Title

HUMAN RESOURCES

Colchester to furlough staff

A council in Essex is to furlough some of its staff to limit the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

A council in Essex is to furlough some of its staff to limit the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Colchester BC will make use of the Government's job retention scheme to furlough staff who are unable to work and cannot be deployed to other service areas.

The council has estimated it is facing a financial loss of around £10m due to the crisis.

Colchester's portfolio holder for business and resources, Cllr David King, said: ‘Despite the recent welcome news the council is to receive a further £1.9m from the Government to help us deal with the immediate impacts of coronavirus, that aid meets only 20% of our likely losses this year.

'That is why we have made the difficult decision to furlough staff we cannot redeploy.

'This action, along with the Government's latest funding pledge, will help us mitigate some of the pressing financial challenges created by the pandemic, which have significantly reduced the council's income.'

HUMAN RESOURCES

The NHS 10 Year Plan: Why listening at scale matters for local government

By Ruth Cousens | 28 January 2026

Ruth Cousens outlines what 250,000 voices reveal about prevention, place and the future role of councils.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Rebuilding the scaffolding to repair communities

By Paul Marinko | 28 January 2026

Community tensions have been rising in the last year, a new survey by Starfish Search has found. Paul Marinko talks to councils about the scale of the challe...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Lifting off with the Impact local government national graduate programme

By Gabriella Mercuri | 28 January 2026

Gabriella Mercuri looks at how North Northamptonshire Council is using the Impact graduate scheme to build future leadership capacity.

HUMAN RESOURCES

How devolution can amplify the voices that often go unheard

By Gita Singham-Willis | 26 January 2026

Gita Singham-Willis says that acting with intent now will ensure that the new era of local power creates an inclusion legacy for future generations.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman