Southwark Liberal Democrats Demand Rethink of “Uber Style” Repairs Platform

The Southwark Liberal Democrats have today formally submitted a call-in request for the Council’s decision to spend an initial £1.5 million to secure use of Plentific, an “Uber for Repairs” system. 

Forecasted to spend a total of £25 million through the platform, the report recommending its adoption to Cabinet included comments from council bosses highlighting the uncertainty and risk involved in the decision. 

If successful, the call-in would force the decision to be paused and brought in front of the council’s main scrutiny committee to be grilled again.  

In their call-in request, the Lib Dems have highlighted the lack of consultation with residents, limited consultation with trade unions, and the questions that must be answered about value for money. 

Commenting, Southwark Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Overview and Scrutiny Committee member Cllr Victor Chamberlain said: 

"Rushing into a £25 million commitment without proper consultation or scrutiny is reckless. Our residents deserve transparency and a guarantee that their money is being spent wisely. The council needs to rethink this decision and ensure that both residents and workers have a real say in the process."