Rubbish deals revert
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Steve McQueen • Vehicle maintenance and refuse collection contracts at three local authorities have been won back from private enterprise by the councils own direct service organisations (DSOs).
Unison—the amalgamation of unions which represents local government employees—says the reversals for private operators are part of a nationwide pattern. "Large contractors can no longer support loss leaders if they can't make sufficient profit from cutting the pay and conditions of staff," says a Unison spokesman.
The Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment rights (TUPE) regulations mean bids have to consider the pay and conditions of the existing workforce.
Serco lost control of its five-year maintenance contract at Essex County Council last week while the (DSO) at North Hertfordshire District Council also took over a £1-million-ayear refuse collection contract.
At Harrow Borough Council, Ecovert has ended its £1.5m-a-year refuse collection contract three months early.
"It's true we weren't making any money, but we were excluded from the list of re-tenders, allegedly because of poor service— which we deny," says area manager Kevin Donald. He says Ecovert asked to discontinue the contract under the circumstances.
The DSO won the re-tender and has taken over three months early. Essex and North Herts say their contracts were problemfree.
Local Government Management Board figures show 18% of local authority vehicle maintenance contracts are privately operated, while 35% of refuse contracts are private.
AAH Tyler Environ-mental, Biffa Waste Services, Cory and Onyx are the main operators.