Category: Local

UNISON submitted a response to restructure to the Chief Executive. To view report click HERE

The Council Trade Unions have responded to the news that up to 35 Barnet schools rated by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’ are being strongly “invited” to be fast tracked into becoming Academies without any consultation.

Underneath the political hype and spin the reality of what it means to become an academy is very different. Once again politicians are promoting ‘political dogma’ without thinking about the long term consequences.

• There is no evidence of a public clamour for the creation of new academy schools. A recent public opinion survey conducted by Ipsos MORI found that 96% of parents did not want state-funded schools to be run as academies.

 

To read full press release click HERE

Yes you read right! News just in that Barnet UNISON looks set to be privatised.

Barnet Council has attracted national media attention with its easyCouncil tag, well it looks like the private sector liked the look of the branch and decided to make a bid or maybe did not like the branch and decided to buy it and close it down!

A shocked and bewildered branch secretary John Burgess was caught on camera outside the Town Hall after spending lengthy talks over the future of the UNISON branch and said:

“You can’t make it up. We had no indication that our service was up for privatisation. We thought easyCouncil meant other services not ours! I am shocked but will be issuing a press release once I have had chance to talk to my officers!

We have lots of questions for instance where is the Business Case for this decision? We were not part of the Options Appraisal in fact we did not know that an Options Appraisal was taking place. We demand to see the Options Appraisal. We have heard rumours that TUPE Plus was not included which leaves our members at the mercy of private sector. Not just their Pay, Annual Leave but Pensions as well. We don’t even know if the private company will recognise trade unions it is just unbelievable. What about data protection issues for our members?  This company could export this service out of Barnet and out of the UK which means existing legislation protecting data will be unenforceable! In the dire economic climate exporting jobs out of the borough seems madness at a time when the borough is experiencing rising unemployment.

Where was the consultation with the staff? What resources were given to other service delivery options especially the in-house bid? How can this decision deliver value for money and ensure democratic accountability? We are a Trade Union a democratic organisation our members vote for their reps how we can we demonstrate openness and transparency about decision making and service delivery if the private sector and their shareholders are ‘calling the shots!’ It is unacceptable to use the defence of ‘commercial confidentiality’ to hide details of business cases from our members and we will fight it all the way. It is member’s money and they need to see how and where their money is being spent. 

We will oppose any attempt to turn our branch into easyUnion. We have seen leaked documents suggesting that there would be a significant shift in to the way members paid their subscriptions e.g. a standard charge for a first meeting with a UNISON rep with further charges if representation is required.”

I am seeking urgent meetings and asking for the Options Appraisal decision to be overturned. We are clear that if an Options Appraisal needs to take place it needs to do so in partnership with the Trade Union and its members. We know our service and so do they, we should be working together to put our own in-house bid. We would expect this bid to be resourced.

As you can imagine this has all come as complete surprise.  In light of concerns we have had about the process I need to speak to our national union about whether we can seek a Judicial Review over the decision to privatise our branch.

I would like to send a message to all trade unions across the UK. It appears that belonging to a trade union is seen as threat to the financial institutions that seem to still have the power and influence to decide Government Policy. What is being proposed in Barnet maybe part of a more sinister coordinated campaign to break the trade unions forever. I could not help but be concerned about anti-union frenzy in the media over the BA dispute. What next?  Will it be illegal for a worker to withdraw their labour? I look forward to messages of support for our struggle.

Please Note: Barnet Council has been carrying out a massive transformation entitled Future Shape, we have had no indication that the privatisation of the Barnet UNISON branch was in any way connected.

To read more information on this shocking development click here

Welcome to the Barnet UNISON Twilight Zone.  You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas.

You’ve just crossed over into the Barnet UNISON Twilight Zone. 

 

The story of our branch being privatised has not happened. 

What is happening is our Council Services are at risk as a result of the recent 6.3 Billion budget cuts package and the likely level of cuts to funding to the Council as a result of the emergency budget on 22 June.

Fire Sale of the Public Sector?

It is important that the process of deciding what the Council does and doesn’t do in the future is open and transparent. Whilst Ministers ‘spin’ the myth that there are thousands of residents looking to set up co-ops/social enterprises etc to run services the reality is very different. Banks are not lending, and if they do, it is likely to be to multi-nationals e.g. IBM, Mouchel, Capita, BT.  In the knowledge that the Government are announcing their intention that the Public Sector debt must be cut back, the multi-nationals are circulating the public sector like sharks waiting for big public sector contracts to keep them afloat. It is the multi-nationals which will be looking to run our schools and it is easy to understand why. If they take over a school it means they take over the property (currently the schools are owned by us the public). Schools are one of the last massive public property assets and if the ‘Fire Sale’ goes ahead they could all be gone by the end of the Con-Dem first term in Government.

The Trade Unions have a responsibility to organise. But to organise in a way that they have never done for a long long time. In the past there has been too much rhetoric from General Secretary’s about joint working. History is clear that they have not delivered except for one day in the defence of the Pensions in the Public Sector. That was only one day. The fight over the survival of Public Services can only be won by working within our own communities.

To keep up on what is going on across London click here

Dear Colleague

Please find enclosed UNISON alternative proposal to the Children’s Services Restructure. Our proposal is based on the widespread responses from UNISON members working in Children’s Services. We are intending on submitting our proposal to the Director but want members to discuss and respond to our draft.

To view click here

It is important in these stark economic times, with the ongoing criticism of the number of senior management posts and high salaries in the public sector, that we avoid top heavy management structures. Our proposal has only 3 senior management roles as opposed to the 5 in the Directors’ proposal.

Children’s Services is the most high profile service the Council delivers and the consequences of poor performance are exceedingly high. The Climbié & Baby Peter inquiries are a constant reminder of what is at stake. It is our view and the view of our members that the proposed restructure is potentially dangerous and could undermine the already excellent safeguarding and social work practice being delivered by staff.  The Social Work Task Force said the ‘voice of social care’ needs to be heard within Children’s Services. It is our view the Directors proposal does the opposite. The restructure lowers the social care profile across the service which makes the structure unsafe. It is vitally important there is a strong Safeguarding oversight across the whole of the Children’s workforce as more and more services are carrying out work with vulnerable children and their families. It is worth remembering that the Climbié inquiry reinforced the need for integrated approach which we believe the Directors restructure does the opposite. 

The Directors restructure is based on an outdated silo approach where ‘whole children’ are split into silos. This approach is not holistic, not integrated and is contrary to the future shape cross cutting theme being adopted across other Directorate restructures. 

In our restructure we have noted that a number of services that were included in Policy, Performance and Planning are currently being transferred in to the Future Shape Support organisation. We see this as an opportunity in terms of the current capacity for development of a coordinated, integrated commissioning structure.

Message to our members working on Education teams in Children’s Services.

We have not had much response from our members working in the Education/Schools teams and would strongly urge our members to read and send in your comments.

We urge members to share this DRAFT with colleagues, discuss in team meetings and send any comments to john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk by Friday 23^rd April 2010.

The biggest costs for any organisation public or private are staff costs. That is why staff are quite rightly concerned when they hear they could be transferred out of the Council into another organisation.  

When staff are transferred out of the council what are the risks for those staff?

We commissioned a report to look at the risks to staff if they are transferred out of the Council under Secondment, TUPE Plus, TUPE arrangements.

To view the report click here

As I was marching with the Barnet UNISON banner pass Whitehall on Saturday I had a piece of paper pushed into my hand. I am not sure it is genuine but none of the mainstream parties appear to be saying anything about job cuts, despite the fact less than 6 months ago they were calling for savage cuts to jobs, pensions.

There have been rumours that an emergency budget would be called after the General Election. It is disappointing that politicians are frightened to say what they are planning for fear they won’t be elected.

Anyway have a look at this!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO2DWGAd17Y

 

‘A Manifesto for Council Housing’ Congress House, London.

Throughout the conference every speaker recognised the good work that Alan Walter had done to defend council housing prior to his untimely death. Speakers in the first part of the morning spoke of the housing situation in their own boroughs as well as an overview of the national picture. They all spoke of a need to make serious financial reforms.

Austin Mitchell MP reported that a major council house building and renovation programme will meet the urgent need of the 1.8 million households on council waiting lists. He stated that £2,000 grants to first time buyers and notional 10% shares for tenants will drive up house prices and encourage yet more borrowing by those least able to afford it. In his view the Governments latest Reform proposals to allow councils to keep more of tenants’ rents are welcome but do not go far enough. ‘The government has been willing to write off all the debt for homes in stock transfers. It is unjust that they are refusing to do the same for council tenants.’

Frank Dobson MP spoke of the ‘rent robbery’ whereby for decades the government had been taking rent monies and not giving enough money for the upkeep of council homes. Ministers claim much of this money is used to pay for ‘historic debt’. A large amount of the debt is actually new debt finance for the ALMOs. Despite its claims the government put no new money into ALMOs; rather council tenants collectively pay from their rents. He spoke of the fact that bad housing affects lives, as in health and education.

Other speakers included Pete Challis, National Housing Officer for UNISON who spoke of the Tories who have said they will give money for housing but who will take from other services such as refuse and homecare in order to pay for it. Simon Hughes MP mentioned the Labour Manifesto that wanted councils to be able to borrow at a lower rate of interest and promised a mass new build programme with apprenticeships. Insulation would be offered for homes and local authorities would be able to use section 606 money to build housing or renovate estates. Jack Dromey, Deputy General Secretary UNITE,  Linda McNeil, Leeds Tenants Federation, Paul O’Brien, APSE Scottish Tenants Organisation, Cllr Deborah Edwards, exec member for Housing, Reading City Council and the Chair – Eileen Short of DCH all contributed.

The second part of the morning was taken up with a workshop concentrating on Finance Reforms – are they good for tenants?

Councillor Catherine Smart, exec member housing, Cambridge City Council, gave her views as a member of the Lib Dems. She spoke of the stupidity of rents being set only two weeks before tenants are informed and how this does not allow for any planning.

Councillor Phil Waker, exec member housing for Barking and Dagenham Council, explained how it was impossible to get money to pull down old buildings and in his borough they had 5 regeneration estates that needed to be knocked down. He also spoke of the large amount of residents in private rented accommodation, paying high rents that are being paid for by Housing Benefit. If there were more council properties available this money would be saved. In his area the BNP are using housing as a means to attract members by saying that immigrants are taking all the council housing.

Steve Partridge, Chartered Institute of Housing then gave a detailed explanation of the expected Reform. Six local councils piloted the scheme in 2006 -08. A project team was set up from a range of services and organisations. There had been three work streams – Financial detail, Technicalities, and Capacity and Awareness building. The last group will be holding workshops for tenants later in the Spring. Consultation will continue over the election period and a response will be given at the end of June/July.

Requests for willingness to work with the scheme will go out in April 2011.

The proposal is to dismantle 30yrs worth of future HRA subsidy in one go and share it out nationally to 172 local authorities. Rents will be retained locally as will Right to Buy receipts. The system of council grants on offer is not enough money for repairs and decent homes’ works. The new system will allow more transparency on what is paying for what.

Recommendations for the future included

• Ring fencing the national Housing Revenue Account and ensuring that all council tenants’ rents are spent on their homes.
• Raise allowances for management, maintenance and major repairs. To be set at a level determined by independent research.
• Ensure that any formula for allowances is based on a 30 year settlement for long term stability.
• Ring fence all right to buy receipts to be used to improve existing and new build council housing.
• Write off or take direct responsibility form the cost of historic debt and remove this element from the housing subsidy system.
• The government must fulfil its promise to provide capital grants to meet the backlog of work for both Decent Homes and other elements.
• Local ring fencing, enforce a set of accounting rules to ensure that the costs of all shared services are correctly apportioned between the Housing Revenue Account and the general fund.
• Provide a public sector safety net as part of any self financing agreement.
• Enable a massive programme of new build council building
• Moratorium on stock transfer and other privatisation of council housing assets and land until Review outcome and implications are fully implemented.
• Protect secure, affordable and democratically accountable council housing – no undermining, means testing or time limiting secure tenancies
• Improve the guidance on stock transfer ballots to ensure a fair and balanced debate.

Anne Denison. UNISON Convenor for Barnet Homes.