Dudley housing chief insists job losses are not cuts

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 12:25 · Archive

Dudley Council is restructuring housing services with around 30 job losses, which the housing chief says are not cuts.

Dudley Council's housing chief has insisted that restructure changes resulting in around 30 job losses do not constitute cuts. Cllr Ian Bevan, the council's cabinet member for housing and homelessness, made the statement during a full council meeting on 2 November in response to questions from Labour councillor Cathryn Bayton.

The restructure is believed to include closure of the council's Housing Support Team and a reduction of on-site support for sheltered accommodation, which the council plans to rebrand as independent living. The changes also affect funding for the Dudley Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations, continuing previous cuts to the Welfare Rights Team made around two years ago.

Cllr Bayton expressed concern about the impact on vulnerable residents, saying: 'All of these actions are direct attacks on some of the most vulnerable tenants and residents in our borough at a time when external pressures are impacting our residents and we are removing lifelines of support.' She called for a full impact assessment of the proposed changes to be carried out and examined by the appropriate scrutiny committee.

Cllr Bevan revealed that the housing and assets group launched a consultation on its proposed new Target Operating Model in September with staff who may be affected by the changes. He acknowledged that staff 'will be affected' but provided little further detail about the restructure, which the council has yet to make public in full.

How it is being reported

• Dudley housing chief claims 30 axed job roles are 'not cuts'The restructure is believed to include a reduction of on-site support for sheltered accommodation and closure of the council’s Housing Support Team.Birmingham World · 5 Nov, 12:13
• Dudley housing chief claims 30 axed job roles are 'not cuts'The restructure is believed to include a reduction of on-site support for sheltered accommodation and closure of the council’s Housing Support Team.Express & Star · 5 Nov, 12:13
• Dudley housing chief insists service changes 'not cuts' despite job loss and closure rumoursRestructure means staff 'will be affected' but housing chief says changes do not mean cutsBirminghamLive · 5 Nov, 11:25

In this story: Dudley Council · Cllr Ian Bevan · Cllr Cathryn Bayton · Dudley Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations · Dudley

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