Land Registry announce massive cuts
Posted by Hesham Sabry Dec 16th, 2009, in Property
The Land Registry wants to axe 1,500 posts – about 25% of its workforce – as part of a five-year plan to cut costs.
The registry believes the closure of five regional offices in Croydon, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Stevenage and Tunbridge Wells will also help save £92m a year.
Whilst it is stated that the proposals will make the registry “fit for the future”, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said the proposals had left staff “shocked and angry”, and that the plans could damage services. A statement on the Land Registry website said the “reorganisation and transformation… will cut its costs significantly and put it in the best possible position to deliver the services its customers demand”.
The Land Registry is a government body which registers all land ownership transactions in England and Wales. It is funded by fees charged for its services and receives no taxpayers’ money. However, the property market downturn in the recession led to a loss in 2008-9, with another loss predicted this year.
“The changes will help create a Land Registry that is fit for the future, that can live within its means and that can continue to provide an outstanding service to its customers,” a statement on the registry website said.
Based on current and anticipated levels of business coming into the Land Registry, it estimates that it needs just 4,500 of about 6,000 current full-time positions.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said that the announcement had left staff shocked and angry and pointed out that there is a real risk of an adverse effect on the services offered by the Land Registry, stating that “…there is a real danger that services to the public will suffer as the agency is cut to the bone”.
Public consultation has been launched on the planned office closures, ahead of final decisions due to be made in February next year.