Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,019
Well that’s a surprise .KCC running out of money unless the government step in they will be declared bankrupt by 2023.Someone should have stepped in sooner.Perhaps our KCC members will reduce their expenses.What a terrible forecast .Good job the KCC elections are over two years away .Spending money on useless schemes .The children’s services not a good report.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
All voted for by our conservative led council .
Is this the time to reduce the number of costly council's ?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
This really is not a surprise, it has been rumoured since the middle of 2021 that they were running out of money, hence desperate measures like the proposals regarding the Roundhouse & the slashing of social bus funding.
Sadly, cutting councillor expenses would be a purely symbolic gesture given the scale of the deficit.
There is a need to revisit which organisations we expect to deliver which services, how these should be funded, how these entities should be organised, do we need national minimum standards for service delivery etc.
For example should social care provision be part of the NHS or should it be delivered by councils? What about social services?
At what level are children's services best organised, funded & delivered?
Unitary authorities may be the answer, but then again they may not.
Jan Higgins likes this
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,944
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,944
Council's still think railway shares and tulip bulbs good investment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-63624019.amp"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,807
Surely part of the problem is where the government comes up with some silly or grandiose unnecessary plan or scheme and the council says yes please but has to provide a small fortune to access the 'free' money. The cycle/bus lane and the Market Square being recent shining examples, never mind those cardboard looking benches that thankfully rapidly disappeared.
When short of funds a sensible person , group or council should only spend money on things that are absolutely necessary.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Gary39- Registered: 7 Jul 2017
- Posts: 450
Totally agree with above… petitioned at Aycliffe to provide extra parking at Aycliffe..
Guess what one walk around to decide where the extra parking can be made..
7 years and no progress. They say no money which some was promised to start the project off. Guess what they DDC can find part of the money for the Fast-track to Whitfield which does include Aycliffe..
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
I think this wide range of comments to be correct
So councillors should not going in for wild schemes that are costly and mount up .
Whilst cllrs expenses might be a drop in the ocean it might send out a more trusting vibe.
Costs of running three councils should also be looked at .
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
All this and add on the proportion for police and fire brigade it's out of control.
Time to look at the need for three costly council's
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,944
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
It's a pity we don't have accountable councillors post on here
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,944
What can I say?
1. Propose policy which is guaranteed to annoy voters,
2. Withdraw policy.
3. Wonder why people don't vote for you.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/tip-closures-plan-axed-296481/"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Button- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,030
I'm confused!
A) I thought your theory was to threaten to close x tips, then actually close only x-1 and thereby reap the kudos.
B) "Controversial plans to close four of Kent’s tips lie in tatters after county councillors voted to dump the proposals. Conservative members rejected all closure options" vs "The HWRCs at risk were Faversham, Tovil (Maidstone), Deal, Richborough, Dartford and Swanley."
(Not my real name.)
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,944
A) Apparently the Govt's decision to keep open ALL the railway ticket offices was SO sucessful KCC decided to folow the same policy with the tips.
B) Numeracy has never been our councillors' strong point. (See budgets)
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
I will say again
Maybe it's time to look at the number of councils we have (3)
All that have high staffing costs .
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,944
As you were campers. The threat's back on for the tips!
'Public Consultation' my arse as Jim Royle might say
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/if-i-had-my-way-i-d-close-even-more-tips-297419/"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,807
'Public Consultation' means someone asked a friend outside of the home or office.
I sometimes wonder if some politicians live in the same world as the rest of us mortals.
Car miles up for the those who will travel further and fly tipping increased by the irresponsible.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
We have got ourselves in a situation of costly expenditure whilst providing the minimum , often short of minimum .
The council tax keeps rocketing up whilst services get reduced or cut .
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS