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

Lambeth to house more families out of area

By Paul Marinko | 24 November 2025

Lambeth LBC is proposing to house more people further out of the borough as housing pressures in London worsen.

HUMAN RESOURCES

If devolution is about identity, culture must be in the script

By Stephen Crocker | 24 November 2025

Culture must be part of the devolution playbook if the new Norfolk & Suffolk Combined Authority is to go the distance, argues Stephen Crocker.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Councils are at breaking point and social care should be made a priority

By Cllr Mike Stonard | 24 November 2025

Ahead of the Autumn Budget, Key Cities portfolio holder for health and social care Cllr Mike Stonard says swift action from ministers is essential if the nee...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Building balance: The case for £3-a-week rent convergence

By Dan Hawthorn | 24 November 2025

Decisions around rent convergence in the Government’s upcoming Budget will shape the strength of London’s Housing Revenue Accounts, say Clive Palfreyman and ...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman