Thursday, 31st January, 2013
Bend it like Beckham
The mid-season football transfer window closes at midnight this evening, and everybody knows that the best (or at least the most newsworthy) deals are the ones nobody saw coming.
The art of surprise achieves its full potential when the announcement is made on deadline day, like this afternoon’s press conference where David Beckham confirmed he is joining Paris St-Germain for at least the next five months, and will be donating all his earnings to charity.
The January transfer window in County Hall has been quite exciting too. If you remember, it ‘kicked off’ with the defection of Cllr. Peter Stock from the IPG. If the buzz is to be believed this evening, then the IPG has patted itself down and planted a curveball right under the crossbar. Sources tell me that a last-minute-sign-up of the century is anticipated. It’s said to be a Plaid Cymru member, no less.
As with all things contractual, the devil is in the detail, and unless a press conference is held by the leader, we won’t know for sure whether the transfer has actually been secured; but if it is, I think it’s safe to say that the said councillor won’t have been voluntarily released on loan for the season. And any talk of Beckham-esque philanthropy of the Special Responsibility variety is probably well out of the equation.
Civil war
Earlier this week council staff learned their fate after the authority revealed the results of a pay-grade restructure. Whilst some unfortunate souls are set to have their salaries trimmed, in some instances their colleagues ―possibly working across the desk from them― are to be on the receiving end of a pay rise, unable to believe their luck.
Full details of exactly how many losers or gainers or net figures have not been shared, but the story of an employee’s reported £3,000 pay cut is rife, with the highest confirmed gain I know of so far in the £1,800 region.
Though there’s to be an appeals system, members of staff who don’t sign up to the revised pay-grades in February are expected to be told they can sling their hook. I know of one employee who awaited the postman’s delivery with mixed emotions. If a pay-cut was decreed, then this employee would have definitely tendered their resignation, as it would negatively affect their pension payout. In the event, the letter contained tidings of great joy, so the retirement plans are on hold.
Interestingly, and sneaked right under the nose of the Western Telegraph, I notice a London legal firm specialising in personal injury claims and employment disputes is touting for business under the guise of a press release relating to some of its local clients, and it’s in rather similar territory.
Look out for this one in the local papers, it’s surely front-page stuff.
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How did the Chief Executive and his Directors get on?
Nothing is known by anybody, it would seem. Even the councillors are in the dark. I’ll report further when, or if, I know more.
I’ve heard stories of tearful council employees, and the picture built up at the moment seems to suggest that the pay cuts are more prevalent among lower-paid staff.
No matter how large or small in percentage terms, it would be difficult to argue against the observation that lower-paid staff will suffer greater consequences as a result of a reduction in pay.
There’s going to be proverbial riots in this county soon. You can’t simply treat people like this and expect them to take it lying down. It’s one of the most disgusting actions ever from this tawdry disgusting council, especially when all we read about is individuals jostling and seeking to gain/maintain SRAs while all this is going on in the background.
Lopping a few quid off the executive salaries would save the same amount of money being saved by shafting the lower paid staff no doubt.
Hear hear! Disgrace indeed.
I take on board all the comments regarding highly paid officers and according to the PCC website they are at present looking for a Head of Financial services, on a salary of £79,500 plus car. Maybe all new employee salaries should start at a lower level. One also wonders what salary this position would attract in the private sector.
I am afraid we have to face reality in that the public sector has become bloated with non jobs. The PCC budget is £326,000,000 and with 118,000 souls in Pembrokeshire that works out costing every man, woman and child £2,700 per year, an unsustainable figure.
I would suggest that before reducing salaries we should look at some of the taxpayer funded bodies in Pembrokeshire and I would suggest a cull of community councils and absorbing the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park functions into County Hall.
The time has come for councillors to closely examine budget expenditure at County Hall.
Senior salaries (CEO, Directors and other staff not on nationally agreed pay bodies/scales) are determined locally by the senior staff committee, an elite body of selected councillors. Reports are “restricted”, and the public only get to see heavily sanitised minutes.
Recently a restructuring/re-designation report was agreed for the Director of Transport and the Environment to include Housing. For this directorship, three heads of department are necessary to presumably carry the day to day can of responsibilities.
From Malcolm’s post, the recently re-designated Head of Finance and Community Services, with direct responsibility for the Adult Social Services budget, but not the provision of social services, now requires a Director of Finance position.
What on earth is going on?
Incidentally, last year the Council got around to implementing its equal pay scheme on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis, with a compensation payment that did not provide back pay. The Council had received some £10m through un-hypothecated Rate support grant. (Some of this “spare” money is used to finance a projected overspending in the current financial year).
While senior staff benefit from high salaries, the lowest paid have suffered for years from the Council’s failure to settle Equal Pay legislation from the mid 90s and now it seems some front line staff are to be on the end of significant salary cuts arising out of the Council equal pay and grading status scheme.
Pay, ration and organisational matters are specifically excluded from the responsibilities of our elected representatives, this is the responsibility of the Head of Paid Service/Chief executive officer.
While we may have the comfort of the lowest council tax in Wales, is this at the expense of general council staff pay and a disgruntled work force? What effect does this have on the local economy and the provision of our services?
All P.C.C. ever seems to do is react! We react to adverse reports. We react over problems to do with equal pay etc etc etc.
Always as a damage limitation exercise carried out with a knee jerk reaction. What happened to debate/talking, careful planning and clear strategies? “Ah, we have mountains of those,” I hear our mandarins say. We have, BUT… Guys, your job is actually to make sure they are carried out and that they work. It’s called dialogue and man management and none of you seem to have a clue about it either!
As a Councillor, all we seem to get is informed of fait accompli decisions. Always at the last minute! Do we have anyone who is proactive? There has been too much delegation of responsibility and it is high time we rewrote the constitution. The power is in the wrong hands!
Where does the buck stop? Who is in charge? Who is responsible for overseeing the good ship Pembrokeshire? We always seem to be on a lee shore with a gale blowing. Why? No one is happy. Time to stop blaming the Indians and making them pay for mistakes. Time accountability was actually brought into play and those who have allowed Pembrokeshire County Council to become a laughing stock were asked to leave.
Time I think for a new straw poll Jacob. Who should be in the frame for the big push? Anne Robinson and her attitude comes to mind 😉 She would not brook fools, neither should we!
I think the non IPG party Councillors should combine with the non management team staff and stage a protest meeting outside County Hall. I’m sure many council taxpayers would welcome the opportunity to join them to express their complete dissatisfaction with the present hierarchy.
On the first story, perhaps that explains why Plaid Cymru abstained in the initial no confidence vote on Boy George.
On the second, more important part, PCC has treated its employees far worse than the neighbouring Carmarthenshire Council, who went through this process last year.
For what it’s worth, I am told PCC management has ruled their employees with a rod of iron for many years and now think, probably rightly, they can get away with anything. I think it’s too late for individuals or trades unions to stand up to them. (PS I don’t and never have worked for PCC).
Something needed to be done regarding pay and terms as some were totally ridiculous. Some people were able to take advantage while other hard workers were left with struggling. From what I can tell this review is supposed to balance that all out and save money.
There have been losers and winners but it should mean everyone gets a fair and equal wage. I can’t get my head around it, but the documents on the council website explain it all – http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/payreview
I can’t believe that PCC have smashed employees of Flying Start, these ladies are looking after children aged 2-5, yet their grading for physical effort puts them at grade one, less than a lollipop lady!!
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but they are a minimum of NVQ 3, same job, in fact bigger job than an LSA, as they have no teacher to fall back on, and get a £1400 reduction in annual pay. LSAs are laughing their heads off as they were jealous of hours paid, but you don’t see many LSAs working the first 3 weeks of summer holidays!
Worse still, PCC gets millions a year for this service, money paid from WAG. PCC have cut those on low wages and paid increases for pigs with noses in the trough!
Where is the WAG money going, and why are certain people having their pay increases back dated to April 2012?!