by Sofia Lotto Persio
PUBLIC-SECTOR union Unison is opposing a Welsh council’s proposal to farm out its leisure services to a charitable trust, arguing that the charity would spend more money on executive pay.
In a submission yesterday to Pembrokeshire County Council’s consultation, the union said the plan was unlikely to cut costs and improve efficiency but would lead to a loss of control over how services are run.
According to Unison, the council has paid thousands of pounds of public money to law firm Winckworth Sherwood to advise on the outsourcing of public services.
“The council has been too quick to believe in the promises of long-term financial savings and [it] will have to bear costs without having any power to direct services,” the union said.
The Association for Public Service Excellence, commissioned by Unison to analyse the council’s proposals, pointed out that the two councillors sitting on the trust’s board would be bound by company law to act in the best interests of the charitable trust — and not the community they serve.
Unison has also warned it would be very likely the trust would spend more on higher executive pay rather than investing in leisure services.
Following a reduction in government grants, which provide 80 per cent of the council’s budget, the council is looking to save £12 million from its 2015-16 budget.
The council said no decisions had yet been made on the matter.
Unison branch secretary Vic Dennis said the local community is against outsourcing.
“The overwhelming response at public consultation meetings has shown local people want a say in the running of their services and they want them directly delivered by Pembrokeshire County Council,” he said.
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