No job losses from culture takeover

THERE will be no job losses as a result of the controversial plan to set up two not-for-profit charitable organisations to take over Warrington Borough Council’s leisure, lifestyles, wellbeing, libraries and cultural services.
This is confirmed in a report to be considered at the next meeting of the council’s executive board.
A total of 257.59 full-time equivalent posts will be transferred from the council to the the Not for Profit Distributing Organisations (NPDOs) – which equates to 511 employees.
However, the report by Cllr Kate Hannon, (pictured) executive member for leisure, community and culture, indicates that this figure could change right up to the formal point of transfer.
But she says, there will be no job losses as a consequence of transfer.
Last year, the proposals were bitterly criticised by Town Hall unions Unison and GMB, who claimed they had not been consulted.
They claimed council bosses had “blantantly disregarded meaningful consultation with the trade unions prior to seeking authority from the executive board to outsource the services.
The council claimed, however, it was committed to fully involve staff and trade unions at the appropriate time.
Cllr Hannon’s report indicates the setting up of the two organisations – The Neighbourhood and Wellbeing Community Interest Company (CIC) and the Warrington Cultural Trust – will achieve savings of at least £700,000.
The council will retain its freehold interest in land and premises to provide the services.
The two organisations will become “legal entities” later this month and are expected to be operational by May
Cllr Hannon says briefings with staff have continued on a monthly basis and formal consultation will start when the NPDOs become legal entities.
In the event of either organisation proving unsuccessful, an exit strategy has been prepared. In the case of the cultural trust, the council would seek to re-absorb its assets and continue to deliver its services. In the case of the CIC, an alternative existing NPDO would be sought to continue as many as possible of the services affected..
The CIC will manage and operate libraries and leisure centres and the Cultural Trust will manage the Museum and Art Gallery, the Pyramid and Parr Hall, and also provide cultural development services at a neighbourhood level and work with the council to create a thriving cultural scene, market Warrington and development the Palmyra Quarter as a key area of the town centre renaissance.

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