Gary Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/articles/7380/1/Council-U-turn-over-550000-cutbacks/Page1.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Hurah.. knew they would see sense over the tip closures, rangers and kids travel. They would not have been very popular with most areas of Warrington if they had gone the other way eh Clever move or what on their part Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 What happened about the council's plans to turn off of street lighting to save money Is that still going ahead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Keeping us in the dark on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Do you seriously believe these services have a reprieve? The only time the Lib Dems appear to listen to public opinion is just prior to an election. once the election is over the unpopular items will probably be straight back on the agenda! They've done this so frequently now and in so many different areas of the town is there really anybody gullible enough to actually believe what they say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Simple equation: services require funding, funding comes from tax-payers. Choice: either higher taxes or reduced services. And in an era of record Gov and personal debt, we're just going to have to face up to austerity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 I don't think anyone will disagree with you there Obs, there needs to be careful handling of finances, but cutting pennies on basic services whilst wasting pounds is not the way forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egbert Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Austerity? Doesn't our government believe it has to SPEND its way out of trouble? Try that with your household budget and see where it gets you. I can't see why it should be different for governments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 obs /Sha. Both correct, but where do you stop? Do you keep cutting back until there is nothing left, or do you bite the bullet and tackle the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 I'd suggest getting their teeth into cutting the gross wastage of public funds before cutting basic services! For example.....the surplus primary school places within a two mile area of Stockton Heath alone have been costing/wasting circa 1/4 of a million ?s per year. It would have made more sense to have reduced pupil numbers to a 1 form of entry rather than spend millions on building a new school with increased capacity. Just how much is being wasted like this throughout the rest of the town???? Another example of gross waste.....the employment of obscenely expensive consultants to effect the giving away of one of the towns finest assets, Walton Hall. Are our councillors really all that useless that they couldn't plan and execute a simple improvement programme, including applying for external funds and grants, without having to pay ridiculous amounts on consultation fees??? and effectively 'give away' our heritage in the process???? I could go on.............. but it would probably be quicker to list the things they actually do cost effectively. ????????????????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 With elections coming up in May Sha, will you be standing, and if not why not, you seem to have plenty to say on how to improve things, it would be great if you had the opportunity to put them in to practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 I could go on.............. but it would probably be quicker to list the things they actually do cost effectively. An election hustings could be the ideal place for you to do that Sha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Paul, I have to say that "have a go yourself" is not a very constructive comment IMHO.... Most people rightly have opinions about what they see as waste and where savings could be made but don't have either the time, drive or want to be a local councillor. Instead the people put their trust in people like you and the rest of the crowd at WBC to take those decisions and find the waste and mismanagement for them The problem is that when people are finally elected to the council, they then have to toe the party line and follow what they are told, especially as a new boy/girl (just as happens in parliament) the wishes of the people/electorate are overidden by the need to keep the party in power and to keep party members on the lucrative committees. (just remember who upset your predecessor was to lose his 30k a year from all the chair positions he had before you beat him!) The Tory/Lib Dem alliance now no doubt has their people as charmen of all the committees such as fire, police etc. and if that position were to be put under pressure by a maverick councillor doing or saying something which may be what the people want to see/hear he would soon be brought to book That is why local councillors should be run by independants with no party politics playing a role. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 With elections coming up in May Sha, will you be standing, and if not why not, you seem to have plenty to say on how to improve things, it would be great if you had the opportunity to put them in to practice. And as one voice against 56 playing 'follow my leader' do you really think there'd be much opportunity to put them in to practise? I think I can be a lot more effective as I am! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 I could go on.............. but it would probably be quicker to list the things they actually do cost effectively. An election hustings could be the ideal place for you to do that Sha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 The Tory/Lib Dem alliance now no doubt has their people as charmen of all the committees . Now was that a genuine typing error or a freudian slip perhaps? Whatever, I like it Baz, it's appropriate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Paul, I have to say that "have a go yourself" is not a very constructive comment IMHO.... But the thing is Baz that for the system to be effective, we do need new people coming in to it. And with my comment I'm encouraging that. Sha has commented that "I think I can be a lot more effective as I am", but how effective is that and what has it achieved. My job. I think, is to try and encourage those who have opinions to take an active part in the democratic process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 That is why local councillors should be run by independants with no party politics playing a role. That is something I seriously agree with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Oh believe me Paul, I take a really active part! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 And as one voice against 56 playing 'follow my leader' do you really think there'd be much opportunity to put them in to practise? But why would you be one voice against 56, if your ideas are any good, sustainable and could stand up to scrutiny, they would be adopted. Personally I don't play "follow my leader", and it is rather a slur for you to suggest that I do. In order to help you further, might I suggest that you put questions to Full Council, it would be a great opportunity for you to be heard. Your comment about Walton Hall would make a great question for you to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Oh believe me Paul, I take a really active part! And the evidence of that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 [quote name="Paul Personally I don't play "follow my leader"' date=' and it is rather a slur for you to suggest that I do. [/quote] Sorry Paul, No offence was meant to you personally. It was merely an 'off the cuff' remark with regards to the party politics which you must admit does go on, which I personally feel is so destructive. I actually believe that we do have some very good and committed councillors (of all parties) but due to the structure of the council they have a limited voice. Also when they do have an opportunity to voice an opinion they can be swayed by party politics. I often feel that if the talents and abilities of the committed councillors were more fully utilised the town would be in better shape. I think that any problems we have may be due merely to the egos of one or two, but that is just my personal opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 quote Sha"][Oh believe me Paul, I take a really active part! : And the evidence of that is. Oh Paul, really! you know if I were to list my 'achievements' to date you'd know who I am......and that would spoil all the fun of the forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Paul, with all due respect, think you'll find the comments from Baz and Shah are rather incisive; I recall you mentioning some form of crusade against fiscal waste etc - how far have you got? The other problem of course is, one man's waste, is another man's essential service - so you can't win. The broard fact is, that money (and thus power) has been gradually centralised - first in Westminister and now in Brussels (where the really big waste issues are - EG: regular movement of the whole EU Parliament from Brussels to Strasbourg and back! Then you've now got a whole range of PC/H&S jobs and limitations to ensure your hands are securely tied up in red tape, just to add to the inertia and lack of local initiative and possible innovation. So all in all, a depressing picture, which most non-anoracks have spotted and choose not to get involved in; thus leaving the way open to the careerists to toe the party line and claim their expenses etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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