SOMERSET SERVICES WILL SUFFER FROM STAFF DEPARTURES (Somerset Liberal Democrat Group)

Somerset Liberal Democrat Group <info@somersetlibdems.org.uk>

SOMERSET SERVICES WILL SUFFER FROM STAFF DEPARTURES

January 24, 2012 1:16 PM

SOMERSET SERVICES WILL SUFFER FROM STAFF DEPARTURES

Somerset County Council has been rightfully making savings, and a lot of the staff have left as a result. However in the last year those leaving have turned into a flood of departures of highly qualified expertise.

Sam Crabb, Leader of the Somerset Liberal Democrat Group said, "We suggested reductions through vacancy management and selected voluntary redundancies. What is now happening is a haemorrhaging of highly qualified expertise that puts all services at risk."

"The latest staff to request to leave the council is the recently appointed Director of Children's Services and the Director of Adult Social Care, who brought in very innovative partnerships with the NHS, well ahead of other Councils."

Gloria Cawood, the Shadow Cabinet member for Communities added, "I am very sad that we are losing such good officers and fear that it will not reflect well on the Council. It gives great cause for concern. These are the two officers who are responsible for the most vulnerable people in Somerset. Together with the recent departure of the County Solicitor and other very senior officers, one wonders what on earth is going on at the County Council? What is so dreadful that senior staff are flying away from?"

For further information contact Sam Crabb - 07785 744771

Notes for Editors

One year ago the top 3 tiers of senior management consisted of 21 people. With the loss of the two further Corporate Directors that will leave only 11 in the top 3 tiers.

The Conservative run County Council is spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on employing temporary staff including consultants paid up £1,000 a day.

The "Change Management program" agreed by the Cabinet will come into effect on 1^st April 2012. It is likely that the top three tiers will be reduced to two tiers - consisting of 9 people.

E_Mail sent to Members 20^th January 2012 below.

-----Original Message-----

From: Sheila Wheeler - CEO

Sent: 20 January 2012 15:44

To: Council Members

Subject: Louise Goll and Miriam Maddison

Councillors,

Although still subject to a Full Council Decision to be made on 15^th February, I wanted to inform you at the earliest opportunity of some likely changes.

Two of our most senior colleagues, Miriam Maddison, Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director for Community, and Louise Goll, Corporate Director for Children and Young People, have both decided to leave the County Council in the next few months.

Miriam, in her nine years, and Louise, with two years at SCC, have both played important roles in very challenging times, and I would like to publicly thank them both and wish them well for the future.

Their departures leave us with further challenges to cope with as we restructure the senior management of the Council, and I am grateful for their help and support as we manage this difficult transition.

We will all be able to thank them personally closer to their departure dates, but I would like to put on record my thanks for their tremendous hard work and dedication on behalf of residents and staff, their support in the most difficult of financial times, and their good humour at all times.

Regards,