Council privatisation row 'rumbles on' after confidential briefing at County Hall
2:55pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News
Acording to one Cornwall Councillor it seems to be "business as usual" for privatisation plans, adding that the sacking of the leader is being treated "like it never happened".
Helston and Porthleven South councillor Andrew Wallis has said while the briefing was marked as confidential, he believed the information was in the public interest, adding he would, "defend that right if anyone wants to say otherwise".
Mr Wallis said: "The first announcement of the day was one of the bidders has pulled out. CSC have decided not to progress with their venture, and informed the Council yesterday. Maybe it would have been nice to know this as it happened.
"This leaves BT as the only bidder in the process, and today they gave their presentation of how they are the best company to deal with. To stick within the rules, I will not be discussing the financial figures, even though they are important to the bid.
"The first point I will clarify is if the contract is awarded to BT, all staff that are transferred WILL be transferred to a wholly owned company of BT. So the staff will not be employed by the Council but BT. This was clarified today. In the deal, 750 council and 250 ‘health’ staff will be transferred. If that is not outsourcing I do not know what is!
"BT has promised to create 1043 jobs in the first four years. However, 38 per cent of those jobs will be low-skilled. This is not a made up figure, but taken from the presentation today. My understanding is many of the higher-skilled jobs will be in health. I am really worried the 396 will be low-skilled and low paid because why would a company pay more than the going rate in the area. I got the impression a lot of the 1,043 jobs were health related, not council.
"Much emphasis was also place on a lot of services being ‘self-service’. In other words by the dreaded phone and pushing more numbers than a complicated maths equation.
"While I am grateful for BT being open about their deal. I am though concerned it is business as usual and yesterday’s fun and games is being treated like it never happened. I guess everything now will rest on the 23rd to see if the Council finally gives the killing blow to the current proposals, or allows it to go ahead."
Comments(7)
steve eva
says...
8:53pm Wed 17 Oct 12
A comment by Cllr Walker yesterday made this very clear. He said that now shared services is dead why discuss it next week. Surely because five thousand people signed a petition to have this discussed at full council that's why Graham. Or is the petition only legal if it suits.
ucsweb
says...
9:24pm Wed 17 Oct 12
500 jobs has now gone up to over a thousand. Did I miss it? Nowhere has it been said how many of these jobs will not be in Cornwall.
Falmouth Hospital has already been privatised and the support services are flagged to be next. Private companies are driven to only one goal, profit. Not quality of care.
seacom
says...
10:08pm Wed 17 Oct 12
ors take note elections are close.
Gill Zella Martin
says...
3:51pm Thu 18 Oct 12
steve eva
says...
8:31pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Just encase you are wondering I did vote to debate this further and did not support shared services at the Full Council motion.
I did and would not support anything unless I knew the facts and I this I still the case and i do not know enough to support it.
However Tuesday was about some egos and not shared services that is next Tuesday 5 Cabinet members are still sitting at this moment on the Cabinet who supported Alec in his decision with the support of the new leader is this right or hypocritical.
seacom
says...
9:19pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Gill Zella Martin says...
3:30pm Wed 17 Oct 12
They need to change the cabinet to a committee system not use individuals as a scape goat.