Cardiff Council’s Transformation Strategy: An assessment and the case for a new approach to Public Service Reform
Examines Cardiff Council’s transformation ‘insourcing’ strategy consisting of four major strategic partnerships with the private sector. The assessment, commissioned by Cardiff UNISON, examines service driven verses ‘customer centric service delivery’, the lack of citizen and community involvement and the problems of top-down budget dominated transformation. It proposes an alternative transformation strategy that is substantive and sustainable, protects and improves the quality of service, achieves a better balance between transformational change and budget objectives, involves staff and trade unions in the transformation process and protects the quality of employment.
Plus TATA Contract Strategy The briefing paper outlines a strategy to try to minimise the use of the TATA contract and to ensure that the Council, services, staff and the local economy gain the maximum benefit, if or when, the contract is implemented.
Barnet Council Future Shape: Briefings
Briefing No 1: Assessment of Strategic Hub Proposals
Briefing No 2: Public Service Principles and Values
Briefing No 3: Employment Charter
Briefing No. 4: Scope of Contract Reviews
Briefing No. 5: Service Transformation
Briefing No. 6: The ‘shrinking by outsourcing’ models: Implications for Staff
Briefing No. 7: The impact and performance of management buyouts, social enterprises and mutual models
Future Shape of the Council: Comments on Phase 2 Cabinet and Interim Reports
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.
First Future Shape Report: Failure to Assess Options for Future Shape of the Council
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. It 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 (December 2008).
Future Shape of the Council: The Flaws in Barnet’s Commissioning and Procurement Policy
A review of the London Borough of Barnet Council’s commissioning and procurement policies. The Future Shape of the Council project is likely to consider large-scale outsourcing/privatisation to ‘shrink the council’, yet there are serious failings and shortcomings in procurement which make its policies and practice ‘not fit for purpose’. This could expose the Council to serious financial and service risks. The report is published by UNISON, GMB, NUT and NASUWT and makes a series of recommendations on commissioning and procurement, employment options and contract management and monitoring (December 2008).
Good Practice Transformation Toolkit for Barnet Council's Future Shape
The Toolkit is based on templates for Service Reviews, Options Appraisals and Business Cases. Appendices cover soft market testing and key questions for options appraisal (March 2010).
Future of Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium: Implications for Future Shape
A response to the Council's proposal for Future Shape ‘quick win’ to commence procurement of a partnership for Cemeteries and crematoria, based on a options appraisal undertaken by a Capita subsidiary. The report demonstrated that the options appraisal had serious flaws. The proposal was withdrawn at Cabinet and a new options appraisal process launched to include an in-house option and consultation with trade unions (April 2009).
Economic Case for In-House Options and Bids
Sets out a 12 point economic case for in-house options and bids. Prepared for Barnet UNISON where the Council is refusing to consider even in-house options as part of its Future Shape programme (July 2010).
FAQ of Barnet Council's Future Shape
A series of questions and answers about Barnet Council's Future Shape project, revealing what this transformation programme is really about.
Critique of Barnet Council’s Options Appraisal of Adult Social Care In-House Provider Services
The Adult Services option appraisal is limited in scope and depth of analysis and does not provide an acceptable evidence base on which to make fundamental decisions about the future provision of the services. The critique concluded that the options appraisal process is operating to a predetermined agenda, it is not comprehensive, nor in sufficient detail to examine the impact and consequences of the options.
