Bloody rates bill has arrived

[timwilky]

Yes you may be competative against private contractors etc. But it is the waste that council commission.

EG. Putting down unnecassary road markings, digging up 2nd lanes of major roads for flower beds. unnecassary signage, support groups for the idle and drug abusers. subsidised housing for the feckless, sports facilities that nobody can afford to hire etc.


Far better they were given x amount based on the population in their area and told. to prioritise and not come back till the next financial year etc. Instead they grab back their overspending by charging a few of the locals, in the knowledge that the majority are unaware of how much they charge

Originally Posted by timwilky

Yes you may be competative against private contractors etc. But it is the waste that council commission.

EG. Putting down unnecassary road markings, digging up 2nd lanes of major roads for flower beds can't comment on this. unnecassary signage, support groups for the idle and drug abusers - doesn't get my vote either but it isn't necessary local choice but statutory obligation - you can't blame local council for all these issues. subsidised housing for the feckless well same again but neither do I like to pay NHS to support smokers who can't cope without - that is just the society we live in, same in many countries, sports facilities that nobody can afford to hire etc. - err, as apposed to cheaper private facilities? Most of them are run independently cos Council's have had to reduce costs. They could be closed - tried it eslewhere I worked - the public outcry!!

Oh you think its done by choice rather than public demand - you would be suprised. See the backlash if such things aren't done. Yes if local Councils weren't forced to do it then it would of course cost less. I heard a complaint a couple of days ago because the council hadn't picked up used syringes. So if you're not going to pay for it who is going to pick em up. Who will you complain to then?

Far better they were given x amount based on the population in their area and told. to prioritise and not come back till the next financial year etc. Instead they grab back their overspending by charging a few of the locals, in the knowledge that the majority are unaware of how much they charge

Priority is already done based on local demand and limited budget - yes very much limited. people complain at the cost of building/repairing a road (private contractors bid through a very rigorous tender process) but complain equally if it isn't done. Raod building is very expensive - period. Have the roads and pay or don't have em.

Its easy to complain but we all have to see reality at some point.

That's me done know... have fun folks!

Smokers are great. They pay out more in taxes than they use up, and often die before they can claim a full pension.

As for roads, we do pay. Alot. Increasingly amounts each year too. Yet less money is spent on transport now than 20 years ago IIRC.

The government can't be trusted with money so should be given as little as possible.

Tim- showing your age calling it "rates" aint ya


maybe its gone up because you have some new big gates .???

If you want lower taxes then vote tory. You will of course get bugger all local services for it. How quickly people forget what services were like back in the late 80's early 90's.

Lets see, no new schools for 20 years, with crap cold mobiles being used for over subscribed schools with little or no resources. NHS housed in out of date facilities falling apart. Trains that were falling apart never on time and always breaking down. Boom bust economics with a good percentage of my friends out of work but with no system to speak of to fall back on.

In my own particular town we now have a new hospital, all mobile classrooms are gone with new facilities built, a large GP surgery. A new centralised modern Police station. buses that run on time. Trains are still full but aleast they are clean and generally on time. Yes there is still lots of things that need doing but there always will be.

In simplistic terms you get what you pay for. Yes there is a lot of waste but there always will be in running a country.

I heard someone say the following and I thought to myself that it was very true.

The one thing governments need its lots of time and money to deliver what the people want. The problem is, people will give anything but time and money.

No Im not a blairite, but I do beleive that people have forgotten very quickly what it was really like about 15- 20 years ago.