pslewis

Now, I disagree that we need to be cutting now - we should wait for the recovery to be established. The cuts and tax hikes could have been delayed - IMO.

Anyway - we are where we are - the point I want to discuss is this:-

Councils up and down the country have £millions in the Bank, £millions in reserve. Hampshire County Council, for example, apparently have £130+million in the Bank - yet are cutting back on basic caring services and on staff carrying out essential services, to save £2.5million over 3 years .....................

Why the cuts then?

FlightMan

Because in 5 years £130 million will buy you a bag of crisps.

pslewis

They are saving £7.5million over 3 years ....... why not take that out of their £130million Reserves?

It genuinely puzzles me.

Why, oh why, doesn't the Government 'take' these reserves back into the central coffers and give the Councils the same as they would have annually in any case?

David Lock

Fair point but they don't keep these reserves for the sake of it. What if Hampshire floods or disaster strikes?

If you are a resident e-mail your councillor and ask. They usually reply.

dl

hodgy0_2

why does the deputy head of local council planning get paid more than the PM

and whilst I am at it why can't anyone design swimming pool changing rooms anymore, what is wrong with Men & Women, complete with keys and simple lock mechanism.

(with family rooms for the bearded sandal wearing lefties)

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

i wonder if (i think it was liverpool council) will be getting rid of thier STREET FOOTBALL SAFTEY AWARENESS OFFICER on 38k a year as part of the cut backs . this was listed in one of the papers in a top ten most rediculus council job titles

tony de wonderful

From this link:

pslewis

The binmen are apparently on £50,000 a year with overtime and shift pay - is this true?

njkmrs

My local Council is having to cutback £32 million ,yet they have just Ok,d the building of plush new offices for themselves at a cost of £50 million .Yes £50 MILLION !!!!!!

Rochdale .
Now that is taking the P1ss !!!

pslewis

In Hampshire County Council ... the Cheif Executives Office has offered to cut 1% - YES 1%!!!!

Yet want cuts of 12.7% on front line services - like caring for the elderly and sick!!

It's outrageous!!

tony de wonderful

That's nothing, the Scottish Parliament building cost £414 million.

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

and dont forget the wonderfull pensions , everytime 10 people retire on 70% of final pay and then get replaced they are increasing the payroll by 7 people . geniuses arnt they . and they are in charge of our money you couldnt make it up in a kids story book . no wonder 17-20 % of our council tax goes into thier pension pot

David Lock

Original budget maximum £40m

dl

Leslie

Do you have any personal reserves Pete. You are always telling us that you have anyway.

Why dont you just go and blat it all on things that you might like to have leaving yourself nothing in case of one of those unfortunate happenings that you can never forecast?

Les

EddScott

Exactly the same here. Council finds itself with cash to burn so builds a f*cking fortress of a building.



Now around the same time they agreed to build the above west wales was still classed as an area of "poverty" and you got relief on stamp duty up to I think it was £150k - whereas everywhere else was £125k.

Are these figures of council reserves actually true?