19 November 2004
The number of staff employed by Scottish local authorities has broken through the 250,000 barrier, provoking predictable claims of bureaucracy overload.
Figures published by the Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities showed that the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff has risen by 6,939, or 2.8%, between June 2003 and June 2004, bringing the total figure to 254,822.
A statement issued by the two bodies said the increase was primarily due to the recruitment of frontline staff.
Councils were immediately accused of encouraging a 'culture of bureaucracy'. The Scottish Conservatives' local government spokesman, Brian Monteith MSP, said he was concerned by the relentless upward trend.
'There has been a 45% rise in the number of non-teaching executive staff since 1997, but how many of those are truly at the chalk face?' he asked. 'I fear they may well be wrapped up in local government bureaucracy, running the education system.'
A Cosla spokesman stressed that the increase was concentrated in frontline service areas such as education and social services, policy officers and support staff. 'This has to be welcomed,' he said.
The Scottish Executive claimed the rises were a positive sign of recruitment to meet the needs of frontline services. The figures show that the number of non-teaching education staff increased by 2,009 FTEs over the year to June 2003. This service group includes classroom assistants, youth workers and pre-school staff. The number of FTE social work staff increased by 1,786.
Rises were also reported in the number of police officers and their support staff (up by 836 FTEs) and teachers (up by 741 FTEs).
Education Minister Peter Peacock also announced an extra £60m for councils to continue the Executive's drive to refurbish or rebuild 300 schools by 2009.
PFnov2004
