Council sound battle cry over HMRC jobs
Thursday, 17 July 2008
With the axe hanging over Ballymena's Kilpatrick House, councillors are determined that the "underhand" timing of a HM Revenue and Customs consultation will not diminish their efforts to save around 70 jobs.
The City Fathers are furious that the potential blow to dozens of local families has come to a head during the summer months, which is traditionally a time of the year when council business is cut back.
However, with the borough facing a loss of an estimated £1.6 million to its economy every year, should the HMRC offices shut, now is not the time to doze.
Some councillors believe that the plans run contrary to many government policies, including equality laws, while ignoring Ballymena's prominence in the province as an economic powerhouse. With this in mind, they are redoubling their efforts and are ready to fight to the bitter end.
Following last week's monthly council meeting, the campaign begins with a staff workshop to canvas opinions while councillors also vowed to take the matter up with the HMRC, North Antrim MLAs and Sir George Bain, who is heading up the Government's Review Team looking at the decentralisation of public sector jobs.
Ardeevin has been asked to submit their views after the HMRC stated that staff numbers in Ballymena are projected to be reduced to less than 20 by 2011, prompting the proposal to withdraw from their local base and forcing staff to commute to other locations.
HMRC is responsible for collecting the bulk of tax revenue, as well as paying Tax Credits and Child Benefits.
The move has been well documented with both elected representatives and unions voicing their displeasure in recent months. However the HMRC consultation now requests a response within just six weeks.
HMRC, who occupy ten office buildings outside Belfast housing 700 employees, have provided Ardeevin with an Equality Impact Assessment.
By 2011 they expect the number of staff needed in towns in Northern Ireland to reduce to around 430 and they are proposing that they withdraw from five of the office buildings, thus retaining the other five.
