I WOULD like to comment on the exchange of views between the leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, John Williams, and Cllr Habib Farbahi of the Liberal Democrats, on Taunton Deane’s ‘Transformation’ programme.

The ‘Deane spokesman’ appears to have trotted out a load of ‘spin’ that will really leave councillors and the public no wiser as to what Transformation actually involves, and how services will be affected.

Indeed, the whole Transformation process has been characterised by a lack of the normal democratic standards and genuine consultation – including with the public – that should apply when fundamental changes are being made. 

READ MORE: Transformation or disintegration? Fresh row over council changes

It is all very well to say that councillors still have an opportunity to express their views, but the reality so far appears to be that unless the views of councillors – or anyone else – accord with those of the council’s consultants, Ignite, who are running the process, no notice is taken.

Consultation has, in effect, been reduced to a sham.

It is also disingenuous for the same Deane spokesman to state that “…it isn’t possible to say…” how many staff will be affected. The council does broadly know, because it has assumed a reduction of 22 per cent in the staff budget.

UNISON estimates that there will be a reduction in staff numbers of around 28 per cent, or 190 posts.

That will be another significant blow to Taunton’s economy, because spending on wages in the public sector is recycled through spending on private sector goods and services.

It is a fundamental mistake for the council to restructure by dismissing its entire workforce and re-engaging them on generic contracts.

Many people will choose instead to leave the council – whether it wants them to or not – and generic contracts, which lack details of the job, will make Taunton Deane, or its successor, the new ‘SWAT’ council, look unattractive to experienced applicants from elsewhere. An own goal if ever there was one.

The Ignite consultancy claim to offer a bespoke solution to each council with which they work, but the reality is that wherever you look – Taunton Deane, South Somerset, West Devon, Shepway, Eastleigh, Wokingham, Eastbourne – the identikit councils that they create are virtually the same.

The winners will be the consultants who walk away with large fees en route to their next commission.

The losers will be the 28 per cent of staff who end up without a job, and the public who will be affected by the disruption that results.

The current leadership and management of the council may think that Ignite are offering them a get-out-of-jail card for their current financial problems.

I’m afraid I think more in terms of the old saying: if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

PHIL BISATT
Branch Secretary, UNISON Taunton Deane and West Somerset Branch