Left Foot Forward on public sector cuts‏

LeftFoot Forward incovers more evidence of the financial squeeze set to confront the public sector, as policy makers turn their attention to how to plug budget deficits across the country.

• A report in the Herald newspaper has revealed that Scotland’s largest local authority is to spend £100 million in early redundancy payments on the 2,200 staff who have opted for voluntary redundancy. In 2009, the council announced plans to shed 4000 jobs as part of efforts to save £34 million over the coming year;

Glasgow UNISON's Mike Kirby tells UNISONActive that he reported yesterday to the STUC Economy & Employment Committee that figures reported in The Herald of 3,000 across Scottish LAs were an underestimate, that Glasgow alone would shed upwards of 2k and that other Local Authorities combined give us reports of a further 2k plus. 4,000 upwards, all voluntary at this stage.

In addition, Local Authority budget cuts of 10-20% in Voluntary Sector grant support mean more jobs. The majot impact on Health jobs is expected in 2011.

"Taxpayers Alliance letter writers say that 4,000 voluntary redundancies shows extent of "fat" to cut. We say quality public services, particularly care, are dependent upon people providing care for the elderly, early years, and people with disabilities. Loss of people means loss of quality of care. Quality of care for those in need is a measure of a civilised society. Remember, Thatcher questioned the very concept of "society"..........where did that lead us?" said Mike.

LeftFootForward goes on to report that....

• On the Isle of Man, Health Minister Eddie Teare has warned of possible cuts to front line health services unless £8.5 million can be found to fill the overspend in staff pay rises and the costs of sending patients to the UK for treatment; and

• BBC South West’s Inside Out programme has reported that Cornwall county council has been left having to find £10 million to fix school buildings following the collapse of a major contract with a consortium called NewSchools Cornwall.

These developments come after the auditors, KPMG and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, warned that a third of public sector bodies were looking to make staff cuts, with the defence and public administration sectors likely to be badly hit.

Read more at http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/02/more-evidence-of-public-sector-cuts/