Last updated 14:46, Thursday, 02 October 2008

WITH only six months to go to the demise of Tynedale Council, only one of the authority’s 300 employees has yet secured a job with the new Northumberland unitary authority.

Only chief executive Richard Robson has so far clinched a senior position at the new look County Hall, as executive director of place.

None of the key lower level directorships at the new authority have gone to Tynedale’s senior officers either, and it is understood at least three of them have now applied for early retirement.

It remains to be seen whether any will secure the heads of service positions expected to be finalised in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, morale in Tynedale’s rank and file staff is at an all-time low.

All members of staff have been given letters seeking to establish if they would be interested in taking voluntary redundancy, outlining payments they could receive when the council ceases to exist on March 31 next year.

Workers at all levels accept that the figure of only 100 redundancies across the entire county, put forward for the amalgamation of the seven existing authorities into one super council, was ridiculously optimistic.

For instead of making a £17 million profit by combining the seven councils, the new council is already looking at filling a £55 million black hole in its finances.

And while suggestions that around 3,000 jobs could go have been rubbished by the controlling Liberal Democrat administration, there are genuine fears amongst staff that the total could touch 2,000.

At the September meeting of Tynedale Council, leader Harold Forster, of Newbrough, said: “I am very concerned about staff morale.

“They are working under terrific pressure, and doing a great job, but there is a desperate shortage of information.

“They need to know what is happening, and whether they will have any job at all when this council ceases to be.”

A spokesman for Tyne-dale Council said: “We are ensuring that staff receive regular information and updates about the formation of the new council, as well as details of the recruitment process.”

A county council spokes-man said there was a requirement for savings to be made, as well as other financial issues over the next three to four years that would require efficiencies across all services.

She said: “This is not something new: all councils have been required to do this on an annual basis for many years, although in the case of Northumberland, this looks more daunting due to the fact we are looking at figures for one single council, rather than seven individual councils.”

She added that heads of service would be appointed shortly, and they would be involved with councillors and directors in establishing the priorities for the new council.

From there, the staffing structure would be determined by November, in consultation with the trade unions.

She went on: “We have not, and cannot put, a figure on any reduction in employees until the staffing structure for the new council is agreed.

“We promise to keep any reduction to a minimum, and to protect frontline services to residents.”