Kirklees Council bosses 'understand staff uncertainty' but won't say if new directors will get a payrise

Sep 7 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE council says it has no plans for cuts which affect frontline services.

As uncertainty over the cuts continues, council bosses say it is the senior management structure, which is being hit.

Directors of service are being cut from six to four. Assistant directors were initially cut from 23 to 19. That has now been revised to 12.

Chief executive Adrian Lythgo revealed that the directors of service could receive a pay increase as they take on more responsibility, although he said the “starting point” would be to continue on current terms and conditions.

Job titles for the four services directors have not yet been confirmed.

Asked if the four directors could expect to be paid more for their new roles Mr Lythgo said: “They’ll agree terms and conditions and they will, of course, be asked to take on more responsibility.

“Their roles will be redefined. We’ll ask people to work in as productive way as they can, give them new ways to do that and ask them to think about new ways of working which means that the services can be delivered in different ways.”

Asked to clarify if the four will receive more pay, he added: “We expect people to do more across the board and directors will be treated in the same way as any other staff who are being asked to take on more responsibility. Terms and conditions apply to all staff.

“Quite simply we haven’t agreed that yet, we’ll ask people to do it for the same [wage] as a starting point.”

And he admitted that uncertainty among council staff was something he understood, saying: “I think they are doing a brilliant job in really difficult circumstances.

“How would you feel if you could see the government saying there is going to be less money in the public sector if you worked there?

“Of course it creates uncertainty and I think some of them are feeling uncertain, I recognise that.”