It is important these days to keep all bases covered when it comes to the all-encompassing health and safety requirements placed on businesses and public sector organisations.

But it could be argued that Birmingham City Council has gone a little over the top by recruiting a mental health expert to advise on the psychological impact that an unprecedented job reduction scheme will have.

Interestingly, Stelios Kiosses, managing director of Longbridge-based Life Balance Centre, is concentrating more on council staff who will not lose their jobs. He fears they may become inflicted by survivor syndrome – a condition more often associated with the guilt felt by soldiers who escape death when their comrades are killed.

There will undoubtedly be resentment and possibly a fall in productivity among council staff who survive the current jobs cull. But is it necessary to call in the psychiatrists?

At least the council did not waste money on this as Mr Kiosses offered his services free of charge in return for an agreement by the council to distribute details of services offered by the Life Balance Centre to staff, and that city chief executive Stephen Hughes could be quoted favourably by the centre. Is anyone thinking that perhaps the clever Mr Kiosses ought to be running Birmingham City Council?