Hope Not Too Many Councils Are Doing This

[Ignitionnet]

But I bet a fair few are

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...sand-cuts.html

Death by a thousand cuts
Local authorities are claiming that spending cuts are forcing them to axe front-line services. Andrew Gilligan delves into the books and finds a very different story.

*******s.

[Osem]

I suspect quite a few are doing exactly this.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

This is happening all over the country, not just in London, this coalition is a disgrace, how the hell can they expect to get away with the slaughter of council services is beyond me.

To get extra revenue, they are putting up parking tickets and charging more to park your car.

The coalition said that they would do this over a period of years, if this is what they are doing now, what will happen in a years time - disgraceful

anyone think we may see some Derek Hatton type councilors emerging ?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

This is happening all over the country, not just in London, this coalition is a disgrace, how the hell can they expect to get away with the slaughter of council services is beyond me.

To get extra revenue, they are putting up parking tickets and charging more to park your car.

The coalition said that they would do this over a period of years, if this is what they are doing now, what will happen in a years time - disgraceful

Arthur, before you get too far in to your usual pro labour rant, please read the article. That is *not* what the article says.

The article is saying that Haringey council has announced all these cuts, but by trimming it *own* expenses (for taxes and catering specifically), it could save enough money to maintain a lot of front line services.

Still,that is what Labour councils seem to do. When asked to cut, they are happy to cut front line services, and, indeed, make a big fuss of how they are being forced to, while ensuring that they themselves are still protected, and any friends they may have are also protected.

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

This is happening all over the country, not just in London, this coalition is a disgrace, how the hell can they expect to get away with the slaughter of council services is beyond me.

To get extra revenue, they are putting up parking tickets and charging more to park your car.

The coalition said that they would do this over a period of years, if this is what they are doing now, what will happen in a years time - disgraceful

Arthur, here are the headline facts from that article.

Haringay Council will have to save £41 million next year.

Haringay Council are spending an extra £43 million on services next year

In 2009-10, the last year for which full accounts are available, Haringey spent £243 million on providing services, the so-called "general fund". Even after the latest cuts, its own budget documents state that it will be spending £286 million on the general fund next year. This appears to be a rise of £43 million, substantially ahead of inflation

Haringay Council state that

it turns out that just under, well, £10 million of the cuts next year – nearly a quarter – are assessed by even the council itself as having nil, minimal or even, in a few cases, beneficial impacts on service users.

Try reading the information, rather than ranting polemic.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Hugh

<snippety>

Try reading the information, rather than ranting polemic.

Hmmm, perhaps Andrew Gilligan should take a leaf from your book as well.

Long-suffering readers of Haringey People, Haringey Council's taxpayer-funded propaganda newspaper, used to know what to expect. Smiling Labour politicians at new Sure Start centres, holding shovels. Happy multi-ethnic children in eco-friendly wigwams. Page after glossy page on how their brilliant council had turned this grimy chunk of north London into a municipal Shangri-La, one composting bin at a time.

Now, however, to the consternation of local residents, Haringey People's world has suddenly and dramatically darkened. Uplifting articles about new fairtrade procurement schemes have given way to vast pieces printed on sinister black backgrounds and illustrated with tottering piles of pound coins.

"The government cuts are a hammer blow to the people of Haringey," says a grim-faced council leader, Claire Kober, in the rag's latest issue. Overnight, it seems, evil Tory cuts have transformed Avalon into Hades.

'long suffering readers', 'eco-friendly wigwams' and the 'the rag's latest issue'

Yes, Andrew Gilligan is clearly trying to portray a balanced and accurate picture here, and there is absolutely no reason to believe he's cherry picking the date to suit his agenda. Of course he might be accurate and balanced when presenting the numbers, but he's not exactly setting the stage for it. Shame really...

[Ignitionnet]

I don't excuse his rant but I can see why he framed things in those terms. I've seen that paper and it really is an utter propaganda piece that you'd expect to see in Soviet Russia more than north London.

---------- Post added at 09:41 ---------- Previous post was at 09:32 ----------

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

<Snip rant>

Have a read of the story.

On a more general note if you want your pension to be paid without the previous generation paying the kind of taxes that would make your eyes water something has to give.

[Pierre]

It's time that all Local Authority budgets were independantly audited on, reported on and published in full.

They shouldn't be allowed to "bury" millions here and there in their accounts.

Full and total transparency is required.

[Ignitionnet]

Along with a disclaimer on these pieces of propaganda reminding people where the money these guys are bragging about spending actually came from in the first place. I still don't understand why so many people don't get that government does not have its own money, it all comes from us.

For example - http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyr...E/0/LL111a.pdf

Not especially subtle. Cost to Lambeth's tax payers in 2009-10 £562,443.

[Chrysalis]

councils have long had corruption this is nothing new.

same sort of thing here also.

council is closing libraries, care for elderly and disabled as well as legal aid cuts. Yet they just unveiled a new mosque that cost 6 figures.

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

councils have long had corruption this is nothing new.

same sort of thing here also.

council is closing libraries, care for elderly and disabled as legal aid cuts. Yet they just unveiled a new mosque that cost 6 figures.

The council built a mosque?With taxpayer's money?

[Chrysalis]

yep

[nomadking]

Is this what is being referred to?
Leicester City Council website

A LEICESTER street which is the focus of a major refurbishment scheme is to be officially renamed and reopened.

The area around the Jame Mosque in Asfordby Street, Evington, has undergone improvements including new paving, street lighting and tree-planting, along with new litter bins, fences and other environment improvements.

The scheme is part of a Leicester City Council project to spruce up the area surrounding the mosque, which is also carrying out its own extensive renovations.

Part of neighbouring Atkinson Street, which is pedestrianised, has been spruced up with new street lighting and paving to make it safer for worshippers at the newly-refurbished mosque. Following calls from the local community, the pedestrianised section of street will be renamed Jame Walk.
...
The Coleman Ward Community Meeting approved £5,400 for the street refurbishment and a further £40,000 came from the council's budget for environmental improvement works.

Apart from anything else, why the cost and hassle of the renaming.

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

yep

Link?

---------- Post added at 18:01 ---------- Previous post was at 17:58 ----------

Originally Posted by nomadking

Is this what is being referred to?
Leicester City Council website
Apart from anything else, why the cost and hassle of the renaming.

If it is then the Mosque refurbishment was paid for by it's community,not the council.