Forum Topic

Panorama Tonight  - Outsourced Litter Pickers

A whole host of other Councils as well as Ealing in an effort to reduce costs as a result of Government cuts have outsourced various activities - but they don't always seem to do quite what we all want them to do...  They don't always seem to target the people that we would like them to target...  but we do all want our streets to be clean - don't we?http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39882434

Philippa Bond ● 3270d4 Comments

The trouble may be the way that the contract works anyway.- which is unfortunate.If, as you say, they could just tweak the contract so that they concentrated on what and where and who really needs attention - that would make a big difference.  Didn't they say that they didn't want to warn or inform people?There are people who hang around outside buildings smoking and then stub their cigarettes out on the pavement leaving them there who also need to be reminded that that is an offence.https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22229750-200-time-to-kick-cigarette-butts-theyre-toxic-trash/

Philippa Bond ● 3265d

There is a petition lurking about which asks Ealing Council to cancel the contract with Kingdom Security. Councillor Mahfouz is meeting with them to discuss the Panorama findings. I'd much prefer him to alter the contract to focus on the regular fly tips here in Acton, preferably in the early mornings and late evenings. I stepped in some used nappies again recently, walking up Accacia Road about 10.00 pm. Someone had left a bag of mixed rubbish under a tree and our local foxes had torn the bag to get at the meat.  Didn't find it funny at all.

Maire Lowe ● 3265d

It was a rushed alert for this programme and it is of course about the litter enforcement company people who have rather controversially fined several people and whose working practices have been questioned.  An undercover report.How do we get them to target the right people?http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08mk133/panorama-inside-the-litter-police

Philippa Bond ● 3267d

Outsourcing requires someone who knows what is wanted and can write an extremely tight contract specification, to find a suitable competent supplier, check that the supplier is capable, then continue to monitor and enforce the contract conditions. It is usually cheaper and easier to do it yourself.If you make staff redundant and expect to re-employ them as outsourced staff you are likely to find that all those worth re-hiring have either been grabbed by someone else or have retired.

Christopher Bell ● 3270d