Saturday 18 May 2013

Contract Negotiations Begin

I notice that the Ministry of Justice held a 'Probation Marketing Opportunity' on Thursday for all those privateers interested in putting bids in, like G4S and Serco and Napo turned up to greet them. Now there are those that feel MoJ officials would have significant difficulty arranging a serious group libation in a brewing facility, let alone sorting out contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds. 

But maybe those civil servants are a bit more canny than I give them credit for. Now I'm no expert, but I guess all negotiators want to start proceedings with as strong a hand as possible. So, what could be better than the day after you've done a bit of schmoozing with likely bidders, possibly involving a tincture or two, I don't know, but then the following day you put the boot in and accuse two of the biggest potential bidders of ripping you off previously? I'd say that sends a pretty strong and clear message as to how these new negotiations are likely to pan out!

According to the Daily Telegraph:- 

"The Ministry of Justice has brought in external auditors to find out how much the two companies have incorrectly claimed from the taxpayer since 2005.


Spending on electronic tagging has run to £700 million since G4S and Serco were handed the contracts but a Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said it was currently impossible to say how much had been overpaid.
It is understood the sums involved run to millions of pounds."

By an amazing coincidence, as this news broke Joe Kuipers, the outspoken chair of Avon and Somerset Probation Trust, felt moved to publish his latest thoughts on the evolving omnishambles that is probation privatisation. In particular he raises the issue of malversation.

Now the last time I got a similar tingle down my neck was upon hearing a very dry and dour public official at a press conference mention the term gerrymandering. Both allegations of what is in essence Misconduct in Public Office are about as bad as things can get. By the way for those of less mature years, the latter term was used in relation to Dame Shirley Porter when she was Leader of Westminister City Council and in relation to allegations of vote-rigging. 

Anyway this is what he has to say on the topic:-

"Malversation is corruption in a public office and in the context of PbR may be linked to perverse behaviours possibly or probably reinforced by profit being the potentially primary objective of commercial enterprises. Now, I am not opposed to the contributions that can be made to the business of managing offenders in the community, but I do have concerns about commercial enterprises being in the lead, most likely as contracting is rolled out.

Is there a way this risk can be mitigated? Probably not, as there appears to be plenty of information to indicate that the ability of government both to let and monitor contracts needs considerable development." 

Who'd have thought that private contractors might try and fleece us? Now they've been rumbled, wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall back at G4S and Serco headquarters as they contemplate the prospect of accountants from the MoJ poring all over their books in relation to the very lucrative electronic monitoring contracts? We know they must be lucrative because it's said similar contracts in the US are vastly cheaper. Oh round one to you Mr Grayling. Nice one!

PS I wonder who blew the whistle? Sign the No10 petition here.

9 comments:

  1. its been suggested that the deals are pretty much all done (save for the arguing about money). The public sector service may, according to numerous rumours, be headed by Mike Maiden (currently deputy director of something or other at noms). Some have suggested that if this is true, signing up for serco, g4s, wackenhut and co. would be their preferred option.
    The hardest part for so many is the not knowing, the rumour-mongering, the sleight of hand, the smoke & mirrors, the lies & damned lies - all information, of course, being "commercially sensitive".
    The other painful element is the fact that no-one beyond those within the 'world of probation' gives a damn or has a clue.

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    1. Well it wouldn't surprise me that it's all been sorted behind closed doors and clearly they want the big boys to be the prime contractors. So this sudden tagging thing - all a clever ploy - or an example of the cock-up theory of history?

      Oh it must be chaos in every trust and down at the MoJ at the moment. I've heard the Treasury is still not happy about it though - and he who pays the piper calls the tune. I personally think it's not a done deal.

      Is is very depressing and you are right - the public have no idea because they never have had any idea. I'm not giving up though and I remain determined to give the bastards a run for their money. If nothing else, it will remain a very small footnote in history - but at least it will be a footnote because I tried.

      Thanks for commenting and keep listening out for any interesting rumours.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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    2. like i thought i'd add th.is link cos, well, whatever, it seemed kinda cool & relevant, &, you know, made me smile and stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjxortnbVqo

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    3. Smiling is important at a time like this.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  2. When I read behind closed doors and sleight of hand, I think the likes of G4S and I also think Napo. Like others who have contributed commented to this blog, it seems to be the only place that is providing information and analysis about the machinations of government. Whereas Napo's website brings to mind one of those ghost towns in Westerns, with rolling tumbleweed, leaving you wondering whether the inhabitants have fled or are hiding behind their curtains.

    It's time Napo improved its communications. Did they ever, as they said they would, take legal action against Lee Jasper, or was that just a ruse to shut up its own members? The fact is the 'offending' material remains on Jasper's blog. And, of course, Harry Fletcher, goes along with his media skills, which remain unemulated in Napo. So we lose are two most experienced union leaders just as union members face their greatest ever threat. If I was a conspiracy theorist you would suspect some hidden hand at work.

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    1. I have to admit that circumstances can sometimes deal any organisation a difficult hand (eg BBC) and at a very inconvenient moment, but I have to agree Napo has certainly not given much impression of having a handle on either their internal crisis or indeed the external threat.

      I particularly like your comment:-

      "Whereas Napo's website brings to mind one of those ghost towns in Westerns, with rolling tumbleweed, leaving you wondering whether the inhabitants have fled or are hiding behind their curtains".

      Lets hope help is at hand very soon.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  3. There is an alternative to NAPO - it's called UNISON. A professional union with officials who know what they are doing. And they don't abandon ship just when we most need themn

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  4. Jim

    I think that you are being rather generous to Mr Grayling and the NOMS boys. This overcharging has been going on for years apparently. The question I have is why has it taken this long to be recognised, and who is responsible for the contract management.

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    1. Oh yes been going on for years. It was the timing of it that was so exquisite. Coincidence, or cock-up? But then this is an omnishambles, so one can almost hear the yelling and screaming in the corridors of power of those in the thick of it.....

      Cheers,

      Jim

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