Staffing levels have been cut very low and the stress on staff must soon reduce their performance. In a recent comparison of local councils, East Hants was described as “a lean machine”. Our peers clearly thought we were too lean.
Worse still, the Internal Audit Manager prepared a report showing serious problems in the Waste Collection service (Report to Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 19th March 2003). Blunders and system failures of the sort she described are usually a symptom of over work.
That is why it is so important that the Council completes its “Capacity Audit” as soon as possible. We wish the audit had been completed before the budget was set because it may be that we have already fallen below prudent staffing levels.
If we have fallen too low, and cannot deliver our strategy because we are too lean, then we must review our committments and raise more funding externally.
We will be fair to our staff and involve them fully in planning for a future that is fair to all.