At least 600 City staff asked to consider leaving as boss Tim Baker finds $75m in savings

Gold Coast City Council plans to save $75m with voluntary redundancies and finance cuts can be revealed. SEE HOW IT IMPACTS STAFF

About 600 Gold Coast City Council staffers will be asked to consider voluntary redundancies as bosses begin financial cutbacks in a bid to save $75 million.

Employees in the city’s second biggest workforce have been told the council is committed to finding a 15 per cent reduction in “additional payments across the organisation”.

The cuts will not impact base salaries, rather be done by “closely scrutinising rosters and careful workforce management”, the Bulletin has been told.

While staffers welcome no forced redundancies, many are furious with the lengthy process which caused huge stress about job security.

CEO Tim Baker on Wednesday briefed the workforce which will see the redundancy offers rolled out next month and all reforms in place by an October deadline.

Council CEO Tim Baker at the Evandale council chambers. Picture: John Gass.

After June’s budget Mr Baker dropped a bombshell — $75m in savings had to be found in 12 months. Earlier this week, he privately briefed councillors on an earlier cultural survey which showed a “clear and deliberate turnaround” in worker morale.

A City spokesperson confirmed 600 staff would be invited to submit an expression of interest for a voluntary redundancy.

“To reach our budget savings target we would require approximately 100 people be made redundant,” the spokesperson said.

Asked about other cost cutbacks, the spokesperson said: “The City is committed to finding rostering efficiencies without impacting frontline services. By closely scrutinising our rosters and careful workforce management we believe we can find 15 per cent reduction in additional labour costs. This will not impact base salaries.”

Just under 1000 staff will relocate from Karp Court to the Waterside buildings enabling prime Bundall office space to be leased.

Staffers were concerned about space, asking Mr Baker if the move could be achieved with existing “flexible working conditions”.

The spokesperson said the Waterside Buildings recent refurbishments had created “ample space for the additional staff to be accommodated”.

Other workplace reforms to be introduced include:

* merging Service Gold Coast and Planning and Regulation departments.

* temporary pausing on recruitment

* removing unfilled vacant positions.

The Gold Coast City Council’s office precinct in Bundall. Picture: Supplied.

City bosses after a feasibility review and considering City staff feedback decided against a reduction in fixed-term positions.

They say the main impact to employment is via voluntary redundancies.

Staffers put forward savings ideas like standardising uniforms and supplies, removing merchandise expenses, reducing consultancy budgets and removing non-essential subscriptions and memberships, saving $1.4 million.

Management says the combined initiatives will amount to $19.3 million in less costs - part of a broader council commitment to deliver $75 million in operational savings.

The cuts promise to see annual rate bills reduced by more than $300.

Mr Baker during the forum with workers was asked why the City had ticked off on spending $90 million on buying a private green organics factory at Yatala.

“Delaying the purchase could have saved every last cent - and we could have avoided all of the stress and anxiety,” a staffer said.

One of the City’s new buildings, the Wyndham Corporate Centre. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Baker said he was confident genuine and extensive consultation had reflected staff feedback combined with the need to deliver real savings for the community.

“It’s important to focus on our purpose. As a local government we are accountable to our community and need to find ways to continually improve and innovate and this process has uncovered very real opportunities,” he said.

“This has been a challenging time for City staff and thank them for their contribution and professionalism.

“There is now a clear path forward and it’s time to focus on the future as we reset, refocus and move forward together as a high-performing organisation.”

Follow @PaulWestonGC