Wiltshire County Council's crisis of confidence

9.17.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Dec 2006

The morale of people working for Wiltshire County Council is at rock-bottom according to a County Council staff survey obtained by Liberal Democrat Malcolm Hewson (Bradford on Avon).

According to the staff-survey, fewer than half believe that the management provides effective leadership (28%) and only just over a fifth (22%0 believe that management understands the issues that they face day-to-day. Only just over a third (37%) believe that morale is good and only 37% feel their jobs are secure. Only 33% feel that management is "open and honest" with staff.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Malcolm Hewson says:

"This survey demonstrates what the Liberal Democrats have been saying for almost a year, that Wiltshire County Council is in crisis. The staff-survey clearly shows that County Council staff do not believe the management provides effective leadership, do not believe that change is managed well and do not feel listened to. Most shocking is that a third of staff do not believe that management is "open and Honest" with them."

"If is therefore not surprising that well under half believe that their jobs are secure or that morale is good. The County Council leadership is at pains to point at all the boxes it ticks, but when it comes to getting the best out of people it doesn't cut the mustard. This results of this survey are bad for County Council staff, bad for service users and bad for Council Tax payers. This is a failure in leadership which must be placed at the door of the leader." adds Cllr Hewson.