Accrington Web - View Single Post

Graham Jones · 14-11-2005, 17:20

Its a bit pedantic to suggest LCC take 78% and not 85%. The other authorities are not local either and the point has no bearing on the fact that the vast bulk of money is spent way up the ladder in Preston. What a unitary authority will do is bring that 78% spending a lot closer to Hyndburn at the price of 15% of our Council tax moving upward/away.

So I don't accept the false argument that we are totally giving power/authority away from Hyndburn. Particularly when you consider as one point made was salaries at LCC. How many Hyndburn residents work there but live and shop here? An East Lancs authority where Blackburn and Burnley are rivals, Pendle/Ribble Valley and Rossendale are not on the main trunk route M65 puts Hyndburn in a great position. This represents not only an issue of better local democracy but good economic/employment benefits in which Hyndburn should seize on its central position. Maybe the Globe Centre + Scaitcliffe House???

Right now LCC is about to consolidate its Highways Department ending its costly contracts to local authorities. Willows Lane staff are about to be transfered to LCC, Willows Lane/HBC Highways Dept shut down and all operations moved to Whalley. I don't think that would have happened so easily with an East Lancs Authority.

14-11-2005, 17:20	#30
Graham Jones I am Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 279 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 0	Re: What would this cost us Its a bit pedantic to suggest LCC take 78% and not 85%. The other authorities are not local either and the point has no bearing on the fact that the vast bulk of money is spent way up the ladder in Preston. What a unitary authority will do is bring that 78% spending a lot closer to Hyndburn at the price of 15% of our Council tax moving upward/away. So I don't accept the false argument that we are totally giving power/authority away from Hyndburn. Particularly when you consider as one point made was salaries at LCC. How many Hyndburn residents work there but live and shop here? An East Lancs authority where Blackburn and Burnley are rivals, Pendle/Ribble Valley and Rossendale are not on the main trunk route M65 puts Hyndburn in a great position. This represents not only an issue of better local democracy but good economic/employment benefits in which Hyndburn should seize on its central position. Maybe the Globe Centre + Scaitcliffe House??? Right now LCC is about to consolidate its Highways Department ending its costly contracts to local authorities. Willows Lane staff are about to be transfered to LCC, Willows Lane/HBC Highways Dept shut down and all operations moved to Whalley. I don't think that would have happened so easily with an East Lancs Authority.