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

Ahead of the curve on health

By Mubasshir Ajaz | 08 September 2025

Mubasshir Ajaz explains how the West Midlands is leading the charge to put health at the heart of policy.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Fair Funding 2.0 next steps: Turning promises into action for deprived communities

By Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton | 08 September 2025

Full council tax equalisation and the use of deprivation indices mark a critical shift toward needs-based funding for local authorities, says Sir Stephen Hou...

HUMAN RESOURCES

The flawed rationale behind reorganisation

By John Mortimer | 08 September 2025

John Mortimer argues that the logic and mindset behind a report that has helped to shape the current drive for reorganisation misses out the true value creat...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Fire and rehire ban 'burned-out shell'

By Izzy Lepone | 08 September 2025

Trade union Unite has described the Government’s commitment to ban the practice of fire and rehiring workers as ‘now nothing more than a burned-out shell’.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman