15 May 2012

Broken Homes

www.thisislocallondon.co.uk


Procurement at Barnet Homes isn't setting the world alight although their blocks seem to suffer more than occasional fires.

It seems that Barnet Homes are just as bad as Barnet Council when it comes to procurement; they must have been getting tips from Craig Cooper, the well overpaid Commercial Director.

Barnet Homes needed a new logo a couple of years back. Here is what they ended up with:


Mr Mustard can't work out quite what it cost but it was too much whatever it was and then everything else with a logo on it had to be thrown away and done again. Why don't we get schools involved in this sort of thing? They would get a small prize for themselves, money for their school and lots of good publicity for Barnet. If commercial production is a must then rather than using some firm in Clerkenwell, called Dogstar Design, why isn't use being made of some of the hundreds of designers who work from home or from small offices in Barnet? Ask three to bid for each job and take the best idea.

Look how much money Dogstar Design have had out of Barnet Homes since 2005.

We have attached a spreadsheet setting out all invoices ever sent to Barnet Homes by Dogstar Design and payments made by Barnet Homes to Dogstar Design. We have not been able to locate details of all design services supplied by Dogstar Design prior to May 2007.


Doc. Date Item £ £ Text
04/04/2012 Outgoing payment
840
09/03/2012 Invoice -840
Barnet group powerpoint template, BH letterhead
21/03/2012 Outgoing payment
4,464
23/02/2012 Invoice -2,652
Design layout & artworking
23/02/2012 Invoice -1,812
Design layout & artworking
07/03/2012 Outgoing payment
120
10/02/2012 Invoice -120
RENT PAYMENT CALENDAR UPDATE 12/13
29/02/2012 Outgoing payment
1,200
31/01/2012 Invoice -1,200
YOUR CHOICE & BG LETTERHEAD WORD TEMPLATES
24/02/2012 Incoming payment -1,848
Refund from Dog Star for overpayment
27/02/2012 Credit memo
1,848 Refund for inv No.1322715427, Ref 000318
23/12/2011 Outgoing payment
1,848
30/11/2011 Invoice -1,848
Logo guidelines for Barnet Grp & Your Choice
19/12/2011 Outgoing payment
2,700
21/11/2011 Invoice -2,700
Newsletter Barnet homes AtHome Dec 2011
29/10/2011 Outgoing payment
2,880
03/10/2011 Invoice -2,880
Barnet Homes Annual Report 2011
13/09/2011 Outgoing payment
2,652
16/08/2011 Invoice -2,652
BARNET HOMES ATHOME SEP 2011
13/06/2011 Outgoing payment
3,624
16/05/2011 Invoice -3,624
barnet at homes june 2011
27/04/2011 Outgoing payment
2,370
29/03/2011 Invoice -2,370
barnet homes business plan 2011-2016
29/03/2011 Outgoing payment
1,140
07/02/2011 Invoice -660
barnet homes trade-down leaflet
07/02/2011 Invoice -480
barnet homes trade-down leaflet
15/03/2011 Outgoing payment
2,682
15/02/2011 Invoice -2,682
barnet homes At Home March 2011
07/03/2011 Outgoing payment
2,400
07/02/2011 Invoice -2,400
barnet furniture centre logo
23/02/2011 Outgoing payment
118
28/01/2011 Invoice -118
b h rent payment calendar update 2010/11
05/01/2011 Outgoing payment
94
10/12/2010 Invoice -94
athome posters june, sept, dec 2010
15/12/2010 Outgoing payment
2,630
16/11/2010 Invoice -2,630
barnet homes athome december 2010
15/09/2010 Outgoing payment
2,761
19/08/2010 Invoice -188
barnet homes AtHome sept 2010
17/08/2010 Invoice -2,573
barnet homes AtHome sept 2010
15/06/2010 Outgoing payment
2,661
18/05/2010 Invoice -2,661
athome june 2010
04/05/2010 Outgoing payment
94
06/04/2010 Invoice -94
ATHOME POSTERS
19/04/2010 Outgoing payment
2,321
22/03/2010 Invoice -2,321
Barnet Homes business plan 2010 - 2015
16/03/2010 Outgoing payment
3,596
17/02/2010 Invoice -3,596
Barnet Homes At Home March 2010
05/03/2010 Outgoing payment
94
08/02/2010 Invoice -94
Barnet homes leaflet update
26/02/2010 Outgoing payment
711
31/01/2010 Invoice -711
Barnet homes leaflet update
24/02/2010 Outgoing payment
118
28/01/2010 Invoice -118
Barnet homes rent calendar update 2010 / 2011
16/12/2009 Outgoing payment
3,450
19/11/2009 Invoice -3,450
Barnet homes At Home December 2009
23/11/2009 Outgoing payment
598
29/10/2009 Invoice -598
Barnet homes welcome pack leaflet update
08/09/2009 Outgoing payment
2,697
14/08/2009 Invoice -2,697
Barnet homes At Home September 2009
19/08/2009 Outgoing payment
506
23/07/2009 Invoice -506
Barnet homes pen re-print
13/07/2009 Outgoing payment
2,639
17/06/2009 Invoice -2,639
Barnet homes At Home July 2009
06/07/2009 Outgoing payment
397
10/06/2009 Invoice -397
Barnet homes assist stationary
21/05/2009 Outgoing payment
35
29/04/2009 Invoice -35
Barnet homes business plan 2009 - 2014
20/04/2009 Outgoing payment
2,271
25/03/2009 Invoice -2,271
bh business plan 09-14
09/04/2009 Outgoing payment
2,726
17/03/2009 Invoice -2,726
bh at home march09
23/02/2009 Outgoing payment
115
20/01/2009 Invoice -115
bh rent pay calender update 09/10,
04/02/2009 Outgoing payment
285
06/01/2009 Invoice -285
bh talk 2 us leaflet amends
29/12/2008 Outgoing payment
3,479
03/12/2008 Invoice -3,479
bh athome dec 08 dnewsletter
17/12/2008 Outgoing payment
235
21/11/2008 Invoice -235
barnet homes christmas card 2008
16/12/2008 Outgoing payment
744
20/11/2008 Invoice -744
tenacies leaflet design
12/11/2008 Outgoing payment
65
17/10/2008 Invoice -65
additional costs delivery of final artwork
24/10/2008 Outgoing payment
3,490
30/09/2008 Invoice -3,490
bh annual report and statements designs
21/10/2008 Outgoing payment
1,175
25/09/2008 Invoice -1,175
bh business plan 2008-13 final artwork for print
18/09/2008 Outgoing payment
5,340
27/08/2008 Invoice -705
bh get involved leaflet update
27/08/2008 Invoice -1,974
bh annual review resident newsletter
27/08/2008 Invoice -2,661
bh newsletter sept08 design l
22/08/2008 Outgoing payment
2,368
31/07/2008 Invoice -2,368
bh business plan 2008-13 design
31/07/2008 Outgoing payment
2,632
04/07/2008 Invoice -1,880
bh create logo design options
04/07/2008 Invoice -752
bh assist logo- sub brand guidelines
08/07/2008 Outgoing payment
4,753
18/06/2008 Invoice -4,753
bh/athome presentation design layouts
25/04/2008 Outgoing payment
2,667
31/03/2008 Invoice -2,667
bh/athome/edition 18_
14/04/2008 Outgoing payment
106
20/03/2008 Invoice -106
bh_rent card amends
22/02/2008 Outgoing payment
106
31/01/2008 Invoice -106
bh/adaptions leaflet amends
08/02/2008 Outgoing payment
106
17/01/2008 Invoice -106
bh_rent pay card
07/02/2008 Outgoing payment
129
15/01/2008 Invoice -129
bh_update existing letterhead
11/01/2008 Outgoing payment
920
20/12/2007 Invoice -920
bh/adaptations service leaflet design
20/12/2007 Outgoing payment
423
19/10/2007 Invoice -423
bh/leaseholder update 5 sections of handbook
19/12/2007 Outgoing payment
1,540
30/11/2007 Invoice -13
bh/athomes/xmas special postage to printer
30/11/2007 Invoice -1,528
bh/athomes/xmas design edition
13/12/2007 Outgoing payment
212
19/11/2007 Invoice -141
bh/tackling racial harrassment leaflet amends
12/10/2007 Invoice -71
bh/help decorating leaflet amends
10/12/2007 Outgoing payment
212
16/11/2007 Invoice -212
bh/password leaflet designed
21/11/2007 Outgoing payment
2,895
31/10/2007 Invoice -2,613
bh/ amends and prepare 8x web ready pdf for welcome pack.
31/10/2007 Invoice -71
bh/leaflet amends to existsing leaflet web ready pdf
31/10/2007 Invoice -212
BH/letterhead
09/11/2007 Outgoing payment
1,087
19/10/2007 Invoice -1,087
bh/sheltered house leaflet
07/11/2007 Outgoing payment
1,050
31/07/2007 Invoice -945
bh/athome design 6pp repairs edition
03/10/2007 Invoice -35
bh/ standard page create printable image
12/10/2007 Invoice -71
bh/safe leaflet amend existing leaflet
26/10/2007 Outgoing payment
8,507
03/10/2007 Invoice -2,585
bh/annual review
03/10/2007 Invoice -2,291
bh/athome design
03/10/2007 Invoice -3,631
bh/financial statement report 2007
25/10/2007 Outgoing payment
282
21/09/2007 Invoice -282
bh/inspection poster
22/10/2007 Outgoing payment
71
21/09/2007 Invoice -71
bh/right to buy leaflet amend leaflet
12/10/2007 Outgoing payment
282
21/09/2007 Invoice -282
bh/self assessment covers
11/10/2007 Outgoing payment
779
19/09/2007 Invoice -779
bh/data protect policy leaflet
10/10/2007 Outgoing payment
327
18/09/2007 Invoice -115
bh/business chartsfor business plan
18/09/2007 Invoice -212
bh/visit for older ppl flyer design
25/09/2007 Outgoing payment
3,711
31/08/2007 Invoice -3,429
bh/business plan 2007-12, design
31/08/2007 Invoice -282
bh/ posters
18/09/2007 Outgoing payment
3,437
28/08/2007 Invoice -3,437
bh/athome/aug07 design
20/07/2007 Outgoing payment
35
26/06/2007 Invoice -35
have your say artwork
13/07/2007 Outgoing payment
1,528
22/06/2007 Invoice -1,528
BH/at homes_june07 design
02/07/2007 Outgoing payment
1,412
05/06/2007 Invoice -519
BH/Have your say menu leaflet
06/06/2007 Invoice -212
BH_Tenancy audit leaflet,
05/06/2007 Invoice -682
BH/RP Notice board posters.
25/05/2007 Outgoing payment
1,774
01/05/2007 Invoice -1,692
BH/staff recognition awards booklet.
01/05/2007 Invoice -35

01/05/2007 Invoice -47

16/04/2007 Outgoing payment
4,124
26/03/2007 Invoice -2,291
bh athome design
26/03/2007 Invoice -1,833
POSTERS ATHOME
13/04/2007 Outgoing payment
1,304
19/03/2007 Invoice -141

21/03/2007 Invoice -964

19/03/2007 Invoice -200

05/04/2007 Outgoing payment
71
12/03/2007 Invoice -71

23/03/2007 Outgoing payment
94
02/03/2007 Invoice -94

23/02/2007 Outgoing payment
1,146
31/01/2007 Invoice -1,146

12/01/2007 Outgoing payment
2,319
20/12/2006 Invoice -2,319
bh athome design
02/01/2007 Outgoing payment
1,255
04/12/2006 Invoice -141

04/12/2006 Invoice -779

04/12/2006 Invoice -335

22/12/2006 Outgoing payment
491
27/11/2006 Invoice -491

17/11/2006 Outgoing payment
1,909
25/10/2006 Invoice -1,909

09/11/2006 Outgoing payment
1,216
05/09/2006 Invoice -1,216

31/10/2006 Outgoing payment
4,307
03/10/2006 Invoice -4,151

03/10/2006 Invoice -155

18/08/2006 Outgoing payment
519
25/07/2006 Invoice -519

04/07/2006 Outgoing payment
5,953
13/06/2006 Invoice -1,528

13/06/2006 Invoice -165

13/06/2006 Invoice -120

13/06/2006 Invoice -4,141

05/06/2006 Outgoing payment
217
02/05/2006 Invoice -217

21/04/2006 Outgoing payment
519
20/03/2006 Invoice -519

18/04/2006 Outgoing payment
885
15/03/2006 Invoice -106

15/03/2006 Invoice -779

12/04/2006 Outgoing payment
613
22/02/2006 Invoice -94

22/02/2006 Invoice -519

10/04/2006 Outgoing payment
353
10/03/2006 Invoice -353

27/03/2006 Outgoing payment
779
23/02/2006 Invoice -779

28/02/2006 Outgoing payment
2,664
26/01/2006 Invoice -1,577

25/01/2006 Invoice -53

25/01/2006 Invoice -71

25/01/2006 Invoice -964

27/02/2006 Outgoing payment
2,664
27/02/2006 Incoming payment -2,664

11/11/2005 Outgoing payment
3,469
11/11/2005 Incoming payment -3,469

11/11/2005 Outgoing payment
3,469
11/10/2005 Invoice -3,469

17/10/2005 Outgoing payment
1,528
17/10/2005 Incoming payment -1,528

17/10/2005 Outgoing payment
1,528
16/09/2005 Invoice -1,528

11/10/2005 Outgoing payment
746
08/09/2005 Invoice -693

08/09/2005 Invoice -53


Total paid out 163,699


This looks to Mr Mustard to be another MetPro, another RM Countryside, another Iris Gardening, another case of complete lack of management; too busy with One Barnet to do their job properly.

So Dogstar Design have had £163,699 from the council. That should have been tendered for. It is most unlikely that Barnet Homes have overpaid for anything and very likely that they have paid through the nose unless they have been obtaining quotes from other designers who were always quoting higher prices. 

Another feature in common with MetPro, RM and Iris is the contractual paperwork. Here is the answer from Barnet Homes in response to Mr Mustard's FOI request for a copy of all contracts placed with Dogstar.

There has never been a contractual arrangement between Barnet Homes and Dogstar Design.

Here we go again. Mr Mustard knows that Barnet Homes is an ALMO, or Arms Length Management Organisation.
The Arms are very long
The Management is incompetent
There is insufficient Organisation

Barnet Homes is as blisteringly incompetent as Barnet Council but that isn't really surprising as the council are the ultimate owner of the homes.

Now Mr Mustard is a busy man and can't shine the spotlight everywhere at once. It's time for a new blogger, the Barnet Homes Blogger, preferably a person who actually lives in one of Barnet Home's homes and has a head for figures and a way with words. Make up a silly name, start asking questions and off you go.

How Barnet Homes has the nerve to put themselves up (or allow themselves to be put forward) for an award in 2012 Inside Housing Awards is ridiculous when they are obviously not competent and should be concentrating on improving their procedures.

They have at least backed off on booting an octogenarian out of his lifelong home thanks to the fuss kicked up in the press after a kindly neighbour raised the alarm. It shouldn't be that way. A company dealing with social housing should have some compassion and common-sense and stay out of the local papers.

Whilst we are on the subject of Dogstar they have had more public money, this time from Barnet Council itself.

Commercial Directorate - Consulting fees



£
Dogstar 03/02/12 5000333093 8,235
Dogstar 15/02/12 5000334695 4,465
Dogstar 15/02/12 5000334701 1,540

Over-using suppliers is catching in Barnet. Someone in Homes has told someone in the unCommercial Directorate about Dogstar Design and it is doubtful that there was any meaningful competition. Suppliers are not stupid and are out to maximise their profits. They will charge what they can to gullible buyers.

Stop being so damn lazy in procurement and start vetting suppliers properly and giving some work to Barnet based companies whenever possible.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard
 


4 comments:

  1. We'll call the scandal Doggate, then.

    ReplyDelete
  2. well baarnett, Barnet Council are seemingly always dogged by controversy so it's an apt a name as any.

    You would think though wouldn't you that after the bashing the council has had about procurement since the spring of 2011 that every bit of every corner of the council and its ALMOs would have got procurement into sparkling apple pie order but management either hasn't got the will or the ability to do so.

    How they can be trusted to manage the massive One Barnet outsourcing projects is a question to which we will get the expensive answer in years to come.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Isn't their position that they can't be arsed to regularise procurement, because they will "start again" with OneBarnet contracts?

    Which means any current arrangements, living, dead or undead, just pile up the wonka for lucky recipients.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Procurement has been regularised by councillors in a meeting but only for the contracts they were presented with. I will keep finding ones which are duff and the One Barnet contracts will be as complete as a fishing net; it's just a question of how many holes and what size they are. A shark will eat the officers alive.

    ReplyDelete

I now moderate comments in the light of the Delfi case. Due to the current high incidence of spam I have had to turn word verification on.