Richard Baum

Unfortunately I have no further information from the Council today over the expensive and embarrassing cock-up over dismissal letters recalled earlier this week. The Tories “running” the Council are merrily destroying staff morale, and won’t even do the decent thing and answer the simple questions I posed to them when I found out.

Off the back of the new edition of the “Team Talk” staff newsletter, I asked for clarity over the reason for the consultation, since Team Talk makes it clear that it isn’t about the pay line, points, appeals or the Executive’s decision. also asked about the dealy to the 90 day notice period that this recall will result in, and what financial penalties the Council opens itself up to, given that Scrutiny was told that the consequences of a delay would be dire.

This morning I was told that I’d receive a reply when the Director of HR returns to the office on Tuesday. Luckily I am already scheduled to be at the Town Hall on Tuesday morning when I will be demanding that explanation. But I find it completely unacceptable that my simple questions remain unanswered, and those staff who have contacted me about this are not given answers to their questions, for four more days. The Director of HR has deputies, I presume, and he certainly has a boss who is ultimately responsible for implementing the Executive’s Policy. So what is the reason for this lengthy delay? The Council seem happy for the staff to go through yet another weekend of uncertainty. There seems no urgency to respond to queries, or to make good the damage done by this farce.

If it didn’t make me doubt the capability of the Executive running the Council, I’d laugh at this continually worsening incompetence.

Rick