Barnet "easyCouncil" could save £166m

Friday 23rd May, 2014

In a policy which has seen Barnet Council dubbed "easyCouncil", residents in the North London Borough are able to pay for some some services to be faster, or receive an improved service. A policy which follows a similar business model as companies such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet, meaning that "non-essentials" are subject to a surcharge.

After outsourcing up to 70% of services to Capita, the council now expects to make savings of up to £166m

Councils across Britain have found themselves under increasing pressure to restrain their spending since the recession, as tax returns fall and pension fund deficits swell.

The contracts with Capita were signed in 2013, following a Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the council after a legal challenge brought by campaigners agains the One Barnet programme.