16th December 2010, 01:23 PM
I tend to agree with Timberwolf and Invisible Man, though perhaps not in such acerbic terms as TW. And I actually work for a local authority unit. As Invisible says, there are a range of different sizes, different companies specialsie in different services, and there is often enough to go around, except in recessions.
The point is, whether a council unit is still in house or privatised, they cannot have their losses supported indefinately. In this sense, they are no different to any other type of corporate structure. They are answerable to council executives, directors, and ultimately to the electorate. The product may be knowledge, but I don't think that taxpayers will want to subsidise that, when the polluter is supposed to pay.
I thought the Forensic Investigation Unit had long since been sold off.
A lot of this 'expansionism' seems to have been smaller local units being saved from bankrupcy, and local people being kept on with local jobs.
The point is, whether a council unit is still in house or privatised, they cannot have their losses supported indefinately. In this sense, they are no different to any other type of corporate structure. They are answerable to council executives, directors, and ultimately to the electorate. The product may be knowledge, but I don't think that taxpayers will want to subsidise that, when the polluter is supposed to pay.
I thought the Forensic Investigation Unit had long since been sold off.
A lot of this 'expansionism' seems to have been smaller local units being saved from bankrupcy, and local people being kept on with local jobs.