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Council plans to shed 1,000 jobs Council plans to shed 1,000 jobs
(about 1 hour later)
A major restructuring of Edinburgh Council is being planned to save £57m over three years - with the loss of about 1,000 jobs. About 1,000 jobs are expected to be lost after Edinburgh City Council announced major restructuring plans.
City leaders are collaborating with neighbouring local authorities to merge posts in a bid to run a more efficient service, BBC Scotland can reveal. The local authority said its proposals would ensure that council tax-payers received better value for money and improve front-line services.
The cost of implementing management and IT changes has been estimated at £27m. However, unions have voiced anger at the proposals, which aim to save £57m over three years.
The cost of implementing the council's management and IT changes has been estimated at £27m.
A large proportion of the posts which will be lost are currently filled by agency staff.A large proportion of the posts which will be lost are currently filled by agency staff.
A handful of jobs will go at the neighbouring councils, Fife and the Borders. City leaders are collaborating with neighbouring local authorities to merge posts, although it is thought that only a handful of jobs will be lost in Fife and the Borders.
The Council has made progress in improving performance in recent years but we recognise that there is more that we need to do to improve services Tom AitchisonEdinburgh City Council
Staff will be offered voluntary redundancy, but council officials have been unable to rule out compulsory job loses.Staff will be offered voluntary redundancy, but council officials have been unable to rule out compulsory job loses.
The bulk of the job loses are planned to be leached through "natural wastage". The council has a 9% turnover.The bulk of the job loses are planned to be leached through "natural wastage". The council has a 9% turnover.
The Council has made progress in improving performance in recent years but we recognise that there is more that we need to do to improve services Tom AitchisonEdinburgh City Council It is proposed to shed the equivalent of 822 full-time positions, equating to about 1,000 employees after part-time jobs are taken into account.
It is proposed the equivalent of 822 full-time positions will be shed, equating to about 1,000 posts after part-time jobs are taken into account.
The proposals are part of a programme which aims to improve the efficiency and quality of council services across Scotland.The proposals are part of a programme which aims to improve the efficiency and quality of council services across Scotland.
Tom Aitchison, Edinburgh City Council's chief executive, sent an email to staff just after 1600 GMT.Tom Aitchison, Edinburgh City Council's chief executive, sent an email to staff just after 1600 GMT.
DEPARTMENTS AFFECTED Initial customer contactCustomer assessment and decision making processesCouncil tax revenuesHome-based servicesProcurementStrategic functionsAdministration and clerical supportPensions administration and investmentsTrading standards and environmental health
He said: "The council has made progress in improving performance in recent years but we recognise that there is more that we need to do to improve services and maintain value for money for the people of Edinburgh.He said: "The council has made progress in improving performance in recent years but we recognise that there is more that we need to do to improve services and maintain value for money for the people of Edinburgh.
"Therefore the council welcomed the opportunity, funded by the Scottish Government, to lead a Shared Services Pathfinder project, in partnership with Fife and Scottish Borders Councils, and to be at the forefront of moves to create a more efficient public sector in Scotland."Therefore the council welcomed the opportunity, funded by the Scottish Government, to lead a Shared Services Pathfinder project, in partnership with Fife and Scottish Borders Councils, and to be at the forefront of moves to create a more efficient public sector in Scotland.
"This project aims to identify opportunities for efficiency savings and service improvements through the simplification, standardisation and sharing of council processes and services."This project aims to identify opportunities for efficiency savings and service improvements through the simplification, standardisation and sharing of council processes and services.
"It builds on a range of improvement activity that has already been undertaken by the council, including restructuring around customer-focussed service groupings, rationalising our office buildings and investing in modern technology.""It builds on a range of improvement activity that has already been undertaken by the council, including restructuring around customer-focussed service groupings, rationalising our office buildings and investing in modern technology."
Unison officials have been in crisis talks following the announcement. Unison officials said they believed the proposals would hit front-line services.
The union said it would ballot for strike action if there were to be compulsory redundancies.