Senior Southend Council jobs to be cut

6:20pm Saturday 26th January 2013 in Echo News

Southend's Civic Centre Southend's Civic Centre

A TEMP earning £779 a day at Southend Council could find his contract terminated as the authority tries to slash its wage bill.

Just two weeks after the Echo revealed interim head of adult commissioning Mike Boyle was earning the equivalent of more than £180,000 a year, council chiefs have unveiled plans for a management shake-up.

Chief executive Rob Tinlin wants to axe three of the authority’s most lucrative roles to save up to £250,000 a year.

In a report for councillors, he said: “These recommendations are brought forward in recognition of the reduction in overall staff numbers since 2010, the continuing pressures and the need to make savings.

“If approved and delivered, the senior management structure will again be one of the leanest in English local government.”

There are currently 18 members of the council’s senior management team, whose annual earnings range from £58,000 to £148,000.

If the shake-up goes ahead, that team would be cut to 16 members, with Andrea Atherton, the director of public health for NHS South Essex, moving across to the authority’s wage bill in April. The three axed roles would include the corporate director of children and learning, a £100,000-a-year post currently filled temporarily by Sue Cook.

Her responsibilities with instead be merged with those of other corporate directors.

Two other roles will also be merged into existing jobs.

Comments(18)

reptile says...
6:50pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Should have been done first not last.

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jolllyboy says...
6:55pm Sat 26 Jan 13

One prob - the newspaper mentions could, not will be. Interestingly the newspaper says not just to save money - hence my concern as to why they wish to get rid of Sue Cook, surely they are not abundant with women at the top? Also a move from Public Health to Wages - bit of a difference in work I would say ! methinks it would be better to cut wages like us plebs have to have done and keep people. And no more temps !

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jayman says...
7:15pm Sat 26 Jan 13

I'll do it for 1/4 the wage. I'll do more hours and do a better job..

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thurrock design says...
7:27pm Sat 26 Jan 13

180k a year, how many houses could that build or improve? I know nothing about the way the council work but can't help thinking that people will work for a comfortable 50k a year and money saved could improve life for a lot of people. Just my thoughts!

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Nebs says...
7:54pm Sat 26 Jan 13

thurrock design wrote:
180k a year, how many houses could that build or improve? I know nothing about the way the council work but can't help thinking that people will work for a comfortable 50k a year and money saved could improve life for a lot of people. Just my thoughts!
Quite right about the houses, and we only have a year to build them ready for the new wave of Romanians and Bulgarians who will be free to come over in 2014 and who will all need somewhere to live.

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GrumpyofLeigh says...
8:17pm Sat 26 Jan 13

A senior management team of 16: ah bless. I'm sure there is a good reason it is more than 4 or 5 but I can't think of it. And why all the management-speak of plans, recommendations and shake-ups? As if they are doing ratepayers a favour. Just sack 'em. Its a council, not putting a man on Venus.

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rochford111 says...
8:25pm Sat 26 Jan 13

To many overpaid and have been for years and years,and as for the Romanains and Bulgarians coming over here the government should stop this sod the EU rules

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_champagne2 says...
8:45pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Tinlin is the one to go he's desecrated the Council and its services by getting rid of all experienced staff, did it before at a previous Council - nuff said

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humps says...
8:52pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Southend Council is useless and does not listen to local residents. I have been complaining about parking issues created by the Council, and what do they do, absolutely nothing, just change the rules. Why do we mugs pay our council tax to total incompetent idiots who only think of their perks and massive salaries!

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sosad 1 says...
9:13pm Sat 26 Jan 13

this council has always been bent 30 yearsplus ago when iwas employed by them and told the press about what was going on got loads of vists from oldbill who told me shut it! obvious there all in the funny handshake club together now the old bill and council together all they need is a bigger bowl to get there snouts in all of them greedy you know what

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emcee says...
10:05pm Sat 26 Jan 13

The fact they are "able" to do this proves that these jobs were unnecessary in the first place. How much money (our taxes) has employing unnecessary staff cost us over the years?
Still, better late than never. It's is still not enough though. I dare say there is still a lot of unnecessary spending that goes on and probably more management jobs that could be "merged".

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echoforum says...
3:19am Sun 27 Jan 13

We have to wait to there is a financial crisis to find out that our council is blowing sh!t loads of cash on staff.
Perhaps if our council had been prudent 10 years ago when it was awash with cash and no doubt handing out large salaries to all ,then perhaps it wouldn't need to rip all its budgets apart in 2013.

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asbo. just the truth says...
9:07am Sun 27 Jan 13

great. let's promote the teaboy.

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asbo. just the truth says...
11:33am Sun 27 Jan 13

jayman, you got no chance btw. the teaboy with no chips and no axe is better qualified.

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asbo. just the truth says...
11:37am Sun 27 Jan 13

can anyone explain this muppet-think thing to me?

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jayman says...
12:09pm Sun 27 Jan 13

asbo. just the truth wrote:
jayman, you got no chance btw. the teaboy with no chips and no axe is better qualified.
a slightly dyslexic limpet with behavioural problems could do a better job.

I have never known a organisation to pay such high wages for such utter failure.

and as for council of the year! well, that's a whole other kettle of fish..

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jayman says...
12:09pm Sun 27 Jan 13

asbo. just the truth wrote:
jayman, you got no chance btw. the teaboy with no chips and no axe is better qualified.
a slightly dyslexic limpet with behavioural problems could do a better job.

I have never known a organisation to pay such high wages for such utter failure.

and as for council of the year! well, that's a whole other kettle of fish..

Report this post »

jaguarxxv says...
12:27pm Sun 27 Jan 13

But can the council run without an "Adult Commissioner"??

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