We have been told repeatedly that the Capita One Barnet Contract will save residents millions of pounds. The two main contracts and the forecast savings are as follows: NSCSO (now called CSG) Baseline (at December 2012) costs £38.8 million Forecast costs savings £7.01 million Procurement savings £4.69 million Improved council tax collection £0.84 million Total guaranteed saving £12.54 million By my reckoning this means that Barnet should pay

  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

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

During June meeting of the Budget, Performance, Overview and Scrutiny Committee Cllr. Anthony Finn, the Chair, inform the world that "the purpose of scrutiny is not to criticise, but to make a positive contribution."   But apparently, Cllr Finn quibbling turned to be a serious issue, when the disgraced ex-Tory cllr. Coleman revealed in the full council meeting last week that there is no scrutiny in Barnet Council, and that the Councillors are whipped

  Barnet Alliance for Public Services PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 16 July 2013 After one and a half days in the court of appeal Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson, Lord Justice Davies and Lady Justice Gloster retired to consider their judgment in the case of Nash v Barnet. After urging by Barnet counsel, the Master of the Rolls said they will try to deliver their judgment by the end of September, but did not guarantee it. Mr Nigel Giffin

The very core of our local democracy is under threat! - Azi Khatiri "we can get round the law" - Barbara Jacobson No more cuts! - Julian Silverman You have been had… - Theresa Musgrove What about a second opinion? - John Dix You confirmed my worst fears about privatisation and outsourcing - Tirza Waisel The very core of our local democracy is under threat! Azi Khatiri I would like to begin by reminding you all that being a councillor means you

The government is using Barnet Council as a pilot to privatise public services, leaving people without influence on policy through the ballot box and without a say in how their council is run and their council tax spent. We need to prevent the privatisation of Regulatory Services to ensure that councils fulfil their statutory duties to protect the health, and safety of residents. We are concerned that Barnet Council is about to hand over its Regulatory

Barnet Alliance for Public Services is pleased that The High Court acknowledged it will review the £320 million services contract due to be outsourced by Barnet Council to Capita. The hearing is likely to take place after mid March. Steel & Shamash Solicitors, acting on behalf of Barnet resident Maria Nash, have issued proceedings against Barnet Council, Capita PLC, EC Harris LLP, and Capita Symonds Ltd. Ms Nash seeks a judicial review of the

By Barnet Unison What is a Joint Venture? A joint venture is usually a company that is part owned by the council and part by a private contractor. There are different kinds of company that can be used for a joint venture but the most common are where each party invests, i.e. takes shares in the company, or where each party guarantees the company’s liabilities up to a fixed amount. These types of company are known respectively as Company Limited