Sharing public services may threaten public accountability

UNISON's Scottish Council has warned that the Scottish Executive's 'shared services agenda' may take services away from local control.

Last week, branches from across Scotland backed a City of Edinburgh Branch motion critical of the potential impact of shared services on democracy, jobs and services.

Shared services are where two or more statutory authorities agree to jointly run some of their services. Currently there are a number of different initiatives involving councils, health boards, police authorities and other bodies at different stages of development in different parts of Scotland. These larger functions are then often more at risk of privatisation.

Edinburgh's John Ross said, "We believe this will lead to a deficiency in democratic accountability, will place jobs at risk and will have the potential to damage the link between public services and the communities which they serve."

Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary said "Whilst UNISON members are committed to the efficient provision of services, we don't believe that this is likely to happen if services are removed from the influence of the communities they serve.

"The threatened move of all Glasgow's Cultural and Leisure function from elected control to a private Trust shows how easily authorities can move services away from the control of the people in the City. The different ways that similar initiatives are being planned across Scotland and across services is leading to considerable confusion."

The union will set up a survey to establish the different initiatives going on across Scotland and use the results to draw up a framework to defend services from centralisation. For more details see www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/sharedservices.html

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