Breaking News in-house services back in contention
Breaking News in-house services back in contention
Dear Colleagues
Last night I attended the Children’s, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee. This committee was being asked to recommend reject the in house service option and develop three outsourcing options.
Barnet UNISON presented a report (see attachment) to all of the councillors on this Committee for them to consider. In case I was asked to comment on our report I prepared a speech (see attached) to the Committee.
Our report made the following recommendations:
Recommendations
1. Barnet UNISON recommends a fully resourced innovative in-house option be included alongside further development of the schools-led social enterprise option. The two joint venture options should be rejected together with the outsourcing and LATC options.
2. School catering is a highly successful income generating service serving 90% of schools in Barnet, in which all surpluses directly benefits schools. It should be excluded from the scope of the project.
3. If the Committee recommends continuing the JVC options, then Capita should be approached and asked not to bid for the education and skills contract.
4. Before the Committee make any decisions the Performance and quality category weighting should be increased from 20% to 40% with a 10% reduction in the category weightings for Strategic Direction and Cost Saving.
Who were the contractors mentioned in the Council report?
In the Council report there is reference to discussions with the private sector some of whom suggested adding Early Years and Libraries in this bundle of services. In the meeting we were informed of the names of these contractors
What happened next was a surprise.
As the item opened up for discussion Labour Councillors proposed that the in-house option be included with the other outsourcing options.
The Deputy Leader of the Council disagreed with the wording of the Labour motion and proposed an amendment of recommendation 3 of the council report which added and the in-house service.
This amendment was put to the vote and all councillors voted in favour of in-house.
Several of us in the room fell of our chairs as this is the first time councillors have insisted that the in-house be included in a report on outsourcing proposals.
I will be writing formally to the Council seeking urgent talks as to how the in-house service is going to be resourced and supported in putting together a business case to deliver Education & Skills & Catering service in-house.
I will be organising meetings for all of our members between now and the end of the year. Please keep a look out for updates.