South Lanarkshire Unison in bid to save consumer service

Oct 22 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

UNISON in South Lanarkshire this week stepped up their fight to safeguard the future of the authority’s Consumer Advice and Education Service.

The proposal is one of many that officials of the council have put to councillors to consider as part of the exercise to cut the council’s budget following cuts in Government funding.

UNISON has sent a report to councillors asking them to reject the proposal.

The service employs six consumer and trading standards offices who are part of a larger consumer and trading standards service.

Stephen Smellie, secretary of UNISON South Lanarkshire branch said: “The council have a statutory responsibility to provide a Consumer and Trading Standards service. The Advice and Education Service is the non-statutory part of this which acts as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the statutory service.

“Members of the public who have concerns about their consumer rights can contact the service. This can then lead to a statutory enforcement following an investigation.”

UNISON say the consequences of closing down the service would have an impact on citizens in South Lanarkshire far in excess of any savings made.

However, council officials say they will save £197,000 if they get rid of the six posts.