Campaign launched to keep more services in public hands
Author: Jamie Hailstone, the MJ |
A new campaign has been launched to ensure more services are kept in public hands, as Buckinghamshire CC creates the largest local government mutual in England.
The We Own It campaign was launched on 5 August and called for the creation of a Public Service Users Bill, which would ensure the option of public ownership is always considered when a public service is contracted out.
According to a poll carried out for the campaign, four in five people want to have a say about whether public services are privatised.
‘Despite what the Government might think, people aren’t sold on the idea of privatising and outsourcing public services,’ said We Own It director, Cat Hobbs.
‘We hope this report, and the clear public support for public ownership, will spell the beginning of the end for privatisation as usual.’
But the chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives in Voluntary Organisations, Sir Stephen Bubb, warned what the public was really interested in was ‘top class services, regardless of who delivers them’.
‘What we need now is a level playing field, so that the best providers are chosen, based on the quality and value they bring, not which sector they belong to,’ said Sir Stephen.
‘Charities have contributed hugely to improving public services,’ he added.
‘Their wider social outcomes are often so much better and broader than other organisations and they deserve to be judged on their own merits.’
Buckingham CC officially established the Buckinghamshire Learning Trust registered charity on 31 July to provide support to early years providers and schools.
The trust will be funded by a grant from the local authority and a board of trustees will oversee its work.
‘The Buckinghamshire Learning Trust will play a key role in ensuring the county remains at the forefront of educational achievement and innovation while protecting key services to schools, early years and the education community well into the future,’ said trust chief executive Raza Khan.