proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
Only a matter of time.
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What do local councils actually do?
- Thread starter Goldilox
- Start date
Goldilox
How do I edit this?
My Googling (other search engines available) turned up this Parliamentary Briefing which suggests the formula by which the money is allocated is due to change in 2018-19 as a result of policy decisions made by the Con-Dem coalition.
kyoto49
Well-Known Forumite
Possibly true, but the poor funding in Staffs pre-dates that. It was certainly in place 12 years ago when DD started primary school.
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
Good find. I think this is something Lefroy has been lobbying on for some time, for whatever that is worth.
Dabbler
Well-Known Forumite
I think, if my memory is right, that this is something that David Kidney focused on and Jeremy Lefroy took over, but successive governments did nothing about - presumably because some people realised they may lose out if other areas benefited. Will be interesting to see whether the change in 2018 is for the better or not!
Goldilox
How do I edit this?
I think you may have misunderstood my post. The Con-Dems made the decision to replace the existing system & the new formula designed by them will be put in place in 2018-2019.
It's promised to be fairer, but then, they would say that...
alphagamma
Well-Known Forumite
In answer to the question, on a good day they take our money then squander it, particularly on paying unaccountable and impossible to get rid of chief executives. On an bad day, councils are totally corrupt. In Stafford's case this is/was fact, not a conspiracy theory. Google "George Newman bribes"
Dabbler
Well-Known Forumite
So, one Councillor, convicted 40 years ago. Hardly a basis for stating that councils are totally corrupt...
alphagamma
Well-Known Forumite
Read what I actually wrote, please. I think you'll find it wasn't just one councillor convicted. Are you saying that taking bribes to put planning apps through isn't totally corrupt?
Dabbler
Well-Known Forumite
You said that unaccountable and impossible to get rid of chief executives were employed. The man you reference was the Leader, an elected member, not the Chief Executive. Which other officials were convicted? It was 40 years ago. I don't see how a case from that long ago is relevant to the work of the Council today, in a totally different era, when priorities and responsibilities are different.
Of course taking bribes for any reason, planning or otherwise is corrupt. You stated that councils are totally corrupt. I don't think that the one case you reference makes all councils totally corrupt.
There will always be rotten apples in every industry, where that is the case they need to be stopped and prosecuted. Whether that is local authority or private sector is irrelevant. But you can't then tar every identical organisation with the same brush.
Of course taking bribes for any reason, planning or otherwise is corrupt. You stated that councils are totally corrupt. I don't think that the one case you reference makes all councils totally corrupt.
There will always be rotten apples in every industry, where that is the case they need to be stopped and prosecuted. Whether that is local authority or private sector is irrelevant. But you can't then tar every identical organisation with the same brush.
alphagamma
Well-Known Forumite
Again, read what I said. Apologies for the 'an bad day' typo, if that's causing difficulties.
I didn't say Newman was the CE.
I didn't 'state that councils were totally corrupt'.
And wasn't G Newman the Chairman, as they didn't have 'Leaders' in those days?
A council isn't an 'industry'.
Do you really think no-one else knew about what was going on in the 1970s?
In answer to the question, on a good day they take our money then squander it, particularly on paying unaccountable and impossible to get rid of chief executives. On an bad day, councils are totally corrupt. In Stafford's case this is/was fact, not a conspiracy theory. Google "George Newman bribes"
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
Indeed. They can also be raised about the leadership under Mr (I'm sorry I forgot to mention I'm a director of businesses that bring about a conflict of interest) Heenan.
Mikinton
Well-Known Forumite
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So why aren't the council and Lefroy fighting to get a level playing field, i.e the same amount for each kid? I see no signs of such
It seems they are.
I have a good friend who owns a nursery in Lichfield and they have funding for free childcare places throught dedicated schools grant. SSC are working with private and voluntary nurseries to lobby the DfE and government for fairer funding rates and look at ways to make what they receive work better.
My understanding from my friend is that this has been successful and there will a good increase per hour per child ( nursery kids) from April.
Alot of councils raised issue why more deprived areas (putisde London) receive better funding rates I.e.like stoke do than staffs and cheshire when the cost of childcare is lower in such low income areas.
Apparently the government claim low income children need more and have higher needs. So nurseries in many of these areas get paid higher rates with no requirement to justify who or where children are coming from and what the extra baseline money has been used for.
I am no expert in the area, this is what I have veen told.
Proactive has made no insult at all. He has very accurately correcting a couple of your points and he is spot on in his comment about education funding, education and unfairness and being personal at all.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but inaccurate information and statements stand to be corrected, happens to everyone but it is not personal.
The whole education and funding thing has nothing to do with the borough council, never has to my knowledge.
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kyoto49
Well-Known Forumite
Can you please point out where I said education was a borough council role? I'll help, you won't be able to so stop making sh*t up again. Both the county and borough councils are local with their provision and this is why I referred to education.
Bight rev
A few posts under my belt
Back to the original post ! And both Stafford borough and Staffordshire County council don't appear to be there for much !
What we have seen is cuts, upon cuts, no viable policing anymore, roads are in a shocking state and not being repaired even when reported, long waits for ambulances if there is one available due to cuts, library's closed, fire stations downgraded, no maintenance being done, or a bare minimum could go on with that list
What they are good at is taking our money, in council tax, parking charges and a particular favourite parking fines.
At least 40% of the services have been cut and the government has ok'd a 6% rise in council tax over the next two years.
all I know is that if I service I pay for is being cut I would not expect to pay as much for it, let alone pay more
Just surprised that people have so far put up with this.
What we have seen is cuts, upon cuts, no viable policing anymore, roads are in a shocking state and not being repaired even when reported, long waits for ambulances if there is one available due to cuts, library's closed, fire stations downgraded, no maintenance being done, or a bare minimum could go on with that list
What they are good at is taking our money, in council tax, parking charges and a particular favourite parking fines.
At least 40% of the services have been cut and the government has ok'd a 6% rise in council tax over the next two years.
all I know is that if I service I pay for is being cut I would not expect to pay as much for it, let alone pay more
Just surprised that people have so far put up with this.
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
Police is nothing to do with either Council. Accost Matthew Ellis about that one.
Council cuts are mainly down to their cash supply being strangled by Central Government and not being able to raise Council Tax sufficiently (because we'd all whinge about it). Write either to Mrs T Maybenot, c/o Westminster or Mr D Camoron, c/o some tax shelter in sunnier climes about that.
As with most things, want better services, pay more tax.
Council cuts are mainly down to their cash supply being strangled by Central Government and not being able to raise Council Tax sufficiently (because we'd all whinge about it). Write either to Mrs T Maybenot, c/o Westminster or Mr D Camoron, c/o some tax shelter in sunnier climes about that.
As with most things, want better services, pay more tax.