Big John Posted 10 February, 2011 Share Posted 10 February, 2011 My other half is quite well known in local government and he showed me a leaked memo tonight. All transport services in Hampshire are to be sold off to the highest bidder. Hopefully most contracts will go to the current service provider because the private sector could never do the job nearly as cost effectively but also on reliability. Transport is the single most important part of everyone's lives. Imagine if you were isolated socially and that community bus doesn't turn up because you live outside the radar because it costs too much to run that route. I have the memo in my hand, if anyone wants any more details of it's contents then please ask. BJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 10 February, 2011 Share Posted 10 February, 2011 More details please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted 10 February, 2011 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2011 The memo went out to all unit managers and (I assume) head teachers. They were distributed by the Director fof Environments office. It is titled Contract Transport - Procurement framework The 'framework' is already in place "for purchasing 'transport' ..." How much time do you think managers have been promised when a new company takes over the whole transport management of the entire unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthamSteve Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 are you able to scan it and internet it to me somehow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 are you able to scan it and internet it to me somehow? I know of a chap in Wolverhampton who has a scanner (allegedly) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Why wouldn't privatisation work? As long as the contracts are robustly drawn up by the council and robustly enforced then there's no need for anyone to be fearful of a drop in service levels. Privatisation usually "fails" because of poor engagement and regulation procedures, not due to privatisation itself per se. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFrost Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 My other half is quite well known in local government and he showed me a leaked memo tonight. All transport services in Hampshire are to be sold off to the highest bidder. Hopefully most contracts will go to the current service provider because the private sector could never do the job nearly as cost effectively but also on reliability. Transport is the single most important part of everyone's lives. Imagine if you were isolated socially and that community bus doesn't turn up because you live outside the radar because it costs too much to run that route. I have the memo in my hand, if anyone wants any more details of it's contents then please ask. BJ Practically all the transport services round my area are run by private companies anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pancake Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 All transport services in Hampshire are to be sold off to the highest bidder.? All, Really? So Hampshire will unlink itself from the road network, the rail network etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Practically all the transport services round my area are run by private companies anyway Excuse my ignorance, but i thought the same as JF? It would be interesting to hear what transport services are affected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clapham Saint Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Does this memo have the words "private" or "confidential" on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintfully Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Here's my contribution to the ITK/privatisation debate. Did you know that in various locations, NHS pathology services are being privatised? It's already happened in London at Guys for example. Why should you care? What services does NHS pathology provide? Well, whenever you need a blood transfusion (emergency or otherwise), need your bacterial infection diagnosed, need your genetic disease diagnosed, need your potential cancer investigated via chemical analysis - thats pathology. How happy are you that the company operating that service will be doing so for a profit? Ask yourself - how likely is that they will employ the best staff for decent wages and train them properly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Here's my contribution to the ITK/privatisation debate. Did you know that in various locations, NHS pathology services are being privatised? It's already happened in London at Guys for example. Why should you care? What services does NHS pathology provide? Well, whenever you need a blood transfusion (emergency or otherwise), need your bacterial infection diagnosed, need your genetic disease diagnosed, need your potential cancer investigated via chemical analysis - thats pathology. How happy are you that the company operating that service will be doing so for a profit? Ask yourself - how likely is that they will employ the best staff for decent wages and train them properly? It's actually a PPI, which seems to be an established method of creating investment in our public services. In pathology the private sector actually pays higher wages in order to attract better staff, so dont be surprised if you see standards improve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Oh well, pretty sure all those empty buses I see will still be empty when its all sold off. All the school run Taxi's that are used now, will carry on costing £3.30 per mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintfully Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Well, GSTS is a PPP not PPI, but I know what you mean. GSTS should not really be the yardstick by which these changes are measured though, as it has been designed to be the flagship of the policy. Even here, the partnership with SERCO has meant disgruntled staff finding themselves under-pressure to accept a much greater workload with more responsibility - often without adequate support from Senior Staff. Elsewhere, sadly, the reality for many pathology staff is job cutting by non-recuitment, (enforced) voluntary redundancy and the threat of loss of pension/rights following impending privatisation. Happily, most existng staff are not naive enough to think that just because the policy flagship entity behaves itself, it will continue to do so in 5 years time, will offer the same terms to new staff or will be followed by new PPP's or privatisations. Finally, as for the private sector paying higher wages... I think you'll find that's only true if you don't count the pension rights. IMHO and many others, PPP is the thin-end of the wedge - afterall, its not as though SERCO do it for fun, they do it for profit. As in any listed company, its ultimate responsibility is to its shareholders, not to its customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 IMHO and many others, PPP is the thin-end of the wedge - afterall, its not as though SERCO do it for fun, they do it for profit. As in any listed company, its ultimate responsibility is to its shareholders, not to its customers. See where your coming from but if SERCO dont do it well, I assume there are SLAs in place that have penalty clauses etc so it will certainly be in their interest and their shareholders interest to keep the standards up. Guess only time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintfully Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 See where your coming from but if SERCO dont do it well, I assume there are SLAs in place that have penalty clauses etc so it will certainly be in their interest and their shareholders interest to keep the standards up. Guess only time will tell. I agree with the 'wait and see if it works' policy. My impression is that most path workers accept that there are areas that could be made more efficient, but do not accept that private sector management practices are necessarily the best way to deliver changes that might be needed. From where most sit, it looks more and more driven by ideology which I think many people would agree is not what is required here... without wanting to sound too pompous, peoples lives are too important for decision making driven by dogma. By the way, thanks for responding in a sane manner and not like some of the mentalists you get on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joesaint Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Private is best, competition = more for our money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 What fecking transport services? If you're going to be ITK, at least make it clear what you're actually talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 Transport is the single most important part of everyone's lives. I know it's not entirely relevant to the actual story, but I must say that this an extremely odd statement and one that I would refute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted 11 February, 2011 Author Share Posted 11 February, 2011 It's actually a PPI, which seems to be an established method of creating investment in our public services. In pathology the private sector actually pays higher wages in order to attract better staff, so dont be surprised if you see standards improve. no disrespect but that is very funny imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint francis Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 My partner is also well known in local government. Unfortunately she frowns upon me posting leaked documents on the local footy forum, so you'll just have to guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted 11 February, 2011 Author Share Posted 11 February, 2011 I know it's not entirely relevant to the actual story, but I must say that this an extremely odd statement and one that I would refute. again no disrespect but you will hopefully never know what life is like with no way of leaving your home let alone getting ona bus without someone to support you and make sure you get home safely afterwards. there's no money in the most important transport network, imho only a chrity could possibly run OUR transport system on a more ethical basis than it is currently run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 BJ, (fnarr) seriously, what "transport services"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 again no disrespect but you will hopefully never know what life is like with no way of leaving your home let alone getting ona bus without someone to support you and make sure you get home safely afterwards. there's no money in the most important transport network, imho only a chrity could possibly run OUR transport system on a more ethical basis than it is currently run. What are you talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted 11 February, 2011 Author Share Posted 11 February, 2011 My partner is also well known in local government. Unfortunately she frowns upon me posting leaked documents on the local footy forum, so you'll just have to guess. is she itk about the resent decision that was made about 8 of the county's current 12 day day centres? they decided the other day which way forward for you and me and they already know which 8 are closing, there is a feeling amongst some staff that they have been a little duped with regards their own future's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint francis Posted 11 February, 2011 Share Posted 11 February, 2011 I couldn't possibly say, she wouldn't allow it as she regards it as confidential. "What's discussed in the house of saint francis, stays in the house of saint francis." she likes to remind me (with regard to local goverment policy, leaks, etc). So I'm left to gossip about tittle tattle like the rest of the plebs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted 11 February, 2011 Author Share Posted 11 February, 2011 I couldn't possibly say, she wouldn't allow it as she regards it as confidential. "What's discussed in the house of saint francis, stays in the house of saint francis." she likes to remind me (with regard to local goverment policy, leaks, etc). So I'm left to gossip about tittle tattle like the rest of the plebs. do people who meet her say what a lovely person she is? i may know her, say hi from big john for me mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 14 February, 2011 Share Posted 14 February, 2011 BJ, (fnarr) seriously, what "transport services"? I think you (and the rest of us) are being ignored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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