William Eichler 28 March 2019

Think tank warns against banning outsourcing

A think tank has called for a review of the regulations governing outsourcing, but stressed it opposed the idea of banning the controversial practice.

The Government currently spends £284bn annually buying services from the third and private sectors, which is a third of its budget.

This practice has, however, come under fire in the wake of high-profile scandals such as the Carillion collapse.

A new report from the think tank Reform has urged Whitehall not to ban the practice.

Instead, it recommends providing more training for civil servants who are tasked with dealing with private companies and charities.

In particular, it calls for extra funding to bolster training for local government and a new online training platform.

The think tank also believes that the Government should select contracts based on their wider social benefits, known as ‘social value’, such as boosting local employment.

It argues that the Government should review outsourcing rules to ensure social value is better considered in deciding contracts and improve transparency.

It also calls for ‘better data and guidance’ to allow service providers to quantify and compare the potential social value of different contracts.

Dr Joshua Pritchard, report co-author, said: ‘The way Government buys services can be improved but banning outsourcing would be throwing the baby out with the bath water.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term Time

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum + + Pension
Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term TimePermanent, Part Time£30,377 per annum, full time equivalent / equal to £15.74 per hour.Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Urban Design Intern

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Assistant Urban Design InternFixed Term, Full Time£25,081 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - Safeguarding Team

Essex County Council
£31931.00 - £36423.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - ASC Centralised Safeguarding TeamFixed Term, Full Time£31,931 to £36,423 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Financial Strategy Manager (Revenue)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we invest in our borough's future.Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we inves England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Team Manager - Locality

Wakefield Council
£55,979.00, Grade 13
Wakefield Children’s Services have been rated by Ofsted as GOOD with outstanding leadership. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner