QUOTE (WearyRhino @ Dec 14 2010, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The Ideological State Apparatus Comrade!!
Errrr yeah!!!
Council Cuts Announced
Started by
Wendall
, Dec 13 2010 10:49 PM
33 replies to this topic
#21
Phil
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Posted 14 December 2010 - 08:25 PM
Errrr yeah!!!
"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin
#22
ckn
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Posted 22 December 2010 - 10:35 PM
Suffolk CC have finally announced the real detail of the cuts to District and Parish/Town councils. They're going ahead with 10% cuts despite only having to make 2.46%. Some really shameful stuff in there. I've copied below a small sample of the cuts announced:
- Revision of charging policies for non-residential care services. (What this really means: They're going to aggressively look to charge for anything they can and try to avoid having to provide means-tested free care)
- Reduce spending at point of discharge for people requiring rehabilitation. (What this really means: Get them out of hospital/care and leave them to sink or swim)
- Encourage and facilitate customers to arrange their own transport to access services (What this really means: If you live in rural Suffolk, have no car but need care and normally get free patient transport that you'll have to either get alternative transport or do without care. By "encourage" they mean "we're cutting it regardless of what you want or need")
- Review of Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) criteria to tighten eligibility (What this really means: unless you're on the absolute breadline of income support, you're not getting adult care services from the council)
- Stop the subsidy for Community Meals. (What this really means: 100% cut in council funding for Meals on Wheels)
- Divesting libraries to communities. (What this really means: unless it's a core large town library, it must either be taken on by the local community or shut)
- Remove funding for the development of Extended Services (such as breakfast and holiday clubs) in schools. (What this really means: the early/late minding service many schools run to allow working parents to keep working will be cut)
- Staffing reductions from frontline services. (What this really means: social care teams, adoption and fostering teams, safeguarding teams and so on will be cut by an unspecified amount.)
- Stopping most open access youth clubs and youth provision. In some places the voluntary sector may take over this role, in others no such provision for young people will be available. (What this really means: The spending done over the last few decades to provide evening/weekend facilities for kids will be shut and kids will have nowhere to go)
- End universal provision of Careers Advice and Guidance
- Reduce school intervention funding. (What this really means: schools listed as "failing" in OFSTED reports will get significantly reduced council funds to help them turn the school around, this is at least a 50% cut in budget)
- End the Healthy Schools programme. (What this really means: all the work done to encourage kids to be healthier will be axed entirely in April)
- Reduction in subsidies to public transport services (What this really means: the very rural nature of Suffolk means that subsidised transport is essential to keep it running. If this is looked at in conjunction with other points above, e.g. patient transport reductions, then it's a very negative cut of at least 50% of the existing budget)
- Cease School Crossing Patrol Service. (What this really means: no more lollipop ladies/gentlemen at school crossings)
- Reduce highways grass cutting from 2 cuts to 1 cut on c and unclassified rural roads. (What this really means: a right mess)
- Reduce the number of Household Waste Recycling Centres from 18 to 11. (What this really means: all the effort going into stopping random fly-tipping from people who can't get to one of the centres will be wasted as it'll just increase)
- Reduce revenue pavement maintenance (What this really means: these cuts are taking it right to the statutory minimum for pavement maintenance; if you can walk reasonably safely on one side of the road then they don't have to maintain a badly deteriorated other side)
- Divest the running and operation of countryside parks and other countryside sites, and rationalise the management of AoNBs. (What this really means: all council owned countryside parks will either have to be taken on by Parish Councils or left to rot. This is a 100% cut in funding for countryside parks and they're not caring if it gets taken on by others or not)
- Reduction in Trading Standards legal budget. (What this really means: this is directly targeted at reducing the legal prosecution of rogue traders)
- Ipswich Aerial Appliance - removal of 12 fire fighter posts leaving appliance to be alternate crewed. (What this really means: either the crane gets crewed or a standard fire truck gets crewed, no longer enough staff to do both at a major incident meaning one less truck at a major fire)
- Fire Service to no longer respond to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA's). (What this really means: how many people will call 999 if a fire alarm goes off and they can't see a fire, or if one goes off in the middle of a business park in the middle of the night?)
- Change Felixstowe from a Day Crewed to an On-Call (Retained) fire station - reduction of 14 fire fighter numbers. (What this really means: a large 20 mile radius area will not have an immediate response fire service but will have to wait for retained crew to arrive)
- Cease all station based Community Safety Work from on-call fire stations
- Cease checking lorries to see if they are overloaded. (What this really means: All those foreign trucks coming through Felixstowe docks don't need to bother getting their weight right. This will inevitably mean that many haulage firms will push loads higher and higher because they know they can do so with impunity.)
- Cease enforcement of environmental weight restrictions on County's roads and bridges. (What this really means: see above)
- Stop checks on the safety of consumer goods entering the UK via the Port of Felixstowe (What this really means: as it says...)
Remember, this is only a small sample. Also, there are compulsory pay freezes and cuts for council staff. With the notable exceptions of the Chief Executive and her management team.
It's fecking disgraceful and is being widely applauded as "the way forward" by a large number of other councils. It won't be long before all Tory councils follow suit voluntarily and Labour/Lib Dem ones see their budgets cut so much that they have no choice but to do so.
- Revision of charging policies for non-residential care services. (What this really means: They're going to aggressively look to charge for anything they can and try to avoid having to provide means-tested free care)
- Reduce spending at point of discharge for people requiring rehabilitation. (What this really means: Get them out of hospital/care and leave them to sink or swim)
- Encourage and facilitate customers to arrange their own transport to access services (What this really means: If you live in rural Suffolk, have no car but need care and normally get free patient transport that you'll have to either get alternative transport or do without care. By "encourage" they mean "we're cutting it regardless of what you want or need")
- Review of Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) criteria to tighten eligibility (What this really means: unless you're on the absolute breadline of income support, you're not getting adult care services from the council)
- Stop the subsidy for Community Meals. (What this really means: 100% cut in council funding for Meals on Wheels)
- Divesting libraries to communities. (What this really means: unless it's a core large town library, it must either be taken on by the local community or shut)
- Remove funding for the development of Extended Services (such as breakfast and holiday clubs) in schools. (What this really means: the early/late minding service many schools run to allow working parents to keep working will be cut)
- Staffing reductions from frontline services. (What this really means: social care teams, adoption and fostering teams, safeguarding teams and so on will be cut by an unspecified amount.)
- Stopping most open access youth clubs and youth provision. In some places the voluntary sector may take over this role, in others no such provision for young people will be available. (What this really means: The spending done over the last few decades to provide evening/weekend facilities for kids will be shut and kids will have nowhere to go)
- End universal provision of Careers Advice and Guidance
- Reduce school intervention funding. (What this really means: schools listed as "failing" in OFSTED reports will get significantly reduced council funds to help them turn the school around, this is at least a 50% cut in budget)
- End the Healthy Schools programme. (What this really means: all the work done to encourage kids to be healthier will be axed entirely in April)
- Reduction in subsidies to public transport services (What this really means: the very rural nature of Suffolk means that subsidised transport is essential to keep it running. If this is looked at in conjunction with other points above, e.g. patient transport reductions, then it's a very negative cut of at least 50% of the existing budget)
- Cease School Crossing Patrol Service. (What this really means: no more lollipop ladies/gentlemen at school crossings)
- Reduce highways grass cutting from 2 cuts to 1 cut on c and unclassified rural roads. (What this really means: a right mess)
- Reduce the number of Household Waste Recycling Centres from 18 to 11. (What this really means: all the effort going into stopping random fly-tipping from people who can't get to one of the centres will be wasted as it'll just increase)
- Reduce revenue pavement maintenance (What this really means: these cuts are taking it right to the statutory minimum for pavement maintenance; if you can walk reasonably safely on one side of the road then they don't have to maintain a badly deteriorated other side)
- Divest the running and operation of countryside parks and other countryside sites, and rationalise the management of AoNBs. (What this really means: all council owned countryside parks will either have to be taken on by Parish Councils or left to rot. This is a 100% cut in funding for countryside parks and they're not caring if it gets taken on by others or not)
- Reduction in Trading Standards legal budget. (What this really means: this is directly targeted at reducing the legal prosecution of rogue traders)
- Ipswich Aerial Appliance - removal of 12 fire fighter posts leaving appliance to be alternate crewed. (What this really means: either the crane gets crewed or a standard fire truck gets crewed, no longer enough staff to do both at a major incident meaning one less truck at a major fire)
- Fire Service to no longer respond to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA's). (What this really means: how many people will call 999 if a fire alarm goes off and they can't see a fire, or if one goes off in the middle of a business park in the middle of the night?)
- Change Felixstowe from a Day Crewed to an On-Call (Retained) fire station - reduction of 14 fire fighter numbers. (What this really means: a large 20 mile radius area will not have an immediate response fire service but will have to wait for retained crew to arrive)
- Cease all station based Community Safety Work from on-call fire stations
- Cease checking lorries to see if they are overloaded. (What this really means: All those foreign trucks coming through Felixstowe docks don't need to bother getting their weight right. This will inevitably mean that many haulage firms will push loads higher and higher because they know they can do so with impunity.)
- Cease enforcement of environmental weight restrictions on County's roads and bridges. (What this really means: see above)
- Stop checks on the safety of consumer goods entering the UK via the Port of Felixstowe (What this really means: as it says...)
Remember, this is only a small sample. Also, there are compulsory pay freezes and cuts for council staff. With the notable exceptions of the Chief Executive and her management team.
It's fecking disgraceful and is being widely applauded as "the way forward" by a large number of other councils. It won't be long before all Tory councils follow suit voluntarily and Labour/Lib Dem ones see their budgets cut so much that they have no choice but to do so.
Money can't buy happiness... but it can buy bacon which is close enough.
#23
goldcard
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Posted 22 December 2010 - 11:33 PM
QUOTE (ckn @ Dec 22 2010, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Suffolk CC have finally announced the real detail of the cuts to District and Parish/Town councils. They're going ahead with 10% cuts despite only having to make 2.46%. Some really shameful stuff in there. I've copied below a small sample of the cuts announced:
- Revision of charging policies for non-residential care services. (What this really means: They're going to aggressively look to charge for anything they can and try to avoid having to provide means-tested free care)
- Reduce spending at point of discharge for people requiring rehabilitation. (What this really means: Get them out of hospital/care and leave them to sink or swim)
- Encourage and facilitate customers to arrange their own transport to access services (What this really means: If you live in rural Suffolk, have no car but need care and normally get free patient transport that you'll have to either get alternative transport or do without care. By "encourage" they mean "we're cutting it regardless of what you want or need")
- Review of Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) criteria to tighten eligibility (What this really means: unless you're on the absolute breadline of income support, you're not getting adult care services from the council)
- Stop the subsidy for Community Meals. (What this really means: 100% cut in council funding for Meals on Wheels)
- Divesting libraries to communities. (What this really means: unless it's a core large town library, it must either be taken on by the local community or shut)
- Remove funding for the development of Extended Services (such as breakfast and holiday clubs) in schools. (What this really means: the early/late minding service many schools run to allow working parents to keep working will be cut)
- Staffing reductions from frontline services. (What this really means: social care teams, adoption and fostering teams, safeguarding teams and so on will be cut by an unspecified amount.)
- Stopping most open access youth clubs and youth provision. In some places the voluntary sector may take over this role, in others no such provision for young people will be available. (What this really means: The spending done over the last few decades to provide evening/weekend facilities for kids will be shut and kids will have nowhere to go)
- End universal provision of Careers Advice and Guidance
- Reduce school intervention funding. (What this really means: schools listed as "failing" in OFSTED reports will get significantly reduced council funds to help them turn the school around, this is at least a 50% cut in budget)
- End the Healthy Schools programme. (What this really means: all the work done to encourage kids to be healthier will be axed entirely in April)
- Reduction in subsidies to public transport services (What this really means: the very rural nature of Suffolk means that subsidised transport is essential to keep it running. If this is looked at in conjunction with other points above, e.g. patient transport reductions, then it's a very negative cut of at least 50% of the existing budget)
- Cease School Crossing Patrol Service. (What this really means: no more lollipop ladies/gentlemen at school crossings)
- Reduce highways grass cutting from 2 cuts to 1 cut on c and unclassified rural roads. (What this really means: a right mess)
- Reduce the number of Household Waste Recycling Centres from 18 to 11. (What this really means: all the effort going into stopping random fly-tipping from people who can't get to one of the centres will be wasted as it'll just increase)
- Reduce revenue pavement maintenance (What this really means: these cuts are taking it right to the statutory minimum for pavement maintenance; if you can walk reasonably safely on one side of the road then they don't have to maintain a badly deteriorated other side)
- Divest the running and operation of countryside parks and other countryside sites, and rationalise the management of AoNBs. (What this really means: all council owned countryside parks will either have to be taken on by Parish Councils or left to rot. This is a 100% cut in funding for countryside parks and they're not caring if it gets taken on by others or not)
- Reduction in Trading Standards legal budget. (What this really means: this is directly targeted at reducing the legal prosecution of rogue traders)
- Ipswich Aerial Appliance - removal of 12 fire fighter posts leaving appliance to be alternate crewed. (What this really means: either the crane gets crewed or a standard fire truck gets crewed, no longer enough staff to do both at a major incident meaning one less truck at a major fire)
- Fire Service to no longer respond to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA's). (What this really means: how many people will call 999 if a fire alarm goes off and they can't see a fire, or if one goes off in the middle of a business park in the middle of the night?)
- Change Felixstowe from a Day Crewed to an On-Call (Retained) fire station - reduction of 14 fire fighter numbers. (What this really means: a large 20 mile radius area will not have an immediate response fire service but will have to wait for retained crew to arrive)
- Cease all station based Community Safety Work from on-call fire stations
- Cease checking lorries to see if they are overloaded. (What this really means: All those foreign trucks coming through Felixstowe docks don't need to bother getting their weight right. This will inevitably mean that many haulage firms will push loads higher and higher because they know they can do so with impunity.)
- Cease enforcement of environmental weight restrictions on County's roads and bridges. (What this really means: see above)
- Stop checks on the safety of consumer goods entering the UK via the Port of Felixstowe (What this really means: as it says...)
Remember, this is only a small sample. Also, there are compulsory pay freezes and cuts for council staff. With the notable exceptions of the Chief Executive and her management team.
It's fecking disgraceful and is being widely applauded as "the way forward" by a large number of other councils. It won't be long before all Tory councils follow suit voluntarily and Labour/Lib Dem ones see their budgets cut so much that they have no choice but to do so.
- Revision of charging policies for non-residential care services. (What this really means: They're going to aggressively look to charge for anything they can and try to avoid having to provide means-tested free care)
- Reduce spending at point of discharge for people requiring rehabilitation. (What this really means: Get them out of hospital/care and leave them to sink or swim)
- Encourage and facilitate customers to arrange their own transport to access services (What this really means: If you live in rural Suffolk, have no car but need care and normally get free patient transport that you'll have to either get alternative transport or do without care. By "encourage" they mean "we're cutting it regardless of what you want or need")
- Review of Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) criteria to tighten eligibility (What this really means: unless you're on the absolute breadline of income support, you're not getting adult care services from the council)
- Stop the subsidy for Community Meals. (What this really means: 100% cut in council funding for Meals on Wheels)
- Divesting libraries to communities. (What this really means: unless it's a core large town library, it must either be taken on by the local community or shut)
- Remove funding for the development of Extended Services (such as breakfast and holiday clubs) in schools. (What this really means: the early/late minding service many schools run to allow working parents to keep working will be cut)
- Staffing reductions from frontline services. (What this really means: social care teams, adoption and fostering teams, safeguarding teams and so on will be cut by an unspecified amount.)
- Stopping most open access youth clubs and youth provision. In some places the voluntary sector may take over this role, in others no such provision for young people will be available. (What this really means: The spending done over the last few decades to provide evening/weekend facilities for kids will be shut and kids will have nowhere to go)
- End universal provision of Careers Advice and Guidance
- Reduce school intervention funding. (What this really means: schools listed as "failing" in OFSTED reports will get significantly reduced council funds to help them turn the school around, this is at least a 50% cut in budget)
- End the Healthy Schools programme. (What this really means: all the work done to encourage kids to be healthier will be axed entirely in April)
- Reduction in subsidies to public transport services (What this really means: the very rural nature of Suffolk means that subsidised transport is essential to keep it running. If this is looked at in conjunction with other points above, e.g. patient transport reductions, then it's a very negative cut of at least 50% of the existing budget)
- Cease School Crossing Patrol Service. (What this really means: no more lollipop ladies/gentlemen at school crossings)
- Reduce highways grass cutting from 2 cuts to 1 cut on c and unclassified rural roads. (What this really means: a right mess)
- Reduce the number of Household Waste Recycling Centres from 18 to 11. (What this really means: all the effort going into stopping random fly-tipping from people who can't get to one of the centres will be wasted as it'll just increase)
- Reduce revenue pavement maintenance (What this really means: these cuts are taking it right to the statutory minimum for pavement maintenance; if you can walk reasonably safely on one side of the road then they don't have to maintain a badly deteriorated other side)
- Divest the running and operation of countryside parks and other countryside sites, and rationalise the management of AoNBs. (What this really means: all council owned countryside parks will either have to be taken on by Parish Councils or left to rot. This is a 100% cut in funding for countryside parks and they're not caring if it gets taken on by others or not)
- Reduction in Trading Standards legal budget. (What this really means: this is directly targeted at reducing the legal prosecution of rogue traders)
- Ipswich Aerial Appliance - removal of 12 fire fighter posts leaving appliance to be alternate crewed. (What this really means: either the crane gets crewed or a standard fire truck gets crewed, no longer enough staff to do both at a major incident meaning one less truck at a major fire)
- Fire Service to no longer respond to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA's). (What this really means: how many people will call 999 if a fire alarm goes off and they can't see a fire, or if one goes off in the middle of a business park in the middle of the night?)
- Change Felixstowe from a Day Crewed to an On-Call (Retained) fire station - reduction of 14 fire fighter numbers. (What this really means: a large 20 mile radius area will not have an immediate response fire service but will have to wait for retained crew to arrive)
- Cease all station based Community Safety Work from on-call fire stations
- Cease checking lorries to see if they are overloaded. (What this really means: All those foreign trucks coming through Felixstowe docks don't need to bother getting their weight right. This will inevitably mean that many haulage firms will push loads higher and higher because they know they can do so with impunity.)
- Cease enforcement of environmental weight restrictions on County's roads and bridges. (What this really means: see above)
- Stop checks on the safety of consumer goods entering the UK via the Port of Felixstowe (What this really means: as it says...)
Remember, this is only a small sample. Also, there are compulsory pay freezes and cuts for council staff. With the notable exceptions of the Chief Executive and her management team.
It's fecking disgraceful and is being widely applauded as "the way forward" by a large number of other councils. It won't be long before all Tory councils follow suit voluntarily and Labour/Lib Dem ones see their budgets cut so much that they have no choice but to do so.
Nice....
Wires record breaking 10 match run: L 16-17 ; L 34-36 ; L 24-44 ; L 20-38 ; L 8-46; L 14-26 ; L 20-40 ; L 22-48 ; L 14-20 ; L 8-60. Thanks Jimmy.The Glamour Club. Apparently.
Captain Morgan Trophy Holders.(I still think we have the British Coal 9's trophy hidden somewhere, too...)
Ooooh, the Challenge Cup!!! Thank you Tony.....
And again!!!
Tipping Competiton Challenged Shield Winner 2010
Captain Morgan Trophy Holders.(I still think we have the British Coal 9's trophy hidden somewhere, too...)
Ooooh, the Challenge Cup!!! Thank you Tony.....
And again!!!
Tipping Competiton Challenged Shield Winner 2010
#24
Millman
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 08:25 AM
QUOTE (ckn @ Dec 22 2010, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
SNIP
It's fecking disgraceful and is being widely applauded as "the way forward" by a large number of other councils. It won't be long before all Tory councils follow suit voluntarily and Labour/Lib Dem ones see their budgets cut so much that they have no choice but to do so.
It's fecking disgraceful and is being widely applauded as "the way forward" by a large number of other councils. It won't be long before all Tory councils follow suit voluntarily and Labour/Lib Dem ones see their budgets cut so much that they have no choice but to do so.
Shameful and callous ideological conservatism at its worst.
#25
tonyXIII
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 09:55 AM
QUOTE (ckn @ Dec 23 2010, 12:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Remember, this is only a small sample. Also, there are compulsory pay freezes and cuts for council staff. With the notable exceptions of the Chief Executive and her management team.
When things get so bad that they "have to make these cuts", the problem is
When British industry was being murdered in the 60s and 70s, the blame was laid at the unions' door. Now I'm not a fan of Trade Unions, but that episode in our history was down to rank bad management far more than than it was down to an uncooperative workforce. Some things never change. Management screw-up, workers pay for it.
Edited by tonyXIII, 23 December 2010 - 09:55 AM.
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#26
ckn
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 10:22 AM
Another one that was hidden away in the fine print of the cuts: Hospital school rooms may be cut back. The councillor in the article was doing political waffle around saying that there will be cuts.
Knowing a few of the county councillors as I do I'd expect that their plan will be to give the ill kids a few books and leave them to it.
Knowing a few of the county councillors as I do I'd expect that their plan will be to give the ill kids a few books and leave them to it.
Money can't buy happiness... but it can buy bacon which is close enough.
#27
sam
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 10:44 AM
QUOTE (ckn @ Dec 22 2010, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
- Cease School Crossing Patrol Service. (What this really means: no more lollipop ladies/gentlemen at school crossings)
my dad does the school run with the grandkids, they had a note sent home saying the current lollipop woman wouldn't be being replaced as she'd just left the role. it turns out she was practically unused anyway as every single kid is escorted to the school gates by parents.
also, there was a primary school i drove past on the way to work in norway, the crossing there was manned by the older schoolchildren in high vis jackets.
foxes or poor people?
#28
ckn
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 11:05 AM
QUOTE (sam @ Dec 23 2010, 10:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
my dad does the school run with the grandkids, they had a note sent home saying the current lollipop woman wouldn't be being replaced as she'd just left the role. it turns out she was practically unused anyway as every single kid is escorted to the school gates by parents.
also, there was a primary school i drove past on the way to work in norway, the crossing there was manned by the older schoolchildren in high vis jackets.
also, there was a primary school i drove past on the way to work in norway, the crossing there was manned by the older schoolchildren in high vis jackets.
That's a fair point but one of the primary schools near us is on a busy road and the lollipop guy wasn't replaced when he retired, it's not uncommon to see 20-30+ parents & kids waiting to cross the road now as it's rarely clear on both sides and there are no suitable pedestrian crossings anywhere nearby. For me, it's simple, either stick a zebra/pelican crossing there or get a replacement to ensure the kids can cross safely.
Money can't buy happiness... but it can buy bacon which is close enough.
#29
sam
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 11:12 AM
QUOTE (ckn @ Dec 23 2010, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's a fair point but one of the primary schools near us is on a busy road and the lollipop guy wasn't replaced when he retired, it's not uncommon to see 20-30+ parents & kids waiting to cross the road now as it's rarely clear on both sides and there are no suitable pedestrian crossings anywhere nearby. For me, it's simple, either stick a zebra/pelican crossing there or get a replacement to ensure the kids can cross safely.
totally agree.
foxes or poor people?
#30
tonyXIII
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 01:48 PM
QUOTE (sam @ Dec 23 2010, 12:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
my dad does the school run with the grandkids, they had a note sent home saying the current lollipop woman wouldn't be being replaced as she'd just left the role. it turns out she was practically unused anyway as every single kid is escorted to the school gates by parents.
also, there was a primary school i drove past on the way to work in norway, the crossing there was manned by the older schoolchildren in high vis jackets.
also, there was a primary school i drove past on the way to work in norway, the crossing there was manned by the older schoolchildren in high vis jackets.
That might work in Norway, but it would take just one accident in the UK for lawsuits to be flying.
I'm surprised Cherie Blair hasn't put the idea forward.
Rethymno Rugby League Appreciation Society
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#31
Trojan
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 05:10 PM
QUOTE (JohnM @ Dec 14 2010, 08:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
easy peasy:
1. cut the number of Directors by 25%
2. stop the ludicrous pay out to Chief execs who move on
3. Prevent the re-employment as consultants those who have taken early retirement.
4. Cut the employer contribution to pension funds for five years
3. Realign salary levels for those on more than say £30 k
Done properly, there need be no compulsory redundancies, if the brothers were to show some worker solidarity.
1. cut the number of Directors by 25%
2. stop the ludicrous pay out to Chief execs who move on
3. Prevent the re-employment as consultants those who have taken early retirement.
4. Cut the employer contribution to pension funds for five years
3. Realign salary levels for those on more than say £30 k
Done properly, there need be no compulsory redundancies, if the brothers were to show some worker solidarity.
Manchester have had 25% cuts - Pickles is trying to pretend it's 8.9%. Get real John.
"Your a one trick pony Trojan" - Parksider 10th March 2013
#32
sam
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 06:29 PM
QUOTE (tonyXIII @ Dec 23 2010, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That might work in Norway, but it would take just one accident in the UK for lawsuits to be flying.
which is how it should be, if you're driving past a school that fast that you don't spot a kid in high vis gear and hit them, you deserve to have the book and anything else that can cause you harm thrown at you.
foxes or poor people?
#33
JohnM
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Posted 23 December 2010 - 06:30 PM
25% of how much and over what period of time?
Something clearly had to be done about the explosion of local authority expenditure and council tax rises over the last ten, fifteen years. Even Miliband realised that and was threatening huge cuts.
The Blairite- Brownian policy of indiscriminately throwing taxpayers money into the public services has extended such services but nowhere near in proportion with that spend.
The tragedy is that as usual it is the lower paid who will suffer the most.
However, given the immense intellect of local authority chief execs (What was their mantra? - if you want the best you have to pay for the best) you'd think they would come up with better solutions than kicking their weakest.
Having said all that, if we hadn't spent so much on Iraq, maybe public finances would not be in such a mess.
Something clearly had to be done about the explosion of local authority expenditure and council tax rises over the last ten, fifteen years. Even Miliband realised that and was threatening huge cuts.
The Blairite- Brownian policy of indiscriminately throwing taxpayers money into the public services has extended such services but nowhere near in proportion with that spend.
The tragedy is that as usual it is the lower paid who will suffer the most.
However, given the immense intellect of local authority chief execs (What was their mantra? - if you want the best you have to pay for the best) you'd think they would come up with better solutions than kicking their weakest.
Having said all that, if we hadn't spent so much on Iraq, maybe public finances would not be in such a mess.
#34
ckn
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Posted 24 December 2010 - 11:02 AM
QUOTE (ckn @ Dec 22 2010, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
- Divest the running and operation of countryside parks and other countryside sites, and rationalise the management of AoNBs. (What this really means: all council owned countryside parks will either have to be taken on by Parish Councils or left to rot. This is a 100% cut in funding for countryside parks and they're not caring if it gets taken on by others or not)
On this specific point, we have a countryside park in our Parish that was listed as "for divestment" and we (the Parish Council) were seriously considering taking it on and adjusting our budget to cope with the maintenance costs. We've been told that now the council are aware that it's not one of the restricted building areas* that they're looking for a commercial development buyer.
Seriously.
As it's outside of a town plan, the county council will have the final say on planning permission as well so they can sell it for building land with a guarantee to the developer that they'd approve any plans. That's speculation by me but why else would they seek a commercial buyer?
As to us taking it on for the community, we can't afford any capital costs as our entire annual budget would barely scrape 1/10th of the value of this prime building land.
* Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and similar
Money can't buy happiness... but it can buy bacon which is close enough.
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