CLAIMS that a group of officers meeting in private made a decision to close Warrington Borough Council’s design and print unit have been denied by the council leader.
Labour opposition leader Coun Terry O’Neill (pictured) raised the issue at a meeting of the full council when he asked for an 
explanation of the remit of the council’s strategic management board.
He claimed the board – which consists entirely of officers – had apparently met in private to discuss the design and print unit and had decided, within 24 hours, to close it without any consultation.
Council leader Ian Marks said all large organisations in the public and private sectors had a management committee that met on a regular basis to run the organisation. This council was no exception.
The strategic management board usually met every week, chaired by the chief executive and acted as the senior management body for the council, carrying out the policies set by the executive board or the council as a whole.
It was not a decision-making body, although its members did have decision making powers.
The decision making bodies were the executive board, the council and also the regulatory committees.
The strategic management board also prepared papers and proposals for consideration by the executive board or the council.
Coun Marks said the council was facing an extremely difficult budget challenge and it was true that a “firm in principle proposal” had been made to close the design and print unit.
“However this is now out for formal consultation with all relevant parties and we will be listening to all views expressed,” he said.
“I also understand that staff and the unions have been kept fully informed at each stage in the process so far.
“The final decision on the unit will be made in the future and will form part of the budgeting process.”
2 Comments
Seems a crazy idea to me. It won’t be any cheaper to outsource the printing.
The real saving, could come from stopping printing all the glossy magazine and leaflets that very few people read. The waste must cost thousands.
Does anyone actually take home any of the leaflets that the council print?
Saving the Design and Print Unit would be an easy and cost effective option, if other sections within the council were not so determined to send print/design work external, where has colleague loyalty gone to? The present staff at the Design and Print Unit are professional and able to carry out any work given to them, so why after all these years are they now looking at the threat of closure, you would not have to look to far to see where a gross overspend is taking place and the need for cut backs in staff and wages need to take place?