RABBATTS CONDEMNS LAMBETH DEFICIENCIES

Lambeth LBC's new chief executive, Heather Rabbatts, has delivered a damning assessment of the council.

In a report due to be considered by councillors next week, she highlights serious deficiencies in housing repairs, council tax collection and communication with residents.

The report strongly criticises the weakness of the organisational structure of the council, stating that there is little cohesion in personnel strategy or budgetary control.

In an exclusive interview with LGC Ms Rabbatts said: 'It is as if the organisation has ceased to exist. I feel as if I am putting down the tracks and the train is behind me.'

The report, which comes after three months at the helm, is Ms Rabbatts' first stab at resolving the huge problems the council faces. In it, she has identified services such as housing repairs, the neighbourhood offices, income recovery and correspondence with residents and councillors as top priorities, and has set targets for improving them.

She is planning a huge privatisation programme which will include payroll, council tax collection and probably information technology.

In the council tax department Lambeth has already made 30 redundancies, and another 30 are planned. Until Ms Rabbatts' arrival in April, the council essentially had a 'no-redundancies' policy.

Ms Rabbatts admits unions and managers are worried at the implications of her plans, but said: 'I have made it clear that we will reorganise in the best interests of the service.'

Unison claimed she was failing to address fundamental problems such as morale and staff management.

'Heather Rabbatts has got to win the confidence of the staff, but she's also got to sack 600 people a year,' said branch secretary Ed Hall.