Christmas song list
Residents versus Big Business
The NSCSO One Barnet Dossier – why are we waiting?
173 questions are contained within this dossier. The were handed in November and still we wait for a response to view click on the link below
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/NSCSO%20Community%20Dossier.pdf
Capita – to take over Barnet Council services and then the world????
Capita Files – #Capitaweek
1. Capita faces fresh attack over Arch Cru scandal
“Capita has come under further pressure over its role in the Arch Cru scandal after ex-directors of the cell companies that make up the funds alleged it was responsible for flaws in the structure of the investments.”
2. Capita’s £1bn Service Birmingham venture falls short
“According to a news report, the review concludes that Service Birmingham, as the JV is called, needs “serious improvement” if it is to meet its targets.”
3. Capita poises axe over 1000 staff – jobs headed to India
4. Capita to axe 84 more jobs at Belfast office
5. Capita loses its lucrative CRB contract after a decade
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/supportservices/article3557977.ece
“Kevin Lapwood, at the brokers Seymour Pierce, said: “There’s a suspicion that Capita has been earning too high a margin on certain central government contracts.”
6. Capita to lose congestion charge
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7062030.stm
7. Capita blamed in schools’ data loss
8. Capita IT staff strike over Indian offshoring plans
http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240161414/Capita-IT-staff-strike-over-Indian-offshoring-plans
9. FSA censures Capita Financial Managers for Arch Cru failings
http://citywire.co.uk/money/fsa-censures-capita-financial-managers-for-arch-cru-failings/a637090
10. Sefton Council to end £65m technical services contract with Capita Symonds http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/11/25/sefton-council-to-end-65m-technical-services-contract-with-capita-symonds-92534-29838970/
11. Government urged to ditch Capita after ILA failure http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=170259§ioncode=26
12. “30 Capita staff in Darwen face axe”
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/8619868.30_Capita_staff_in_Darwen_face_axe/
13. Capita and administrator renew Arch Cru blame game
“Former Arch Cru administrator Bordeaux Services has filed its defence against allegations that it breached its fiduciary duty in relation to the failed Arch Cru funds, blaming the losses suffered by investors on the “unforseeable actions” of the funds’ authorised corporate director Capita.”
14. Top-of-the-range perks enjoyed by Birmingham City Council officers
15. Service Birmingham heads off dispute with city council over bill for new server equipment
16. Probe launched into how Birmingham library contract was won by Capita
17. More trials being disrupted over interpreter failings
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/dec/14/trials-disrupted-interpreter-failings?INTCMP=SRCH
Resident Town Hall Protest takes over Cabinet meeting
Reconvened One Barnet Cabinet Meeting
JUDICIAL REVIEW CHALLENGE TO PRIVATISATION OF BARNET COUNCIL SERVICES LAUNCHED
Public Interest Lawyers
Press Release – 7 DECEMBER 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUDICIAL REVIEW CHALLENGE TO PRIVATISATION OF BARNET COUNCIL SERVICES LAUNCHED
________________________________________________________________
Public Interest Lawyers, acting on behalf of Susan Sullivan, a concerned Barnet resident, has today notified Barnet Council (at 9.39am) of her intention to seek judicial review of the “One Barnet programme”. The pre-action protocol letter sets out her claim against the Council. She alleges that the Council is acting unlawfully, both as to the process it has adopted and the substance of its proposals. The One Barnet programme is unprecedented in its ambition and scale nationally, yet it has never been the subject of a consultation of Barnet residents nor an effective equalities impact assessment.
The letter seeks the immediate suspension of any further contracting decisions by the Council and the carrying out of a full and effective consultation and equalities assessment. She contends that the results of any such assessment/consultation would cause the Council to re-evaluate the ill-advised programme.
The Claimant argues that the Council has breached the following legal duties:
a) The Public Sector Equality Duty – this requires the Council to have “due regard” to equalities considerations and the impact of its decisions on protected equalities groups throughout its decision making process. The Council has failed to have regard to this duty both in relation to the timing of its equality impact assessments –postponed until too late in the contracting process; and in relation to the form of the few assessments that have been carried out. They have failed to evaluate the most important question: what is the impact of a wholesale and irreversible contracting out of the Council’s functions? High-flown contractual promises of bidders lack essential rigour and detail and are no answer to this question. There has been inadequate consideration of mitigating actions.
b) The ‘Best Value Duty’ in s3 Local Government Act 1999 – this duty requires the Council to obtain ‘best value’. This includes community as well as financial value. Statutory Guidance requires consultation to take place. This has not happened. An evaluation of value requires the consideration of maintaining in-house services. This has not happened.
c) Public law duties of consultation and information. In failing to consult, and to consider viable in-house alternatives, the Council has unlawfully closed its mind to valuable democratic considerations.
Speaking today, John Sullivan, the father of Susan Sullivan stated as follows:
“The Council has robbed Susan and her family of their democratic voice in failing to consult on what is a wholesale privatisation of local government. If this happened nationally, there would be outrage. Why should it be any different for our beloved Barnet? The national contract failure rate is 25%. When these contracts collapse, who will be left to pick up the pieces? No-one but the poor, the disabled and short-changed Barnet service users, residents and taxpayers.”
Speaking today, Daniel Carey of Public Interest Lawyers stated as follows:
“The law requires the Council to consult residents and carefully evaluate the impact of its decisions on equalities groups. Yet, in the biggest decision the Council could possibly take – to effectively cease to be a Council as we know it – it has failed to do so. I hope the Council will now listen to the legal arguments and give proper and lawful regard to residents and their concerns.”
For further information, contact:
Public Interest Lawyers
Daniel Carey, Solicitor
Telephone: 0121 515 5069
Mobile: 07815 089526
E-mail: info@publicinterestlawyers.co.uk
– ENDS –
Barnet College – Lead UNISON rep reports back
Our UNISON lead rep Christalla has so far carried out a herculean task in negotiating on behalf of all of our members in the College.
To voew here detailed report click here