Greens vow not to surrender control to private contractors

27th March 2008

The Green Party has stated that it will not allow private contractors to
exploit the public sector. They draw links between the Highways PFI (Private Finance Initiative) and the 35-year waste management contract with Veolia.

Green Party transport spokesperson Rob Murphy said, “These are both examples of very long term contracts with private companies.We have serious concerns about the true cost to the tax payer of any private
finance initiative (PFI), but also about signing away our control of the
services provided.

“It is ironic that the Lib Dems, who signed the waste management contract
with Veolia just over 6 years ago, now admit that it is not delivering as
much recycling as people want. They propose taking £1.5m from the
council’s general funds in order to pay Veolia to add this service. It is worrying that a contract signed in 2001 no longer meets Sheffield’s aspirations and shows how risky it is to sign away our democratic control of local services.

“We fear a similar situation with the Highways PFI contract. Who can say how our transport needs will change over the next 30 years? As the climate changes and oil prices rise, our needs may be very different”

Green Councillor Jillian Creasy added: “As well as the contractual and financial issues, we have serious doubts about the environmental merits of the Lib Dem’s scheme. Glass is one of the least carbon saving items to recycle. Bottle banks are cheaper and more energy efficient than doorstep collections.

“The Green Party will always use its influence to try to keep private
companies in check. It sends out a very bad message to the private companies bidding for contracts and to the officers negotiating with them if political parties are prepared to pay over the odds when needs change over time.”

ENDS