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Somerset rejects rumours of staff taking unpaid leave to help cut costs, but plans in the works

Rumours that Somerset County Council staff could be asked to take two days of unpaid leave to prevent costs from rising even further have been rejected by the local authority— though councillors have said they are in “dialogue with unions” to create a two-day unpaid plan in December.

The proposals for the unpaid leave came about after an official audit of Somerset CC’s accounts last month found that it has a projected overspend of £1m until the end of March next year. Last month, authority leader Cllr David Fothergill said the council would not be issuing a Northamptonshire-style section 114 spending ban despite severe funding issues.

The financial issues led to two Conservatives leaving their senior roles as respective chair and vice chair of the audit committee after the audit surfaced.

In an effort to stem spending by the authority, Somerset CC proposed that council staff take two days of unpaid leave during the Christmas period in 2018 and next year as well.

The plans, outlined in a briefing note sent out to staff, said staff would take two days’ unpaid leave during 27 December and 28 December, with a Christmas Eve available to be taken as annual leave, flexible time, or working from home, Somerset Live reported.

“This would be a temporary change to terms and conditions for this year and next, saving an estimated £500,000 each year,” the briefing note said.

Unite’s acting regional secretary for the south west,, Steve Preddy said staff at the local authority should reject the proposals.

He explained: “This crisis is entirely of this Tory-controlled council’s own making. If it had taken the advice of its financial advisors and raised council tax in line with inflation in recent years, the budget would now be running a surplus. 

“Yet again, hardworking and dedicated council employees, who keep vital services running 24/7, 365 days a year, are being asked to bear the brunt of this council’s managerial incompetence.

“The actions of this authority are a wake-up call for the people of Somerset that local government as they know it is under severe threat – and the unpaid leave plan is the latest manifestation of this unpleasant direction of travel.”     

But a Somerset County Council spokesperson argued: “In the last seven or so years, we have made around £130m in savings and efficiencies while improving performance in many areas. Austerity is a big challenge for local government, especially for councils with responsibility for vulnerable adults and children - which account for two-thirds of our budget.

“We will continue our ongoing dialogue with unions and will continue to lobby government for fairer funding.”

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