Job losses on cards at council after staff left

ROLES AT RISK OF REDUNDANCY DESPITE RECENT PAY-OFFS UNDER MERS

- SAM GREENWAY Local Democracy Reporter

Councillor Ade Adeyemo expressed concern about the proposed job losses; inset right, Cllr Bob Sleigh

COUNCILLORS say they are surprised there could be potential redundancies at Solihull Council despite dozens of employees leaving earlier this year under a cash for resignations scheme.

Details of how many staff are at threat was not revealed when a senior councillor was pressed at a recent council meeting.

All council employees, except school staff, at the cash-strapped authority were eligible to apply for the mutual early resignation scheme (MERS).

The scheme enabled employees to leave their jobs with the authority — which employs around 6,000 people - in return for a severance payment.

In April, staff were told there had been 66 approved applications - two of which were later withdrawn - with 102 applications declined.