Southampton opposition councillors will demand a ‘rethink’ over decision (From Daily Echo)
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Southampton opposition councillors will demand a ‘rethink’ over decision
7:10am Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in
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- By Matt Smith » Politics and business reporter
SOUTHAMPTON’S leisure boss will face a grilling this week over the controversial decision to bring in a private firm to run council leisure facilities.
Opposition councillors will demand a rethink citing a lack of public consultation, a failure to demonstrate value for money, to consider alternatives, or take into account staff views.
Tories pressed ahead with the proposals despite more than 3,000 people signing a petition objecting to the move. Up to 500 jobs will be affected. It comes as unions are to ballot librarians and museum staff on industrial action over the proposed use of volunteers to do their jobs.
Cabinet member for leisure Councillor John Hannides has branded the “call-in” an abuse of process that has come too late.
He said the decision to privatise the management of leisure services had been taken 18 months ago.
The council last month chose DC Leisure, in partnership Active Nation, a charity, to run its leisure centres, pools and sports pitches, including the flagship Quays complex.
Cllr Hannides insisted the deal was “excellent value for money”, would save the local taxpayer £8m, improve services and increase usage.
He added unions were consulted and staff have been kept up-to-date through meetings and newsletters.
Labour councillor Simon Letts, the chairman of the powerful scrutiny committee who has ordered his appearance tomorrow, said he was putting party ideologybefore what is best for staff and customers.
Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said members were concerned about their long-term job security adding the savings will be largely down to the “tax avoidance” of business rates and VAT.
Comments(9)
Linesman
says...
9:04am Wed 3 Mar 10
I noticed no improvement when the Corporation Bus Service was privatised as an example, and have seen no economic benefits or improvement in service from any other such venture.
It invariably means that the few make a profit at the expense of the many!
Scrutinizer
says...
10:06am Wed 3 Mar 10
Condor Man wrote:'Good old Mr Tucker, one of the most ineffective people I've ever come across.'
Good old Mr Tucker, one of the most ineffective people I've ever come across. Twice I've seen him in action, both times people ended up either losing jobs or TUPE'd on worst terms. And that was under Labour and Lib Dem councils. As for Leisure, if SCC can't afford to run these services due to the massive demands placed on services by central government then so be it. I don't qualify for hand outs and can't afford the services- like most people in the city. Perhaps the opposition councillors would like to put their hands in the their own pockets if they want these services so much. Should a council be running a golf course? Eastleigh gave their's up years ago.
That has to be the TRUEST statement EVER posted on a news web site! He did absolutely NOTHING to help save my job and others too! The most pathetic waste of space in Unionism! One of his cronies, a certain female union steward, who I admit, I naively proposed myself for steward one time in my previous workplace, when I was working in the council, was ALWAYS, and I understand STILL is notorious for boasting about her nice little trips to union conferences! Oh, she couldn't wait to tell us just how great the food, rooms, facilities etc were, whilst hardly EVER doing ANY work back in the office! Very typical, I'm afraid to say, and a very sad indictment on unionism.
Now, as for the specific issue of the privatisation of leisure services is concerned. This this is the reality of the modern world: People need to understand that funding will increasingly become very limited in the leisure scene, and for years to come too! There are quite simply MORE important priorities to fund these days! This means, the so called 'private' interests, will HAVE to be encouraged to involve themselves MORE in present day council leisure services, NOT less! Wake up and smell reality comrade Tucker and your comrade cronies!
goard
says...
10:32am Wed 3 Mar 10
goard
goard
says...
10:32am Wed 3 Mar 10
goard
freemantlegirl2
says...
10:54am Wed 3 Mar 10
Agree about Tucker though, it's about time he retired. He does his members no favours whatsoever BUT someone else ought to get off their fat backsides and do it, not just sit back and let him fudge things time after time!
damien thorn
says...
10:56am Wed 3 Mar 10
Condor Man
says...
2:50pm Wed 3 Mar 10
damien thorn wrote:explain those comments please? it's only the services that are being outsourced, the buildings remain in council control. There's only one T in asset too.
best buy a deck of cards for leisure now ,the crooks have emptied the coffers , most will be boarded up wrecks in a few years , called assett stripping.
RJCogburn
says...
9:41pm Wed 3 Mar 10
freemantlegirl2 wrote:Southampton Council thinks that consultation means telling you what they are going to do after they have embarked upon a project and set the framework.The public are generally only included as an afterthought or to pay lip service to inclusion.Perish the thought that the public have any ability to shape or reject the proposals.
I'm very glad to hear that this is coming before the Scrutiny Committee, about time too.......... there has been a severe lack of public consultation and staff consultation too. A figure of savings has been bandied about but no actual breakdown and proof of this has been published! It's just a whitewash...... Agree about Tucker though, it's about time he retired. He does his members no favours whatsoever BUT someone else ought to get off their fat backsides and do it, not just sit back and let him fudge things time after time!
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Condor Man says...
7:23am Wed 3 Mar 10