LOCAL economic regeneration plans can go belly up if a major local employer announces redundancies. So councils need to act fast to make sure that the layoffs don’t lead to unemployment that damages the entire area, says The MJ (June 15).
Birmingham City Council faced just this situation last year, when MG Rover’s collapse led to 6,100 workers losing their jobs at the car maker’s Longbridge plant. The moment that the closure was announced — at 10pm — the council leader drove straight to the BBC studios. “Civic leadership, even late at night, is important,” says Clive Dutton, the council’s director of planning and regeneration.
“The next day we established a call centre, which operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who had concerns about the closure.” The council also set up a task force and opened offices staffed by people who could give advice on debt, benefits and redundancy pay.
A year later two thirds of those made redundant are back in work or training.
Ellesmere Port and Neston council is facing a similar challenge over cuts by Vauxhall that could mean up to 900 people being made redundant. It is working with other organisations to produce information packs for the people affected, and has set up an office on the manufacturer’s site to provide advice. It is also working with the plant to help it bid for further work.