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.

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…

UNISON has called on the London Borough of Barnet to immediately abandon its plan to become a Commissioning Council. The report by the European Services Strategy Unit (ESSU) documents the fundamental weaknesses in each stage of the procurement process for two large strategic partnerships of up to £1billion value and nearly 1,000 staff. The report…

The London Borough of Barnet commenced the Future Shape of the Council project in May 2008 to review the organisation of the Council, challenges and changing demands on the capacity of the Council.

An analysis of the One Barnet Framework report to Cabinet (29 November 2010) highlighting the disingenuous language, short cutting business practice, the high of cost consultants and how the Council is distorting savings figures (November, 2010).

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…

A highly critical overview of the London Borough of Barnet’s outsourcing and privatisation transformation programme. Identifies the risks and failures in the preparation for procurement. A second report examines the One Barnet Framework showing how it uses disingenuous language to conceal the Council’s real agenda and distorts estimated transformation ‘savings’ (November, 2010).

Barnet Council’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…

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…

A series of questions and answers about Barnet Council’s Future Shape project, revealing what this transformation programme is really about.