Millions in redundancy packages paid by Wiltshire Council during pandemic

By local democracy reporter Matthew McLaughlin

MILLIONS were paid out to staff made redundant from Wiltshire Council in the last year. 

According to data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the council paid out 97 redundancy packages during the first pandemic year. 

This cost the local authority £2.3m, the same figure one year prior was £2.6m. 

The council said that as the pandemic has gone on – and finances in Wiltshire have become tight – it looked to deliver its services more “efficiently”. 

Corporate director for resources and deputy chief executive at the council, Andy Brown said, “The exit payment figures quoted include both redundancy compensation as well as the relevant pension strain costs, which are based on the regulations that apply, where applicable, to the local government pension scheme when staff are made redundant. 

“As an organisation that employs 4,800 staff working to deliver hundreds of different services to our residents and communities, we have to continually review our models of delivery to meet new and changing demands. 

“The financial challenges being faced means that we also have to look at ways to deliver services more efficiently, which includes reviewing our workforce structures. 

“This does result in some roles becoming redundant, however, we have robust policies and procedures in place to support staff when they are displaced, and we take every step to redeploy and protect employment wherever possible.”