HIGHWAYS ‘SELL-OFF’ SLAMMED
0 Comments | Sentinel, The; Stoke-on-Trent (UK), Jul 27, 2010 | by DAVE BLACKHURST
HUNDREDS of staff are facing possible redundancy or outsourcing under council plans to allow a private firm to take over its highways maintenance department.
Managers at Cheshire East Council want to give the work, currently split between in-house staff and outside contractors, to a private firm to drive down costs.
But the authority has said the move would lead to an undisclosed number of workers losing their jobs, or transferring to the new provider.
The council also wants to accelerate the tendering process for the transfer to complete the deal before October next year.
Now furious councillors fighting the move have had the decision called in for further discussion by the local authority’s co- operative and environment scrutiny committee.
They say they have been kept in the dark over what they call a “sell-off ” of the lucrative highways contract – and have been called to a briefing on Thursday.
Crewe councillor Dorothy Flude, the Labour group leader, pictured, said: “I have had this called in as it has not been scrutinised properly and there are so many unanswered questions on a contract worth Pounds 10 million.
“I don’t believe other options have been looked at, such as sharing services with other local authorities.
“We need to know how many staff will be made redundant, how the contracts will be monitored, how the town and parish councillors will be able to hold contractors to account for work done and how much money has already been spent on legal advice and employing private consultants.
“Expressions of interest have already been sought through an advert in the European Journal yet these crucial questions remain.”
A council spokesman confirmed that while some skilled staff would be retained, others may transfer to the new provider.
He said: “The council has the opportunity to modernise the whole of the service. The council will also need to continue to work within the constraints of reduced funding from the Department of Transport and this may lead to some limited voluntary redundancy ahead of the new contract.”
Crewe East Labour councillor Chris Thorley said: “This has got to mean redundancies yet the loyal staff aren’t being considered in it all. It represents privatisation of the worst type.
“It will also be bad for residents, who will have less say over which repair jobs are being done.”
Tory councillor David Brickhill, former Highways portfolio holder, said: “We are supposed to be monitoring all this on behalf of taxpayers yet we are kept in the dark.
“I have worries about how the highways repairs will be monitored and the fact a portion of the Pounds 10 million will go straight to shareholders of whichever company gets the work.”