North Somerset Lib Dem News

Press Release - Lib Dems: Transport privatisation decision taken too quickly

posted Tuesday 7th July 2009
category: council

PRESS RELEASE
FROM
NORTH SOMERSET COUNCIL LIB DEM GROUP

Release: - Immediate

Contact: Cllr Deborah Yamanaka 01934 862109 (Home)

Lib Dems: Transport privatisation decision taken too quickly

North Somerset Council is set to privatise transport for children with special needs and adult social services users - despite criticism from the Lib Dems about the lack of scrutiny for the decision and lack of consultation with those affected.

The routes carry some of our community's most vulnerable children and adults and the decision to privatise the service has been made with great haste - the paperwork appeared as a late item at the Executive meeting on June 9, where the decision to proceed was made.

The Tories defended the hasty privatisation at the Finance and Performance scrutiny panel on 2nd July which had been specially convened to allow examination of the Executive decision.

The call-in did succeed in pursuading Tory Executive Cllr Tony Lake to extend the staff consultation period by a month. He also agreed to answer questions in a lengthy union document.

Lib Dem finance spokesman Cllr Chris Howell said "I called this decision in because it had been made in a great hurry and had not previously been looked at by any scrutiny panel. We are assured that Executive Cllr Peter Bryant has been working on this for months and that may be so, but the item appeared at the Executive meeting with next to no notice.
"This is yet another example of the current Tory administration's secretive decision making."

Lib Dem leader, Cllr Deborah Yamanaka, added: "This change may or may not be the best way forward for this transport service. Important decisions should be made after due consideration and only when scrutiny of the options has taken place.

"I am relieved that there is now a longer consultation period, although it is still too short, and relieved that some of the questions will be looked at.

"I would particularly like to be sure that any companies bidding for these routes understand the costs involved and the need for training when transporting children with special needs and vulnerable adults, many in wheelchairs.

"I am not convinced that costs for the existing system and for private companies have been compared on an equal basis.

-ends-