Majority of Antrim and Newtownabbey furloughed staff from leisure and arts

The council has been required to close all its buildings and outdoor sports areas due to the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in a loss of income of approximately £665,000 per month.

In addition, the local authority estimates it will generate £7.6m less income  than expected through the rates as a result of an anticipated economic downturn.

Antrim and Newtownabbey employs 670 staff and 567 casual workers

The number of employees to be furloughed will be reviewed every three weeks and staff will be redeployed where possible.

Employees on furlough leave will be paid 100% of their salary up to May 19.

The council says the majority of staff affected work in leisure services and arts and culture.

A “small number” are said to work in community centres, planning and building control.

Employees will be paid at the percentage rate which is funded by the Government through the Temporary Job Retention Scheme. This is currently 80% of the normal salary, up to a maximum of £2,500.

“If the applications are successful, then it is anticipated that this will generate approximately £970,000 to the end of July and this will contribute to the shortfall in income”, the council stated.

“The Council will continue to plan for the urgent action it may need to take in order to ensure that it can continue to provide essential services and address its ongoing financial viability and the need to avoid insolvency.”

A special meeting will be held once a month to review the situation.

Initially, the local authority had decided to shed 73 agency and short service staff.

Commenting on social media, Alliance Alderman Julian McGrath said: “After discussion and persuasion from our Alliance team, Council has now given a commitment to redeploy, if it is possible, at the end of the furlough scheme.”

SDLP Workers’ Rights spokesperson, Councillor Ryan Wilson has welcomed the furlough policy in Antrim and Newtownabbey, which has saved hundreds of jobs.

The Dunsilly representative said:  “The fact these jobs will be protected is welcome news. .

“The Finance and Communities Minister should have clarified earlier that the councils could apply for the Job Retention Scheme. This would have saved weeks of anxiety for these workers.

“The SDLP would have never supported, and voted against, making workers redundant during a global pandemic. That would have been fundamentally wrong.

“The council is clearly under financial pressure and the Minister for Communities must make additional funding available to ensure ratepayers do not bear this burden, either by a large increase of rates or a depletion of services.

“I am disappointed that not all parties on the council voted for the SDLP proposal which would have topped up the wages of these furloughed workers, so they are not out of pocket, through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, this proposal was defeated.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.