The Tory control East Staffordshire Borough Council approved the budget for next financial year on 21 February 2011.
The Council's grant funding has been cut by 14% (£1.2m approx) compared with last years budget. Despite this is massive cut by the Conservative Government, the local Conservative controlled Council is pledging to protect front line services. That is to say that the Council will provide the same services next year as they do now.
The Council is not a profit making organisation. Its main purpose is to provide services to the public.
How is this possible?
There are two possible answers.
1. The grant the Council has been getting in previous years was too generous and they did not need all that money to deliver the current level and standard of services. If this is the case then the Conservatives have been wasting taxpayers' money for years.
2. The cut in funding will mean cut in services. So, the Council may provide a service but the quality and standard of service will be drastically reduced. If this is the case then effectively this amounts to CUT in services.
Last year we were told that Bus pass scheme before 9.30am will be reviewed. What actually happened was that the free bus travel before 9.30 was CUT.
This year we are told the front line services will be protected. We feel that protection means a CUT.
It is simply not possible to maintain same number of services to the same quality and to same standard with a 14% cut in funding. Even David Cameron has said spending less means doing less.
The public knows the Tories have broken many promises since coming into power like increase in VAT.
The rhetoric from local Tories is not plausible, they are not cedible and cannot kid the public anymore.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Rising Bollards - Still no response
I am still awaiting response from County Council regarding my query.
http://ali-chaudhry.blogspot.com/2011/02/rising-bollards.html
http://ali-chaudhry.blogspot.com/2011/02/rising-bollards.html
Privatisation of Crematorium...
Burton Mail has reported potential sale of crematorium to a private operator.
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Secret-talks-on-crem-sale.htm
Actually I asked a question in December 2010 in full Council meeting for the Leader to rule out privatisation of the crematorium. In response he said "an offer" i.e. one bid has been received. Now we understand 4 bids have been received. Obviously there was a signal or invitation for bids to sell off the Crematorium otherwise it appears coincidental that in space of 2 months 4 bids have been received. In response to my question Cllr Grosvenor did not rule out privatisation in December last year.
As member of the Council, I have not received any information about sale of the Crematorium. There has been no consultation with the public either.
The disposal of asset is being discussed in secret meetings and as Julian Mott says it does not take a genious to work out what is happening.
I certainly will not rubber stamp the sale of the Crematorium when it come to the full Council. However the Conservatives have the majority and are likely to win any vote comfortably.
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Secret-talks-on-crem-sale.htm
Actually I asked a question in December 2010 in full Council meeting for the Leader to rule out privatisation of the crematorium. In response he said "an offer" i.e. one bid has been received. Now we understand 4 bids have been received. Obviously there was a signal or invitation for bids to sell off the Crematorium otherwise it appears coincidental that in space of 2 months 4 bids have been received. In response to my question Cllr Grosvenor did not rule out privatisation in December last year.
As member of the Council, I have not received any information about sale of the Crematorium. There has been no consultation with the public either.
The disposal of asset is being discussed in secret meetings and as Julian Mott says it does not take a genious to work out what is happening.
I certainly will not rubber stamp the sale of the Crematorium when it come to the full Council. However the Conservatives have the majority and are likely to win any vote comfortably.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Council Budget
Conservative controlled East Staffordshire Borough Council has announced 2% reduction in Council Tax for next years budget in addition to £1.2 million (15%) cut in Government grant.
The Conservative Leader, Cllr Grosvenor says " ...we have managed to go even further by becoming more efficient and cost effective but without touching any of our frontline services".
However David Cameron has ackowledged that spending less means doing less.
I don't think people are so naive to believe that with such massive reduction in the budget the services will not be affected. Will the Conservatives in ESBC tell us in which service areas, the Council will be doing less?
The Conservative Leader, Cllr Grosvenor says " ...we have managed to go even further by becoming more efficient and cost effective but without touching any of our frontline services".
However David Cameron has ackowledged that spending less means doing less.
I don't think people are so naive to believe that with such massive reduction in the budget the services will not be affected. Will the Conservatives in ESBC tell us in which service areas, the Council will be doing less?
Be vigilant
There have been a number of burglaries in Anglesey and adjoining Branston. It appears that Asian families are targeted. This has created a real fear amongst the local Community.
People should take precautions regarding their security by locking doors and sheds. Particularly doors and gates for back garden access should be locked at all times. Outside and security lights should be checked to ensure they are working. Do not open doors to strangers.
Generally be vigilant and report any suspicious activity or individuals to the Police immediately. These incidents are rare. We are hoping that the Police, with your support, will catch the perpetrators soon.
People should take precautions regarding their security by locking doors and sheds. Particularly doors and gates for back garden access should be locked at all times. Outside and security lights should be checked to ensure they are working. Do not open doors to strangers.
Generally be vigilant and report any suspicious activity or individuals to the Police immediately. These incidents are rare. We are hoping that the Police, with your support, will catch the perpetrators soon.
Rising Bollards - Why no response?
I am still awaiting response from the Conservative controlled County Council regarding my request to review signage in respect of rising bollards which is causing frequent accidents.
We know the Conservative cuts are having a profound impact on services. I wonder if there is lack of resource which means that there is no one to respond to such request.
This is a public safety issue which ought to be high on the priority list. The road signs are provided to direct drivers. However it appears that the signs are so inadequate that people are driving in and crashing into the bollards. This is not the purpose of the bollards.
Let's hope we can get a response from the County Council.
We know the Conservative cuts are having a profound impact on services. I wonder if there is lack of resource which means that there is no one to respond to such request.
This is a public safety issue which ought to be high on the priority list. The road signs are provided to direct drivers. However it appears that the signs are so inadequate that people are driving in and crashing into the bollards. This is not the purpose of the bollards.
Let's hope we can get a response from the County Council.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Council Tax announcement
The Council has effectively announced its budget already on its website.
http://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/News/Lists/News%20Articles/DispForm.aspx?ID=577&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeaststaffsbc%2Egov%2Euk%2FNews%2FPages%2FDefault%2Easpx
There is a sentence at the bottom that Councillors will approve the budget on 22 February. The Conservatives have the majority and ofcourse the expectation is that the budget will be approved.
But I feel a bit agrieved that this announcement was made before we, opposition Labour members, had seen the detailed budget.
Like last year this headline grabbing press release has been issued but no doubt we'll discover which services have been affected in due course. As a reminder, this is the press release from last year.
Council due to set Zero Percent Council Tax Increase
Where did it say The Bus Pass Scheme will be Cut?? We know the Free Bus Travel was cut and no longer available before 9.30am.
I shall be commenting on the budget and what this means for the services against the backdrop of major cuts by the Conservative Government.
http://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/News/Lists/News%20Articles/DispForm.aspx?ID=577&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeaststaffsbc%2Egov%2Euk%2FNews%2FPages%2FDefault%2Easpx
There is a sentence at the bottom that Councillors will approve the budget on 22 February. The Conservatives have the majority and ofcourse the expectation is that the budget will be approved.
But I feel a bit agrieved that this announcement was made before we, opposition Labour members, had seen the detailed budget.
Like last year this headline grabbing press release has been issued but no doubt we'll discover which services have been affected in due course. As a reminder, this is the press release from last year.
Council due to set Zero Percent Council Tax Increase
Where did it say The Bus Pass Scheme will be Cut?? We know the Free Bus Travel was cut and no longer available before 9.30am.
I shall be commenting on the budget and what this means for the services against the backdrop of major cuts by the Conservative Government.
Rising Bollards
We have had numerous accidents recently due to vehicles striking rising bollards in High Street, Burton.
I wrote to the Leader of Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council on 17th December last year to review signage for the bollards. I reminded him again on 20th January this year. Although the Leader of the County Council has passed on my query to the Highways Department but as yet I have not received a response to my request to review road signs.
If the Leader of the Conservative controlled Council is unable to get a response from his officers then what chance do rest of us have?
The bollards are a safety hazard and urgent steps are required to prevent further accidents and injuries.
I wrote to the Leader of Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council on 17th December last year to review signage for the bollards. I reminded him again on 20th January this year. Although the Leader of the County Council has passed on my query to the Highways Department but as yet I have not received a response to my request to review road signs.
If the Leader of the Conservative controlled Council is unable to get a response from his officers then what chance do rest of us have?
The bollards are a safety hazard and urgent steps are required to prevent further accidents and injuries.
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