EXCLUSIVE SANDWELL PARKIES WON'T BE TOLD TO CLEAR OFF 17-11-2006 Sandwell Council has moved to quash rumours that it's about to make all of its park wardens redundant - but major changes in how they operate could be on their way. The Stirrer received phone calls earlier this week claiming that all of the borough's parkies - officially known as Rangers - were to lose their jobs as a cost-cutting measure. This has been emphatically denied by the local authority although it's emerged their job descriptions are under review. One possibility is that the Rangers role could become merged with that of community wardens in the borough. At the moment, they come under separate directorates and have different line management, although their responsibilities are similar in many ways. The Cabinet member for Community And Safety Partnerships Derek Rowley confirmed; “There is a review of the Ranger service where we are looking at the possibility of transferring some of the rangers to the warden service.“ But he added: “There is no intention whatsoever of making people redundant - there has been no talk of it and certainly no decision made - that would have to be by Cabinet.” The aim of the proposed change is a simple one - to allow Rangers to enjoy the same powers to impose on-the-spot fines as Sandwell's community wardens. They were introduced five months ago to improve life in the borough's various neighbourhoods and can issue instant penalties to litterbugs and rogue car dealers. On the face of it, it seems like a reasonable measure, although some union officials are already murmuring their concerns, and residents will want re-assurances that Rangers won't be forced to take on extra responsibilities that force them away from their main job of looking after the parks. |
©2006 The Stirrer