Liverpool hits back at ministers over 'non jobs'

Liverpool City Council has hit back at ministerial claims that it is wasting taxpayers’ money on 'non jobs'.

Local government minister Bob Neill was quoted in the national newspapers this morning, criticising local authorities for wasting money on 'crazy non jobs'.

Among the councils mentioned was Liverpool City Council, which is recruiting a director of regeneration, an assistant director of adult services and an assistant director for supporting communities.

Local Government minister Bob Neill is critical of local authorities wasting money on ‘crazy non-jobs’

Mr Neill told reporters that the number of people working in the local government sector had risen from 2,728,000 in 1997 to 2,907,000 last year.

But Liverpool City Council’s leader, Cllr Joe Anderson, was not amused by the minister’s comments that the director of regeneration was a 'non job'.

'Liverpool has been transformed in recent years and the council has had a pivotal role in that,' said Cllr Anderson. 'The director will be a key figure in our renaissance and our drive to bring more jobs to the city.

'Despite all the difficulties caused by massive government cuts we are determined that city’s regeneration will go on and we need a top-quality figure to fill that position.

And are they trying to claim that senior staff dealing with adult social care is a not important? We have just been considering a budget in which we have tried to protect the most vulnerable – and we need exceptional people to help us deliver these vital services,' added Cllr Anderson.

This continued squabble about pay trivialises the real issue,' he said. 'We are having to slash services because of the unfair way the Government treats our city. This latest onslaught from the DCLG on local councils is a diversionary tactic and has no relation to the real problems facing local government.

LGA chief executive John Ransford said: 'Councils are responsible for providing 800 different services, and many of the posts being denigrated as 'non-jobs' reflect a lack of understanding about the complex nature of the vital work local authorities do.

It is also a slap in the face for hard working staff, many of whom are facing the threat of redundancy. 'This slapdash analysis fails to acknowledge the huge savings that these members of staff bring to the work of their councils, ensuring that hardworking people get value for the taxes they pay.'