Is privatisation on the way? Or just an exercise in paperwork?

Tomorrow night sees a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which has a couple of interesting items on the agenda.
There might even be three - but something mysteriously entitled The Prevent Strategy, whilst it sounds dangerous, has no accompanying paperwork.
However, there is a update on something called market testing following something else called "a soft market exercise."
As far as we can make out this comes down to exploring the privatisation of two areas of the council's services that are presently performed in house, and talks with the equally mysteriously named "Market" have already taken place.
The first area up for grabs is Leisure and Cultural Services includes all the usual tourist attraction suspects and sporty bits including the Moulder leisure centre and PRSA - although the council would keep its finger in these latter two pies.
For once, expect swift action, with an announcement soon and a contract in place by April next year.
Having said that, a report to the committee says it is intended that market testing of Leisure Services will use the "restricted procedure procurement process" - by which we assume that there will be no real change of ownership.
The other section heading private could be Operational Services which handles less glamorous items such as waste disposal and - we guess its the same sort of area really - bereavement services.
Again the work could be contacted out no later than April next year.
In house bids are also to be considered.
By and large, this seems to have the ring of tokenism about it, with a lot of apparent seeking of change resulting in the continuation of the status quo.
Only time will tell.

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