25 April 2003
A study by public sector union Unison, which pooled responses from local authority chief executives and personnel officers, this week showed that almost all councils across England, Scotland and Wales are straining under the burden of staffing problems and the quality of local services is suffering.
In some cases, the union claims, shortages have been so severe that they have led to 'enforced privatisation', simply so that councils can provide core services, such as social care. Many over-stressed staff, both white and blue collar, are working unpaid overtime to keep vital services running.
Public Finance has obtained a copy of the study, submitted by Unison to the Local Government Pay Commission, which was set up to address the sector's problems and will report back to ministers by autumn 2003.
The document could further embarrass ministers at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister who claimed that a funding boost for councils, introduced this year, had addressed core staffing problems.
Unison found that 100% of unitary authorities are still plagued by recruitment and retention difficulties. London boroughs (90%) also suffer widespread problems, as do district councils (85%) and county councils (88%).
The worst affected departments are planning, environment, social services and finance, with chief managers and IT specialists the hardest roles to fill. Among manual staff, cleaners, home care and residential care workers have the highest shortages.
The submission blames many poor council services on 'the need to employ agency and temporary staff leaving limited scope to improve services and reducing availability'. Often, it claims, privatisation is the only option.
A source at Unison said: 'This is a real eye-opener. Several government initiatives have failed to address staffing problems and ministers must now act to implement lasting solutions.'
A spokesman for the ODPM responded: 'We have announced a number of initiatives, with subsequent funding, and we are seeking to do more.
'The Local Government Bill, currently before Parliament, contains the potential for further remedies, including the possibility of new funding streams to build additional capacity across councils.'
Unison has also joined with the GMB and TGWU unions to submit a separate pay study to the commission.
PFapr2003
