The Saturday list #27 - What put the "R" in cRapita

Next week is Capita week in Barnet, where we will be examining in some detail how good a job the company chosen by Barnet Council to run its services really is. As a mini truffle starter, here is a taster of some of the press stories which have been in the press.

Are you an aspiring blogger? If you are, maybe you'd like to submit a guest blog for Capita week? Do you know of a story which isn't on the list? Please let us know.

Back in the 1980's, the Government ran a public information campaign entitled "Don't Die of Ignorance" to highlight the risks of AIDS. Perhaps Barnet Councillors should read this list, before their ignorance kills our public services.

1. Capita faces fresh attack over Arch Cru scandal

“Capita has come under further pressure over its role in the Arch Cru scandal after ex-directors of the cell companies that make up the funds alleged it was responsible for flaws in the structure of the investments.”

http://www.citywire.co.uk/new-model-adviser/capita-faces-fresh-attack-over-arch-cru-scandal/a644411?ref=new-model-adviser-latest-news-list

2. Capita's £1bn Service Birmingham venture falls short

“According to a news report, the review concludes that Service Birmingham, as the JV is called, needs "serious improvement" if it is to meet its targets.”

http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/2229738/capitas-gbp1bn-service-birmingham-venture-falls-short

3. Capita poises axe over 1000 staff – jobs headed to India

http://www.redundancyrescue.com/redundancy-news/capita-poises-axe-over-1000-staff-jobs-headed-to-india-register/

4. Capita to axe 84 more jobs at Belfast office

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/capita-to-axe-84-more-jobs-at-belfast-office-14704330.html

5. Capita loses its lucrative CRB contract after a decade

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/supportservices/article3557977.ece

“Kevin Lapwood, at the brokers Seymour Pierce, said: “There’s a suspicion that Capita has been earning too high a margin on certain central government contracts.”

6. Capita to lose congestion charge

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7062030.stm

7. Capita blamed in schools' data loss

http://www.information-age.com/channels/information-management/news/287036/capita-blamed-in-schools-data-loss.thtml

8. Capita IT staff strike over Indian offshoring plans

http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240161414/Capita-IT-staff-strike-over-Indian-offshoring-plans

9. FSA censures Capita Financial Managers for Arch Cru failings

http://citywire.co.uk/money/fsa-censures-capita-financial-managers-for-arch-cru-failings/a637090

10. Sefton Council to end £65m technical services contract with Capita Symonds http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/11/25/sefton-council-to-end-65m-technical-services-contract-with-capita-symonds-92534-29838970/

11. Government urged to ditch Capita after ILA failure http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=170259&sectioncode=26

12. “30 Capita staff in Darwen face axe”

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/8619868.30_Capita_staff_in_Darwen_face_axe/

 

13. Capita and administrator renew Arch Cru blame game

Former Arch Cru administrator Bordeaux Services has filed its defence against allegations that it breached its fiduciary duty in relation to the failed Arch Cru funds, blaming the losses suffered by investors on the “unforseeable actions” of the funds’ authorised corporate director Capita.

 

http://www.ftadviser.com/2012/12/13/investments/alternative-investments/capita-and-administrator-renew-arch-cru-blame-game-2vKeR5kGr6eppkBs5Kwj3N/article.html

 

14. Top-of-the-range perks enjoyed by Birmingham City Council officers

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2011/08/18/top-of-the-range-perks-enjoyed-by-birmingham-city-council-officers-65233-29260858/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:0520741c-b02d-44da-b229-925b94799b09#

 

15. Service Birmingham heads off dispute with city council over bill for new server equipment

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/2012/08/03/service-birmingham-heads-off-dispute-with-city-council-over-bill-for-new-server-equipment-65233-31545198/#ixzz2EwG98XTb

 

16. Probe launched into how Birmingham library contract was won by Capita

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2011/08/25/probe-launched-into-how-birmingham-library-contract-was-won-by-capita-65233-29296221/

 

17. More trials being disrupted over interpreter failings

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/dec/14/trials-disrupted-interpreter-failings?INTCMP=SRCH

 

 I am thinking of remaking this commercial for our local Councillors

The Pope agrees that condoms have a role to play in the fight agianst AIDS

Of all the stories I expected to see in the media, this one was probably the last one. The Pope has stated that in some circumstances it is responsible to use Condoms. For members of the Roman Catholic Church, this represents a sizemic shift in his stance. This story is of huge interest. It may surprise you to know that a blog I wrote on the subject is the second most popular blog I've written.

http://barneteye.blogspot.com/2009/05/annie-lennox-pope-and-condoms.html

Over 10% of all hits on this blog are visiting this particular entry. I've no idea what anyone thinks of my views as no one has ever left a comment. That is a huge amount of hits. So what does it mean, the Pope having changed the official church position so radically. Well for English Roman Catholics, I doubt it really means very much. When I was a child, most families had huge numbers of children. I'm one of six and two of my first cousins had 10 in their families. Any visit to a Catholic Church on Sunday will soon reveal that we've all become less procreative. I've never asked, but it is pretty clear that Londoners followed Cardinal Heenans advice in the 1960's when asked what he expected his flock to do in respect to the Pill. When asked Heenan said that it was an issue for the individual and their conscience. I suspect that most Roman Catholics are at ease with their conscience, whatever they do in this respect.

What about the wider world. Sadly I doubt it will make too many people adopt condom usage, even in the specific example given by the Pope of having sex with a male prostitute. I sincerely hope that I'm wrong and people heed his advice and always use one in such circumstances. What it will do is it will remove one excuse which men have used to persuade women (and other men) to take risks.

It is also a strong sign that the Church and this Pope are mindful that the world has changed. All religious leaders should make their primary mission on Earth, one of promoting peace and tolerance. I think the most interesting aspect of the Popes comment and one which hasn't been picked up by any comment I've seen, is the fact that he is not condemning gay sex involving male prostitutes. He's actually urging them, in measured tones to be responsible. I wonder how this will go down with the extremist "God hates Fags" brigade?

I'm sure people will have all manner of views on this. People who hate the RC church, will no doubt find something to hate about what he has said. For me, it is a welcome sign and one which hopefully will have a positive effect on the fight against AIDS and the fight against intolerance. That can only be a good things.

The BBC do a pretty good write up on the subject here :-


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11804943

Annie Lennox, the Pope and Condoms

Pet hates time. I don't like Annie Lennox. I hated her when she was in the Tourists, I hated her collaberations with Dave Stewart, who I also dislike. Don't get me wrong, she can sing, but I just don't like what she sung. Even songs such as "Sweet Dreams" which are good songs, were ruined by the treatment given to them by Stewart/Lennox.

She is just one of those people who I find irritating beyond belief. I loved the feminine side of the punk movement. Poly Styrene, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, The Slits. To me they had musical integrity. Lennox always seemed like a stowaway, along for the ride, not paying her dues.

Highly unfair, but us punks hated people because their trowsers were too wide, let alone because they used their talents to sing banal pop.

Anyway, Ms Lennox has popped up again to criticise the Pope. She states that the Pope's antipathy to Condoms is making the Aids crisis worse. Well sorry Annie, I'm afraid to say that yet again you are talking nonsense. I'm what one might consider a rather bad Roman Catholic. I think the Pope is wrong about birth control, but to blame him for the spread of AiDS is ludicrous. His message regarding AIDS is that you should abstain from sex outside of marriage. If EVERYONE listened to him, then there would be no AIDS pandemic.

As we all know that isn't going to happen. The point is that if people don't listen to the Pope about Sex outside marriage, why should they give a stuff about his views on Condoms. How many Roman Catholics avoid contraception? Men avoid condoms because they enjoy the sensation more if they haven't got one on. Nothing will change that, not Pope's, not Annie Lennox, not AIDS.

If AIDS is ever stopped it will either be through the advance of medicine or people taking greater personal responsibility and being less selfish. I've not heard the Pope railing against the treatment of AIDS or the development of vaccine. His message is one of personal responsibility. It is probably rather naive in this day and age, but much as Annie Lennox may not like it, he hasn't made a single person catch AIDS against their will. If they'd listened to him, they wouldn't be having sex full stop. Lennox states :-

"If there was ever an example of irresponsibility, it's the Pope going to a country like Angola, where people are dying left, right and centre because of unprotected sex, and telling them they should carry on or that they should abstain. What planet is this person on?"

The Pope doesn't tell people to carry on having unprotected sex, he tells them to stop altogether. No one listens to that, they wouldn't listen if he said wear a Condom. I'm afraid to say that, like everything else Lennox does, this just adds to the litany of irritation this woman has caused me over the years. If she really believes people who tell her they caught AIDS because they were following the Pope's values and morals, she really is more stupid than I thought