Category: Report
#Capita: Southampton Council & the risk of delays
“Southampton staff affected as council ends Capita deal.”
24 July 2018
“Capita has run Southampton’s customer services, HR pay, revenues and benefits, procurement, health and safety, print, post room and IT services for 11 years.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-44937942
Barnet UNISON comment: There was no Council Committee decision publicly made before this announcement until Southampton Council held a Cabinet meeting on 18 September 2018. The report to Cabinet Committee was confidential and only the following was reported:
Cabinet: Tuesday, 18th September, 2018 4.30 pm
Update on Strategic Services Partnership
Confidential report of the Leader detailing an update on the Strategic Services Partnerships.
Minutes:
(i) The Service Director for Digital and Business Operations, after consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Customer Experience, is authorised to commence formal dispute resolution proceedings over commercial disputes with Capita if required;
(ii) Adult social care expenditure is included in the Procurement Guarantee for the purposes of the Council’s claim in the event of formal dispute resolution;
(iii) A ‘no comment’ policy continues to apply while commercial negotiations with Capita continue;
(iv) The Service Director for Digital and Business Operations is authorised to instruct Capita’s Procurement team to immediately begin procurement of a Revenues and Benefits system and any other systems or products deemed essential to the continued delivery of services to staff, Members and the public, to ensure no service interruption;
(v) The Service Director for Finance and Commercialisation is authorised to highlight the financial risks posed by the Capita claim and the cost of an arbitration process as necessary in public budget consultation documents, which may need to set out what additional savings are required as a result of not reaching agreement with Capita.
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/modernGov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=126&MId=3826&Ver=4
The decision to end the contract with Capita was publicly reported the following month in the minutes of the Cabinet Committee.
Cabinet: Tuesday, 16th October, 2018 4.30 pm
UPDATE ON STRATEGIC SERVICES DECISION MADE: (CAB 18/19 21455)
On consideration of the confidential report of the Leader and Clean Growth and Development, Cabinet agreed the following:-
(i) Cabinet approved the recommendations set out in the confidential report.
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/modernGov/documents/s37129/Minutes.pdf
What happened next?
TUPE transfer negotiations are currently taking place with staff due to transfer back into Southampton Council by July 2019.
This will mean a large contract with Capita will be terminated and services transferred back to the Council within 10 months.
Barnet UNISON comment:
In our report to Policy and Resources Committee in December 2018 we identified serious risks with the prolonged 18 month review of both Capita contracts.
Feedback from our members of staff vacancies and changes are undermining morale.
It has become evident that vacancies on the Capita contract are not helping provide services for the Council or for residents.
Capita: Commissioner and User satisfaction.
The table provided above by Barnet Blogger Mr Reasonable paints a worrying picture. Things are getting worse not better and it is not the union saying it, it is the “Users” and the “Commissioners”.
Barnet UNISON comment: It’s not working, Commissioners by their own admission are unable to hold Capita to account. Barnet Council needs to grasp the nettle and announce the end of both contracts and set out a clear transition plan for the return of services and their budgets.
Highways Service.
“Risk ID OP14: Insufficient staff in Highways: “Difficulties in retaining experienced and qualified Highways staff could lead to non-qualified staff being tasked to deliver specialised priority tasks resulting in poor delivery of tasks, non-compliance to statutory design requirements/standards, risk of Injury, insurance.”
(Source: Corporate Risk Register 20 February, 2019, Policy and Resources Committee https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s51205/Appendix%20A%20Corporate%20risk%20register.pdf )
Barnet UNISON comment: This is a high profile service and we can confirm that this risk is still real. The prolonged delay on the decision to bring the service back under Council control is exacerbating the issues and the knock on negative impact will continue to be felt by residents.
To view flyer click here Briefing Number 4 – Southampton and
Vote Now To Save Your Job In Your School
Vote Now To Save Your Job
UNISON is conducting an online ballot of UNISON members working on Schools in England.
Schools are facing cuts each year that directly impact on our members.
This has to stop.
The online ballot asks only three questions.
1. Do you believe the government funding cuts are having a negative effect on jobs, workloads, stress, etc.
2. Do you believe Unison should continue to campaign on school funding for jobs pay and terms and conditions.
3. Would you be prepared to take industrial action to secure more money for jobs, pay, and terms and conditions in schools.
It’s that simple. UNISON needs to hear from every single member working in a school.
NOT VOTED YET?
Check that we have your current email address at unison.org.uk/myunison
We will send you an email when the ballot opens explaining how you can vote.
Visit unison.org.uk/speakupforschools to get more information on the issues and a link
to the online ballot.
To vote you will need your date of birth and your National Insurance number or UNISON membership number.
Please have your say – we need to know what you think.
Ballot closes 5 March
HEALTH WARNING: Barnet UNISON members “Your Rights At Work” guide.
This short “Your ‘Rights At Work’ guide is intended to alert all of our members working for Barnet Council to their ‘Rights at Work’
We have noticed a significant increase in case work across the Council and in some cases we are hearing reports of workers being told ‘you don’t need to involve the union’.
Please, please do not go into meetings without your trade union rep. It is much harder trying to protect “Your ‘Rights At Work’ if you have gone into earlier meetings without your union rep.
To view our “Your Rights At Work” guide click on link below.
2019.01.31 Rights at work FINAL
Remember this:
“If in doubt ring Barnet UNISON on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk”.
*****Cleaners now on London Living Wage*****
Friday 1 February 2019 was a big day for all cleaners working on the outsourced Barnet Council Corporate Cleaning contract.
All cleaners working on the Barnet Corporate Cleaning contract moved from £7.83 an hour to £10.55 an hour.
After 15 years of lobbying to get them on the London Living Wage it has finally happened.
No worker in Barnet Council earns less than LLW and that has been included in the most recent outsourced contracts.
#Capita consultation only 2 weeks to go !
Dear Barnet resident.
I am writing to you as the Lead Barnet UNISON rep on behalf my members who work on the two #Capita contracts here in Barnet.
Barnet UNISON has campaigned for over a decade to oppose mass outsourcing to Capita. Sadly the outsourcing meant hundreds of redundancies as jobs were moved out of London. The issues with Capita were not just redundancies, service issues started to emerge across a large number of former Council services.
Barnet UNISON has been campaigning in the community for the past year to bring back services in-house following the collapse of Carillion and Capita’s dramatic share price fall last February 2018.
Following the serious fraud recently committed by a Capita employee the Council has reviewed both contracts and is in the process of bring back Finance and Strategic HR as from 1 April 2019.
However other Council services currently provided by Capita are now being reviewed to see if they should come back in-house.
Here are services currently provided by Capita
Phase 1 – Finance and Strategic HR (the focus of this TUPE consultation)
Phase 2 – Highways and Regeneration (review between Jan to Sept 2019)
Phase 3 – Barnet-based customised services – Estates, Social Care Direct, Safety, Health and Wellbeing , Strategic Planning, Procurement, Insight, Cemetery and Crematorium (review between Jan to Sept 2019)
Phase 4 – Revenues and Benefits, Customer Services, Information Services, Planning (Development Management) and Regulatory Services, transactional HR services (including pensions administration). Will form part of the Year 7 Contract Review of both contracts from September 2019 onwards.
Barnet UNISON is campaigning for all services provided by Capita to come back in-house.
I am encouraging all Barnet residents to take part in Barnet Councils Capita online consultation which you can access here https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/strategic-contract-review
The deadline to complete the consultation is Friday 15 February 2019.
It is really important that Barnet Council hears from residents about Capita.
There are 12 questions including some multiple choice and written responses.
In order to encourage and assist Barnet residents to complete the Capita online consultation I strongly recommend residents read this helpful guidance produced by Barnet Alliance for Public Services click on link below
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16sMdE3V9gA1peQ-5Gw1vS7HeqRcFI4aU/view
I have attached a info graphic produced by Barnet Blogger Mr Reasonable showing how many millions Barnet Council have already paid Capita.
Please complete the survey and let others know.
Best wishes
John Burgess
Branch Secretary.
Barnet UNISON
Barnet Council Capita consultation : Complete ASAP
To All Barnet UNISON members living in Barnet
I am writing to you as a member of Barnet UNISON and according to our postcode information a Barnet resident.
Barnet UNISON campaigned for over a decade to oppose mass outsourcing to Capita. Sadly the outsourcing meant hundreds of redundancies as jobs were moved out of London. The issues with Capita were not just redundancies, service issues started to emerge across a large number of former Council services.
Barnet UNISON has been campaigning in the community for the past year to bring back services in-house following the collapse of Carillion and Capita’s dramatic share price fall last February 2018.
Following the serious fraud recently committed by a Capita employee the Council has reviewed both contracts and is in the process of bring back Finance and Strategic HR as from 1 April 2019.
Other former Council services currently provided by Capita are now being reviewed to see if they should come back in-house.
Barnet UNISON is campaigning for services to come back in-house.
As a Barnet resident and UNISON member I am encouraging you to take part in Barnet Councils Capita online consultation which you can access.
The deadline to complete the consultation is Friday 15 February 2019. It is really important that Barnet Council hears from residents about Capita.
There are 12 questions including some multiple choice and written responses.
In order to encourage and assist Barnet residents to complete the Capita online consultation I strongly recommend residents read this helpful guidance produced by Barnet Alliance for Public Services here
****Important links******
- Barnet Council Capita consultation here.
- Helpful guidance here
Bet wishes
John Burgess
Branch Secretary.
Barnet UNISON
Update for Capita Staff in Finance and Strategic HR
Dear member
I am currently involved in TUPE transfer consultations for Finance and Strategic HR with Capita and Barnet Council.
***Please note: I have asked for meetings with Capita in relation to HR and Finance workers who currently provide a Traded Service for Schools. At this moment in time this group of workers are not included in this TUPE consultation. However I have had asked for legal advice from UNISON on this decision. Traded Service for Schools are identified in Phase Four groups of services we are being considered for insourcing.
I understand two meetings with staff with Barnet Council and Capita have been arranged on:
Staff briefings
Tuesday 22 January, 2.30 pm in the Boardroom Building 2, NLBP
Wednesday 23 January, 9.30 am in the Boardroom Building 2, NLBP
It would be useful if you can attend one of these meetings. However, as it was published at short notice I will be asking for other meeting dates to be made available for staff.
One to One meetings.
If any Barnet UNISON members wants a one to one meeting with Capita/Barnet Council and would like a UNISON rep to attend please contact the Barnet UNISON Office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Formal TUPE transfer meetings.
These are formal meetings that I attend with Capita and Barnet Council. The next meeting is in 30 January after which they will be weekly until the staff transfer on 1 April 2019.
Communication
Capita and Barnet Council will be providing regular updates and some frequently asked questions. It is important that if you have any issues or concerns you raise them as soon as possible.
Key UNISON meetings for members
There are a couple of branch meetings at which Capita is on the agenda in order staff can ask questions. You can view the details of these meeting meetings on this link https://bit.ly/2DrdO1C
What about the other Capita Services?
The council confirmed further information on the approximate timescales to review the remaining services:
Phase 1 – Finance and Strategic HR (the focus of this TUPE consultation)
Phase 2 – Highways and Regeneration (review between Jan to Sept 2019)
Phase 3 – Barnet-based customised services – Estates, Social Care Direct, Safety, Health and Wellbeing , Strategic Planning, Procurement, Insight, Cemetery and Crematorium (review between Jan to Sept 2019)
Phase 4 – Revenues and Benefits, Customer Services, Information Services, Planning (Development Management) and Regulatory Services, transactional HR services (including pensions administration). Will form part of the Year 7 Contract Review of both contracts from September 2019 onwards.
Best wishes
John Burgess
Branch Secretary.
Barnet UNISON
Start spreading the NEWS “we’re balloting soon” actually start 22 January!
Attention all Barnet UNISON School members:
UNISON on-line ballot will open on Tuesday 22nd January and close on Tuesday 5th March – a 6 week ballot period.
The three questions on the on-line ballot are as follows:
- Do you believe that government funding cuts are having a negative effect on jobs, workloads, stress, pay and terms and conditions in your schools?
- Do you believe that UNISON should continue to campaign on school funding for jobs, pay and terms and conditions?
- Would you be prepared to take industrial action to secure more money for jobs, pay and terms and conditions in schools?
It is really important that as many Barnet UNISON School staff take part in the ballot. Unless there is a radical change in funding for schools then more and more cuts will be delivered. These cuts are hurting our members and the children.
It is really important that School Staff send a message to UNISON that if necessary they will take strike action to stop the School Budget cuts.
3 things for Barnet UNISON school staff members can do:
- Please make sure you have passed on your correct email address to the Barnet UNISON branch by emailing contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
- Speak to your fellow workers and check they are in a trade union. If they are not in a union they won’t be able to vote and that will mean one less message going to the Government. If they are not in a union ask them to join Barnet UNISON. They can sign up on line by googling “Join UNISON” https://join.unison.org.uk/
- Contact Barnet UNISON in order to request flyers/information about the ballot to circulate amongst your colleagues by phone on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Information:
UNISON Campaign web page https://bit.ly/2VDAv9I
Responses to our #Bingate questions
Unison Round Reorganisation Question – Received 5 October
- How many vehicles do we currently have available for the new round restructure?
All vehicles currently used for refuse and recycling collections will remain available for the new rounds. As highlighted in our meetings in October. This is 50 RCVs currently available within the fleet including hire vehicles.
- How many refuse rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?
Initially 15 standard refuse rounds were set which included, Driver +2 loaders, 45 staff on each collection day, as highlighted in our meetings in October. Addition resources to balance rounds was expected. At present additional refuse collection rounds are operating on Monday and Tuesday to provide support to crews where problem roads/locations have been identified or round size is emerging as an issue limiting the ability to complete within working time.
- How many recycling rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?
Initially 15 standard recycling rounds were set which included, Driver +2 loaders, 45 staff on each collection day, as highlighted in our meetings in October. Addition resources to balance rounds was expected. At present additional refuse collection rounds are operating on Monday and Tuesday to provide support to crews where problem roads/locations have been identified or round size is emerging as an issue limiting the ability to complete within working time.
- How many Trade rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?
3 trade rounds, Driver +1 loader, 6 staff as highlighted in our meetings in October
- How many green waste rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?
4 garden waste rounds, Driver +2 loaders, 12 staff as highlighted in our meetings in October
- Currently the Hazard vehicle round operates three days a week. Will it still be operating and what are the crew numbers?
The hazard vehicle (Impact Protection Vehicle (IPV)) will continue to operate 2 days per week. Driver IPV, Driver+1/2 RCV, as highlighted in our meetings in October.
- Impact Vehicle (IPV) currently operates three days a week what is the plan for this service?
As above.
- Will there still be a Bin delivery and if so what are the staffing numbers?
The bin delivery vehicle will be retained. Driver only. as highlighted in our meetings in October
- How many shunt vehicles will be available on a daily basis?
This will vary on daily basis as highlighted in our meetings in October
- What rounds will be getting shunts?
This will vary on daily basis as highlighted in our meetings in October
- What is the estimated down time for shunts?
Clarification on this question is needed
- How many spare vehicles do we have?
This will vary on daily basis as highlighted in our meetings in October
- What are number of locations per round?
Clarification on this question is needed.
- How many bins and size per location?
Unknown and variable each week/seasonality. Bin lift information being recorded. Barnet Homes bin audit nearing completion.
The audit of all Barnet Homes managed properties has been completed. Bin number by type and waste stream at each location are known.
- Please provide the mileage walked by loaders per round?
We do not hold this information
- How will flat refuse be collected?
As highlighted in our meetings in October refuse from flats contained within communal bins/1100l Euro bins is scheduled be collected on the normal rounds. A round that focusses of the collection of refuse from flats is in the process of being created and will be operational to support collections on Monday and Tuesday each week from Monday 17 November.
- How will flat recycling be collected?
As above.
- What are the days for each postal district?
See district/round maps previous circulated
- How are the locations with more than one collection day be collected?
The Council policy is for one collection of refuse to be provided per week. Further collections will be chargeable. Both Barnet Home and privately managed developments have been contacted to inform them of the enforcement of this policy and the options for ensuring waste is contained and collected. The majority of managing agents have made contact with the team and contracts will be established for paid additional collections.
- Will there be maps provided for each new round?
Maps were provided to crews and feedback has been positive. These have been amended in response to crew feedback and continue to be reproduced to reflect changes made to improve rounds.
- When will public be informed?
The communication plan for this service changes was delivered in full. As was set out in our meetings in October An additional postcard was delivered to all street level properties in the week prior to the changes going live and a wrap cover was distributed on the Barnet Times.
- When will staff be consulted and be informed about their round?
As was set out in our meetings in October staff have were informed about the round changes and engaged through being talked through the rounds and giving feedback. All staff had the opportunity to view the new rounds over a number of weeks and provide feedback.
Dialogue between frontline staff and supervisors/operational managers takes place daily. Feedback is used to make continual improvements to rounds. In addition, comments from round sheets are recorded and where action is necessary this is taken. Dedicated feedback meetings with frontline staff/representatives will be scheduled in December/January.
- What are the contingency plans in the event of failure to collect?
Qualified drivers from across the service have been identified to ensure cover for sickness and annual leave. Additional vehicles have been hired to ensure there is cover due to recent breakdowns. Additional support rounds have been organised for Monday and Tuesday, which have been shown to be the heaviest days of the week. Evening shifts have been arranged and will be employed on days when needed.
- What is the plan for the ever growing number of new developments to be incorporated into the new round?
The growth in the borough’s population and housing stock was a driver for the round reorganisation. Information on current and projected growth has been provided to the team and incorporated into the new rounds, as was highlighted in our meetings in October.
- Will agency staff still be used?
Agency staff will be used if needed however the new rounds should provide capacity within the existing staffing levels to cover work where agency cover would have typically needed to be brought in.
- What are the estimated travelling times for each round to and from depots to the prescribed five postal districts?
| @ 06:30 | Mon (EN5 2BD) | Tue (N12 9EY) | Wed (NW11 7JS) | Thu (NW7 4PU) | Fri (NW4 4BG) | ||||||
| Time | Distance | Time | Distance | Time | Distance | Time | Distance | Time | Distance | ||
| Harrow | HA3 8NT | 18 to 28 | 8.1 | 20 to 30 | 8.3 | 20 to 35 | 8.3 | 12 to 20 | 4.9 | 14 to 22 | 5.6 |
| Oakleigh Depot | N11 1HJ | 7 to 10 | 2.9 | 5 to 8 | 1.7 | 12 to 20 | 5.4 | 12 to 16 | 5.2 | 12 to 24 | 5.8 |
- What are the estimated tipping times from each area to Hendon or Edmonton?
| @ 10:00 | Mon (EN5 2BD) | Tue (N12 9EY) | Wed (NW11 7JS) | Thu (NW7 4PU) | Fri (NW4 4BG) | ||||||
| Time | Distance | Time | Distance | Time | Distance | Time | Distance | Time | Distance | ||
| Oakleigh Depot – Dry Recycling and Green Waste | N11 1HJ | 8 to 16 | 2.9 | 6 to 12 | 1.7 | 14 to 24 | 5.4 | 12 to 20 | 5.2 | 16 to 28 | 5.8 |
| Edmonton – Dry recycling, green waste and residual waste | N18 3AG | 24 to 40 | 9.0 | 20 to 35 | 6.6 | 24 to 45 | 9.4 | 28 to 50 | 11.9 | 26 to 45 | 9.9 |
| Hendon Rail Transfer Station – Dry recycling and Residual waste | NW7 | 20 to 35 | 9.2 | 16 to 26 | 5.5 | 8 to 12 | 2.3 | 12 to 24 | 5.6 | 8 to 14 | 3.0 |
- Will black sacks be used, if so who will deliver them?
Black sacks are not issued by LBB. Some properties where there are access issues and/or lack of frontage are provided with sacks for both refuse and recycling. These are now delivered on request as opposed to regular ‘blanket’ drops.
- Where access for large vehicles is prohibited how far are staff expected to pull bins from bin areas to vehicle?
Dynamic risk assessments need to be carried out by crew as required. Where there are concerns around collecting bins these need to be communicated to supervisors for a visit/assessment to be carried out and a solution found as was highlighted in our meetings in October.
- Have risk assessment’s been done for each new round?
As agreed at JNCC, route information sheets will be completed by each crew within first month of new service. Known issues on rounds will be prepopulated pre go live.
- Have Round Descriptions been completed for each new round?
As above.
- Will the Round Descriptions include the presence potential hazards and restrictions such as;
- Parked Vehicles
- Narrow Lanes
- Steep Slopes
- Pedestrian usage
- Schools/Care Homes and other buildings that may present increase risk, hazards or restrictions
- Poor Lighting or Visibility
As above.
- Will the Round Descriptions include the nearest locations of:
- Public/Staff Accessible Toilets
- Hospitals
- Nearest refuelling point (in case of emergency)
As above.
- Have the rounds been walked and tested?
No. As was highlighted in our meetings in October, there is not logistical ability to do this, and is not industry standard.
- What is current overall capacity in tonnage for each existing refuse round per day?
90,710.64t residual household residual waste collected 2017/18
(all vehicles, all sources)
261 working days per year
90,710.64/261 = 347.55t per day across all vehicles
Households
18 RCV x 10t average payload = 180t/360t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily
- What is the overall capacity expected in tonnage for each new refuse round per day?
15 RCV x 10t payload = 150t/300t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily
- What is current overall capacity in tonnage for each existing flat refuse round per day?
Included in above figures.
- What is the current overall capacity in tonnage for the existing food waste round per day?
4630.76t food waste collected 2017/18
4630.76/261 = 17.74t per day
- What is the current overall capacity in tonnage for RATS/FLASH collection rounds per day?
N/A.
- What is the current overall tonnage for each existing recycling round per day?
31,480.22t Household dry recycling collected 2017/18
31,480.22/261 = 120.61t per day
16 RCV x 10t payload x 1 tip per day = 160t/320t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily
- What is the overall capacity expected tonnage for each new recycling round per day?
31,480.22t Household dry recycling collected 2017/18
31,480.22/261 = 120.61t per day
15 RCV x 10t payload x 1 tip per day = 150t/300t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily
- What is the current overall tonnage for the food waste collected by the recycling rounds per day?
4630.76t food waste collected 2017/18
4630.76/261 = 17.74t per day
- What is the current overall tonnage for each existing refuse restricted access round per day?
Contained in above figures.
- What is the current overall tonnage for each existing recycling restricted access round per day?
Contained in above figures for recycling.
- Currently we have restricted access rounds. How will the new round collection service address restricted access to locations?
A number of locations have proven challenging to access with the ‘standard’ RCVs in the fleet. As such these locations have been assessed and where necessary removed from rounds on to a separated restricted access ‘round’.
- What is the current overall tonnage of the Saturday green waste rounds?
14,743.58t garden waste collected 2017/18
Majority collected on Saturday rounds. Seasonal variation of tonnages across the year.
- Will the crews be alternated between refuse and recycling each week?
In the initial 5 weeks of the service it has been necessary to move drivers and loader between different rounds to both assist with familiarisation, better balance the local knowledge and challenge the productivity of rounds so they can be adjusted where needed.