Senior councillors refuse paycut as job cuts announced (From Streatham Guardian)

Senior Lambeth councillors refuse paycut on same day 400 job losses announced

6:30am Monday 7th June 2010 in News By Matt Watts

Lambeth Council's senior elected members refused a 5 per cent pay cut on the day 400 job cuts were announced at the local authority.

The jobs will be axed as the local authority braces itself for £20m in funding cuts this financial year.

The council launched a 90-day consultation with trade unions and staff last Wednesday for cutting the posts.

But on the same day, Labour councillors refused to accept a 5 per cent reduction in allowances for councillors with special responsibilities - in line with a similar reduction in Government minister's pay.

They said a freeze in councillors' allowances was sufficient when the idea was tabled by opposition councillors.

Council leader Steve Reed is paid more than £50,000, with other cabinet members netting almost £40,000.

Deputy leader Councillor Jackie Meldrum said its "absolute priority" was to improve and maintain front line services but that it had to make finance cuts.

Some 215 positions in children and young people's services are earmarked for the chop, along with 58 posts in housing, regeneration and the environment, 36 posts in finance and resources, and 25 posts in the office of the chief executive.

Dozens of jobs in the adult and community service department also faced the axe.

A council spokesman said there would be reductions in the number of manager and director posts, support posts, and temporary and agency positions by streamlining at most levels across the council.

The council was keen to stress 400 workers would not be made redundant, as there were unfilled posts that could be axed, and workers moved from redundant positions to fill other posts, and long term civil servants retiring.

Positions filled by temporary and agency staff will be cut, protecting permanent staff.

As well as a staff restructure, the council plans to achieve the £20m savings by "making efficiency savings and working smarter, increasing the collection of debt owed to the council, and examining if it can join together with other councils to commission joint services".

Lambeth Unison branch secretary Jon Rogers said the trade union would fight the job losses and the Government was wrong to make cuts when it needed to support the economy.