Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
21 October 2009
06:5631088Howard, Sue wasn't saying that all old people should pay for their bus-fares, but if there are older people who are comfortably off, who can afford to pay, say half-fares, to keep those who can't afford it, to continue to have free fares, what is wrong with that ?
Is that not sensible ? Is that not a better use of the available money ? is that not having a social conscience ?
Roger
21 October 2009
07:0531090No, it is cost cutting at the vulnerable edge. Of course there are different income levels in the elderly population as in any other population, but the principle should remain that we offer a good and decent quality of life to our elders, whatever. The means-testing mind set of the (particularly) blue-tinged political wings is demeaning and divisive. Clearly there will be inequalities given the diversity within the demographic, but what the hey - our society should suck it up and value and cherish our elders. I don't think they or we should be grateful that a centre used by elders gets a new kitchen and perhaps some mugs out of whcih to drink their tea, grateful for free bus travel, or grateful to have our support. And as has been pointed out - unliike our alleged betters in Westminster, many elders voluntarily pay their way because they have a genuine social conscience and a wish to serve their community best.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,022
21 October 2009
09:3231095Howard in Berns posting 2373 she refers to councillors jollies .
For those of you who are interested the older persons champion is Cllr Sue Chandler
Roger that was a good posting .I dont have a crystal ball but cuts are on the way .Just a simple throw away comment and all hell breaks loose .Over sixties who could afford it used to pay half fare me being one of them .Bern dont twist my comments Im only pointing out I do have respect for the older generation and some of us do work in the voluntary sector .I would dearly love to know how much time pou and Howard give to voluntary work .
21 October 2009
09:4831096Another dig at people who comment critically.............I suppose having to work many hours in a demanding not for profit sector doesn't count? It should not be necessary to justify in terms of hours of voluntary work on order to comment and hold opinions. How much voluntaruy work do es Paul Watkins do? Gordon Brown? Your record is yours, not mine or Howards, and should stand alone. It is clear that you care about what you do, so don't let yourself down by jibing at peple who disagree.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 October 2009
09:5831098roger
my post 75 answers your question, i think.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
21 October 2009
15:4031112Yes, thanks Howard.
I put that post again, in answer to your number 79 post.
No one is saying old people must stay in doors, no one is saying that those who can't afford bus-fares should lose their free travel either.
It's obviously a sensitive subject - council (County and District) provision of services.
I read today of one Borough Council - Barnet, where they are taking a leaf out of budget airlines book and offering basic statutory services for a minimal council tax and inviting local ratepayers what extra services they would like - for a little extra cost.
I don't know all the ins and outs of every part of this idea, but everyone must comes to terms with rising costs and/or lower services - exactly what services do they really want.
This District Council have been very prudent with your money over recent years and not gone over 5%; they've also not cut services either.
Savings will have to be made - at every level; would you like to decide what you want the Council to provide ? you can put your thoughts on here, they will be read.
Roger
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
21 October 2009
17:0531123Reduce the number of Councillors
Scrap free tea and biscuits for meetings (they've done it over here and saved £6k)
Pay freeze on all local council employeees earning over £20k(saved £2 mill here)
Reduce the number of local council QUANGO's
Reduce the number of Traffic Wardens
Charge a £5 per commercial vehicle that uses the council tip at Whitfield
Introduce Toll Gates at the M20 and Folkestone Rd for foreign reg'd vehicles
DHB to pay an annual sum for *issing off Dovorians
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 October 2009
17:1431124fair comment roger, can i get back to the issue of subsidised bus travel though.
the government pays for it by giving money to local authorities.
at present some councils are not getting enough whilst others claim to be short changed.
the whole thing is very new, surely each authority should present a copy of its costs to the operators, to the government.
then things can be evened out.
21 October 2009
18:3731132Marek: genius!!! Every one of those ideas is sane and do-able!!
As for Roger: it is all very well saying we should ask people what they want, but I have seen no evidence that many companies deliver what they are asked. The local fuss about buses is a case in point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 October 2009
19:1331135some interesting ideas from marek especially the quango bit.
not sure about traffic/parking wardens though, i think we have the right number but they are not assigned to the areas that need their presence.
in my view, their job is just a revenue collecting exercise, not a service that helps traffic flow.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
21 October 2009
20:3531139On mareks points it will take all councils(all 3 of them) to agree to reduce number of cllrs very unlikely to achieve
only worry is local reps become even more remote(dont see most of ours already)
yep scrapping food, and freeze on jobs over "W£20,000
to be fair i think DHB does give an annual fee locally maybe that needs qualifying
on buses in general, dont forget many senior citizens don't use the passes yet stasgecosach was given dosh on the amount of senior citizens all taking up travel so would be interesting to see the figures
and dont forget there have been NO EXTrA buses provided for this issue
so whats the extra costs?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 October 2009
20:4531143good point there keith, i forgot about the fact that no extra buses were put on.
additionally they spend less time at stops now as people with passes do not spend time digging out the right money.
with the old half fare thing, a lot of fares came out to some really odd amounts 47 p 63 p and so on, try to imagine the time lost people fumbling around for the right money, discovering that they haven't. then waiting for an exasperated driver to hunt around for a few pence.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
21 October 2009
21:4031147HOWARD
As always I try to help!!
