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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Local Government is full of pointless jobs that exist just to justify managers’ roles?

133 replies

NimblePoster · 20/03/2025 18:15

I worked in Local Government for years and while some teams work hard and deliver real benefits to communities, there are also entire roles - and even teams - that serve no real purpose.

Managers accumulate staff because having a bigger team gives them status, justifies higher pay, and probably makes their own jobs feel secure (especially given the mass job cuts in LG over the past two decades). With little oversight, managers keep people on even when their function disappears. I’ve seen whole teams sitting idle, their jobs now pointless, yet still being paid as if they’re essential.

AIBU to think a huge chunk of Local Government is just wasting taxpayer money?

OP posts:
sootyandsweephaveblackeyes · 20/03/2025 20:10

'Diversity inclusion officers' could go for a start.

verycloakanddaggers · 20/03/2025 20:10

NimblePoster · 20/03/2025 18:45

I understand the need for specifics but part of the issue is that inefficiency is often built into the system rather than tied to a single job title. For example, I’ve seen teams created for short-term projects that no longer serve a purpose but continue to exist, or layers of middle management that add bureaucracy without clear outcomes. It’s less about individual job roles and more about a culture where roles are justified by internal processes rather than public benefit. That said, departments like Transformation teams that exist for years after their projects have ended often raise questions about their necessity.

Show quote history

This is just invented blah blah blah.

As if there is spare cash to be spent on unneeded staff. Council budgets are so tight and services stretched.

The vast majority of jobs advertised at my council are teachers, teaching assistants, social workers, planning officers, housing officers. All are needed.

Look at the state of services. Only a fantasist thinks services can be provided with no people.

Thisiswhathings · 20/03/2025 20:14

madamweb · 20/03/2025 19:40

We do all get market supplements though

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In house legal team ? I assume those below team leader are on 60/70k and don't manage anyone , must be very unusual in local government. As a PP 80k is more head of service managing up to 100 staff if not more

verycloakanddaggers · 20/03/2025 20:17

MakingPlans2025 · 20/03/2025 18:39

There are a lot of these goady posts about public sector workers at the moment.

Yes quite.

Why do people fall for this crap?

Local government provides essential services. I find the people who hate everyone - NHS workers, civil servants, local government workers etc - are often alsomoaning about things not getting done.

If you cut staff in services, the services get worse.

Sunshine5672 · 20/03/2025 20:18

You are definitely not being unreasonable!

FrothyCothy · 20/03/2025 20:27

madaffodil · 20/03/2025 19:49

In short, yes.

We got our council tax bill yesterday. It comes to just over 10% of my annual gross salary. And I genuinely don't know what the fuck they do with the money they receive from local taxpayers. I work in accounting by the way, so I do have a considerably better than average grasp of finances and economics on a large scale. I reckon you could walk into that council office building, get a list of names in salary order and cross of 90% of the top 50, and nobody would even notice they were gone.

Officer salaries are not the thing that is sucking up every penny of council funds - it’s in large part the enormous costs charged by the private sector to care for and educate children.

ImRonBurgandy · 20/03/2025 20:34

madaffodil · 20/03/2025 19:49

In short, yes.

We got our council tax bill yesterday. It comes to just over 10% of my annual gross salary. And I genuinely don't know what the fuck they do with the money they receive from local taxpayers. I work in accounting by the way, so I do have a considerably better than average grasp of finances and economics on a large scale. I reckon you could walk into that council office building, get a list of names in salary order and cross of 90% of the top 50, and nobody would even notice they were gone.

Every council will publish "what the fuck" they spend the money on.

To think Local Government is full of pointless jobs that exist just to justify managers’ roles?
verycloakanddaggers · 20/03/2025 20:35

madaffodil · 20/03/2025 19:49

In short, yes.

We got our council tax bill yesterday. It comes to just over 10% of my annual gross salary. And I genuinely don't know what the fuck they do with the money they receive from local taxpayers. I work in accounting by the way, so I do have a considerably better than average grasp of finances and economics on a large scale. I reckon you could walk into that council office building, get a list of names in salary order and cross of 90% of the top 50, and nobody would even notice they were gone.

You would only have to do a tiny bit of reading to address the massive gap in your knowledge so you did know what they spend money on.

Social care for elderly people, social work, children's services, road repairs, planning, housing, refuse collection etc etc.

If you do understand accounts, then you'll be able to read the budgets.

Picklepower · 20/03/2025 20:47

I work in LG and this doesn't reflect what I see. Though my area is community focused roles working with children and families and is absolutely essential and they deal with really hard stuff, social work, family support workers, baby banks etc.

Donotgogentle · 20/03/2025 20:55

Like DOGE central round here.

OonaStubbs · 20/03/2025 20:57

Wetcappuccino · 20/03/2025 19:59

I have worked in the private and local government. People idealise the private sector as efficient and value for money - it is subject to the same egos and mismanagement as the public sector. People just enjoy moaning about the local government.

If private sector companies don't run a tight ship, they go out of business. The public sector just demands more money each year regardless. There's no accountability.

Thisiswhathings · 20/03/2025 20:58

Well apart from councillors, FOI etc

cressidahun · 20/03/2025 20:59

Donotgogentle · 20/03/2025 20:55

Like DOGE central round here.

Isn’t it just

Coolasfeck · 20/03/2025 21:06

sootyandsweephaveblackeyes · 20/03/2025 20:10

'Diversity inclusion officers' could go for a start.

So you’re against initiatives to help jobs be more accessible to disabled people?

Picklepower · 20/03/2025 21:10

sootyandsweephaveblackeyes · 20/03/2025 20:10

'Diversity inclusion officers' could go for a start.

Useless bastards. Helping people in to work, increasing their quality of life, reducing the need for benefits

EasternStandard · 20/03/2025 21:16

Coolasfeck · 20/03/2025 18:48

Yes it almost feels like Labour Party researchers via their social media team have been tasked with stirring up ‘debate’ to test the waters on severe cuts.

I expect Rachel Reeves will be receiving a report by end the month.

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Incredible how fast lines get aired on mn

‘Bloated’ public sector now in the firing line

We’ve done farmers, pensioners, students and businesses now onto bloat and welfare cuts

Starstarstar · 20/03/2025 21:18

The LA I work in has , I.would say, 90% hard working dedicated employees doing serious work to make society run smoothly and protect people. Lots of it is grim work that most people can't or wont do. There are probably too many meetings and 5% of people who are not working hard. Is that any different to the private sector? Certainly anywhere private I have worked there is not 100% efficiency at all times.

As others have said there are huge staff shortages. I can guarantee in my L A if you are not getting fly tipping removed for example it is not because everyone is sitting around drinking tea, it's because the team is half the size it was 5 years ago and the problems have all increased.

Whyherewego · 20/03/2025 21:20

Stonefromthehenge · 20/03/2025 19:50

I think most jobs are like this. I asked a lawyer fir clarification on a fairly straightforward matter, send thr document, highlighted relevant paragraphs. I need probably a four sentence paragraph back. We've now had five days of back and for, background checks on me, DH, the other party. ID checks. Terms of engagement, introduction to the ''team' terms and conditions of course, payment schedule, plan for future action. Just answer the fucking question. TBH, the issue may well resolve itself before I get a yay or nay. This is not a complex legal issue, it really is very straightforward clarification of wording that is likely common in all title deeds.

Exactly this! I spent 20 years in the private sector and boy I saw so much duplication. Heads of dept, heads of regions, heads of country , heads of continent etc. All just adding up the numbers in different ways, sending missives and with teams of people creating powerpoints that justify their own existence. They were all paid massive salaries and hadn't a bloody clue what was being done on the ground.

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/03/2025 21:26

Starstarstar · 20/03/2025 21:18

The LA I work in has , I.would say, 90% hard working dedicated employees doing serious work to make society run smoothly and protect people. Lots of it is grim work that most people can't or wont do. There are probably too many meetings and 5% of people who are not working hard. Is that any different to the private sector? Certainly anywhere private I have worked there is not 100% efficiency at all times.

As others have said there are huge staff shortages. I can guarantee in my L A if you are not getting fly tipping removed for example it is not because everyone is sitting around drinking tea, it's because the team is half the size it was 5 years ago and the problems have all increased.

This

we have a recruitment freeze and have lost a lot of staff to voluntary ‘resignations’…the already stretched service is only going to get worse

Valeyard15 · 20/03/2025 21:29

Annajones101 · 20/03/2025 19:13

You are not being unreasonable.

If it’s not civil servants stealing from the taxpayer, it local government taking the piss. These people are useless and are basically robbing the public purse. Doing all they can to avoid working, taking endless sick time, skiving and being mostly useless. And yet they keep being given more and more money to do naff all. Thats why the paying public is getting sick of them.

Not anything like as sick as people are of moaning arseholes who don't have the first clue what they are going on about yet manage to state it with utterly unearned confidence.

CleverButScatty · 20/03/2025 21:31

NimblePoster · 20/03/2025 18:45

I understand the need for specifics but part of the issue is that inefficiency is often built into the system rather than tied to a single job title. For example, I’ve seen teams created for short-term projects that no longer serve a purpose but continue to exist, or layers of middle management that add bureaucracy without clear outcomes. It’s less about individual job roles and more about a culture where roles are justified by internal processes rather than public benefit. That said, departments like Transformation teams that exist for years after their projects have ended often raise questions about their necessity.

Show quote history

That's a no then, the OP can't give an example.

CleverButScatty · 20/03/2025 21:33

This is the second public sector bashing thread I have seen on here in 2 mins.

I posted on the last one asking if they were a daily fail journo looking for public sector bashing fodder. I couldn't post a further comment 20 seconds later as they had deregistered and the thread had gone 🤔

farfallarocks · 20/03/2025 21:36

7000 people work in comms for the government. 7000!!!!