ESSU

A critique of the Outline Business Case for the Newcastle-North Tyneside Street lighting PFI project. This document demonstrates how the OBC has over £16m of cost savings and efficiencies built into the financial model in order to make the PFI appear to provide value for money. The report challenges the basis of these assumptions. It also shows, using detailed traffic accident data, how the community safety and social benefits from reduced road accidents and crime have been exaggerated.

A new report from the Centre for Public Services investigates the impact of the growing trend of using Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to fund public services. What future for public services? charts the history of PFI from their Conservative origins to the Labour government’s use of such projects. The report explains the alleged rationale behind these initiatives before providing a comprehensive series of points that are highly critical of them. An entire section of the report highlights twenty-five reasons to oppose PFI. They range from the expense of such projects, many of which cost more than publicly financed ones, to their lack of democratic accountability.

Drawing on the Centre’s research on PFI/PPPs over the last seven years, the report also details the overlapping business interests of the major companies which are at the core of the PFI industry (see section). What future for public services? provides a thorough critical evaluation of the seismic shifts which are slowly altering the way in which the nation’s public services are funded, whilst providing a set of alternatives to these projects.

Manchester City Council began a thematic review of environmental sustainability in 2000. The Centre for Public Services conducted research to support the Council’s work which was completed in November. A survey investigated the approach taken to environmental sustainability by 16 local authorities. The context for the work was provided through a national survey of 400 authorities conducted by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) to assess progress on sustainability in relation to Local Agenda 21. Report was confidential.

The Centre recently completed an equality audit for the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety in Northern Ireland. The report assesses the impact of the new Capitation Formula which allocates hospital, community health and personal social services revenue resources to Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland.The audit assessed the implications of changes in 9 Programmes of Care for nine equality groups covering religious belief, political opinion, racial groups, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, disability and dependents. Report was confidential under statutory regulations.

Public Service or Corporate Welfare: Rethinking the Nation State in the Global Economy by Dexter Whitfield is an essential, insightful and though-provoking new book which provides a radical analysis of modernisation including partnerships, private finance and Best Value; analyses how the state facilitates globalisation by promoting private finance and the marketisation of public services; exposes how the Third Way masks the continuity of neoliberalism; demonstrates how the World Trade Organisation is committed to privatising public services and welfare states; charts the emergence of a Corporate-Welfare Complex; promotes a revitalised role for the state in a new system of global governance, stressing the importance of sustaining and improving the welfare state; and advocates a dynamic new model of public service management placing priority on innovation, equality and investment as an alternative to the reinvention and performance management models.

The Centre for Public Services and UNISON Newcastle have just published a new Social and Economic Audit of Privatisation Proposals in Newcastle. It assesses the impact of Newcastle City Council outsourcing and transfer proposals on the local and regional economy, identifying 435 potential job losses in the city council with 1,332 staff transferred to private contractors. The audit quantifies additional 131 job losses in the local economy. It also identifies the different social and economic impacts including the effect on regeneration, the local labour market, and community well-being. See Publications section for details of how to obtain a copy of the report.

The report was launched at a major national conference to promote the research findings and best practice. Speakers included Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP, Professor Michael West, Aston University, Dexter Whitfield & Karen Escott, Centre for Public Services and speakers from BT, TUC and the Audit Commission plus a panel of local authority and trade union officers.

A comprehensive and practical guide for local authorities, health and public bodies, trade unions and community organisations. Includes assessing the need for consultants, trade union options and strategies, negotiating model agreements, guidance for community organisations,  how to assess consultants proposals, the consultancy market and Codes of Practice.

A new guide book which explains both the threats and opportunities of best value. The guide explains both the threats and opportunities of Best value. The threats include the pressure for competition and a new outsourcing, externalisation and privatisation agenda replacing CCT; superficial consultation paying lip service to community organisations and employees; and the threat of of an inspection, surveillance and auditing implosion diverting badly needed resources from frontline services.

The opportunities include extending genuine democratic accountability and community involvement and driving equalities, fairness, social inclusion, environmental and employment issues through the Best Value Process. The Guide sets out a new agenda to democratise Best Value with new priorities for public management. It identifies which parts of the Best Value regime should be retained, amended, abolished and what should be added and concludes with a strategic action plan. The guide was written by the Centre for Public Services and published by the Centre for Democratic Policy Making and Red Pepper Magazine.

The Centre has recently written a comprehensive Best Value Toolkit for UNISON national office. This toolkit has been distributed to all branches. The 75 page guide includes detailed guidance on the service review process, the 4Cs, continuous improvement, inspection and audit and jobs and Best value employment.