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Glasgow city council spent £34.2m in one year on 'Golden Goodbyes'

Apr 18 2012

Glasgow City Chambers picture gallery Image 9

Glasgow City Council forked out £34.2million in one year to pay for workers taking early retirement, it has been revealed.

And Scottish councils have spent more than £127million over the past three years to pay for workers taking early retirement, say the figures unearthed by Freedom of Information requests.

Glasgow, the local authority with the highest bill, paid £34.2million in 2010-11 to cover the costs.

The figures have shot up because thousands of workers are taking early deals as councils try to make savings.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance said that while early retirement packages might represent a saving to councils, retirees were now getting a “golden goodbye” which was unfair to taxpayers.

Cosla, the organisation who represent local authorities, said the costs of early retirement were “usually offset” by long-term and permanent savings.