Union to fight plan to relocate staff

Staff in Burnley Council's council tax and benefits sections were told earlier this year the council was thinking of moving some jobs to a new centre operated by private sector company Liberata, to try and save £400,000.

The idea is that Burnley, Rossendale, Pendle and Hyndburn councils would share the service which Liberata would run.

But unions say they do not want the private company involved.

Liberata is due to open a new centre in Nelson in April 2007.

Meanwhile, the firm is using temporary premises and staff were told the transfer could go ahead in April 2006.

But unions are angry over the proposals, which they say will have a damaging impact on the Burnley economy.

A meeting of workers and union staff was held last week to co-ordinate a campaign to fight the proposals and pass a motion condemning the plans.

The motion says: "The branch has no in-principle opposition to joint working with other local authorities, but only if those other authorities provide the services proposed for joint working in-house.

"The joint working with Liberata is outsourcing to a private company and the branch therefore confirms its total opposition to any transfer of services to Liberata or any other private company."

Unison branch secretary Peter Thorne said: "It will mean a reduction in service to the public. Just as the council's new contact centre has opened it could soon lose much of its business as the public will have to go to Nelson for council tax and benefit inquiries.

"When Blackburn with Darwen outsourced to Capita it took Capita an average of 71 days to process a benefit claim compared to our then 21 days. Our average is now around half -- Liberata will be unable to improve on this.

"Unison will be campaigning vigorously against the proposals along with our colleagues at Hyndburn and Rossendale."

The plans will be discussed at a meeting of Burnley Council's executive next week.