Bigger Cuts to Council Budget

[Old Cruser]

Looks like the council will be tightening it's belt even more having a 27.6  million support grant cut which will cost them 21.2 million more than expected in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016

Looks like education will be one of the casualties

http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news_events/news-updates/2013/august/news_items/bigger_cut_to_council_budget_on_the_cards.asp

[Old Cruser]

Thanks Pete 

[Pete]

>> Looks like education will be one of the casualties

Bearing in mind the cost of going to university brought in by the coalition, soon good education will only be available to the well off.

This must be the worst government since Margaret Thatcher. 

[Slacker]

Worse

[therealjr]

I wouldn't say this government are worse than mrs T, they are merely reaping the benefits from her reign namely no unions left with any real power to fight and Labour Party who moved so far to the right in order to get themselves re-elected in 1997 that they know any attempt to return to real socialist values will leave them rendered un-electable again. Unfortunately when you look at it socialism failed facism failed communism failed only capitalism appears to be capable of continuing on regardless. If it wasn't then it would have failed either in the 20's or the 80's.

[Old Cruser]

Seems like the councils opposition to the coalition changes to schools will raise some not so happy comments from parents who are actually 'welcoming' the staggered school holidays


http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news_events/news-updates/2013/august/news_items/we_oppose_proposed_changes_for_schools.asp

[Old Cruser]

The plans for new budget:

And to make sure it all happens, Councillor Western announced the creation of the Derbyshire Challenge Fund.

Over the next four years, the council will use the Fund to help maximise savings by looking to deliver services in a new way. To kick start the fund, Councillor Western said the Labour Group on the council would forego their one per cent allowance increase − adding around £7,500 to the fund.

Other measures she announced to top up the fund include:

smarter purchasing - £2 million each year for the next four years   
invest to save money - £420,000
deletion of the chauffeur post and savings from the civic cars - £35,000
cuts to the civic budget - £45,000
ending the Derbyshire Young Achiever and Excellence in the Community award schemes - £30,000



http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news_events/news-updates/2013/october/news_items/derbyshire_confirms_budget_and_sets_the_way_forward.asp

[Pete]

Looks like good news OC - its so easy for folks just to slag the council, even though until May it was Conservative controlled, and they have to deal with millions of pounds cuts by the government.

Not a job I'd undertake...

[therealjr]

If I was like CC I'd say that this should have been done years ago to correct inefficiencies. Unfortunately having lived in the world of local government for 20 odd years I know that the public expect a different sort of service from their council that they do from some cut throat businessman.


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[Fly]

Why weren't councils saving this money years ago.
You say you worked for the council, why were these types of over spendings accepted.

[therealjr]

Define the word overspending? I can't and won't talk for DCC but look at something like a Civic vehicle. DCC claim a saving of £35k. Now in chesterfield the Mayor can attend 600 events a year. Evenings weekends and all over the county. Occasionally in London. The mayor had to get to these events. So 600 events, average taxi fare Fly?  £30 there and back? So now the saving is only £17k. And if I've invite the mayor to my posh event am I happy that he is arriving in the back of your taxi? (No offence I'm sure your car is very nice)
Better purchasing? If you want to but something you have the choice to trawl the shops and the net for the best price. Or you can think sod it I need it now and walk into the nearest supplied and buy it regardless of cost. A council can't do that. They have to be transparent. They have to ensure that there can be no question of favoritism or corruption.
When you are spending the publics money it's that much harder


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[Old Cruser]

As long as I can remember to work for the L/A has been 'safety' - under their umbrella, the unions were strong ann I think listened too.

Unfortunately they haven't had a good name for handling money over the years and we have all heard the jokes about council work men which implies over staffing?

Some of the work is now I believe contracted out - but is it saving money?
I haven't got the answer to that maybe Slacker or JR can give their views?

It won't do the L/A any harm to have to put in stricter budgeting, but I do think it sounds as if the cuts have gone too far.

[Pete]

Agree with you there OC.

I suppose whoever is in power have their own upside and downside, it's just that with the world economics problems brought on by banks/traders it gives the current government a handy excuse to do what they want - which seems to be generally take from the poor and give to the rich.

[Old Cruser]

The basis of what they are trying to achieve is right in some instances IMO, but trying to do it all in the short time they have in Government isn't right for many of the people in lower classes and disabled. In fact it's ruthless and uncaring.

They should have been chasing the fraudsters like the chap on the news today first -

We have yet to see what the short fall will be in the Social Care, I asked at a workshop last week how it would affect the adults in S/C.

They couldn't answer that, so we have to wait for cabinate I suppose to make it known

[Pete]

>> The basis of what they are trying to achieve is right in some instances IMO, but trying to do it all in the short time they have in Government isn't right for many of the people in lower classes and disabled. In fact it's ruthless and uncaring.

What winds me up is that Osborne said he'd have our economy balanced by 2015 and that helped them get elected. Since then most people have taken a hit or two if only because of rising prices but no rising wages.

Now he tells us, after 3 years austerity, that the economy won't be sorted until 2020 - which gives them plenty of time to sell off the NHS and other important areas. And if he is also wrong about that projection, when will it be?