COUNCILLOR Garry Perkins is right to say (SA August 26, 2010) that the private sector brings in specialist knowledge to deal with specific projects or issues and that the public sector has the right to do likewise. For example Swindon Council commissioned a Libraries Report from Tim Coates before the 2009 budget. Its purpose was to address a ‘specific issue’, that of improving library provision. By contrast, it is difficult to see why the problem now besetting this council is similarly specific - it is a budgetary one which council officers should be well-qualified to address.

The council employs senior officers who are involved in the overall management of services. These officers are professionals who know that Swindon’s problems are shared by many other councils and are well aware of the ‘options’ under consideration by them. Swindon’s officers have extensive general management expertise and local experience, as do the borough’s accountants, technical staff and lawyers. In particular, they have an intimate knowledge of the borough’s income and expenditure, its budgets and the town’s specific needs. That is the huge advantage they have over outside consultants. So residents wish to know whether Coun Perkins or other members have already asked Swindon officers for options to reduce expenditure and, if so, whether officers have responded that they are not competent to do it?

A council inability to formulate strategy and manage its services is very good news for consultancy firms who have identified public services as a lucrative avenue of activity. It is likely they will welcome an opportunity to get a foot in the door by means of a modestly paid consultancy in the hope of the ultimate prize, that they will themselves be taken on to manage the provision of services.

Coun Perkins explains that this £50,000 consultancy will identify “options” for libraries, leisure, culture and parks services - but these options seem already to be in the public domain. One, mentioned by Coun Foley (SA August 25, 2010) could be the handing over of service provision to a Trust. Have councillors looked at the three or four projects in the country where such Trusts - headed up by private sector firms - are managing services? Have they liaised with Hounslow, for example where I understand the firm, Laing, is involved in such management? What real savings have Swindon councillors identified in each of these locations and the implications of same? Can they confirm whether the services provided are now more sustainable, cost-effective or as good a quality as they were before? Such inquiries, which cost little or nothing, are what residents might reasonably expect before public money is spent on ‘expert opinion’.

The above is not an attempt “to grab a few headlines”, but a serous effort to communicate concerns and to solicit answers.

SHIRLEY BURNHAM

(Libraries Campaigner)

Arundel Close

Lawn

Swindon