Barnet Alliance for Public Services PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 30 August 2013     R.I.P. Barnet Public Services – Residents mourn the takeover by Capita   ‘People in Barnet are dismayed at the Council’s massive outsourcing not only without consultation,’ says BAPS spokesperson Barbara Jacobson, ‘but especially in the light of continuing news about the failure of the private sector in delivering public services.’

A funeral procession for Barnet's public services: We are gathered here today to bid farewell to Barnet Public Services.   It is sad, of course, to lose a single service, but to lose the majority of this family is truly tragic. Perhaps you did not know all of them, but all of us were acquainted with some of them. They were there to serve us and they provided jobs for some of us. The purpose of these services – like the motivation of those

Barnet Council began consultation with coach escorts who provide a service for children with special educational needs (SEN). The impact - earnings drop from £8,891.67 to £5,845.84 a year. * * * Introduction: Barnet Council began consultation with coach escorts who provide a service for children with special educational needs (SEN) on 2 August 2013. The impact could see the majority of the coach escorts' earnings drop from £8,891.67 to £5,845.84

The article on One Barnet by Hannah Fearn in the Guardian shows that she needs a stronger light to see what is really behind the empty claims of necessity and the promises of big savings. The ‘well-publicized local objection’ referred to was well-publicised only locally, despite our efforts to interest the national press. While it is true that the Court of Appeal found in favour of the Council, it is essential for a well-balanced article to point

The three judges refused the application on the grounds that it was ‘out of time’. They, like Judge Underhill in the first hearing at the High Court, did not justify the council for failing to consult its residents on such a major change as outsourcing most of its services, ruling against Maria Nash only because she applied for a Judicial Review of One Barnet too late. Read the judgement here. Watch this space for further updates Maria is determined