CRYSTAL BALL
Page 50
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If I had a crystal ball and had to predict the scene in six to eight years, given the current political climate, I would suggest the following possibilities: CI Shire county councils reducing in importance and possibly disappearing altogether. All local services carried out 12y districts or boroughs; More emphasis placed on centralised control by national government and local democracy reduced; CI A possibility of regional government similar in size to the present water authorities; CI A whole host of other services out to competition or privatised, including corn puter services, waste disposal, legal and financial services, libraries, some social services and highways design; D About half the maintenance of vastlyreduced vehicle fleets still being carried out in-house; El About 60% of refuse collection in private sector hands.
This may sound like doom and gloom, but facts dictate that the Government wants the work in the private sector whatever it costs the ratepayer. A vested interest group known as PULSE is doing its utmost to promote privatisation, not competitive tendering. Its sole reason is profits. If too many in-house operations look like winning easily then the Government may move the goalposts to create further obstacles, and to help the private sector efficiency machine to win.
I, like many others, remain convinced, however, that we can and should win inhouse, giving the ratepayers — who are after all our customers — the best possible deal. You can be sure we will be there 4nting to the finish.
II John Ashmore