Mark Whitehead 04 October 2018

Former Northants leader admits ‘mistakes’ over PFI deal

The former leader of crisis-torn Northamptonshire County Council has admitted mistakes were made in a PFI deal which has meant up to £2m a year being paid for empty care beds.

The 25-year contract to provide care for the elderly was negotiated by the council in 2003 but it admitted this week that the centres had been operating below 30-50% occupancy for several years.

The problems with the contract emerged when a document was put to the council setting out a ‘stabilisation plan’ to deal with a £65m budget shortfall this financial year.

It includes cutting spending on agency staff and highways services and increasing council taxes.

Government-appointed commissioners were brought in to oversee the council which has twice banned new spending.

The PFI deal with private operator Shaw Healthcare paid for four specialist healthcare centres for vulnerable elderly people.

But the council said the centres were operating below capacity and it was spending between £1.5m and £2m a year on empty beds.

Mick Young, the Labour leader of the council when the deal was negotiated, said: ‘Obviously, mistakes were made around some of the details and, in hindsight, the 25-year term was a mistake, as it's impossible to predict the future.

‘It's all very well for people to turn it into a political tennis match now, but at the time the contract was signed, it was the view that this was the only thing that could be done, and it was unanimously accepted by the council.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner