A STAFF shake-up affecting dozens of employees at City of York Council has been delayed.

The authority wants to transfer road maintenance and parking staff from the city strategy directorate to neighbourhood services.

But leading councillors have put the brakes on the move, because they fear the departure of a senior official could cause difficulties with the transfer. As previously reported in The Press, Terry Collins is standing down as neighbourhood services director, to move to a new job in the north-east.

In light of that, councillors have now deferred the shake-up, to avoid further confusion.

The move was agreed in principle in May, in order to “streamline” the relationships between the council and key contractors. The council also wants to improve its links with utility firms and between council workers.

About 25 full-time highways and engineering positions would be moved in the first phase, followed by 41 parking services staff, followed by further waves down the line.

But at a meeting on Thursday aimed at rubber stamping the changes, Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders Ian Gillies and Andrew Waller voted to postpone the start of the process.

Coun Gillies said: “One of the prime movers is leaving and going elsewhere and there is nothing saying what’s going to happen.

“The report was written partially by him before he was leaving and I just want some assurances to cut down the risk.”

But Labour leader David Scott criticised that decision.

He said: “I’m concerned that councillors Gillies and Waller have such little faith in the council’s ability to appoint a director that can deal with such responsibilities.

“The salary is not insignificant and I would expect any new director to be able to take on the task.”

He said the uncertainty caused by the delay could also affect staff morale.