Press release from Barnet Unison:

Today, a number of key council staff working in regulatory services will be balloted for industrial action.

Barnet Easy Council gained notoriety in 2009 when it launched the budget easyjet airline model for public services. In 2010, the model was criticised in a report by external auditors for its failure to draw up a proper business plan.

The first group of council services to be given ‘easyCouncil’ treatment will be cemeteries, planning, highways, land charges, registrars, environmental health, building control, trading standards.

The council is looking to cash in on Hendon cemetery and crematorium. This is a highly valued and well run service which provides income for the council. It appears that Barnet has forgotten the Westminster Cemeteries debacle, which haunted the former *leader for many years.

At a time when all council services are under intense scrutiny, the common factor for these services is that they are high performing and low cost, The only way the private sector is going to make profit is either attacking staff terms and conditions and hiking up charges for services.

The council, which was caught up in the Icelandic Bank fiasco for £24 million and recently had to settle an arbitration claim to a contractor for almost £8 million, has spent approximately £3 million on the easycouncil model so far.

The council has recently published a budget proposal to save approx £54 million and at the same created another reserve of £9.2 million to pay consultants to deliver easy council.

John Burgess branch secretary for Barnet UNISON said “We have spent the last two years trying to seriously engage with the council. We have tabled over 20 detailed reports in an attempt to find a way to address the challenges to council services. The council has ignored our submissions. UNISON is prepared to sit down with the council but the council must put aside political ideology and genuinely engage staff, trade unions and residents about the future of council services.”

Barnet march against the cuts: Sunday 30 January

Assemble: 11.30am, Finchley Central. Indoor rally from 1pm, Arts Depot, north Finchley. More details here on False Economy.

Note for Editors:

1. John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or email john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk