Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Staffing issues are beginning to sap morale.
The WWDC Scrutiny committee raised the issue a few week ago and, as Chairman of the committee, I presented its concerns at the final meeting of the WWDC Cabinet last Wednesday.

In a letter to Jane Scott, Cllr. Payne says:

"I am very concerned, 3 weeks before vesting day arrives, that a significant number of staff still do not know what is happening with regards to employment in the new council."

The new council is organising itself 'top down' and so delays by directors have a direct knock-on effect on other staff. Cllr. Payne continues "The majority of Directors have had many months in which to complete their structures and, in my view, it should have been their main priority and the whole process should have been finalised weeks ago."

This problem is not restricted only to WWDC staff, many current County Council emp-loyees are still unsure as to whether they will have a job (and if so doing what) in the new council.

If this an example of the (so called) efficiency of the new council then, as the song goes, 'there may be trouble ahead'.