Cllr Sue Woodward

The planned management restructure at Lichfield District Council is long overdue, according to the leader of the Labour opposition group.

The local authority has revealed that it could cost up to £500,000 in redundancy payments in order to change its director and management roles.

Cllr Sue Woodward
Cllr Sue Woodward

But Cllr Sue Woodward, Labour leader on the council, said the cost would be worthwhile in the long term.

“This restructure is long overdue,” she said. “While there will be costs in the short term, we hope that it will indeed realise savings in the medium and longer term and ensure that the staffing structure is fit for purpose.”

The changes come as part of the council’s Fit for the Future programme.

But, unlike other areas, a report said the management restructure was not part of a cost-saving drive but more about developing a “logical” way of working.

Cllr Woodward welcomed the review, saying that the bigger picture has long needed looking at.

“Labour have been pressing for a more strategic overview of staffing for a long time,” she said.

“In the headlong rush to accept voluntary redundancies in a completely ad hoc way, the Employment Committee – under the chairmanship of Cllr Joseph Powell – had simply become an Unemployment Committee, just out to make quick savings.

“That is unsustainable and so we welcome this new direction and hope it works out for the benefit of local residents.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.