Poots welcomes fall in council absenteeism rates

Environment Minister Edwin Poots today commended local councils for a 9% reduction in absenteeism rates for council employees.

This followed the publication of the 2008/2009 report by the Chief Local Government Auditor, which reported that this improvement in figures has resulted in a £0.9million reduction in the cost of lost productivity due to absence in Northern Ireland councils. It is also the first fall in the cost of absenteeism recorded since this data has been compiled.

The Minister said: “I am encouraged by this reduction in absenteeism across councils particularly in this current economic climate. Whilst day to day management of councils and dealing with personnel is up to councils themselves, they must ensure that they are offering ratepayers good value for money. The benefits of reducing absenteeism in terms of productivity gains are plain to see in this report.

“I am also pleased that the Chief Local Government Auditor has taken in to account the changes for local government, and has helpfully provided a means for analysis of these figures post reform to facilitate comparisons on the 11-council basis.

“Local government reform is about increasing efficiency, and I endorse the report’s recommendation that absenteeism should not be overlooked by Transition Committees and Transition Management Teams who will be driving forward local government reform.

“The report estimates that there could be a productivity difference of £3.65million if the 11 post-reform councils can achieve the lowest absenteeism rate currently found in their constituent councils. I urge councils to work together collaboratively towards this goal so that these savings can be realised.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Local Government Reform Programme will see the existing 26 councils reduced to 11 in May 2011. It will involve the transfer of a range of central government functions to local government including responsibility for planning, regeneration and certain road functions.
2. Transition Committees have been set up in each of the 11 new council areas. Their role is to undertake much of the preparatory work to facilitate the convergence of amalgamating councils. This will pave the way for Statutory Transition Committees, which will be established by early next year, to take key decisions in advance of the new councils coming into effect in May 2011 and ensure a smooth transition.
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