A Renton councillor has said he was “astonished” to read that almost nine percent of West Dunbartonshire Council employees have resigned from the local authority since the start of the pandemic.
Jim Bollan of the Community Party questioned why the figure was so high during a time of economic uncertainty - especially in the planning department, where 22 of the 25 employees have resigned.
Speaking at a full meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council last week, Jim said: “I was astonished by the figures. 813 employees have left since April 1 last year. Half of these, 445, are resignations.
“My first question would be, why are the resignation numbers so high? That’s almost nine percent of our total workforce resigning.
“One of the main problems expounded by councillors to the council in recent months is the total breakdown in communication between the council and some of our residents and tenants, who cannot access services.
“I’m beginning to understand now why that’s happening. If we’ve shed 813 workers that’s got to have an impact on our ability to connect with residents.
“It would’ve been interesting to know and understand the main reasons for the resignations, to know if anything jumped out at us.
“I’m surprised to learn that, during a pandemic, when employees would have secure employment, 445 would resign. I cannot get my head around that. I would’ve thought the opposite would’ve been the case.
“I thought people would’ve wanted to remain in secure and sustainable employment with the local authority.”
In response, Victoria Rogers, strategic lead for people and technology at the local authority, said that the council’s total headcount had dropped by just 14 in that time.
She continued: “The resignation figures are not particularly out of kilter with previous times.
“We have a robust exit interview process so the team would review that with a view to addressing any particular challenges that were evident.”
Councillor Bollan then questioned why 22 members of staff from the 25 person planning department had resigned over the past year.
He said: “Is there something the local authority needs to be told about what’s going on in the planning department?
“To have 22 of 25 resign is extremely worrying.”
Ms Rogers replied: “I know there are a variety of reasons that people leave. The same is true for the planning team.”
Whilst council chief executive Joyce White added: “Chief officers deal with many HR matters and wherever there is an increase in the level of turnover then that will be addressed.”
The reasons for staff resigning will be presented to members at a later date.
