Plan to privatise jobs called to account
Councillors are to re-examine a decision made by North Somerset's executive to privatise some of its back-room services.
The seven-strong executive decided last month to go ahead with plans to contract out some of its services to save cash.
Liberal Democrat councillor, Chris Howell, and independent Councillor David Shopland, have now called in the decision for further discussion.
The authority's finance and performance policy and scrutiny panel is to meet on Thursday to re-examine the decision, before putting its recommendations to the executive.
The review was launched earlier this year to look at council functions that support those services working with directly with the public, including human resources, payroll, ICT, finance and property.
Councillor Howell, who is the Lib Dem spokesman for finance, said "I called in the executive's decision to privatise transport services for schools and adult social services because the whole process has been very secretive."
Unison bosses have hit out at the decision, saying the plans for privatisation have been railroaded through.
And Liberal Democrats leader, Cllr Deborah Yamanaka, said: "There has been inadequate examination of whether in fact we could get a better service at a lower cost by making internal changes instead of going to outside companies."
Comments
by John, Bristol
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:06AM
“What does North Somersets' Executive mean by privatise?
Do they mean going into a partnership with an organisation such as SOUTHWEST ONE which has already taken over the 'backroom' services of the Avon & Somerset Constabulary and much of Somersets' councils services or does it mean putting their services out to tender.
If they are considering SOUTHWEST ONE then the unions need to look very carefully at the implications.
Negotiations with the A&S, Somerset Councils and IBM were kept very much secret with vast amounts of information withheld under the 'Disclosure of Information Act' as commercially sensitive.
There are still people, including MPs, trying to get information as to what actually went on in the negotiations during the formation of SOUTHWEST ONE especially in the relationships of the principals involved.
At least one request had been sent to the IPCC over the role that the Chief Constable, Colin Port, and his wife played in the negotiations when the A&S became involved with SOUTHWEST ONE.
The IPCC apparently sent the complaint back to the Police Authority who were also in on the negotiations and they found no case to answer - SURPRISE!
Commercial sensitivity seems the new opt out when freedom of information is discussed.
As I say, the unions need to keep a sharp eye on the negotiations and the employees and residents need a full, not censored, account of what exactly is involved.
You would think that with IBM involved the IT services of the A&S would be improved beyond imagining. Think again.
That is what privatisation can mean.”