How is your local council going to deal with the massive cuts.Austerity bites hard.

[Tawnyowl]

Why am i putting this on.

Well as i walk about and chat to different people,some who work for councils there is fear and worry and many stressed out people out there.Worried about their security,families,mortgages,rents.

And also people in their local communities.Things like that if things go pear shaped.

Is this if true anyway to live in these modern times.

 

Now it is a bit late for me to look about,do a little research.But will as time goes on.A little tired.Soft,i know.

And if you have a view and are looking in and want to have your say how you are feeling about things.

 

Austerity State: how has your council’s budget changed?

Between 2009/10 and 2014/15 spending by England’s local authorities was cut by a fifth — more than twice the rate of spending cuts to the rest of the UK public sector. Our Local Cuts Checker database brings together a myriad of data to allow readers to explore the impact of those cuts in their areas.

Check it out.Take a look at the link.

http://ig.ft.com/sites/2015/local-cuts-checker/#E06000009ZZE06000009

 

And if you are outside looking in and want your say,a link,we are a friendly lot.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/register.php

[lenny100]

my local council Durham has already stated it will do no more that the legal minim in most areas they lost over £100 million from their budgets, closing all its care homes, most of its smaller library's and closing its regimental museum and art center, also we are to have a tax rise of 3.9%, we already pay some of the highest rate in the UK with a band D yes a D at over £1700 a year

[Nystagmite]

Ours (Plymouth) are putting up council tax by 2%.

[Tawnyowl]

my local council Durham has already stated it will do no more that the legal minim in most areas they lost over £100 million from their budgets, closing all its care homes, most of its smaller library's and closing its regimental museum and art center, also we are to have a tax rise of 3.9%, we already pay some of the highest rate in the UK with a band D yes a D at over £1700 a year

 

Just been looking around Durham on the web.So many things to read.

And how these cuts are affecting people.The council must be banging their heads wondering what to do.

A lot of history up there.

I could put so much on about the history of Durham.The pride of the people.

But just a couple for now.You know how these cuts are affecting people,no need for me to say.

A weaker point for many but the museums and libraries,art center.

A article that covers many places.

 

Closing northern museums is an act of cultural pillage

The closure of one in five museums is an insult to our rich heritage. If the cuts continue, the north of England will be poor in more ways than one

The first comment mentions Durham.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/01/closing-northern-museums-is-an-act-of-cultural-pillage

 

Just been reading about the Jarrow March back in the 1930s

Men marched to London.

Did they achieve anything.Well yes i feel they did.Return journey.Let the London mob know how you feel.

Worked in the North East during a recession back in the 70s,great people.

 

And remembered a Dire Straits song that summed things up for me nicely back then.Something about that song.Moved into construction at that time.

Many trying to make a few bob to send home for their families.Similar things happening now perhaps strangely.

 

Sometimes songs say things in a way people understand more than writing can.

 

Plymouth.

Nystagmite.

Ours (Plymouth) are putting up council tax by 2%.

Plymouth faces biggest cuts to local services in decades, says city's finance chief

Speaking yesterday, Cllr Lowry warned the situation is "going to get worse".

 

He said: "We keep trimming our cloth to fit but we are running out of material.

 

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Plymouth-faces-biggest-cuts-local-services/story-28746674-detail/story.html

[Sparks_]

My local council (Preston) other than putting up council tax, making the amount those on benefits pay more, reduced support for the elderly and disabled, closing libraries and at least one museum(maybe the main one as well or reduce staff!) have decided to charge us an extra £30 a year to empty our green(garden waste) recycle bin!

[Tawnyowl]

Hi Sparks.

I just had a quick look around.Seems to have started about 2011 in some areas.

Out of 267 councils that responded to a Daily Mail survey,64 charge for a green waste collection service. Fees range from £15 to £113 a year.Back in 2011.

Now rolled out nationwide it seems.

Article,

New charge for Preston’s brown bin collections as Council Tax rises

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/new-charge-for-preston-s-brown-bin-collections-as-council-tax-rises-1-7751467

 

So what are the options.

People like to be seen to be green.

Opt out of the charge.

Compost heap,impossible for many.

Put it in the grey waste and hope checks are not made.Have the lot then thoughts.

Take it to the tip.Arrange groups in towns for people who will not give up their green thoughts.

Once again impossible for many.

Fly tip.Now that really gets people going.

I will put a video on of a fly tipper in my area to get people going this morning.

 

Preston Council facing “catastrophic” budget cuts as funding slashed

Leader of Preston Council, Councillor Peter Rankin

“By 2020 they’ve left us in a position where there isn’t enough money to run the council.

 

“Even if we take away all the things we like doing – like parks, the museums, benefits and debt advice services, community engagement, leisure centres, sports development

– there won’t be any money for those after 2020 with the current settlement from the Government.

 

Preston Council facing “catastrophic” budget cuts as funding slashed

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/preston-council-facing-catastrophic-budget-cuts-as-funding-slashed-1-7662723

 

Fly tipper in my town.Back alley.

[postmn]

yet the peopl,e at the top are consistently getting massive bonuses . Also i do not think the way to solve this is to throw money ar it councils are very inefficient like most of the public sector , there needs to be a prune from the top down ie the pen pushers or the @non jobs' then we can see what the councils need . also they always pick the easy cuts residental homes libaries dont cut thier saleries

Edited March 5, 2016 by postmn
fogot

[Nystagmite]

As ever, it seems there isn't enough money for vital services; but there's enough money for things like bonuses.

 

No doubt they won't increase the council tax support in Plymouth either. And with no benefit increase either, (a loss in real terms) we're going to be worse off. Brilliant.

[Tawnyowl]

So worries about wages perhaps.Some are saying some at the top of authorities are earning more than the Prime Minister.

Few said some at the top are being made redundant with big payoffs then starting work in other authorities within a few weeks.Surely not.

Do we have to many councillors.But how much would this save.If cuts were made.

Throw your thoughts in,and tell us what is happening in your towns cities.

 

Are the cuts pretty equal re-Labour to Conservative councils.Even handed.This article says not.What do you think.

£300m rescue cash for mostly Tory councils? The favouritism is jaw-dropping

On one hand, the government miraculously finds a pot of money to help protect certain councils from cuts. With the other, it savages adult social care

Just what is going on.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/11/300-million-tory-councils-favouritism-cuts-government-adult-social-care

[citizenB]

My Council has started to charge for the garden waste service - £30.00 a year. I am OK with that - live quite a distance from the local tip so very useful service.

 

I think the Council tax will be going up by 3.9% which will be 1.9% for the Police service and 2.00% local services. I disagree with the extra for the police - in the 18 years I have lived here - I have seen one policeman (in a car) locally and only a handful in town. None at all when I was mugged back in 2003 !

[citizenB]

I disagree with Council staff being given bonuses for a job they are already paid to do ?

[Nystagmite]

I disagree with Council staff being given bonuses for a job they are already paid to do ?

 

Never understood that one either.

[Tawnyowl]

Council bosses earning as much as footballers

Local Government Association chief is "not happy", but claimed it reflects "the way the world is"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12009099/Council-bosses-earning-as-much-as-footballers.html

 

Can our council chiefs’ high salaries ever be justified?

As details of the so-called Public Sector Rich List are published, former Wrexham mayor Aled Roberts, now Welsh Lib Dem AM for North Wales, and John Marek, former Wrexham MP, have both hit out at “enormous” payment

which see local authority bosses taking home more than the Prime Minister.

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/154758/can-our-council-chiefs-high-salaries-ever-be-justified-.aspx

 

Just the way the world is i suppose

.

 

EXCLUSIVE: How much do bosses at YOUR council earn? Mail investigation reveals huge pay deals for the public sector fatcats - so now find out how much YOUR local authority chief takes home

Hospital chief facing a budget crisis and probe is pocketing £1.26million

Council executives earning up to £411,000 a year while cutting services

Council boss in Wales charged taxpayers £2,368 a month for his Porsche

Revelations were made after 6,000 Freedom of Information requests

Use the tool below to see how many bosses at your local council took home six-figure deals last year

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3309596/The-shocking-scale-fat-cat-pay-public-sector-exposed-todayl]

 

We are all in this together.

[Tawnyowl]

Chief executive in for £25,000 bonus as Shropshire Council slashes budget and increases council tax

Shropshire Council may be putting up council tax and cutting millions of pounds from its budget – but it is planning a yearly £25,000 performance-related bonus for its chief executive.

Let's not forget that people on the front line are having their pay and conditions cut back and jobs taken away.

Makes you wonder how poor your performance has to be before you don't get a bonus.

 

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2016/02/26/chief-executive-in-for-25000-bonus-as-shropshire-council-slashes-budget-and-increases-council-tax/

 

Just a few articles put on when i noticed on some links salaries being mentioned.

Probably repeated across the country you would think.

Do they look after each other these fat cats.

Nice to be sat round the table instead of catching the crumbs some may be thinking.

 

Just showing a different view that is all.

These cuts are afecting many in our communities badly.To put it mildly.

Really i am a nosey devil and want to know more about what is going on.

[Tawnyowl]

Something to relax you.I must admit this is heavy stuff.

A lot to take in.Tell people how it is affecting your communities.Let your stress out.

In the meantime,a little relief.Sit back and float along while you have a break.Some of you must be hopping mad with things.

Get the kettle on,or pour yourself a stiff drink.Then let rip. Cuts-Enough put the brake on,sort this madness out.

 

A village with no roads-can you believe it .

…

[citizenB]

I bet they don't have any issues with potholes in that village, TO

[Tawnyowl]

I bet they don't have any issues with potholes in that village, TO

That comment made me laugh.And that takes some doing after reading what is out there.

We need a little fun as well amongst the seriousness.Even a little mischief.

Nice one citizenB:-)

[citizenB]

[snowdragon]

just got my council tax bill, last year it was £119.00 each month, it is now £125 each month, for a band B house

[king12345]

My council (Hounslow) is doing ok.

They foresaw these cuts a few years ago and installed cctv in every street of the borough, painting double yellow lines and yellow boxes as they went along.

They rake in millions every month from this scheme, despite only one camera being a registered approved device.

In their minds if you own a car you must be rich and pay.

[determindator]

Council Tax will increase all round.