Where is the business case for the One Barnet project?

Councils all over the country are looking for ways to save money. The government has imposed drastic cuts on their budgets and every council knows that they will have to try and make do with far less money. In some ways this is not a bad thing. The cash they spend is our cash, it is paid for by our taxes. Challenging councils to improve their efficiency is not evil, it is common sense. If they can cut out administration and deliver the same quality services that is a good thing. If they can use modern technology to "work clever" that is a good thing. If there is duplication in staff or services overlap, these should be consolidated

Then there is outsourcing. There are two cases where this should be considered. Firstly where a new service is being developed and an outside organisation already has a working model which can be transposed at lower cost, without the related start up costs of building systems from scratch. The second case is where there is a clear, low risk model for outsourcing supported by a robust business case. The business case should be based on hard evidence and not guesses of revenue that the council may accrue if all goes well. There should be no costs hidden from the business case (such as legal costs) and it must demonstrate the customer experience will not be degraded. Once such a business case has been developed, then the council should be in a position to open it to challenge from organisations such as trades unions. If it is robust, it will survive and any criticisms will be rebutted.

The One Barnet project is the culmination of four years work. What does the fact that no one is allowed to see the full business case tell you? Barnet Trades Unions have engaged various experts such as Dexter Whitfield and APSE, all of whom have deemed the project "risky".

One aspect of the project which has been completely understated is the risk brought about by change. This week we've seen the effects a minor computer software change at RBS/Nat West had on their business. Customers were left without banking facilities for days on end. People were left in jail, rent wasn't payed, home moves weren't completed. Why? Because someone in the organisation underestimated the impacts of change. One Barnet is a project which completely changes the way the Council is run. If it fails, tens of thousands of vulnerable people could be affected. Where is the detail which tells us this can't happen? Where are the contingency plans, if a contractor fails?

Most of all, who bears the risk? The answer to all of these should be in the business case. Sadly we are not allowed to see it. Why?

One final word. Bidders such as Capita Symonds and BT are licking their lips at the prospect of big contracts with guaranteed profits. Have they done a downside analysis? If the changes fail to deliver, there are an army of armchair auditors in Barnet. The world will soon be made aware. Over 2,000 people have now seen the film "A Tale of Two Barnets" which explains in laymans terms the problems with One Barnet project and the implications for the residents of Barnet. Many people, who would normally support "cost cutting measures" have expressed their concern. If the companies are happy to take a big contract for big profits, based on a dodgy business case, they will reap the whirlwind of bad publicity and reputational damage when it goes wrong and unravels.

One question which BT, Capita Symonds and all the other bidders should consider. There are more TV producers, documentary makers and people involved in the media living in the London Borough of Barnet than any other London Borough and probably anywhere else in the country. That is why Barnet is so regularly featured in programs such as London Tonight and The One Show.

Although this isn't the way the world should work, whilst these companies may get away with cock ups at Sefton Council, and the world at large won't notice, you can bet your bottom dollar a cock up in Barnet will have a completely different impact on their business.

Stand up for the most influential man in Barnet !!!!

So who do you think the most influential man in Barnet is? Here's a few possible suggestions :-

Richard Cornelius -  On the ascendency. He's just seen off the Councillor officers hot favourite, Andrew Harper in the Leadership race.

Nick Walkley - CEO of Barnet Council. The man driving the One Barnet program (over the cliff in many people's opinion)

Mike Freer - Finchley and Golders Green MP, original architect of the One Barnet scheme and the man with a van.

John Burgess - Influential Barnet Unison leader and the main opposition to the One Barnet program

Neil Basu - Metropolitan Police Commander for Barnet.

Tom Nathan - managing director of Brent Cross

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I'd have picked one of those, not quite sure which, but you could make a case for any of them being given the title. I got a call today from a large news organisation, can't say who, sworn to secrecy. They were trying to find out if there is a story worthy of national coverage somewhere in the Metpro story. Whilst us Barnetites are currently obsessed, why would someone in Halifax, Hillingdon or the Hebrides be interested? My answer? Because it should inspire citizens to stand up to bad councils, to investigate abuses and not to be fobbed off. I think that Metpro would make a great BBC drama (assuming they make such things). It is  a great whodunnit and we don't even know the ending. A whole host of citizens have played a roll and I will probably write a screenplay for it, when I have time. I'm pretty set on the idea of staging it at next years Edinburgh festival (we'll know the ending by then). It would make a great citizen detective story.

I digress. So did they agree that it is nationally newsworthy? I've honestly got no idea. I am sincerely hoping that they turn up on Thursday. They asked what I expected to happen? Would there be fireworks? I said "Guaranteed. Either the committee will rip up the floorboards and expose the whole charade or their will be (a Barnet style rather genteel) riot in the public gallery." We have come too far to get fobbed off. If we are fobbed off, I know for a fact that Barnet Council will have made a very bad move. The scandal has been brewing for three months and show no sign of abating.  The whole sorry mess and the it unfolded is chronicled in greater detail than any scandal since Watergate, in this and other blogs. I think the story is rather empowering and shows the value of blogs, citizen journalists and whistle blowers.

So anyway, there's me giving the hard sell on why a National News organisation should attend and I get asked a completely ridiculous question - "Do you think you are the most influential person in Barnet?" My response "Sorry, I didn't hear that". The question was repeated. My response "Don't be ridiculous, I just write a blog". I was asked "Yes, but it is quite clear that there are a whole gang of bloggers, who quite clearly are working together". Absolutely correct, but thats what we are - working together. I pointed out that there was no structure and no leadership. "But you are the most established of these bloggers". Well I suppose I'm the most prolific, but what does that mean. Then they pointed out a few successes (they had done their homework) in the last year, all of which can be directly attributable to campaigns started by Barnet bloggers.

The Allowancegate climbdown on cabinet expenses.
The Library review being watered down from Councillor Ramsbottoms original comments - Barnet has faired far better than other London Boroughs with equally stupid policies.
The Exposition of the Metpro Scandal.
Getting Brian Coleman's LFEPA expenses exposed and slapped down by Boris
The defeat of Councillor Andrew Harper in the Tory Leadership campaign.

In actual fact that is a pretty impressive list of victories. Yes, I think us Barnet bloggers have done pretty well. I don't take personal credit for any of this. Sure, I've put hard work into it, but so has everyone else who has helped. I don't want plaudits, or anything other than Barnet council to clean up it's act. Will all of the Audit committee stand up when I enter the room, in respect for my achievements. I sincerely hope not. What I will say is this. Over the last few years, since I started the blog, I think I've got quite good at it. I think that there this blog has inspired a few other people to write blogs (which are far better than this). I think that collectively, the blogs of Barnet are a powerful influence. I like to think of us as a Hydra, many headed and all equally deadly, equally influential and equally important. If one doesn't get what it wants, there's a whole host of others digging away.

And most of all I think that if justice isn't seen to be done on Thursday at the audit committee , then the people responsible will see just how influential this Barnet Hydra really is. Be assured of that !