Reading examines service privatisation
0Reading Borough Council is consulting on whether to privatise a raft of services in order to save money.
The council is market testing services currently provided in-house against other providers.
Services covered include tax collection, benefits payments, waste collection and street care, facilities management, parks and grounds maintenance, fleet management plus highways and civil engineering.
A statement from the council said: “Reading Borough Council agreed a medium-term financial plan in February, which means that over the next three years it must achieve £42m in cost reduction from a net budget for services of £143m.
“As part of the plan, circa £2m was identified as efficiency savings from a range of services we currently deliver directly ourselves.”
David McMullen, GMB branch secretary, said: “We urge everyone in the town to fill in the consultation and to give their thoughts on exactly how ridiculous this idea is.
“Putting profit in private company’s coffers and rich chief executives’ pockets is never going to be cheaper and better for the people of Reading.”
