Chesterfield Online Forum

General Category => Chesterfield Discussion => Topic started by: Pete on February 14, 2012, 05:40:16 PM

Title: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Pete on February 14, 2012, 05:40:16 PM
Just got a leaflet though my front door from the LibDems informing me that a Council Tax increase of 3.5% is on the cards.

They describe it as unnecessary - is it?

It goes on to say that LibDems left financial reserves of £8 million, a balanced budget, no Council Tax increase, no cuts in jobs or services in 2011 and no need for any in 2012.  :o

So what went wrong?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Fly on February 14, 2012, 05:55:00 PM
Market Hall renovations ?
.
.
.
.
.
.
 ::)
Isn't housing rent going up to  :P
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 05:59:28 PM
Just got a leaflet though my front door from the LibDems informing me that a Council Tax increase of 3.5% is on the cards.

They describe it as unnecessary - is it?

It goes on to say that LibDems left financial reserves of £8 million, a balanced budget, no Council Tax increase, no cuts in jobs or services in 2011 and no need for any in 2012.  :o

So what went wrong?

I hesitate to say a Labour council got voted in but ...............................................
They intend blaming the government for it
http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000222.html (http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000222.html)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: k4blades on February 14, 2012, 06:10:30 PM
The Govt. are offering a grant, which I though most councils were taking. The intention as I understand it is to stop the constant increase, year after year, and give councils a chance to put a halt to it. Obviously some costs do go up annually, (wages), but this could be offset by looking for better contracts, as Chesterfield has meant to have done with rubbish collections.

Whatever happens, all the bad news gets blamed on the other party, while each party wants to claim credit for the good news, instead of working together for a sensible way forward.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Pete on February 14, 2012, 06:14:52 PM
I'd be interested in a local Labour Party councilor's opinion on this...  :-X
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 06:36:29 PM
He won't have one, he will just quote the party line to you
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 14, 2012, 06:41:26 PM
The grant (or incentive not to put council tax up) is a one off which when taken away next year would require a bigger rise just to stay where we are. If the percentage is capped next year it could therefore mean a shortfall.

The county council will take the grant because the Tories expect to lose control in 2013 thus leaving a mess for Labour to sort out.

The Chesterfield element is a small part of the council tax so a 3.5% increase will hardly be noticeable.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: k4blades on February 14, 2012, 06:56:30 PM
To which I woud like to quote these comments:

Maybe because when you look at spending power petrol, energy and just general shopping a pay freeze means a pay cut. A call for these prices to be held down would have gone down a lot better. The retail companies that we hear about closing down, and there seems to be a national chain closing down almost every week, are doing so because the ordinary working people have less in their pocket for luxuries.

Your words, Councillor.
Latest inflation figures out show retail inflation around 0%, VAT no longer factored in, energy prices on the way down, it seems everyone is doing their bit to bring costs down, except the council! Pot, say hello to kettle.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Fly on February 14, 2012, 07:54:45 PM
As a resident of Bolsover, living in a council house.
.
.
I'm keeping out of this one.   ::)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 14, 2012, 08:08:52 PM
To which I woud like to quote these comments:

Maybe because when you look at spending power petrol, energy and just general shopping a pay freeze means a pay cut. A call for these prices to be held down would have gone down a lot better. The retail companies that we hear about closing down, and there seems to be a national chain closing down almost every week, are doing so because the ordinary working people have less in their pocket for luxuries.

Your words, Councillor.
Latest inflation figures out show retail inflation around 0%, VAT no longer factored in, energy prices on the way down, it seems everyone is doing their bit to bring costs down, except the council! Pot, say hello to kettle.

Inflation at zero? Sounds like lies, damned lies and statistic because I'm paying a lot more for my shopping, petrol, gas, water and every insurance policy.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: k4blades on February 14, 2012, 08:46:10 PM
I should have been more specific, non-food retail inflation is at 0%, ie the cost of teles, etc. Food is falling and expected to fall more later in the year as comodoties are falling, (coffer, grain, etc).
Insurance policies are going up because the last Labour Govt, lead by a money grabbing leech of a lawyer and his wife, promoted the compensation culture, which the current govt are trying to tackle.

If you find statistics difficult to understand, it helps to look at the detail.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 08:49:38 PM
Cllr John Burrows, Leader at Chesterfield Borough Council explained: "This year's offer of funding to Councils that agree to freeze Council tax in 2012/13 is a one-off grant for one year only.

"If we accept the Government's grant, equivalent to a 2.5% Council tax increase, we will be left with a shortfall of funding in every year after 2012/13.  For Chesterfield, this equates to £458k over three years, rising to £914k over five years, when the benefit of the Government’s first Council tax free grant ends in 2014/15.

"This will mean having to make cuts to frontline services, which could well involve job losses, or needing to apply higher Council tax increases in future years.

"A 3.5% increase means a 6p per week rise for those living in a Band 'A' household and a 9p per week rise for those in a Band 'D' household.

"Even with this increase, Chesterfield will still have the lowest Council Tax when compared to the other district councils in Derbyshire and councils of a similar size in the country.

Councillor Slack's posting
The grant (or incentive not to put council tax up) is a one off which when taken away next year would require a bigger rise just to stay where we are. If the percentage is capped next year it could therefore mean a shortfall.

The Chesterfield element is a small part of the council tax so a 3.5% increase will hardly be noticeable.


Told you he wouldn't have an opinion!!

Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Kent on February 14, 2012, 08:51:47 PM
Good Old LABOUR.... True to Form .... SOD THE PEOPLE, IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

8m in the Bank is not enough..!


Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 14, 2012, 09:10:42 PM
I put that before I read article though i do listed to what's said in meetings with chief finance officer so no surprise i said something similar.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 09:24:23 PM
I put that before I read article though i do listed to what's said in meetings with chief finance officer so no surprise i said something similar.

Sorry? Are you trying to say that Barry Dawson wants to put the council tax up?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 14, 2012, 09:47:20 PM
The will have shared the pros & cons with the cabinet
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 10:02:44 PM
Oh dear oh dear
Guess where I've just been Slacker?
Over to 'another place'.
I've re-read all the political opportunism thread.
And guess what?
In re-reading Labour election leaflets they clearly said
1. Council tax is cheaper under Labour and
2. The council tax will be frozen in 2012/13

Comments?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 10:03:40 PM
The will have shared the pros & cons with the cabinet

You g
I put that before I read article though i do listed to what's said in meetings with chief finance officer so no surprise i said something similar.

You go to Cabinet do you?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 14, 2012, 10:23:05 PM
Oh dear oh dear
Guess where I've just been Slacker?
Over to 'another place'.
I've re-read all the political opportunism thread.
And guess what?
In re-reading Labour election leaflets they clearly said
1. Council tax is cheaper under Labour and
2. The council tax will be frozen in 2012/13

Comments?

Is that as accurate as the gang wars at Grangewood thing that apparently was posted a long long time ago not this weekend as you seemed to suggest?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 14, 2012, 10:25:09 PM
Oh dear oh dear
Guess where I've just been Slacker?
Over to 'another place'.
I've re-read all the political opportunism thread.
And guess what?
In re-reading Labour election leaflets they clearly said
1. Council tax is cheaper under Labour and
2. The council tax will be frozen in 2012/13

Comments?

Is that as accurate as the gang wars at Grangewood thing that apparently was posted a long long time ago not this weekend as you seemed to suggest?

No I don't go to cabinet but I gave been to finance briefings that have been discussed in greater depth by cabinet.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 10:37:49 PM
Oh dear oh dear
Guess where I've just been Slacker?
Over to 'another place'.
I've re-read all the political opportunism thread.
And guess what?
In re-reading Labour election leaflets they clearly said
1. Council tax is cheaper under Labour and
2. The council tax will be frozen in 2012/13

Comments?

Is that as accurate as the gang wars at Grangewood thing that apparently was posted a long long time ago not this weekend as you seemed to suggest?

it's accurate
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 14, 2012, 10:40:44 PM

Is that as accurate as the gang wars at Grangewood thing that apparently was posted a long long time ago not this weekend as you seemed to suggest?
[/quote]

Re: chesterfields 20 year plan
by ******** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 16:55

sorastro wrote:
If and when they get built I foresee the same thing happening that's happened to recent "new builds"
They will fill them with dossers, druggies, and all manner of flotsam and jetsom, not just from round here but {as before} other councils "cast offs" so the dregs of society get brand new state of the art housing paid for by the taxpayer and turn them into slums
Just my opinion

It happened to Grangewood Estate. It was lovely when I moved in. Now we have got alcoholics who get aggresive, troubled families, a drug pusher, people fighting with machetes & druggies: Not bad for a quiet Sunday!


yeah sorry for that it was ancient history of 2 days ago!! Don't play games
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 15, 2012, 07:25:24 AM
I asked Dawn about this and the machete thing was a long time ago. She thought I implying there was recent trouble!
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 15, 2012, 11:17:20 AM
you were implying the post was from a long time ago, seeking to avoid answering the questions put by casting doubt on accuracy. I had no way of knowing when the incidents took place but I did not as can be clearly seen post something that was posted somewhere else 'a long time ago'.

So my original question stands. Last April/May your party put out election leaflets that clearly stated council tax would be lower under Labour and that the 2012/13 council tax would be frozen. What are your comments?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: k4blades on February 15, 2012, 11:49:21 AM
His comment is that "he only supports a council tax freeze if initiated by the Labour party, but not one initiated by anyone else."

Forget any sensible discussion and way forward when politicians are involved, its all about taking sides, hence better to get rid of 'em all!
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 15, 2012, 01:25:58 PM
His comment is that "he only supports a council tax freeze if initiated by the Labour party, but not one initiated by anyone else."

Forget any sensible discussion and way forward when politicians are involved, its all about taking sides, hence better to get rid of 'em all!

Either that or 'We'd have said anything to get elected'
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Kent on February 15, 2012, 05:40:18 PM
2. The council tax will be frozen in 2012/13

Come On... When was the last time you heard a Politician Keep Their Word, or tell the Truth.

They Seem To Always have a excuse to do a turn around,  when it pleases them.

But Why Oh Why.. do Councils suffer when one Party is in local government, and the opposite party is
in Government.

At the end of the day its the local people that suffer, because some local politicians
want to stand up against the Ruling Party in Westminster.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 15, 2012, 07:58:21 PM
Really I'm in a no win situation because if  I say things which back up party decisions I am accused of towing the party line and if I give a contrary view it can be picked up and used against me at some later date. my freedom of speech is somewhat curtailed compared with the rest of forum members who can basically say what they want.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Pete on February 15, 2012, 08:11:01 PM
The price of political involvement, I'm afraid. Maybe you should have seen this coming before you stood for election.

It's no good taking a political stance, getting involved and then complaining about it - that's part and parcel of a life in politics.

My advice, as you will never get any peace from certain types, is keep going, speak from the heart and fuck 'em all.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Fly on February 15, 2012, 08:25:06 PM
@Slack:
I think your next statement is:
Things didn't pan out as expected since some previous comments I may have made.

Your free speech is far from curtailed on here. Say what you like.
Though others may use it against you at a later date  :(

But as a local councilor, you've got to be able to take a bit of slack. Scuse the phrase.  8)
You got the position you wanted. Deal and act accordingly.

Posted as a mate. Not a Mod.



Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 15, 2012, 08:33:42 PM
As I said before the election, these debates get a bit one sided with nobody representing the LibDems that can be equally cross-examined
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Fly on February 15, 2012, 08:52:47 PM
Get a LibDem to sign up to ChesterfieldOnline.  ;)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Fly on February 15, 2012, 09:01:49 PM
Or isn't there one with the bo**ocks to do it
Paul Holmes seems quiet nowadays  ;D
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 15, 2012, 09:59:47 PM
As I said before the election, these debates get a bit one sided with nobody representing the LibDems that can be equally cross-examined

How the hell could we examine a Lib dem about a decision of the Labour party which goes against their stated 'manifesto' position.

And I'd agree you are in a no win position because you are effectively lobby fodder, you obviously had no input into the majority of your party's leafleting and you now have very little say in this policy decision.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: k4blades on February 15, 2012, 11:03:37 PM
I don't think this forum is restricting your freedom of speech, Slacker.

All I ask of anyone on here is that they speak honestly and consistently. Either you agree with a freeze on council tax increases or you don't. As far as I'm concerned you are entitled to your view, but to say one thing, and then the other is not acceptable. If you can't say how you really feel because it contradicts what your party officials are telling you what to say, then they are the ones restricting your freedom of speech.

My advice would be to jump ship. :)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Pete on February 15, 2012, 11:47:59 PM
>> All I ask of anyone on here is that they speak honestly

Gets my vote
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 16, 2012, 07:12:02 AM
At the time of the election this grant would have not been known about.

If a council took this one-off grant to not put up council tax they could be in the position of needing to put it up 6 or 7 % next year to avoid losses to jobs and services. If increases are then capped there will be problems.

As I said before it is 3.5% of a small part of the council tax bill. Will 10p a week cause people hardship? I'm much more concerned in the massive increases in other household bills.

Does give the LibDems something for their leaflets though.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Old Cruser on February 16, 2012, 10:33:20 AM
>> All I ask of anyone on here is that they speak honestly

Gets my vote

Ok ok
 All the parties are crap anyway none of them ever do that much, buty i suppose they can't please everyone can they! Countries in such a mess we would need a miracle party to sort it  ;)  ;D
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 16, 2012, 10:44:10 AM
At the time of the election this grant would have not been known about.

If a council took this one-off grant to not put up council tax they could be in the position of needing to put it up 6 or 7 % next year to avoid losses to jobs and services. If increases are then capped there will be problems.

As I said before it is 3.5% of a small part of the council tax bill. Will 10p a week cause people hardship? I'm much more concerned in the massive increases in other household bills.

Does give the LibDems something for their leaflets though.

No sorry doesn't work. You (that's the Labour party you) didn't know about the grant. You said 2012/13 council tax frozen. The government then offered the grant to allow you to freeze the tax. You are saying no we have to put it up or else we will need to put it up by much more later. Or in other words (if we are to have honesty here) we want to put the tax up whilst we are still 3 years away from re-election in the hope that by 2015 in an election year we will be in a position to say we don't have to put it up, it will look good on our election leaflets and we hope the electorate are stupid enough to fall for it.
It might only be 10p a week, the principle is honesty.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: k4blades on February 16, 2012, 02:53:59 PM
Where does the 10p a week come from. If a 3.5% increase is 10p, then the current tax must be about £2.90. (2.90 x 3.5% = 10p) If your council tax is £2.90 per week, then annually it is 52 times that amount, or £150.00
Has anyone got a council tax bill of £150.00 a year, if so, I need to move house.
Ours is around £1400 per annum. That equates to an increase of around 95p per week. OK, some of our £1400 might be for police or Staveley council, etc but still a massive difference in figures. I can't believe the aveage council tax bill for residents of Chesterfield council is £150 a year! 

I also think the principle is consistency. How can you call for others to bring their prices down, while putting your own prices up, isn't that hypocritical. If you want BP, Boots and British Gas to drop their prices, why should the council be treated any different, unless its because the council can take their "customers" for granted, and charge what they like without fear of them going elsewhere.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 16, 2012, 03:37:26 PM
The increase is on the Chesterfiel Borough Part. Most money goes to County as they have Education and Social Services (biggest spenders.) Current year CBC is  £93.26 band A, £139.89 band D. The police element is also higher than CBC. Details at
www.tinyurl.com/7ukh657 (http://www.tinyurl.com/7ukh657)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 16, 2012, 04:51:59 PM
This is another indication how people don't understand how the two tier system of local government works.

ps Slacker you now have 2 lots of unanswered questions.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 16, 2012, 04:57:01 PM
well done to one Labour council for sticking to its socialist principles

http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000240.html (http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000240.html)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: k4blades on February 16, 2012, 05:50:12 PM
OK just checked a few old bills.

I was aware of how the system works, but didn't realise the amounts, the missus usually pays it.
We are in band C, so Chesterfield gets about £150 a year, so is about 10p.

Doesn't alter any of the points raised though.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 16, 2012, 06:11:40 PM
Of course in Staveley you also have the Town Council element which I hadn't realised is almost half the Chesterfield Borough cost. Police is also higher than Chesterfield Borough.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 16, 2012, 08:54:11 PM
Of course in Staveley you also have the Town Council element which I hadn't realised is almost half the Chesterfield Borough cost. Police is also higher than Chesterfield Borough.

and no attempts at deflection or trying to point out the level of other precepts will deflect the argument away from the fact that you, lets be kind and say misled the electorate last May.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 16, 2012, 09:37:22 PM
Of course in Staveley you also have the Town Council element which I hadn't realised is almost half the Chesterfield Borough cost. Police is also higher than Chesterfield Borough.

and no attempts at deflection or trying to point out the level of other precepts will deflect the argument away from the fact that you, lets be kind and say misled the electorate last May.

Link?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 16, 2012, 09:39:47 PM
well done to one Labour council for sticking to its socialist principles

http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000240.html (http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000240.html)

Their freeze might still be at a higher rate than ours with a 3.5% increase but their website is yoo user-unfriendly to find a breakdown
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 17, 2012, 11:04:28 AM
Of course in Staveley you also have the Town Council element which I hadn't realised is almost half the Chesterfield Borough cost. Police is also higher than Chesterfield Borough.

and no attempts at deflection or trying to point out the level of other precepts will deflect the argument away from the fact that you, lets be kind and say misled the electorate last May.
To what? The leaflets?

Link?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 19, 2012, 07:15:27 PM
Silence as usual is deafening?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 19, 2012, 08:34:06 PM
Not having kept the old leaflets I want to know the exact wording. Nearest I've found is on the list of aspirations.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 19, 2012, 08:45:38 PM
check 'another place'
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 19, 2012, 08:49:39 PM
rarely look on there, send me link
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 19, 2012, 08:57:57 PM
rarely look on there, send me link


Recognise this quote?

Re: Political opportunism or short term memory loss? You dec
by Slacker » Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:28

I'm sure a man of your experience is more that capable of finding the minutes online (december, full council)


You were right I was and I did

well I'm sure a man of your experience is capable of doing something similar!!
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Pete on February 28, 2012, 05:13:37 PM
Here we go again - from the DT website:

North East Derbyshire District Council has approved a council tax freeze for the second year running.

It means residents living in a Band A property (42 per cent of homes in North East Derbyshire) will continue to pay £113.98 over the next year for district council services, while residents in a Band D property will pay £170.97 over the next year.


Slacker?

http://bit.ly/yZRGUc (http://bit.ly/yZRGUc)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on February 28, 2012, 05:42:02 PM
Fair play to Cllr Slack, he obviously went back and said 'The people of Chesterfield Online have spoken and they are not content!!!!'

http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000254.html (http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/public_services/mp_politics/mp_news_00000254.html)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on February 28, 2012, 07:25:35 PM
Here we go again - from the DT website:

North East Derbyshire District Council has approved a council tax freeze for the second year running.

It means residents living in a Band A property (42 per cent of homes in North East Derbyshire) will continue to pay £113.98 over the next year for district council services, while residents in a Band D property will pay £170.97 over the next year.


Slacker?

http://bit.ly/yZRGUc (http://bit.ly/yZRGUc)

So even if ours went up 20% it would be cheaper than NEDDC who are quite smug about their freeze.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on March 01, 2012, 10:06:45 PM
Official vote tonight
Council tax freeze
Don't believe all you read in leaflets
 :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on March 01, 2012, 10:36:22 PM
Official vote tonight
Council tax freeze
Don't believe all you read in leaflets
 :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

or that councillors occasionally do run scared of the electorate
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Pete on March 01, 2012, 10:49:35 PM
>> Don't believe all you read in leaflets

Yours or theirs?

Why am I getting déjà vu?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on March 01, 2012, 10:50:04 PM
More to do with concerns at penalties that may now be imposed by government next year which means that 3.5% rise may now not be viable, coupled with pay freeze.

The Tories preach localism but in reality keep an even tighter squeeze on what councils can do.

Lot of theatrical waving of leaflets and banter between parties but in the end a unanimous vote.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on March 01, 2012, 10:53:56 PM
>> Don't believe all you read in leaflets

Yours or theirs?

Why am I getting déjà vu?

Every party puts their own slant on things. LibDems claim 1400 signatures but 3.5% sounds a lot higher than 6p to 10p per week (fooled general public and some on here)
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on March 01, 2012, 11:00:46 PM
and 6-10p  a week sounds less than 3.5%.
Lies and what else was it?
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on March 02, 2012, 06:37:46 AM
Because Chesterfield is the collecting authority many people think 3.5% of council tax bill whereas the reality was 3.5% of about a TENTH of the council tax bill. I wonder if that was made clear to the people who signed.
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: therealjr on March 02, 2012, 09:20:16 AM
I don't know. Was it made clear to the voters last May who clears snow from the roads? Or the difference between a park and a sports centre? Or the difference between voting against a loaded proposition in a council chamber and voting for a National policy in Parliament?

Honesty on boths sides would ..................... sorry honesty, politicians what was I thinking!!!!
Title: Re: Council Tax going up!
Post by: Slacker on March 02, 2012, 08:45:48 PM
CBC is much more involved in highway snow clearing than it was previously. There is also a move against privatisation. Talk to the LibDems privately and most of them despise the Tories at a national level and hate that their MPs are keeping them in power. The omission of the words "leisure centre" was an error that was corrected many months before the election.

Having said that there are a lot of parts of the Corporate Plan retained from the previous administration as you would expect when dealing with many of the same senior officers who are universally praised for their professionalism. The two parties also work well together in committees without political bias (the posters who suggested banning parties from local elections should be relieved by this)