đź”» Dismissals, Disruption, and Decline
1. In four months of suspension, one senior officer - a man responsible for bringing tens of millions into Worcestershire’s economy - has cost over £50,000 in salary, NI, and pension contributions. All to save just £7,000 a year!
Meanwhile, nothing moves in economic development. No partnerships advance. No delivery happens without him.
2. The council paid out 149 exit packages in 2023/24 - up from just 53 the year before. The cost? A staggering ÂŁ4.1 million, compared to ÂŁ0.6 million previously.
That’s not normal turnover. That’s a strategic exit—and silence.
There’s no breakdown of which departments lost staff, no tracking of lost skills, and no clear plan for what replaces them.
🔍 We’re Calling It Out
Liberal Democrats demand transparency and clarity - not buried documents or decisions made out of public view.
We recognise that the Shape Worcestershire consultation on local government reform closed at the end of June, with responses now being reviewed. But that makes the following questions even more urgent:
- What precise proposals will be submitted to the Government by 28 November - and has the preferred model already been decided behind closed doors?
- Why are senior staff being suspended or exited at escalating cost without public explanation?
- Who’s redesigning the council’s structure and functions while the public is left in the dark?
These are not just internal matters. They affect services, spending, and trust.
That’s why we are demanding:
đź“„ A full, published workforce report showing staff numbers, exits, vacancies, and grades.
🕵️ An independent review of senior suspensions and settlement agreements.
🗂️ A clear statement of the unitary or two-council model being pursued - with a transparent decision trail and timeline.
🏛️ A published plan for County Hall’s future, including RAAC repairs or relocation options — not just closure by attrition.
Because public trust is only rebuilt when conversations happen in the council chamber, not behind closed doors. Where Freedom of Information is the minimum - not the limit - of scrutiny.