DVLA office closure threat
DVLA
SHEFFIELD has been dealt a ‘blow’ with the news its DVLA office could shut next year - axing more public sector jobs - under new Government plans.
The under-threat Napier Street office in Sharrow is one of 39 regional offices affected by the proposals announced yesterday.
A total of 1,200 jobs is at risk nationally, with around two dozen of those in Sheffield.
Offices are expected to close by the end of 2013.
Work would be centralised at DVLA headquarters in Swansea if proposals go ahead and a three-month consultation has now been launched.
Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield said he was ‘shocked’ by the announcement.
He added: “It’s a blow for Sheffield.
“The Government are saying they are going to consultation but are already reaching a view they’re going to close every regional office.
“I will be asking questions about how they’re going to maintain a service while centralising everything to Swansea.
“It’s not only worrying for all the people who’ve been told they might be going to lose their jobs just before Christmas but for the service of motorists across the country.”
Closing the offices could deliver savings of around £28 million a year, it has been predicted.
Roads minister Mike Penning said the changes would make ‘dealing with the DVLA easier and quicker for motorists and businesses’ and be the first step in putting more services online.
The news comes on the back of Sheffield Council revealing up to 690 public sector jobs could be cut last month.
The Public and Commercial Services Union has said it will fight the move.
Mike Mackie, assistant secretary of the PCS northern branch for the DVLA, said: “From a Sheffield point of view you’ve got 30 people who have been told two weeks before Christmas their jobs are on the line.
“The timing of it is outrageous.
“The north relies on public sector jobs while the majority of private sector jobs are down south.
“For a business, what would be a five-minute transaction will now be a three-day wait.
“It’s a frontline service cut that affects big business and some of the most vulnerable people in society.”
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Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
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sheffmike
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 04:51 PMwell said numbers 10 and 15 but unfortunately the other idiots will just ignore your comments.
Ayn Rand
Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 02:05 AMI see the laptop libertarians are out in force, bleating their usual refrain that somehow it's all Labour's fault for throwing billions at lesbian asylum seekers. How many times does it need to be explained to you? Decades of deregulation and neoliberal capitalism - overseen by both political parties - opened the field for criminality and greed at hitherto unprecedented levels in the financial sector and now the poorest in our society must pay the price. I wonder quite how much cognitive dissonance it takes to deny the very real and obvious reason for the mess we're in? Probably as much as it does to think "complementary therapies" have an efficacy above the level of a placebo.
Los Blancos Galactico Rossoneri Mancunian
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 09:30 PMIf the gutless government carry on like this, there will be no public sector jobs at all! It's time they bust a gut to stop this jobless unemployment rising!
Ukip
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 04:42 PMReason. If public services was reduced by 50%, then it would be about right. I prefer to keep more of my tax money and choose what that goes on and the less local government interferes in my life the better You will actually find out it is cheaper to live a healthier lifestyle, if you eat decent food that hasn't been processed, drink moderately if you have to and keep away from the fags. It is funny how the so called poor, tend to smoke, drink and eat poor quality food that costs more. My dad who had migraines for 50 years and had all the so called expert help from the NHS, only stopped his migraines after three sessions of Hypnotherapy with me.
MissLola1
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 04:40 PMUKIP please stop. Your so funny I can't control myself. Oh wait your serious. NOT FUNNY JUST FULL TO THE BRIM.
RED OWL
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:30 PMI agree with Kayte post 7. this office does not offer any assistance.Cardiff has all the answers
Reason
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:09 PMOh dear UKIP, you really do have an axe to grind don't you?. I am very pleased that you are in good health and don't rely on the NHS - and it is very good of you to take any health problems that you might have to the 'complimentary therapists' instead of being a burden on our overstretched health services.....lucky you being able to afford them !!! Now let me think who we could do without in the public sector - you've already mentioned the NHS, library staff and police, It is to be presumed that you don't think the fire service is worth anything either, seeing as not many houses burn down? So who does that leave?...oh, the armed forces, I mean, they are not fighting any wars in GB are they?..how about refuse collectors, street sweepers, DWP staff, housing staff, the Crown Prosecution Service, Social Services, Childrens services, Carers, Meals on wheels...oh not to forget teachers and educators? We are on a real roll now aren't we? I am sure that other contributors to this forum can think of dozens of other....me, I've got a headache !!! Oh! by the way, that particular DVLA office is extremely busy as I found out recently when I had to use it because DVLA Swansea could not deal with the business that I had. Keep thinking !!
Ukip
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 02:11 PMJeramiah. I pay for the NHS but never use, as I look after my health and use complimentary therapy if necessary. The local library doesn't stock the books I like to read. The police were a total waste of time when I had a stalker 6 years ago. How many houses ever burn down? Who would miss most public sector workers if they went on holiday, most of us would get on better without them.
seenitall
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 01:05 PMThe UKs problems are rooted in our history. A hundred years, and more, ago the lack of private investment and contentment of lazy managements, coupled with a lack of technical education, had allowed the Germans to overtake us, industrially. We had economicstructural weaknesses even then and these weaknesses have never been seriously addressed. The growth of regional public sector jobs have all been palliatives and too much Government investment and incentives have been aimed at the multi-nationals who move ,without conscience, to those area offering them the best deal,be it short or long term. We need to wake up.
kayte
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 12:58 PMEr ... what exactly does this office do? Everything I see about the DVLA refers to Cardiff!
Jeremiah
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 12:54 PMIf government jobs add no value, UKIP, you'll not be bothered if they go on strike then.
Hollywood
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 11:17 AMAgree with UKIP why are we paying road tax on top of petrol tax, MOT and Insurance scams as they currently stand?? Only in the UK, we must be fools. Went to USA recently and found most things around half the price of UK, no wonder the manufacturers and suppliers of goods refer to UK as Treasure Island.
Ukip
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 10:52 AMUkip. In my previous post, I should have said government jobs that add no value. Probably 50% in my estimations.
Sir Taxedalot
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 10:48 AMIt's a pity the "shock and outrage" of the usual deficit deniers doesn't extend to all the construction workers who have been unemployed for 3 years. âThe north relies on public sector jobs.." Why is that then? Because Labour councils and governments only know how to spend wealth, they don't know how to create it. Why are all the private sector jobs down south? Because they don't have so many ludicrous Labour councils churning unemployable jobcentre fodder with no education.
Ukip
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 10:07 AMWhy should we be even paying road tax when pay 80% tax on each gallon we buy? There are far too many people working for the government, in jobs that add to value to society and hinder us. Create an environment so private companies can flourish and they will create jobs. What is income tax in Switzerland? and they have a far better standard of living than us. Perhaps they don't have so many welfare scroungers to subsidise, but that equally applies to the greedy bankers, who avoid paying a lot of tax.
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