COUNCILLORS have been sidelined from decisions about a massive job loss programme, a politician has alleged.
Redundancies at Kirklees Council are being decided by officers rather than elected councillors, according to opposition Conservative leader Clr Jim Dodds.
Kirklees plans to reduce its workforce by 1,500 to cope with an expected 20% cut in Government spending.
But Clr Dodds believes the so-called Innovation and Efficiency Programme is being run by unelected officers rather than the Labour Cabinet.
He said: “There has been very limited involvement by councillors, this programme is almost completely officer-driven. That is a slur on the electorate who put councillors in a position to run the show.
“We are all aware that efficiencies need to be made throughout the council, but these decisions should be councillor-driven.
“At top officer level the council is deciding who stays and who goes, who does what and how they do it, and how much is to be paid to those who are leaving.”
Clr Dodds believes the plan to reduce the council’s senior management team from 36 to 23 was being driven through by officers.
The Denby Dale man said: “A new management structure has been implemented without any agreed job descriptions, with massive gaps in terms of responsibility for key areas and presumably with massive pay-offs for those who no longer have a job.
“I have to ask how much has all this cost, how much influence has the council leader had in it, and how much will this actually save?”
Clr Dodds said Labour council leader Clr Mehboob Khan had to prove he was really in charge.
He said: “It is quite clear that councillors are not running Kirklees anymore – it is being run by senior officers – and I challenge Clr Khan to prove that he is running the show.”
Clr Khan denied councillors had been excluded from decision-making about redundancies.
He said: “We have included members from all parties in developing this programme from day one. I meet with Clr Dodds frequently and he has never disagreed with the process. The whole Conservative shadow Cabinet has also been briefed on the process and no objections were raised.
“The chief executive has briefed Clr Dodds on the proposed changes in senior management structure, while directors have been to meet with all parties to discuss the challenges we face.”
Clr Khan added: “The senior managers who will be made redundant will not have enhanced severance packages, they will only have access to pensions where that is appropriate within the guidelines and their redundancy payments will be based on the same calculations as any other employee.
“As leader, it is not my role to do the job of the chief executive or that of the assistant directors – it is to ensure that we develop the very best services for the people of Kirklees and I do this by setting the policies, priorities and general direction for the council.”
Clr Khan criticised Clr Dodds for claiming officers were running Kirklees.
The Greenhead Labour councillor said: “I am disappointed that a party leader, through pathetic remarks, is playing political football with the understandable concerns within the workforce. It’s irresponsible of Clr Dodds, who I know realises the gravity of the situation.”
