Aview Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Considering that the WBC seems to be in financial difficulty and with the possibility of certain sections being privatised, staff wages being reduced and possible redundancies after the famous job evaluation exercise, is it about time that thay start selling some of there assets eg. the famous car number plate ED1 (it must be worth a small fortune) to pay for the upkeep of services and jobs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 They haven't got enough to sell to make any difference. They need to look at their costs and practices and make savings. Do we really need all those glossies and brochures that they print and no-one reads? They could save a fortune by getting rid of the box-ticking, and actually do some proper and constructive work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 ..... and cut out the Councillor's jollies too! Believe they're currently ?15million in the red, but I'm sure Paul could find the savings?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 But alas I'm a mere back bencher.... PS Last time I looked, borrowing were about ?130 million and the pension deficit had increased to ?121 million....but the budget is balanced. PPS Need to sell a bit more than the number plate...which interestingly I wouldn't sell...well not at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aview Posted August 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 It would be interesting to find out how much the actual ED1 number plate is worth in the current climate, it could make an interesting news story? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 So it's ?251million in the red then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 borrowing were about ?130 million Is this alot worse than other councils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 So it's ?251million in the red then? Well, no, because it has assets in excess of that figure, so it is still solvent, with a total net worth of ?446 million (down from about ?600 million last year, with most of its assets being property and land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 borrowing were about ?130 million Is this alot worse than other councils Not sure, but probably not, indeed I've no doubt some will be much worse pro rata. Borrowings are OK provided they are managed, controlled and are used to provide a genuine benefit to the community....and that people remember that at some stage they do have to be paid back and in the meantime there is interest to be paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 It would be interesting to find out how much the actual ED1 number plate is worth in the current climate, it could make an interesting news story? I notice that VED 1 is being offered for ?46,000 so ED 1 would be higher than that. I have an acquaintance who has a number of private plates and he tells me that they are a sound investment....alas his Rolls and Aston probably aren't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aview Posted August 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 Thank you Paul for enquiring about the ED1 number plate. The reason for me enquiring is that I watched a Car/TV programme recently and for such a unique reg the price was in the 100's of thousands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 Aview, you could try this site for a quote http://www.regtransfers.co.uk/main/selling.asp?domain=adwords&kw=value%20registration&gclid=COSWts7FsJwCFWIB4wodCWYdlQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 Paul wrote; ......... with a total net worth of ?446 million (down from about ?600 million last year, with most of its assets being property and land. Paul, would you happen to know exactly how the towns assets have decreased by ?154 million? Would this be through loss in value or through sell offs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 Perhaps Paul, given the LibDem obsession with "selling off" Council Housing (even though we never needed it more than now); who owns the land upon which those Council Houses are built? Will the new owners pay ground rent to the Council or will they buy the land as freehold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Perhaps Paul, given the LibDem obsession with "selling off" Council Housing (even though we never needed it more than now); who owns the land upon which those Council Houses are built? Will the new owners pay ground rent to the Council or will they buy the land as freehold? bet they never even thought of that Obs!!! I once was in a meeting with a few of the WBC accomodation committee (they evaluate the office space etc. for WBC) and one of the chief guys didn't even know where the Chesire Lines building was!! At the time it was derelict and we had suggested it in passing as a site for a new civic centre as there was a lot of scope for additional buildings etc..... they aren't the sharpest pencils in the box you know!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 As the leaders of local Councils are somewhat temporary it does frustrate and worry me that THEY have the power to SELL OFF whatever they like whilst THEY are in so called POWER. Once it's gone... it's gone... and that's the end of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Short term thinking is the nature of our democracy - with 4-5 year time horizons and an equally fickle electorate, it's all about now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Paul wrote;......... with a total net worth of ?446 million (down from about ?600 million last year, with most of its assets being property and land. Paul, would you happen to know exactly how the towns assets have decreased by ?154 million? Would this be through loss in value or through sell offs? Reduction in value of housing stock and an increase in the pension deficit Sha. Nothing of any value has been sold off.....indeed unless it is sold for a loss on book value it would not reduce the assets, given that a fixed asset would be turned into a cash asset. In the event that the housing stock is transferred to Golden Gates Housing Trust, the assets will be further reduced by about ?300 million. Which would mean that WBC would then have quite a small balance sheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 As the leaders of local Councils are somewhat temporary it does frustrate and worry me that THEY have the power to SELL OFF whatever they like whilst THEY are in so called POWER. Once it's gone... it's gone... and that's the end of it Which makes for an interesting philosophical debate, as to what Councils should and shouldn't own and indeed whether they are the best guardians of those assets, given as you rightly highlight the sometimes temporary nature of political power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Maybe the front page headline today by David Skentelbery OTHER authorities would be interested in "buying in" Warrington's expertise if the borough council's planning department was part privatised, Town Hall chiefs have been told is a way to keep some of the silver and make up the reported deficit by selling WBC's expertise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 "Expertise!", in WBC's planning department? Someone is having a laugh! My last dealings with them involved me providing them with a copy of a Building Regulations Approved Document, pointing out the sections detailing the regulations relevant to my build, and then explaining to them - several times in words of one syllable - why the approach they wanted taken (at great additional cost to me) was completely contrary to the regs whereas what I was proposing to do complied with them completely and was, in fact, pretty much standard practice within the construction industry. Exposure to the real world would come as a very nasty surprise to most members of that department! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Part-privatisations, out-sourcing - all just an excuse to cut employer liabilities; with staff coming back as expensive consultants or agency workers - has the added bonus of de-Unionising the workforce and taking their conditions back into the last century. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Why would the council want to take us back in time, surely they would like to take us forward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aview Posted August 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Why would the council want to take us back in time, surely they would like to take us forward? Can the last employee to leave the Council, please switch the light off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Aview what are you suggesting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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