Cuts in Services??

Tories in ESBC have already cut Pest Control service.  In response to a question in Full Council meeting yesterday they could not confirm that there will be no more cuts in Services next year.  This means more pain and misery for the residents in ESBC.
They have sold Bretby Crematorium, they are selling car parks and pocketing millions of pounds.  On the other hand they have paid nearly £250,000 to employ 2 directors for 3 months.  But they cannot afford £30,000 for Pest Control.  Incidentally they are forecasting an underspend of over £100,000 in current financial year. 
So they are not short of money!
For the Tories high unemployment is price worth paying.  But its the poor & vulnerable people who will suffer.

Pest Control Service CUT

Tories say No Cuts in Service but they have just cut Pest Control.  This will hit the most deprived areas such as Anglesey, Shobnall, Stapenhill and Winshill.

Lack of Pest Control will lead to serious health risks.

Full details of decision to cut Pest Control are given here:
http://www1.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/DecisionDetails.aspx?decisionID=338

Tories say No Cuts in Services but ...

£1.2M cut in ESBC budget and many redundancies read this shocking story on Julian Mott's blog.

http://julianmott.blogspot.com/2011/10/mobile-phone-mast-appears-in-harper.html

Someone (apparently the computer) has made this mistake.  Why are decisions made so late? Is this incompetence by the Council?  Who is responsible?

We were told that: moving the office to Malsters with open plan office will improve communications; new computers are installed; the council will operate more efficiently.  And the Tories have cut the Council Tax by 2%.
It seems that the Tories have Cut much more than Council Tax. Who is responsible?

Why is this error not published in ES News and on Council Website for the benefit of residents in Harpur Avenue and surrounding area?

How Can Public Documents be Confidential?

We have received some documents from the East Staffordshire Borough Council in relation to agenda for Scrutiny Programme Meeting on Monday.  But we are told to treat them as confidential although they are public documents.
How can this be right?
and
Is the Council above the Law?

Tories say No Cuts in Services but ....

After a long wait I was told that floodlights in Anglesey Park had been replaced.  However I reported to ESBC that floodlights in Anglesey Park are not working on 5th October 2011.  But yesterday on patrol with Neighbourhood Warden & PCSO I found that the lights had not been fixed and it was pitch black.

Tories say no cuts in services despite £1.2 Million cut in budget.  But why it took 9 days to check if the light was faulty?  How long does it take to fix a couple of lights or change the bulb?

Or is it the case that there is no staff to deal with it?

Young people in Anglesey simply want to know when will the lights be fixed?

Who can attend Scrutiny Programme Board Meeting?

I hear there in confusion over who is allowed to attend Scrutiny Programme Board (SPB) meeting.

The ESBC Constitution Part 3I states:

RIGHT TO ATTEND

3.7 Meetings of the Committee shall be open to the press and public except for confidential business.
3.8 All Councillors formally appointed to the Board by the Council have the right to attend and to vote at meetings of the Board.
3.9 Other Councillors who are not formal members of the Board may attend any meeting and, with the consent of the Chairman, may address the Board.
The constitution appears to be quite clear and from item 3.9 above all members of the Council can attend the SPB meeting. 
 
Why is there so much confusion?

Tories say no Cuts in Services but ...

This evening Anglesey Parish Council was very scathing of ESBC for dragging its heels to grant a Wayleave to lay services for changing rooms in Anglesey Park.
According to Parish Council the ESBC is granting a temporary Wayleave as opposed to permanent Wayleave. Apparently this causes problems with Electricity company and they cannot install their apparatus (cable) without permanent Wayleave.

This has been going on for months.  The Tories are saying they are not cutting services but is this delay due to massive cuts in budget and lack of staff?