New Plymouth residents facing significant cuts to services

New Plymouth District Council staff are concerned about a decline in services for local residents resulting from a proposed ‘realignment’ of the Council’s staffing structure.

Council staff who are members of the Public Service Association (PSA), the national union for local government workers, are worried about the impacts of a proposed $10 million cut to personnel costs over 10 years on services.

Dolly Larkins, PSA organiser for New Plymouth District Council, said “You cannot cut $10 million from the staffing budget without significant cuts to services,”

“With other industries in Taranaki doing it tough, this is the worst time for the Council to be cutting quality permanent jobs in the region.

“The recent long term plan process has seen the Council and ratepayers strongly back maintaining services, but this realignment will disregard that decision.

“New Plymouth residents trust and value the services provided by council staff, and will rightly be angry at plans to reduce these.

“The Council should be backing New Plymouth and its great people, not making things harder,” said Dolly Larkins.

ENDS

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