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Reporting local life since 1854 37p Monday, October 10, 2011 SEN-eO1-S2 [P] [P] been re-deployed within the authority, instead of being allowed to pocket pay- offs first. The council said none of the staff involved left under current redund- ancy agreements, which state nobody can return to work for the council within a year and a day. It comes as the council, which has made 800 redundancies as REDUNDANT STAFF BACK AT WORK Workers re-employed after council’s £330k payoff BY ALEX CAMPBELL [email protected] COUNCIL workers who pocketed £330,000 in redundancy payments later returned to work for their old employer in new roles. One redundant worker who agreed a redundancy package with Stoke-on-Trent City Council spent just 27 days away from the authority before returning to a new job. A further two workers waited just 32 days after agreeing a settlement before being re-employed at the council. Figures obtained by The Sentinel show £330,603 has been paid out in compens- ation packages, which includes the notice period, to 25 workers who have since taken new jobs with the authority in the last six years. It has also emerged that eight members of staff are “double-dip- ping” – claiming a pension after retiring from their positions with the council, but now being paid wages for a new job. Critics have blamed “bad management” and claim the workers should have part of a £36 million cuts package, con- siders a further 350 to 500 job cuts. The Labour-led authority could have to cut up to £25 million more from its budget in 2012/13 as a result of sharp reductions in Government funding. Former Labour council leader Mick Salih, pictured left, who described the figures as “scandalous”, said: “It boils down to how badly managed the council is. Some of it was happening when I was involved in the council. People came back with new titles or as consultants.” Jim Gibson, Chell Heath Residents’ Association chairman, said: “This is another council cock-up. It is cutting all sorts of services, yet something like this is going on through the back door. It’s ridicu- lous.” Stafford Borough Council said one redundant worker returned to the author- ity after a gap of 15 months. Newcastle Borough Council said no redundant workers have returned to the authority, but one member of staff is receiving both a pension and a wage. What do you think of the figures? Email us at [email protected] PLUS KIDS GO FREE AT TRENTHAM MONKEY FOREST 2-FOR-1 ENTRY AT ALTON TOWERS TOKEN COLLECT: SEE PAGE 14 Councils withhold details THE Sentinel is appealing the decision by three other councils who refused to release details of how many redundant staff have returned to work for their authorities. Staffordshire County Council and Cheshire East Council both declined to supply information toThe Sentinel. Staffordshire Moorlands Council refused to disclose details on the grounds that individuals involved might be identified. The Sentinel is contacting the Information Commissioner’s Office, which upholds information rights in the public interest, to try to obtain the withheld data. ‘HEART DONOR SAVED MY LIFE’ SEE PAGE 11 Picture: Shaun Smith Potteries No. 1 for Commercial Vehicles! Up to 50 vans in stock! Also clean vans bought for cash ANY MAKE - ANY MODEL Call Gary www.stokevans.co.uk 01782 566939 STOKE VANS NEW JUKE Acenta ONLY £149 Advance Payment * Book A Test Drive Today www.holdcroft.com Holdcroft Nissan Leek Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire, ST1 6AL 0800 8815 538 • Use your mobility allowance • Breakdown recovery • Road tax and insurance • Servicing & Maintenance • 60,000 mileage allowance • Specialist Advice Worry-free means everything is included for peace of mind N N N N N N N N N N N NEW JUKE Acent y s
