Drop in council staff may affect service delivery

THE numbers working in Clare County Council have declined by about 15% since the summer of 2006 and concerns about the implications for services were voiced at the body’s November meeting.
According to figures presented at the meeting, the council had 1,002 employees in June 2006. However, by June of this year, the number had fallen to 872 and it is set to reach 852 next month.
In a written report to the meeting, the council’s human resources officer, Leonard Cleary said the staff reductions have had consequences and things are likely to become more difficult.
“The above staff reductions have placed a serious challenge to the continued delivery of services to customers. Staff have responded through stretched performances in order to maintain quality services. However, the continued reduction in staffing levels will require service prioritisation and curtailment. Due to the reduction in demand for some services following the economic downturn, some very limited staffing reductions could be absorbed. During early 2009, however, this point was passed and has necessitated tailoring services over the past 20 months.
“The Department of Heritage and Local Government’s staffing embargo restricts replacement or recruitment of individual staff members. This means that high levels of staff reductions, including retirements, are not being replaced in order to maintain services. The Croke Park agreement focuses on further embedding of the modernisation programme. This will necessitate new methods of service delivery and provision in new ways.”
County manager, Tom Coughlan said the staffing situation is going to cause problems in terms of service delivery. He said the lower numbers of staff could cause difficulties if severe weather arises, similar to last winter. However, he later said the council are prepared for emergencies, even if there are staffing reductions.
“Obviously we don’t have as many staff, so it is more difficult,” he claimed.
In response to a question from Councillor Joe Arkins, the manager said the percentage decrease in numbers has been roughly even between outdoor and indoor workers.
While there is provision for public sector workers to move to different areas following the Croke Park agreement, Mr Coughlan said the council might not be able to benefit.
“There is provision for redeployment in the public sector but there is a need to have money to pay more staff,” he explained.
At a previous meeting of the local authority, the members discussed the findings of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group at which Mr Coughlan said he was hopeful that the efforts local authorities have already made on cost saving will be recognised.
“Local authorities have been very quick out of the traps on making efficiencies and I would hope the efficiencies that have been achieved would be taken into account and they wouldn’t be expected to achieve the same level as public sector bodies that have not undertaken efficiencies,” he said.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy was very cricital of the review group’s recommendations and said there have been very serious cutbacks made by local authorities. “At local level things have tightened so much that the elastic is about to break,” she said.
She said the Government seemed to look at the local authorities as a “soft touch”, while she felt they are afraid to look to other public bodies for savings.
Councillors are to discuss the matter further at their area meetings.