Shropshire Council leader: Privatisation claims are bonkers
Friday 23rd September 2011, 3:04PM BST.
Claims that cuts to the salaries of staff at Shropshire Council was a ‘precursor’ for the privatisation of the county’s public sector are ‘bonkers’, its leader has said.
Councillor Keith Barrow made the comments at a full council meeting yesterday following a public question from Joyce Brand, mother of comedienne Jo Brand and a member of the Shropshire Fights Back campaign.
Mrs Brand, of Ludlow, asked Mr Barrow for reassurances that the proposed 5.4 per cent pay cut and new terms and conditions for staff was not a ‘precursor’ for the privatisation of a number of services.
She said she had particular fears over the running of car parks and the IT service.
But Councillor Barrow said the pay cut and new terms were simply a move to save cash as a result of a major slash in the Government funding the council receives.
To read our stories in full, log in to the premium 24 website.
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
nonesense i dont belive it because it is tory religion to privatise everything
Report abuse
I’m another one who doesn’t believe him. In 2009 he said rural schools were safe with him, and look what’s happened. Here’s the link to the Star report from then:
http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2009/06/10/new-leaders-schools-pledge/
Is it any wonder we don’t trust him?
Report abuse
I find that hard to believe when Shropshire Council have already drawn up a list of potential companies to run car parks, one being NCP!
As for IT they have just won a new deal with Dell which will supply hardware and software, with the IT maintenace contract going to a private company.
He is just trying to soft the damage already done to him…
Report abuse
Both these statements are untrue.
We brought the parking enforcement in house about two years ago and the only option being looked at on our car parks are with a view to Market Towns potentially running some.
I am not aware that Dell is a software company and we get office etc through a volume agreement with Microsoft. On the hardware side we have a number of suppliers.
Report abuse
That’s rich talk coming from a carpet fitter, one musn’t forget ones roots.
Adrian
Report abuse
So that means it’s going to happen within 12 months then.
Report abuse
“We will create a new presumption – backed up by new rights for public service users and a new system of independent adjudication – that public services should be open to a range of providers competing to offer a better service” – David Cameron in February this year.
The same David Cameron who told us he had’no plans’ to raise VAT.
You cannot trust a Tory.
Report abuse
We trusted Blair and Brown, and years ago Wilson and Callahan. End of story.
Report abuse
IT staff have been told to prepare for 25% redundancies as a precursor to transferring staff to the private sector. Staff are already working on this.
Sounds like outsourcing of IT services to the private sector to me. That said, It at Shropshire Council, and particularly IT precurement was horrendously innefficient
Report abuse
If they deny it. Its true.
Report abuse
And the opposite is the case of the iPads – the more they say they’re good value for money the more we know they really are not.
Report abuse
“Bonkers, frankly”-
The usual measured, respectful and considered level of argument we have come to expect from the leader of our shameful Council…. However rudely Mr Barrow dismisses the opposition his record speaks for itself. In 2009 he pledged to support rural primary schools. In February he reassured The Wakeman that no decisions had been made on its future and that it would receive a fair and genuine consultation. He tells Council employees that if they accept cuts to pay and conditions there will be no need for redundancies, and that claims that the changes are a precursor to privatisation are “bonkers”. Just because you shout something loudly it doesn’t mean that you have integrity, or that people will believe you.
Report abuse
Keith is a Tory. The Tory ideology is public sector bad, private sector good. Shropshire Council will begin outsourcing services as soon as the terms and conditions have been hammered thus making sectors of the council more attractive to the public sector.
Report abuse
Being as those of us in Shropshire Leisure are to go ‘into partnership with a private organisation’ as early as June 2012 I’d say that he’s talking bonkers himself…
Report abuse
What he really means is that he’ll not wait until pay is cut – privatisation will take place whatever.
Report abuse
Perhaps some parts should be privatized? it is not all bad.
Report abuse
How do you know when a politician is lying? – their lips move.
How can you tell that a Tory politician is lying? – they’ve got a pulse.
Report abuse
Oh dear Mr. Barrow ‘bonkers’ is not a word that you should be using. It fits too comfortably with ‘barrow’. What local newspaper will be able to resist the combination as news of Shropshire’s privatisation deals start to roll in. Our chief executive’s employability rests on his reputation for grand privatisation schemes whether successful or not. I cannot see his modus operandi changing simply because his employer has changed.
Report abuse
if it makes those lazy lefty union members do some more work it must be a good idea
Report abuse
Dont believe him – he just privatised the crematorium and graveyards for gods sake!
if they can make profit from peopls death they can make profit from ANYTHING
Report abuse
It was taken over by the Co-Op which is owned by it’s members and even makes donations to the labour party.
Report abuse
The Coop is still a private sector business which aims to make a profit. Part of that profit is redistrobuted to shareholders (the coop members). The Coop is the biggest private sector funeral firm in the UK. For members read shareholders, terminology is a great thing.
Report abuse
Barrow is bonkers
Report abuse
Would have this made the paper if it had been Joyce Public not the mother of a comedienne?
why is todays media so obsessed with celebrity culture?
Report abuse
I know Joyce Brand and she certainly doesn’t like being defined by her famous daughter. Joyce also hates the Star reporters always putting her age as though astounded that she has strong and logical opinions in what they assume should be her ‘dotage.’
Be warned Tories, she is not senile or ‘bonkers.’
Report abuse
Ever since they privatised the bins the service has been, well, simply “rubbish”, nothing but cuts cuts cuts, we dont get half the service we used to get from the old district council
Report abuse
A big concern is that he genuinely believes it will be better and more economic with lots of separate companies running things for a profit
Report abuse
he should try catching a train these days and see if privatisation is so good then!!!
Bring back public services for the public, not for profit, run by the people for the people i say
Report abuse
Right wing zealot
Of all the times when laissez-faire economics has been ruined, do these people cling to their failed ideology of free marketeering, its madness, sorry but its failed, all the successful economics, the BRICS have industrial bases, state support for industry, trade restrictions and a capitalism which is cooperative and nurtured by the public sector partnership. All the economics addicted to banking and deregulation are bust, the anglo saxon model failed, keith barrows model has failed, pack up and go home now
Report abuse