A future where no services are actually provided by councils

[ArrowsFA1]

It might be here sooner than later - Bury council could give up control of all services to save money (http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1409644_bury_council_could_give_up_control_of_all_ services_to_save_money?all_comments=1)

Now, saving money is a good thing, but if councils hand over services that are paid for by our taxes, and that are provided to us, where does that leave accountability and democracy?

[Retro Formula 1]

What a great idea.

Accountability is through the Council who award or retract services and contracts on a combination of price and performance.

[ArrowsFA1]

Accountability is through the Council who award or retract services and contracts on a combination of price and performance.
But why would councils even be needed if this happens? Wouldn't they simply end up being a costly extra administrative layer between consumers and providers; a bit like a quango?

We currently elect councils to provide the services paid for by our taxes in our local area in our interests. If other, non-elected, organisations are to take on those services and provide them to us what's in it for them? Somewhere along the line we will end up paying more for these services. Does that mean an end to council tax, or do we carry on paying that as well?

[Rollo]

What a great idea.

Accountability is through the Council who award or retract services and contracts on a combination of price and performance.

What happens if something is unprofitable? It gets axed.

http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-regional/15391310-1.html
Somerset's library service faces drastic cuts, with 20 of its 34 libraries set to close.
Somerset County Council has announced that it proposes to stop funding 20 of its 34 static libraries and remove four of the six mobile libraries.

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/whereilive/8884963.Axe_to_fall_on_180_jobs_in_council_cuts/
The announcement comes less than a month after the Warrington Guardian revealed that two bin collection teams and the recycling team were all facing the axe.

http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-news/2011/03/03/parents-celebrate-as-plans-to-axe-60-primary-school-teacher-are-publicly-dropped-87085-28267856/
PARENTS were clapping and cheering in council chambers yesterday when it was announced that controversial school plans for Renfrewshire had been BINNED.Victory had been secured by mums and dads who had led the fight along with politicians to have the proposed money-saving strategy scrapped.
A special meeting of Renfrewshire Council was staged at the local authority’s headquarters in Cotton Street, Paisley, to confirm an earlier U-turn on the move to replace 60 primary school teachers with part-time sessional staff.

It is all very well to find budget savings and make things more efficient but when you have services being cut to the point where they cease to function well or entirely, was it worth it?

[ArrowsFA1]

It is all very well to find budget savings and make things more efficient but when you have services being cut to the point where they cease to function well or entirely, was it worth it?
And that's the point isn't it. If private organisations take over council services their primary consideration is going to be making money. They wouldn't be doing it otherwise. So if, for example, if a contract is awarded for refuse collection in a particular area and it turns out to be unprofitable for the company given the contract what happens then?

[Mark]

That's the point of having elected councils, that the people delivering the services are accountable, and they do so without making a profit as our tax needs to go to good use!

Of course what the councils would like to do is have us pay again for all the services we already pay for, and they go "Oh, we're only putting your council tax up by 10% this year, isn't that good!" :rolleyes:

Actually given how much money councils actually receive from council tax vs central government it's a wonder why we bother with council tax at all.