ESSU

Barnet’s Future Shape programme has concluded that a single ‘vehicle’ for the delivery of all Council service was is not feasible. The Council now plans a three-stage process of consolidation, commissioning and provision under a ‘one Barnet public sector’ approach. This report is the joint trade union response to the second phase two Future Shape report to Cabinet on 6 July 2009.

Over the last two years Bury UNISON, with the support of ESSU, has opposed the possible outsourcing of corporate services to a Strategic Service-delivery Partnership with a private contractor. This has included involvement in Council working groups to assess current performance, evidence to Overview and Scrutiny and producing briefings for staff and elected members. The Council has decided continue current plans to develop and improve services and not commence procurement.

The in-house bid of the First Steps Day Nursery, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been successful following a procurement process and bids from private nurseries. The 89-place nursery moves into new accommodation in the PFI hospital development in May with a five year contract with a possible two year extension. ESSU advised UNISON and staff in the preparation of the bid. Jobs, terms and conditions have been retained.

Presentation at University & College Union North West conference on Marketisation of Education, Manchester, January 2009.

The South Australian State Government is proposing five PPPs for the future development of the State’s correctional facilities by moving men’s and women’s prisons, a youth training centre and a pre-release centre to Murray Bridge. The Public Service Association commissioned the Australian Institute for Social Research (AISR), University of Adelaide, to identify the indirect and/or hidden social/economic costs associated with the relocations.

The European Services Strategy Unit literature review focuses on the economic, social and employment impact of locating prisons in rural areas, drawing particularly on US evidence. In October 2008 the South Australian State Government announced that funding for the new prisons will delayed until 2013-14 because of the current economic climate.

A critique of the London Borough of Barnet proposals to radically change the responsibilities, role and functions of the Council for UNISON, GMB, NUT and NASUWT. The report shows how the Council has failed to undertake options appraisal of proposals to create a Joint Venture Company and service delivery vehicles for all public services in the borough. It would create a new contract bureaucracy which would undermine the council’s successful city suburb plans; threaten jobs, terms and conditions and pensions; and is based on a flawed approach to achieve value for money. Download report. See series of six Briefings on the Future Shape programme.

The PPP Database has been updated to include the South Tyneside MBC contract with BT which commenced on 1 October 2008. This has resulted in changes to the regional, employment and market share tables.

This 20-page Briefing, commissioned by Northumberland, Durham and Northamptonshire UNISON branches, is a summary for elected members, staff and service users of the current evidence against SSPs and outsourcing of shared services projects. It covers finance, savings and investment; accountability and transparency of JVCs; performance; risks levels; employment and job creation; and in-house capability to transform services.

A summary of the case against the formation of Leisure Trusts. It examines the performance of leisure trusts, access to capital and savings, social enterprise and community ownership, service integration, the effect on jobs, service improvement, community participation, democratic accountability and increased risks.

A revised edition of this discussion paper for the West End Community Development Consortium is available. It includes sections on the national policy framework, the government’s development strategies, community participation and the role of the community & voluntary sector in service provision, lessons learnt and best practice, and community participation.