LIB DEMS CONDEMN TOXIC COUNCIL CULTURE

The Liberal Democrat Opposition Group has condemned the toxic culture that is now present at Warrington Council. The Labour Leader was asked about this at the full Council meeting on Monday.

Former Council Leader Cllr Ian Marks said, “I have a question for the Leader about the recovery plan. I am very angry about the state of our Council. I am not just angry, but amazed about what is happening. At the last Council I said that staff morale was dreadful, the atmosphere was toxic and there is a loss of corporate memory. We appear to have a blame culture. Since the last Council the situation has worsened.

Competent officers are being forced out or are choosing to leave, and who can blame them. In his report, the Leader says ‘we have much work to do’ and there is ‘a challenging journey ahead’ and ‘embedding change across the organisation remain key priorities’. I would have thought that the morale and commitment of our staff should be a priority. We need experience and local knowledge to make improvements.

I have a question for the Leader, the Cabinet and Labour members. What actions are you taking now to improve morale, stop the haemorrhaging of staff and reduce the pressures on remaining staff which has frightening consequences for the future of the Council and hence the wellbeing of residents?”

After the meeting, Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Mark Browne added. “We are disappointed that the Council Leader did not answer our question. He just mentioned the difficult financial situation facing the Council, of which we are only too well aware. A toxic culture is no way to motivate staff to cope with the pressures to make cuts when experienced people are no longer there. Public trust and confidence must be restored. My Party stands ready for cross-party collaboration to minimise the impact on residents as we have said many times before.”