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Originally Posted by BillGreene
Blackburn with Darwen is not under the control of LCC and my reading of what was said in the papers is that the political leaders of Hyndburn want to take power away from LCC and with the support of Blackburn make the decisions themselves on issues such as education and social services.
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Several issues.
** (These are my own observations and not the views of other Labour Group members)
Contracting in Blackburn (officers &) services - we will lose influence over employment, policy emphasis, structure within departments. Will we end up in reality being tied so much to Blackburn, we become 'Blackburns poodle'?
To transfer staff (from LCC to Bburn) will be costly and complex, paid for by us? Could be *10%-15% on HBC Council Tax just to achieve it (*Bburns cost when it went unitary).
What happens when Blackburn changes its way, or policies and we don't agree, who do we buy services from then and what will hapen to employees of the company (B'burn Council in this case) when we source elsewhere? This model suggests a supermarket concept, we don't like one product or provider we can buy from another, who?
Isn't this the thin end of the wedge. Inevitably we will have opened the door to a Blackburn with Hyndburn Council?
When are the public going to be consulted, and when will Councillor Britcliffe allow other ideas to be discussed other than his own. Particularly what opposition parties are suggesting as they are as involved as he is and know as much? Lets not cheat the public with the discussion.