VULNERABLE adults in Ceredigion will suffer the most if public service cuts suggested by private consultants go ahead, a trade union has claimed.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) is a private consultancy firm which has already been paid almost £1m by cash-strapped Ceredigion council as part of a deal which sees the firm take a percentage of any savings made from cuts they suggest.

The council has warned it will have to make savings of more than £8m in the 2016/17 financial year, but insisted it will continue its contract with PwC, while refusing to make public the amendments made to the contract.

UNISON Wales has this week accused the council of excluding them from the consultation process over what cuts should be made, and warned that care provision for adults with severe learning disabilities will suffer if three day centres are closed, privatised or the opening hours reduced.

Owain Davies, Ceredigion UNISON Branch Secretary, said: “We are deeply disappointed by the council’s failure to engage with UNISON while developing proposals with PwC.

“As representatives of front-line council workers we should be involved in discussions.

“The council has brought forward their plans, on the basis of the advice of PwC, without allowing the trade unions to question the assumptions or findings that lay behind these plans.

“You can’t just contract out decision-making to a private consultant that does not have the best interests of the Ceredigion community at heart.”

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “In view of the stringent cuts of £34m Ceredigion County Council has had to find over the four years to date, together with a reduction of 50 per cent in senior staff, and in common with many other local authorities across Wales and the United Kingdom, the council has been working with PricewaterhouseCoopers to find ways of working more prudently and efficiently.

“All relevant legal obligations and procurement criteria and regulations were rigidly adhered to in acquiring the services of PWC.

It is untrue that the council has failed to engage with trade unions.”

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