In the last thirty years public transport services throughout Europe have been subjected to various sorts of privatisation. Reforms introducing competition and market rules into public transport have challenged the public service ethos that these services operate under. The role of successive UK governments in these reforms is well understood and documented. However the role…

The European dimension to postal sector liberalisation is often overlooked as successive UK governments have pursued the liberalisation route for its universal postal service: the Royal Mail. Postal sectors in Europe, traditionally dominated by public sector monopolies, have been progressively opened up to increased competition courtesy of European Union (EU) directives, introduced since the mid-1990s…

*Soundings* Winter 2010, Issue 46, pp99-111. Outlines the elements of neoliberal transformation of the public sector and the criteria needed to assess the level of embeddedness and effectiveness of recent ‘reform’. It identifies key challenges beyond 2010 and proposes strategies to achieve progressive and systemic change.

A new ESSU Research Report reveals 240 PPP equity transactions involved 1,229 PPP projects (including multiple sales) valued at £10.0bn in the last decade. Average profit was 50.6% in individual and group equity transactions (compared to average operating profits in construction companies of 1.5% between 2003-09). £517.9m profit from a sample of 154 PPP projects.…

A new ESSU Research Report reveals 240 PPP equity transactions involved 1,229 PPP projects (including multiple sales) valued at £10.0bn in the last decade. Average profit was 50.6% in individual and group equity transactions (compared to average operating profits in construction companies of 1.5% between 2003-09). £517.9m profit from a sample of 154 PPP projects.…

The ‘easyCouncil’ label was a media description of Barnet Council’s transformation strategy. However, applying this model to the delivery of public services is flawed for several reasons and is part of a ‘dumbing down’ of public services and an attempt to reduce people’s expectations whilst simultaneously increasing anticipation that new and/or higher charges for services should be…

The Council voted to close its 7,500-home ALMO and bring the services back in-house in January 2010, pending consultation with tenants. Copy of report to January 2010 Cabinet plus an options appraisal.

Sets out objectives and outlines strategies to advance alternative policies and best practice, build external and  internal pressure on the Council together with a Branch communications strategy. Draws on lessons from experience in similar campaigns elsewhere.

An analysis of management consultants review of the London Borough of Barnet’s care homes and the proposal to transfer the homes to a trust. Commissioned by Barnet UNISON in 1999.

The Council will return to in-house in March 2011 when the Mouchel contract expires. A comprehensive service review identified potential opportunities for efficiencies and cost savings. The review focused on how improvements could be achieved in service quality, cost and customer satisfaction. A cost/benefit analysis concluded that the restructuring proposals “will generate an overall gross…