Labour says it is 'taking back control' following end of Capita deals

Conservative opponents slammed the claims about outsourcing as a “desperate attempt to rewrite history” reports David Floyd

Hendon Town Hall with (inset left) Labour leader Barry Rawlings and (inset right) Tory leader Peter Zinkin

Barnet Labour celebrated ‘taking back control’ of local services last week following the end of contracts delivered by outsourcing company Capita as local Conservatives accused them of a “desperate attempt to rewrite history”.

During the early-2010s, the then Conservative administration adopted an approach dubbed ‘EasyCouncil’ which saw a wide range of the council’s services handed over to the multinational contractor on long-term contracts.

In a statement on Thursday, 1st October, the day that the borough’s IT and website provision were taken in house, Labour claimed: “the era of mass outsourcing is coming to an end at the local authority”.

It added:“Barnet Council ended up spending more than half a billion pounds – some of which would have gone to shareholders’ dividends – to let go of services from planning to highways.

“The contract overran its costs, culminating in a bill for council taxpayers of £200 million more than originally expected.”

Hailing the move, council leader Barry Rawlings said “Under the Conservatives, Barnet council let go of control of a long-term strategic vision for the council, and lost the opportunity to prepare for the severe financial challenges of today.

“Labour has taken back control and will ensure that we can find our way through these difficult conditions, with a council that is truly responsive to residents.”

However, Conservative opposition leader Peter Zinkin was unimpressed by Labour’s claims. He told Barnet Post: “This is a desperate attempt by Barnet Labour to rewrite history.

“Labour are celebrating the return of services in-house, but only because the outsourcing arrangements they inherited were coming to an end and their own replacement strategy fell apart. If Labour truly believed outsourcing was wrong, they would have ended it years ago.

“Instead, the reality is that Labour promised to bring services back in-house but has continued to hand large contracts to external providers. The continued use of outsourced arrangements shows that Labour has not ended outsourcing at all. They have simply changed who receives the contract.”

Cllr Zinkin added: “What residents will judge is not who employs the staff, but whether services improve, whether money is spent wisely and whether council tax remains affordable.

“After four years in charge, Barnet Labour cannot keep blaming their predecessors. They should now own the decisions, the contracts and the results.”

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