Lambeth under Labour is once again a by word for complacency and arrogance after four years between 2002 and 2006 when the joint administration involving the Conservatives started a major clean up and clear out. Honourable exceptions exist, but for many people the idea of bringing back Capita to run part of the revenue and benefits service is just the final straw.

No. 10 Downing Street's favourite outsourcing company was an ardent supporter of New Labour when it came to office and it is hardly surprising that once Labour returns at local level the company is quickly back in the frame. You only wonder who gives the orders. There is, of course, a technical justification of sorts, but the politics of it are almost beyond belief.

So let's fast track back to 2001 when Labour's first honeymoon with Capita ended in tears. The Guardian reported:

"Lambeth claims its benefits service has deteriorated since Capita's seven-year contract began in 1997. It says the problems peaked in April last year when it faced 55,000 outstanding queries and the quality of the service remains unacceptable."

And the link with New Labour? Let's go back to The Guardian again only reporting in 2006 about donors to the Labour Party.

"One of those named was Rod Aldridge, head of support services firm Capita, who passed Labour £1m in loans. His company undertakes considerable business for the government. He insisted the one-year loan was a personal matter on commercial terms."

So that's alright then?

Only a Cabinet with the sheer brass neck of Labour Lambeth would reappoint a failed contractor with a high profile connection with loans to the Labour Party to return and operate the service again. No doubt there is a business case for doing this and officers are not there to give advice to elected members about political fall out. To my way of thinking though this nightmare is as scary as "The Return of the Swamp Thing."

But that isn't all. Local residents have been poorly served not only by "revs and bens" but in other areas of service delivery - notably transport. Again there are honourable exceptions, but we are talking here about a Council which can't even handover work properly when a key project manager dealing with a new parking scheme left. If that happened in the private sector company where I work in the daytime, it would be P45 time.

Labels: Capita, Labour Lambeth, Revenue and benefits, Swamp Thing