Council wants ‘golden goodbye’ limit raised

HOWARD SYKES

OLDHAM’S Labour group has opposed a government proposal to limit “golden goodbye” payouts for staff leaving the council to £95,000.

The Government wants to set the limit for staff who are made redundant, pensioned off early or who leave prematurely by mutual consent at £95,000. Labour in Oldham wants this to £120,000.

Local Liberal Democrat leader Howard Sykes submitted a Freedom Of Information request to chief executive Carolyn Wilkins for details of a consultation exercise on a cap.

Her team said £120,000 would be a better limit, thugh this would need to be reviewed each year

“The £95,000 cap is unrealistic in relation to senior officer, chief officer or chief executive pay and would in many cases represent less than a year’s salary.

“A £95,000 cap would severely hamper a council’s room to negotiate realistic agreements or buy out potential wrongful dismissal claims.”

Senior council staff might be strongly affected by such a cap if devolution leads to the merging of deparments and more senior-level redundancies

But Councillor Sykes wasn’t impressed:

“The Labour administration appears to live in an ivory tower by opposing the £95,000 pay-off cap suggested by the Government.

“For most Oldhamers, £95,000 would represent a small fortune. I am sure that most council-tax payers in the borough would resent paying even this.”