Council is "misguided" says Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg

1.47.40pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Sep 2009

Liberal Democrat leader has slated Barnet Council's plans

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg has slated Barnet Council's plans to use a budget airline system as "misguided".

Speaking during an interview at the Party's Conference, Nick Clegg condemned the mass private sector contracting being put forward by the Tory administration.

It comes after the chief executive of the Conservative controlled council made the analogy about slimlining services using the same blueprint followed by budget airlines during a meeting with the Labour group.

They were discussing the new "future shape" cost-cutting proposals put forward to help the borough cope with diminishing Government grants. A council spokesman then put forward the term "easyCouncil" to describe the scheme.

But Mr Clegg said: "I think that using the easyJet model is totally misguided.

"It's not a question of which council can flog off the services to the cheapest private sector provider.

"If you are going to use the private sector, they have to be in competition.

"The wholesale transfer of a public sector monopoly to a private sector one - as happened with First Buses in my constituency - is the worst thing."

The idea is that residents will be able to pay more for improved services, just as easyJet has controlled its own costs by placing surcharges on certain items.

The Tory Council leader has said in the past the plans will help deliver better services and working closer with other public sector organisations, the voluntary and private sector.

But it has attracted anger from opposition councillors who have questioned the potential fairness of the system.

Councillor Jack Cohen, leader of the Barnet Liberal Democrat group, welcomed the opinions of the national party leader.

He said: "Any sensible person will see that running a council is not the same as running a budget airline. It's totally ridiculous.

"I am glad Nick Clegg has raised it again on a national level.

"I think the Conservatives on a national level are lukewarm about it, but the Barnet Tories seem so stubborn on this I doubt they will change their minds."