Norfolk council spent £4m on staff departures, including large payouts to senior staff, amidst budget cuts and restructuring.
Most departures were agreed upon, with only 13 being compulsory redundancies. The council hired PA Consulting to save money, but the consultancy cost £2 million to conduct a review.
While most exit packages were below £20,000, a few packages were much larger. The costly exits remain anonymous in the accounts. The council faces £45 million in cuts and increased council tax by 4.99%.
Several top officers have left recently. These include directors of social care, finance, and public health, along with the director of governance. Exit packages cost just over £1 million in 2022/23.
Ninety-six staff left in 2022/23, with twenty-three exits being compulsory redundancies. Exit packages cover various payments, including redundancy pay and pension contributions.
The council leader says changes are sometimes needed and vacant roles help save money. These changes help staff find other jobs inside. All cost decisions target overall savings and follow rules for all payments during restructuring.
The Liberal Democrat leader is worried about staff losses, stating losing experienced people is regrettable. He links the council’s financial situation to coming local government changes and believes the council should attract talent.
The Labour leader suggests better workforce planning and thinks experienced managers are critical during changes. He believes letting managers leave naturally saves money. He criticizes hiring consultants to rationalize the council and states that proper management avoids big payouts.