The Herald claims that Glasgow council officials are to meet private company Enterprise plc to talk about services like refuse collection, cleansing and the running of its civic parks. Enterprise already has major contracts with English local authortities and utility companies. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/private-firm-in-talks-to-run-council-services-1.1013061
Both the workforce and the public would lose out as a result of any privatisation as Mike Kirby, Glasgow Branch Chair and UNISON Scottish Convener, told the Herald. “Where similar arrangements have been established in some areas of England there is clear evidence that the standard of service has been adversely affected.”
The Herald opinion itself voices some scepticism. "Where a council contracts with a private company that makes a profit from providing the service, however, there must be particular scrutiny over whether this results in the best return for the public pound.
"If so, it would appear that either the previous council provision must have been grossly inefficient or that the private provision is cutting costs, including wages, to rock bottom, which may reduce the quality of service. Either way, it is essential that local authorities remain accountable to the electorate for both the quality and cost of the services they provide." http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/herald-view/how-will-cuts-affect-council-services-1.1012978
And across in Edinburgh, the Council has just advertised for 'notes of interest' for a range of services. "Edinburgh is already making moves to privatise a range of services including cleansing, refuse collection and schools meals provision", says the Herald.
UNISON's Edinburgh Branch is building on UNISON's Newcastle campaign some years ago under the slogan "Our City's not for sale". http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/citynotforsale/index.html. Already UNISON has been able to cast doubt on alleged 'savings' and has exposed flaws in the figures.
Branch President John Stevenson warns that big companies will monopolise council services and, like the banks, become 'too big to fail'. "You only have to look at the Edinburgh tram project to see how powerful big companies become when they get public contracts. The Lib Dem/SNP coalition can give all the assurances they like but when the council infrastructure is privatised, control, accountability and influence over quality goes out the window".
A point taken up by Mike Kirby in the Herald, “Standards of service are questionable, as are the mechanisms by which the council proper can yank in the chain and hold the Aleos and partners to account.
“You could ask if your elderly relatives still get the same level of help and attention in home care. What was once an hour visit is being reduced to 15 minutes.
“In addition to a downgrading of terms and conditions for staff we’re seeing increased pressures on them.
“Watch this space for charges also being increased. People are paying three times for the service – at general taxation level, council tax and again at point of use.” http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/storm-looms-as-private-revolution-in-scotland-s-councils-gathers-pace-1.1013063