800 council workers fired in last two years

More than 800 council workers across the West Midlands have been sacked in the last two years, new figures show.

Employees have lost their jobs for an array of reasons including poor attendance, misconduct and health issues.

Around half of the jobs - 416 - have gone at Birmingham City Council which has dismissed 159 people over issues with discipline.

Another 234 have been sacked at Staffordshire County Council with 101 people losing their job in the last two years due to continual absence.

In the Black Country the local authority with the highest rate for sacking staff in the last two years is Dudley Council which has dismissed 75 staff for reasons including misconduct and not being capable.

Another 66 have lost their jobs at Walsall Council including five for gross misconduct. In Wolverhampton 38 have been sacked for both conduct and capability reasons.

Some 43 have been sacked from Sandwell Council over the last two years, according to the figures which have been released under the Freedom Of Information Act as well.

Councillor Joan Stevenson, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for organisation, people and performance, said: "The council sets realistic and measurable standards of performance for its employees. If the required standard has not been reached and maintained after a reasonable period of time, the employee can be dismissed."

Councillor Chris Towe, Walsall Council cabinet member for finance and personnel, added if staff were not fulfilling their role they would take action."

Councillor Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for performance and organisation said they had launched a clampdown on sickness absence and added: "We expect the best of all our employees, and if there is an indication they are not delivering, this will be looked into."

Stafford Borough Council had one worker who had not successfully completed the probationary period, two have gone from South Staffordshire District Council while Lichfield District Council has not dismissed anyone over the last two years.Wyre Forest District Council has also dismissed two members of staff for gross misconduct.