Council’s new management structure proposals

Mar 11 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

PETER Johnston has hit out at rival politicians for trying to delay a new council management structure that he claims could save the local authority £375,000.

West Lothian Council plan to cut one director and two heads of services posts as part of cost cutting measures as they face up to a £45 million funding shortage.

Most members of the senior management will migrate to new posts created in the new structure but two posts are still to be filled.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, plans were hatched to appoint a senior officer appointments committee that will oversee appointments to these posts and any others that occur over the next three years.

However, opposition Labour politicians tried to block the proposals saying there had been inadequate consultation with elected members.

But council leader Peter Johnston said he was bemused at how they were trying to delay a management structure that will save the council £375,000 when it is implemented.

The SNP politician added: “It makes us the leanest top management structure in Scotland and I would have thought that given the financial tsunami coming in our direction it makes sense to look at the top and lead by example.

“There are no salary increases or massive pay-offs. Before we look below the level of head of services we have a massive consultation process to go through.

“We want the staff and trade unions involved in this process. We are planning now in contrast to the do nothing approach from Labour. I can’t understand why the Labour politicians are playing base playground politics with this. West Lothian needs better than that.

“They need to get involved with this – because if there is a time that West Lothian needs its politicians to pull together it is now.”

But Labour leader Graeme Morrice said the new “rushed through” structure would look after the senior managers while the rest of the workers are left to wonder what is happening to them.

“This restructuring has been rushed through without proper scrutiny or any consultation with our employees or service-users. It seems to me that the senior managers have been looked after but the rest of our 8000 employees have been left out on a limb worrying about their future,” the Labour councillor said.

“After all, the SNP/Conservative/Action to Save St John’s Hospital councillors who run the council have already said they want ‘a thousand staff out of the door’. This is a disgraceful way to treat our employees and the trade unions by these Tartan Tories.”

The administration’s proposals got through with the backing of hospital campaigner Gordon Beurskens. The Courier told in February how the Action to Save St John’s Hospital councillor had withdrawn his support for the administration after saying he can no longer back the SNP leadership following a row about council chief executive Alex Linkston.

The councillor also sent an e-mail to the chief executive in February that he was with “immediate effect” resigning from all his appointments within the council. However, it would appear he has been welcomed back into the fold and Councillor Morrice wants to know what deal was brokered to gain his support.

“One minute he’s part of the administration, the next minute he’s not. It’s like playing the hokey cokey but this is no game,” the Labour politician said.

“The question has to be asked why Councillor Beurskens has re-joined the SNP-led administration after calling them for everything only a matter of weeks ago.

”What has he been offered? What’s the deal for him to return to this politically incompetent and – in his own words – ‘spineless’ bunch? The public have a right to know.”

Councillor Johnston denied any deals had been struck and said Labour should concentrate on more important issues.

“Councillor Beurskens has withdrawn his resignation, much to the discomfort of the Labour party,” he said.

“There were absolutely no deals struck and the administration goes on as normal.

“Unlike our political opponents, who seem to be fascinated by the trivial, we are concentrating on the major issues that are facing West Lothian.”