Mid and East Antrim saving £75k a week with staff furloughed

The council put 212 workers on furlough following the closure of services during lockdown.

The sum was revealed after councillors queried the reasons committee meetings will not resume until August.

A report to council stated: “We have furloughed the maximum number of staff and are managing service delivery around this approach on a weekly basis.”

Alliance Larne Lough Cllr Danny Donnelly asked for confirmation all committee meetings will be “up and running” in August.

Alliance group leader on council, Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna said: “The sooner we have committee meetings up and running the better.”

TUV leader on council, Cllr Matthew Armstrong stated: “A lot of the country is back to work full steam. I think we should be.”

Party colleague Cllr Timothy Gaston said: “I propose we move to full committee meetings in August.”

This proposal was seconded by Cllr Donnelly.

Carrick Ald Billy Ashe asked about the “practicalities of getting council committees up and running” and pointed out a decision that was taken at the last council meeting.

“I understand that when you bring somebody back from furlough, they are back in your employment again. Any grants we are currently enjoying to take the burden off the ratepayer will be lost.

“How much will it cost us to run these committee meetings in terms of staff time? July and August are holiday times and the chief executive has to manage staff leave.

“There are a whole lot of complications. It is not just about calling a wee meeting.

“Are we going to run into difficulty with that and difficulty in the financial year? This is not just about who is at a meeting, there is financial cost to the ratepayer.

“We need to think long-term strategically about that. The best place for these things to be discussed is at full council with 40 members.”

He also pointed out Covid is still present.

“Let’s not rush into something to feed somebody’s ego. Let’s make sure it is practical and serves the purpose of the ratepayers of the borough,” he added.

Coast Road Sinn Fein Cllr James McKeown said it was his understanding a decision had been taken at the last council meeting for committees to meet in August.

Chief executive Anne Donaghy reported the council is saving £75,000 weekly by furloughing staff.

“I have furloughed over 200 staff and that hurts,” she said.

She indicated that the value of the scheme would be “diminished” by staff returning to work before October when the scheme ends.

“It is about trying to balance the books.”

She pointed out some staff have been allowed to take holidays during the “traditional holiday months” and that council has never had committee meetings in July.

She said the Planning Committee and Audit Committee will meet in August.

Alliance Larne Lough Cllr Robert Logan commented: “We understand what the chief executive is saying about saving money but we want to get back on-stream full-time.”

In a statement issued after the meeting, Knockagh Alliance Ald Noel Williams questioned why committee meetings have not yet resumed, saying councillors should be “permitted full oversight of processes as ratepayers deserve open and transparent government”.

He added: “While it is important the council comes out of the pandemic in as healthy a financial situation as possible, that should not come at the expense of ratepayers across Mid and East Antrim, who put their trust in councillors to take decisions on their behalf.

“Moreover, it appears that using the furlough scheme to keep staff away from work, despite there being work for them to undertake, is within the credibility of the scheme.

“I am extremely disappointed that council has not even been afforded the opportunity to put this issue to a vote.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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