‘Fundamental rethink’ of council prompts fears

9:00am Sunday 17th August 2008

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Services run by Barnet Council are undergoing a “fundamental rethink”, leading some critics to warn they could be privatised.

A review has begun into ways the council can look at “shrinking the organisation” and find “creative ways of expanding its resources”, according to council papers.

Some councillors have questioned the viability of the plans, fearing they could mean services being delegated out of the borough.

Councillor Jack Cohen, leader of Barnet’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “I am very suspicious because we are not being told what they have in mind. Does it mean shrinking staff or services themselves?

“Most people want to speak to someone who knows about facilities and amenities in the area.

“Residents will be upset if they have got to go to different officers but nobody is found to be accountable for the actions or work carried out.”

The council strategy focuses on the need to “deliver improved services for less resource”.

A council spokesman said work on the proposals and analysis of the council’s structure was underway and should be presented to cabinet in December.

“In light of increasingly poor grant settlements [from Government] and changing demand for services, the cabinet agreed the chief executive should lead a review of the organisational form of the council,” he explained.

“The scope of this project covers a number of work streams which include developing capacity and shrinking the size of the organisation, transforming service delivery and finding ways in which spending commitments can be resourced in the future."

Councillor Barry Rawlings, deputy leader of the Labour group, said: “Due to financial incompetence the council now finds itself in negative equity and is looking for a private sector partner to dig it out of a hole of its own making.

“We will be looking carefully at any proposals that are suggested in order to protect local services and people.”