32 staff made redundant at Chester City Council

Jun 13 2008 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

THIRTY-two staff made redundant by the city council have cleared their desks and left.

The job losses are part of a drive by the council to secure budget cuts.

Officers were offered enhanced terms as part of a time limited package in February with the intention they would go by the end of last month (May).

The city council made it clear that priority would be given to staff in services which were under review and there was a possibility that not everyone who applied would be released, not least because of the cost. Almost 80 said they would be interested.

Each application was assessed and 32 people, equivalent to 27 full time staff, were advised they would be allowed to go.

Nine were in the council’s customer services, three in culture and community, three in environment services, seven in development, seven in people, performance and improvement and three in resources.

The biggest single cuts are in corporate administration and business support where the equivalent of five full time posts have been made redundant.

More than 3.5 equivalent full time posts have been cut in E government.