to outline next year’s budget in September.

“However, we already know the UK Labour Government intends to cut £500m from Scotland in each of the two financial years.

“Rather than wait to be struck by cuts the incoming chief executive is taking a responsible, long term view.”