That's the trouble with repeatedly putting contracts up for grabs, its a race to the bottom price which means the service suffers - quickest and cheapest, creating strict work-to-rule.
In turn its the Government both insisting on Councils putting things out to competitive contract and reducing Council funding that creates this mess.
The Government spends (and borrows) far more money than ever before but that money doesn't head in the general public's direction.
Yes CCT the downfall of our services, the cheap and nasty, companies underbidding then struggling to full fill the contract, Thatchers demons CCT deregulation,privatisation, although some believe its all down to the binmen being snowflakes.