Worcestershire County Council has yet to make a decision regarding a controversial proposal to offer ‘golden handcuff’ bonuses to senior officers in an effort to retain them ahead of upcoming local government reorganisation.
The plan aimed to provide annual retention payments, potentially up to 10 percent of salaries, to key personnel who stayed on until the formation of new unitary authorities, set for 2028. This move was intended to prevent senior staff from leaving prematurely, which could leave the council understaffed during a critical transitional period.
However, the proposal quickly sparked significant opposition. After its announcement in November, former deputy leader David Taylor was removed from the council’s Appointments Panel and cabinet due to his refusal to support the scheme. Employees affected by previous contentious fire and rehire tactics expressed deep dismay, calling the plan “horrifying.” Labour councillor Richard Udall criticized it as “divisive and hurtful.”
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In early December, the Appointments Panel postponed making a final decision, with monitoring officer Hazel Best stating the matter was “adjourned pending further cross-party discussions.” The panel’s upcoming meeting does not include retention payments on the agenda, and a council spokesperson confirmed no new decisions have been made.
Critics like Councillor Udall argue the proposal was inappropriate, especially considering many council staff faced real-terms pay cuts recently. Udall expressed relief at the apparent shelving of the payments, emphasizing the need to focus resources on delivering value-for-money public services rather than increasing already high salaries.
David Taylor also voiced concerns about the financial prudence of the proposal, highlighting the council’s precarious financial situation and calling for greater scrutiny and restraint in such decisions.
As it stands, the retention payment scheme appears to have been quietly dropped amidst the controversy, allowing the council to concentrate on managing the upcoming structural changes without further internal division.