Outsourcing
School transport contractor axed over safeguarding concerns
Birmingham City Council said the contract had been terminated following a breach of terms.
Strike action at Ealing ends
There will be no return to the picket lines after an agreement has been reached between the Unite trade union and outsourcer Serco.
Northgate Public Services undergoes name change
The company provides technology for health, housing, police and local government internationally and was acquired by the NEC group in 2018.
Bin lorry driver shortage at ‘crisis point’
A shortage of 100,000 heavy goods vehicle drivers has disrupted bin collections across the country.
Grenfell council's procurement ban on tower block firms
Kensington and Chelsea LBC said it held ‘doubts about the integrity’ of the firms following evidence heard at the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry.
Social care reform depends on market overhaul
Social care reform will ‘fail’ without addressing weaknesses in the provider market, a think-tank has warned.
Labour council pressed to insource service
Neath Port Talbot CBC has been urged to bring its leisure services under direct control as it searches for a new operator.
Sport England to make case for further leisure support
Sport England is to make the case for further support for the leisure sector from the Government, The MJ understands.
Wigan insources leisure services
The council is to bring its leisure centres in-house in a bid to safeguard jobs following the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.
Hackney insources cleaning services
More than 100 cleaning staff have been brought in-house by Hackney LBC as part of a wider drive to bring services under direct control.
Bids to open for £100m leisure fund
Sport England has finally launched the £100m biddable fund to support English councils with outsourced public leisure centre provision.
Government to overhaul council procurement rules
New powers to take social and environmental factors into account when awarding contracts have been put forward by the Government today.
Sandwell's outsourced refuse workers secure back pay deal
Refuse workers in Sandwell are set to receive substantial back pay following intervention by trade union Unite.
Lewisham switches leisure operators
Lewisham LBC has parted ways with the charity managing its leisure facilities, Fusion Lifestyle, it has announced.
Leisure outsourcer asks staff to take 'career break'
A major leisure services provider has come under fire for asking workers to take ‘unpaid career breaks’.
Norwich to bring services back in-house
Norwich City Council has opted to set up a wholly-owned company when it brings its services back in-house from next year.
Mitie and Interserve Support Services to merge
Outsourcer Mitie has proposed to merge with facilities management firm Interserve Support Services by the end of the year in a £271m deal.
Councils urged to re-appraise in-sourcing
Local authorities have been urged to look at what they could do better than outsourcers in the wake of the collapse of Carillion.
Local government can look for powerful allies
Winston Churchill famously remarked ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’. Paul Wheeler says we should use this current one to rebuild a local government that is properly funded, ambitious and a strong advocate for localities.
Outsourcers change coronavirus policy
Outsourcer Amey has U-turned to give full pay to workers off sick with coronavirus or those self-isolating during the current health emergency.
