Review of Community Services & Buildings

UNISON learnt recently of Council plans for John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS) to carry out a review of all community buildings and the services we provide from them.

 

We have written to the Council Leader expressing our concerns and objections to this review which could lead to the externalisation of hundreds of jobs, however we have no details of the scope of the review at this time.

 

In our view it is inappropriate to allow JLIS to undertake this review when they have a clear vested interest and everything to gain from selling the council a ‘solution’. We cannot understand why the Council feel this is appropriate, JLIS may well be motivated by the degree of profit they can make from these community assets and services, it’s taking money out rather than putting it in!

 

We believe JLIS are being given substantial advantage in being granted approval to undertake this role. Without a doubt, they will have the resources and access to Council information that will allow them to present a plan that may offer some economies to the Council while maximising their opportunity for future profit from our communities.

 

Our initial experiences of seeking to work cooperatively with JLIS as a Council partner organisation have been less than encouraging to the extent that they initially refused to recognise or consult with us. We also understand from our colleagues at the Hounslow Branch of UNISON that their experiences of working with JLIS leaves much to be desired with problems arising from restructures, job reductions, draconian management polices and failures to consult.

 

The outcome of this exercise could result in the externalisation of significant numbers of Council employees which could be further compounded by reductions in support services. Recent evidence from APSE shows that many councils are now in-sourcing services for practical reasons such as a drive for quality and value for money rather than any ideological stance.