I fully understand the shock of Planning Service staff – many of them professional planners – who find themselves threatened with transfer because of a lack of strategy in budget and civil service management.
There is a need to make sure that this service is well-geared to take positive developments forward as we strive for recovery after the recession, particularly in the construction sector. In areas like Derry, the cuts proposed run contrary to expressed public policy from the Executive.
Many of these staff resent the devaluation of their work and the dislocation they now face – as well as the worry that they could be affected by deeper cuts in the future. I have written to Environment Minister Edwin Poots objecting to these proposals.
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