Job cut fears as councillors assess planned cuts to street sweepers’ jobs in Lewisham
BY GRAINNE CUFFE
Local Government Correspondent
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
Up to 40 jobs could be lost if plans to cut the number of street sweepers are approved.
Town hall chiefs have decided to look into the impact of cutting £823,000 from the budget for cleaning residential streets.
Concerns raised by Lewisham council committee members have moved the council to defer the decision.
The risks include a “heavy build-up of litter”, cleanliness standards being “significantly reduced”, fly-tipping going unreported for longer and the potential job loss of 40 workers.
According to council documents: “It has been suggested that this be achieved through a major restructuring of the service that would lead to the loss of around 30 to 40 full-time staff from a current headcount of 132 staff.
“The committee is concerned about the negative impact of this cut.
“As previously stated, it is apprehensive about the progressive deterioration of the cleanliness of Lewisham’s streets – as well as the perception by residents of the council’s ability to carry out its basic functions.
“The committee wants to know whether a balance can be found between making cuts to the service and maintaining a reasonable quality of provision.
“It would welcome more detailed information about the potential for a complete reorganisation of the service – as well as the impact of making different levels of cuts on a sliding scale.
“The committee also wants to better understand the types (and cost) of mitigating actions that might be put in place to deal with the impact of this cut.
“This includes – but is not limited to – the potential for using machinery and other innovations for responsive cleansing.”
Committee members also suggested a campaign to encourage better cleanliness of Lewisham’s streets.
“It believes that this should incorporate support for schools to encourage and engage children and young people. This campaign could also include work to encourage take away and fast food operations to keep the areas near their shops tidy,” according to the report.
After deferring the cut, the council will engage in further research while also trialing the fortnightly sweeping to observe its impact on cleanliness.
Mayor of Lewisham, Damien Egan, said: “I propose we defer this cut at this time and look for further savings from that service area.”
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
Already started, Silverdale and other side streets have not been cleaned in over a week. Wet leaves everywhere. Lots of elderly people Ln this area.
As a disabled mobility scooter user,I am having enough trouble getting past rubbish on streets it is making it even harder to keep safe as I have to drive in the road to ovoid this,also have noticed how bad the streets have become without further cuts,they are also a danger to young kids who I have seen tripping up or sliding over rubbish,it’s no good getting takeaway places to just clean up outside their stores as people are TAKING THE FOOD AWAY, and throwing it further away from store,I’m ashamed of downham now it’s disgusting.
Keeping the streets clean and safe is a top priority. The council must recognise this.