Let schools thrive by taking a stand to halt Serco deal
WHAT a travesty once again should the city council's executive and members' board (EMB) impose its will on the people of our city by extending the contract of Serco ('Secret deal for schools, The Sentinel, May 2).
It must be quite clear to the people concerned the vast majority of the electorate just want to see the back of them.
They are trying to claim credit for the improvement in exam results, which is sheer nonsense. The improvement had started well in advance of them taking over and the thanks belong to the dedicated staff in the schools.
I have been saying for a good while now that the improvements are in spite of Serco not because of them.
It is plain to see that the deputy elected mayor, councillor Mohammed Pervez, below, like the elected mayor before him, just does not have the experience in local government to be taking the lead in such an important decision as this.
I would ask why the rush to renew the contract, is it because when the change for running the council comes in we will have a democratic system in place that will start to give the people of our city what they want? That is, decisions made by all of the councillors, and not just a few members of the EMB - the majority of which are still no more than apprentices at running local government.
I, like the majority of the people in our city, am disgusted at the way that Serco and the EMB have dragged the name of consultation into the gutter.
As I have told both Serco and the deputy elected mayor, consultation needs to work both ways and not by being dictated to by one side.
Had it not been for Serco, I am sure that Building Schools for the Future would have been agreed at least a year ago and we could have been moving forward and looking forward to having one of the best education systems in the country after having meaningful consultation.
So come on all you elected members, do your best to see that this contract is not railroaded through.
TERRY CROWE Bucknall
4 Comments
by KP, Trentham
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 5:01PM
“Mr Crowe is right. There is no way that any extension to SERCO's contract should be agreed before the new administration is in place. After all it is the new council leader who would take the stick if their performance continues as it has so far and it should therefore be their decision to extend the contract. For SERCO to try to secure another year, paid for by local tax payers, after the shambolic manner in which they managed the BSF proposals is beyond belief.”
by Julie, Trentham
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 2:10PM
“Janice - I think you'll find Pervez has no idea, full stop. As for Ged Rowney....!”
by Janice, Werrington
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:38PM
“Well said Terry! I could almost hear the jaws dropping in amazement when reading of the proposed renewal of the contract. Has Pervez no idea of the feelings of many people in Stoke? Has he no perception of the damage SERCO has done? Should he be in Public Office at all?”
by Paul, Trentham
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:01PM
“How can the SERCO contract and that of Ged Rowney be renewed, when they have so patently got the Secondary School reporganisation plans so wrong?
Responsibility without accountability is their motto.
They want the money and credit from others efforts, but wash their hands of their own errors of judgement.”