When the Cabinet met this morning, it was addressed by Jill Turner on behalf of UNISON. Here's what she told them:
"It is difficult to put all we want to say into words, and it is obviously tempting to take this opportunity with you to go through the report line by line, but we want to keep our message to you short and to the point.
"This is not a consultation, it is a fait accompli!
"We have been given just three weeks to comment on proposals which are huge in their impact.
"How can we meaningfully participate without any information, information, for example on the true costs of the Bassetlaw PFI scheme and the new contact centre.
"And how can the public meaningfully participate when they are not told the whole truth, the on-line consultation describes the changes to homecare as 'changing the way some home care services are provided.'
"This is a shocking misrepresentation of what is proposed, in reality the Council will run down its home care service and effectively transfer the majority of care to the private sector. The savings will be generated from paying these new privately employed staff less than the Council considers fair or reasonable for the work. In an added twist by running down our service as opposed to transferring it means that the Council bypasses any responsibility for protecting the conditions and pay of workers in this service. This is at best morally bankrupt.
"Another example of understatement can be found in this very report at section 8.4.6 this is the section dealing with the impact in Regeneration and states that 'staff redundancies are probably unavoidable' - really
"How can the public or staff make contributions when we do not have access to the information we need and are entitled to?
"There is no doubt we are in a very difficult situation but surely this is the time to raise our game and work together to find the savings we need to protect our valuable services. If you agree this consultation document as it stands you will force conflict with those you need to work with.
"Now is the time to work together, delay this consultation in favour of a meaningful exercise where staff, service users and public can comment on real choices, choices such as the real needs around new accommodation. An exercise where we can ensure that decisions still to be implemented are realistic in light of our financial position.
"We realise this will take more time and therefore have a cost implication. Cabinet could easily reverse it decision on the new office at Ashfield and go for a cheaper option thus releasing the necessary funds.
"Why look for conflict when a better position could be created by working together.
"Like yourselves we fight for what we believe in – we do not believe that the paper presented today represents the only options – so if needed we will fight to secure a better outcome for our service users, our citizens and staff.
"We are asking for the opportunity to have a meaningful consultation where we can explore all the options available, we are asking to have a real choice."
Despite this call to think again, the Cabinet voted to go out for consultation on the basis of the report (to read the report click here).
Therefore, Branch officers are meeting tomorrow morning to agree the strategy for dealing with the proposed budget cuts.
To see press reaction in the Nottingham Evening Post on 20th Jan click here
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment