Angus tenancy support officers (TSOs) say morale is “rock bottom” after some left a meeting with council chiefs in tears following discussions over service provision for the elderly.
The TSOs have been told that if a £10 million saving package is agreed at the authority’s budget meeting tomorrow they will be issued with ‘risk of redundancy’ notices as part of a move to axe 28 posts by July 1.
The move comes just days after a fraught Angus Council meeting at which protestors mounted another protest over possible changes to sheltered housing services.
Council leader Iain Gaul has sought to reassure tenants that the council is looking at ways to provide a support service which will comply with self-directed support legislation and given a commitment to TSOs that they will be “given the best possible opportunity for continuity of employment in a new service.”
But the latest development has led to claims the TSOs have been “double crossed”, and OAPs are set to return to the Forfar chamber in protest on Thursday.
Dave Coull of Angus Against Cuts said: “Just two working days after Angus Council told us they would try to keep the sheltered housing tenant support officers, the TSOs were told they would be sacked by the first of July, and most of them would be gone within six to eight weeks.
“Furthermore, they were also told there will be no more meetings with sheltered housing tenants.
Another TSO told The Courier: “Morale is at rock bottom and the next six to eight weeks are going to be really difficult.
“If someone could come round and say ‘don’t worry we have got this new service which is going to look after your tenants’ then that might be something.”
“We are really worried about the impact this will have on tenants. If they opt out of paying for the service they are the ones that will be forgotten.”
The council agreed to investigate how residents could receive a service either through a new social enterprise, a council scheme fully funded by sheltered housing tenants or an arm’s length trading organisation.
A council spokesperson said: “Future employment and working arrangements will not be known until recommendations for a new model of tenancy support are submitted for council approval in around six to eight weeks.”
“This reflects that the current tenancy support service cannot continue, as it is not SDS compliant.
“Staff have been advised that if the budget proposal is agreed they will be issued with a Risk of Redundancy Notice.
“This does not necessarily mean they will be made redundant.