Council Tax Benefit Changes Consultation

This week like many residents in ESBC I received a letter from Tory Councillor Bernard Peters regarding changes to the Council Tax benefit.

This change is another cut by the Tory Government.

The letter states that there is eight week consultation which ends on 29 October 2012.  But the letters have been received two weeks before end of consultation period.

Can Cllr Peters tell the residents of ESBC why he has sent the letter so late and what are his motives?

How to evict Hot Dog Trader?

The Tory controlled ESBC has removed Hot Dog vendor from Station Street after serving the local population for over thirty years.  But they have handled this relatively simple matter like this:

First the Council told all Street traders that they will be moved to Market Square. But after over 4000 signature petition the Council was forced to do a U turn and told the traders they can stay in Station Street.

Then they told the traders they will have to retender for their pitches as the Council wants to attract new traders with different offerings.

The Council duly commenced advertising campaingn and paid for adverts in different Newspapers spending cash whilst cutting vital services.

Despite the advertising campaign the response was very poor and the existing received applications from existing traders.

Throughout this process, the Council did not consult properly and instead tried to restrict communications. 

They then evaluated the applications and awarded four pitches to existing traders.  The only one to lose out was Hot Dog Vendor and after over thirty years service, he has bowed out.

So after months of uncertainty, U turns, confusion and at a considerable cost to the tax payers, the Tory Council has evicted the Hot Dog trader.  It can only be described as utter shambles and waste of money. 
Whilst all this wasgoing on the Lib Dem Councillor who represents the Town Centre Ward went totally quiet. 
The next big project for these Tory Councillors is to kill the Market. 

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Final-curtain-for-hot-dog-vendor-as-he-is-given-boot-15102012.htm

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Council-under-fire-over-gag-order-on-street-food-traders-24092012.htm

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Business-born-out-of-redundancy-is-under-threat-from-council-19092012.htm

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Health-food-not-an-option-at-iconic-Splash-Wagon-13092012.htm
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Hungarian-refugee-who-became-a-Burton-gem-12092012.htm

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Council-is-going-cold-on-80-years-of-success-11092012.htm

What is the truth?

Councillor Grosvenor has tried to clarify the situation in respect of salary increases for ESBC Heads of Service in a letter to Burton Mail.

But we are even more confused!

The figures are given on pages 59 & 60 of Statement of Accounts and they appear to be self explanatory.

I asked Councillor Grosvenor a straight forward question: What was salary increase for the rest of the staff? 

Can Councillor Grosvenor tell us if all employees received a similar percentage pay increase as Heads of Service?

The point is these salaries are awarded to senior officers in the wake of job & service cuts. 

Unacceptable fiasco...

At the Council Meeting on 24 September 2012, I asked the Leader of the Council, Cllr Grosvenor, a question regarding problems with benefit overpayment.
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Leader-quizzed-on-725000-in-overpaid-benefits-27092012.htm

But the Leader was unable to give a satisfactory response.

The issue is that at 31 March 2012 i.e. 6 months ago the Council had overpayed benefits to the tune of massive £725,000.  Since then it has been trying to recover overpayments.  OK makes sense but this is where the problem starts!

The Council apparently uses 'Northgate System' for tracking overpayments.  But for the last 6 months there is a problem with the system and no one knows what the current overpayment figure is.

For people who are receiving benefits don't know if the right amount is deducted from their benefits.  So people could be overpaying or under paying.

Here is summary of the problem...

The Council has overpaid £0.75M (public money) in benefits.  They have been charging people, who are on benefits already and with not a lot of cash, to recover the overpayments.  But after 6 months they don't know if the problem is getting better or worse.  Also people on benefits don't know if the correct amount is deducted from their benefit and may be facing extra hardship.

Does it really take 6 months to fix a software problem?  What is the cost of the system which does not work?  How & why did Council purchase this system?  Why is the system not changed?

The Tories boast about efficiency savings and take great deal of pleasure in cutting jobs in the name of efficiencies. 
Is this what they mean by efficiencies? Utter fiasco and more misery for the most vulnerable.

Is this satisfactory level of service from the Tory controlled Council to its taxpayers?

Meeting

Had a meeting this morning with Jon Wheale (new PPC) and Labour Party Colleagues to discuss campaining for next elections leading to General election in 2015 to win back Burton seat from the Tories.
It was a great opportunity to meet Jon Wheale and discuss strategy for next few years.

Plans to Kill Off the Market approved

This evening the Cabinet has agreed to proposals which will see the death of the Burton Market.

The Conservative Councillors Grosvenor, Hardwick, Peters, Jessell and Leease unanimously voted to:
a) move outdoor market to Station Street
b) Demolish brick buildings outsie the Market Hall
c) Use the area in front of Market Hall as car park

The Conservatives simply do not want to listen to the Traders and Shoppers.

The proposed changes will kill off the Market for good!!

Listening to the nature of the questions, were the Conservative Councillors so naive about the proposals or were they being patronising to room full of people or were they simply playing to the press?

Excellent Response at Burton Market

Today we had an excellent response from the shoppers and traders of Burton Market.  There was overwhelming response to retain the market in Market Place.  People were so keen to give their views and queued to do so.  There was very strong feelings and passion regarding the market. 
These are some of the words used in response the Council's proposal to move outdoor market to station street:
Sad, Ridiculous, Appalling, Awful, Disgusting
I cannot understand why the Council will not listen to such strong feelings and views and scrap this ill thought and hasty proposal.
I was also striking to note that people were very aware that people involved with this proposal and decision makers are not market users and not even come from Burton.
I think the Tories should sit up and take notice!