Council to offer 'no frills' plan

Some areas of social and health services could be brought together

Residents may be asked to pay extra to avail of additional or speedy services from a north London council.

The economic climate may force Barnet Council to save up to £25m a year, chief executive Nick Walkley said.

The Tory council could outsource work, cut duplication and offer the option to customise services as it aims for "a relentless drive for efficiency".

But the opposition Labour group warns the "Ryanair and easyJet" approach could mean unequal services for some.

The Future Shape proposals suggest a central body should be formed to oversee and manage the council's property portfolio of more than £500m, which includes schools, offices and residential blocks.

Another proposal is to "raise performance through working with the private sector" and an attempt to streamline operations to cut duplication.

'Responsible residents'

Services such as catering, transport, housing and street scene services (like street cleaning and parking) are being considered under this proposal.

Deputy Leader of Barnet Council, Lynne Hillan, said: "What we are looking at really is services tailored to individual needs.

"There are lots of things that health services do that also the social services do and we are looking at bringing them all together.

"They (residents) are going to have to take far more responsibility. We cannot carry on providing the level of services that we do at the moment."

Citing the example of the winter snowfall Mr Walkley elaborated what "more responsibility" would be.

"In the past most residents would have got out their spades and cleared the pavement in front of their house."

Dr Alison Moore, the council's Labour group leader, said: "The examples of Ryanair and easyJet send the message that the council is there to do the barest minimum at the lowest cost and if you want anything else, you will have to pay extra.

"That will not promote an equitable society or open up opportunity more widely."

Tony Travers from the London School of Economics said: "What you've got here is Barnet Council looking for ways of raising more money in the way that budget airlines do while still providing a basic service for people who just want that.

"We have a number of Conservative leaders or councils who are without question trying out new ideas... that the Conservatives nationally may well seek to copy.