I was watching local TV last night , and despite the fact that I have personally been involved in making people redundant in the private sector , I was amazed at the story emerging about the long serving council workers being made redundant , all because a recently appointed contractor went bust .
My incredulity grew ....as we understand form the media ,the local council had to pay previous contractor an out of court settlement in order to facilitate the entry of a new cheaper contractor.All council workers were then transferred under TUPE rules and then after a very short time made redundant with no real prospect of a job.
The council estates still need maintenance , and the redundant employees will be paid stay at home , through no fault of their own , and yet we have been implored to understand that the country is in dire need of financial prudence and well managed cost.
As a former business supplier to the Government , we were asked to comply with the new buying strategies of the OGC , which on paper also set up supplier assessment criteria to ensure capability and good financial governance of the supplier.
Yet another contract , in line with a number of failed PFI ventures , has failed not only the local communities whom they are designed to serve , but the employees who have served those communities , in some cases , for decades.
As we embark on the rocky journey ahead , following the proposed expenditure cuts , it is vital to understand , as many private companies have in the past , that the cheapest price is not the same as best value. These events will cost us all more in the end .
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