The Conservatives proposed a motion on value for money savings at the meeting of the full council last week.
My Green colleagues and I are all in favour of value for money but this motion could not be taken seriously.
It only serves to show us, yet again, either that the Conservatives do not understand council finances or they are misleading the public for political purposes.
They made six allegations about taxpayers’ money being wasted and below I’ve set out the reality about each one of their claims.
The Conservatives said that £10 million had been wasted on the “ideological” decision to “insource” Brighton and Hove City Council’s housing repair service, currently subject to ongoing industrial action.
But the council has not spent £10 million on the insourcing. It’s spent £10 million on the whole service – very similar to the £10 million that the previous, outsourced, service cost.
In addition, comparing the cost of the current and previous service is difficult not only because of inflation but also because the new service contains additional elements. Comparing like for like requires more analysis.
The pandemic also makes comparison challenging and officers will attempt to do this work in due course but, adjusting for differences in service provision, the costs are expected to be broadly comparable.
The Conservatives said that there was a £3 million overspend at Cityclean in the two years to the end of March 2020. And they said that the auditors had said that they had not been able to count all the costs of the problems with the council service.
Again, the figures are simply wrong. In 2018-19 the overspend was £796,000 and in 2019-20 it was £1.1 million. That makes £1.9 million over two years to the end of March 2020, not £3 million.
The Conservatives cited a figure of £1 million for Labour’s meddling with the home to school transport service on similar ideological grounds, resulting in the collapse of a service for disabled children to get to school.
The Green administration picked up this matter and it is clear that there were lessons to be learned.
These have been taken on board and the involvement of the Parent Carers’ Council (PaCC) has been excellent and has really helped to make the service better than ever.
The cost has increased but we expect this to be managed down over time as the new service model beds in and we can ultimately reduce administrative costs.
However, even with the increased cost of £1 million, the service is still below the average for our comparator group of local authorities despite the extra investment.
This is a pitiful attempt at a defence – really just confirming the council hasn’t a clue.
The overspend at city clean wasn’t £3m, only £2m so that’s all fine(!)
The temporary director didn’t cost £1,200 a day, just £999 + VAT (=£1,198).
Basically the best they can do is say the Tories have slightly overstated the level of profligate incompetence displayed by BHCC
The amount the Green Party has either lost or given away without trying to recoup it since 2010 makes these figures seem like a drop in the Ocean. They will go after you for missing out on a Council Tax payment but will let £3.2m go because for some reason they think it is not worth the effort. I think it really runs into £10s of millions.
What a pathetic reply “we didnt lose quite as much money as stated so everythings fine”. Good example of the greens grasp of economics.
So why not seek value for money? Is it because the Tories suggested it. I’m no Tory but I want value for money! I try comparing prices (and quality) before I buy, and on and off over the years, I’ve subscribed to Which? so hopefully I can get a good deal. What’s the issue? The council’s a big organisation so I’d be amazed if there were no examples of wasted money. A focus on value for money might help cut waste and leave more money for things like new cycle lanes and to make up for lost revenue as we rip out parking spaces to accommodate them. Surely it’s a win-win?
How much money does the city council donate to the Big Lemon for running non-profitable bus services where Tom Druitt is the CEO and also Green Party “finance expert”?
Is there a conflict of interest here?
Even before Covid it was rare to see any passengers on Big Lemon buses and now they seem to cruise the streets desperately looking for customes.
Is it time the council looked at other options for non-profitable, low usage, social transport instead of buses?
Tom Druitt (Big Lemon) is also husband to former mayor (Green Party)Alexandra Phillips.