‘Chalcots have shown just how badly things go wrong when private companies, with no accountability, are in charge

• AFTER Grenfell and Chalcots have shown just how badly things go wrong when private companies, with no accountability, are in charge – it is about time councils took back control and built up their own skilled workforce in some form of a co-operative or not-for-profit company.

I could never understand how it could possibly benefit us, the taxpayers, for the work to be contracted out, sub-contracted, then sub-sub-contracted etc with each lot taking their slice of profit but not the responsibility when something went wrong.

I urge councillors to save money and build up in-house teams to provide the services we need; not just in housing but in other fields as well, such as adult social care.

Praise to Cllr Meric Apak, (Housing chief says council could ‘save a packet’ by taking back services from private contractors, July 19). Once expert teams are in place their services could be sold to other councils or organisations.

KATHARINE BLIGH
Address supplied