Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Yes.

There is no Earthly reason why the limit of the allowances isn't the same nationwide, and I'd be interested to see evidence that shows otherwise.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

M.P.'s have the same limit on the allowances they can claim, be they from Hyndburn, Burnley, or the Ribble Valley.

I don't see why councillors should see themselves as a different case.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Understand your reasoning Garinda, but which body would set them ? And who would pay towards these committees ? Would be the start of being guided by Parliament I would think ... which would not be suitable; the beginning of the end of democratic local government.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

You must not forget that I am condemning anybody who USES the expenses. There is no point voting against them if you're going to take advantage of them anyway. I am sure you agree with me on this. :)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I'm sorry Andrew but are you saying that Councillors should be out of pocket? Let's not get confused here between Allowances and Expenses.

Expenses are the actual cost of the hotel or meal, you need receipts to claim expenses. If Graham voted against the increase that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be allowed to claim expenses up to the previous limit.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

No councillors should not be out of pocket for expenses, however clearly Graham does not believe that the expenses need to be increased, so why should he need to spend above the previous limit? Unless he was just voting for popularism and that the expenses increase was needed...

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

If four independent people can assess one council, then those findings should be applicable to all councils. In reality it could be done thre times say, and averaged out, and that is what each council's limit would be for allowances.

It seems like a waste of time and money to do each and every council, because all councillors will experience the same need for allowances.

It seems daft there are people going round assessing each individual council, especially if those recommendations aren't being followed anyway.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

If the councillors on Hyndburn Borough Council are going to ignore the findings of the independent body, by voting to not accept their proposed limit for meals, which allowed a London weighting, which should have kept Cllr. 'if anyone knows where you can eat for a tenner in London you should write a guide book' Britcliffe, the wisest way they could have ignored the findings of the independent body would have been to vote for their allowance to be increased by the same rate as inflation.

There wouldn't have been a story then.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

How they act, both in standards and to some extent policy, is already guided by parliament, for example their need to reach recycling quotas etc.

The government is to bring in new legislation that would allow councillors to vote on issues without the need to be present in council chambers.

‘Pay councillors to vote from the pub’: Labour ministers push ahead with new rules despite town hall protests | Mail Online

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Just one comment on that, stupid, end of

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Guess I was wrong.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Slightly different topic me thinks Rindi:rolleyes:maybe you should start a new thread on it :D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Has Graham spent or claimed any expenses since the increase?

Can you be clear about what you're saying here because you appear to be suggesting that Graham voted against the increase and has now stacked up a huge amount of expenses on the new limit. Yet, that can't possibly be so what evidence have you to say that he would?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

What are the Carers allowance claims?

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

The rate is £ 9 per hour Taggy, but sure I read that no Councillor has ever claimed this as yet.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Carer’s Allowance
Subject to the conditions in paragraph 4.2, a carer’s allowance will be paid in respect of
costs necessarily incurred by Councillors in arranging care for:-
• a child or children under the age of 15
• an elderly relative requiring full time care
• a relative with a physical disability requiring full time care
• a relative with learning disabilities requiring full time care
where this is done in order to enable the Councillor to undertake any of the approved duties
set out in paragraphs (1) to (7) of Schedule 2.
The following conditions apply in respect of entitlement to carer’s allowance:-
i) the person for whom care has been arranged must live in the same household as the
Councillor,
ii) the care in respect of which the allowance is claimed must not be provided by a
member of the Councillor’s immediate family or household,
iii) the Councillor must notify the Council of the identity of the carer in respect of whose
costs the allowance is claimed.
The rate of the carer’s allowance shall be increased annually with effect from 1st April by the
rate of inflation as measured by the Retail Prices (All Items) Index.
The rate of carer’s allowance is £9.00 per hour.

Sorry, took me some time to select this bit .... :rolleyes:

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I am not, on this occasion, saying that he has, as they do not come into effect until April. I am saying that councillors who voted against it would be hypocritical if they did spend the new value.

I do point out that Councillor Jones voted against councillors claiming more than one special responsibility allowance. He now takes more than one special responsibility allowance. Blatantly done to look good in the paper. Stinks of hypocrisy.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Thanks for that Katex.

Pity the Governments Carers allowance isnt that generous! Just over Fifty odd quid for a minimum of 35 hours care! Scandalous!


Best Regards - Taggy

I voted FOR the extra planning allowance of £750 and that is my second allowance. I voted FOR this under the 2 or more allowances rule.

You're a prat Andrew.



Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I see nothing wrong with the 2 or more allowances rule. At least it will mean that those who do more will get more. We all know there are some councillor's that do a lot more than others. As you have already said you have lost a chunk of your wages because you are a councillor.

I have always assumed your allowances are taxable, is that correct?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Yes Neil -

7. Taxation
7.1 Members’ allowances will be treated as earned income and will be subject to income tax and
national insurance at the prevailing rates. It will be the Councillor’s responsibility to provide
details of his/her tax code and other sources of income to the Council’s payroll section to
enable the correct deductions to be made.
7.2 Members who claim other allowances and benefits (including job seeker’s allowance,
incapacity benefit, housing benefit, etc.) should be aware of the effects that receiving a
Member’s allowance will have on the levels of those benefits and allowances. In cases of
doubt, advice should be sought from the local office of the Department of Work and
Pensions and the Council’s Housing Benefits Section.

All fair and square.

No, I am not Graham's mouthpiece .. just that he has gone off line ...LOL.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

That's a pity.

Peter has Jaysay, and Graham could have had you....as a mouthpiece I mean, not sat on his knee, taking dictation.

:D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Don't start getting her all excited, she has been bad enough recently as it is :D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Cheeky .. must be those snowdrop shoots, Spring around the corner ... might as well be the Apex one though, still seems far away. :D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I see. Yet when Councillor Britcliffe voted for this, you said in the Observer,
"He's got no extra responsibility because he is doing what he did before, so what is the money for?"

Did you actually vote for this? In 2007 the Independent Remuneration Panel review said that second allowances should not be allowed. During a vote you put down an amendment,

Your amendment would have ensured that no second allowances could be taken. It was defeated, and you now take a second allowance. Are we to believe that you put down an amendment, but then voted against it? Hypocrisy.

Labour Councillors voted against the two allowances. However following that Labour Councillors agreed that Planning was onurus and put in £750.

I am more interested in making the Borough great. The Tories andrew want to line their pockets. I am not outraged, just disapponted now. Maybe the years of Tory greed and winning elections has dulled my resistance. I object to two allowances when it is being abused. Eg big allowances child care and travel. Planning £750 as a second allowance is atrivial matter THAT I VOTED FOR andrew. I wasn't even going on planning until a secret phone call was leaked to the Tories and instead of having 3 on planning we have 5 and I've had to find time to do the job.

So lining my own pockets no. Hypocrite no. The irony is Andrew is you voted for me to have them. And now your complaining. If we can have 2 separate policies on every issue then I have a bunch that would take us from being a poor Tory Council to agreat Labour one.

PS watch out for another whopping Tory 5% Council Tax rise. At least this thread demonstrates where its being spent and £100k in the back pockets of Landlords as well.

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: :eek::eek::eek::eek:

That's quite a carrot to dangle before us.

Will we, the poor general public, get to hear more about this?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Great and Labour in he same sentence, your having a laugh

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Will that be to pay for the council offices to be open when they should be between Christmas & New Year ?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

The Observer quotes 3.6%, are they wrong?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Off course they are Neil the great I'm that is Graham Jones is never wrong, the last time some one professed that, they nailed him to a cross 2000 years ago

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

that is a bit extreme. Anyway graham is not perfect, he puts black current in his cider
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I see, so when the Conservatives vote for increases they're lining their pockets, but when Labour do, its okay. Right.

No I don't think I did vote for you to have them. I'm not a councillor.

£750 paid to each individual with two positions on planning committee. That's trivial. When the council send out calendars with councillors details on, and when councillors vote for a rise in expenses, similar to trade union levels, that's not trivial to you. You make a big song and dance about it because you know you can make the nasty tories look bad.

You can't preach to be the whiter than white party if you're not.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Well it can happen to the best of you.

The Editor accuses you of being wrong, in reponse to your letter accusing the paper of not saying the recent councillor's allowances were a maximum level, when they quite clearly did state the fact, as the Editor points out very succinctly in this weekend's Observer.

I nearly choked on my bun, because of the laugh it produced whilst I was eating it.

:p

Another Tory trick. sorry this refers to 3.6% figure above.

LCC are putting up Council Tax 2.9% (whatever it is) and that's 72% of all council tax. The local Tories are burying their 5% by producing an average figure. Every year they do this unless its the other way around the they scream incompetence at County hall.

The problem is Jaysay, the more I tell the truth the more you don't lime it and NEED to pull me down. The fact is Labour have been kicked off 4 committees so the truth can't be told so easily.

More scandous is Labours proposal to stop council tax relief on long term epmties which would save £100k of tax payers money. What did our local Tories do. Shout it down saying it was a crackpot policy, then voted to end the debate before it started, then tory landlords refused to declare and interest and went on to vote it down. There presence didn't matter becAuse the double dealing indepnedents have already sold their votes for favours to the controlling Tories.

A rotten borough when you find out the truth.



Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

The way the debate and vote went does sound a bit iffy.
So by empties do you mean empty properties full stop or just ones up for rent?
I am not sure what I think about paying council tax on empty houses. After all an empty house is not using many of the council services. Maybe they should pay a reduced rate while empty. Trouble is you would get all the fraudulent empty claims so might be easier to just charge for empty houses. I wonder who would pay if a house had been repossessed?

So what favours are the double dealing independents after?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

You amaze me andrew with your spin. Labour councillors vote for £750 for planning. That is not lining your pockets. Tories votes for £5000-£20000 increases on one vote and milk other allowances. That is lining your pocket.

Yes you did vote for it. Your party believes in high council expenses and you voted for that. As PB says we won the election people voted for our policies not yours. So your leader attributes responsibility to you andrew as well.

Ps this borough can be a much better. We need more democracy that's all.


Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark

Don't tell me they did succeed in changing the name of the borough after all, whilst I wasn't looking?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Are you drinking home made tea leaf wine again or something because that post confused my little overworked brain?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Sorry for confusing your little brain.:o

I forget you only went to CRGS, and literary jokes, bringing together two issues, the council's allowances/budgets, and last year's brainwave of wasting more money on an unnecessary name change for the borough, was rather neatly brought together, in my opinion.:D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Your apology is accepted my friend :p

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

You're welcome (he posted, knowing his insults had been happily accepted as an apology.)

:D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Graham, your unbelievable. Labour ruined the council financially last time they were let loose. Labour have voted for increased council taxes, much higher than the Conservatives ones, 8 out of 10 times. You complain about how our council tax has gone up exponentially, yet when you look at the facts, its gone up 45%, where as the rest of the country has seen on average 100%. You take that 45%, and just think, what that figure would be if those 8 out of 10 times Labour would have increased council tax further if they were in power.

You introduce complex budgets, the empty house tax you mentioned earlier, to a vote at council, without informing councillors so they can look over it. You expect them to make a decision there and then, otherwise you'll rage on about how the Conservatives voted against it. Back of the fag packet politics and budgets.

You bang on about our council being the most expensive in the country, you've had it explained to you time and time again that it isn't, and how the paper came to the conclusion it did, but you continue to drill at it because it makes the Tories sound bad. To be frank, Im sure you understand the figures by now, and you're just being dishonest to keep saying its the most expensive.

We have democracy, your party just didn't win. Why don't you work with the controlling party for the betterment of the borough, instead of trying to trip the Conservatives up for your own electoral advantage. If you can't do that because of your hatred of Britcliffe, and Conservatives, then I have no idea why you're involved in politics.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I know it's bad form to reply to your own post but just spotted this on the council website;

Does anyone want to tell him half of them were skiving :rolleyes:

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I wonder how much his 'letters of thanks' cost, and if they were recycled, after his missive had been passed on?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Andrew where you at the December Council meeting? Your 'esteemed' Leader declared he could not go through the figures, but he had a copy of the figures, fully costed out in front of him, but choose (as usual) 'to speak in Press headlines'.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Yes I was there, and in my hands were all the documents along with the agenda. This is what is given to councillors I presume too. Was there any hint or mention of this back of the fag packet proposal on the agenda or attached documents? No.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Did everyone present who could vote have those figures in plenty of time before the meeting so they had time to read and understand what they were voting on?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Unfortunately, Jaysay made the mistake of having a go at the Observer here for not stating the facts, when they did actually quote Cllr. Britcliffe as spending £71 on accommodation at his last visit to London.

Think that he was trying to push the fact that this was only a recommended ceiling as other people (like yourself) would think this would be what they would always spend. Just came out a bit wrong... :rolleyes:

Very, very few people make anything on expenses as always need receipts to obtain full payment. I used to forget the odd things like cups of coffee, tips, pay as enter car parks, etc., always lost out. Have lost bigger receipts too .. stupid me ..:silly:

Like you, not supporting any particular party; just what's fair. e.g. Graham Jones should accept the allowance on the Planning Committee, as get the impression it is something he truly cares about.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I've been quite aware from the begining that the increase in expense allowances are an upper limit.

I've said at least twice in this thread that a wise council, at this critical financial time, would spend as little as possible of that allowance, and a foolish council wouldn't.

It was also pointed out earlier in the thread our council chose not to follow all the recommendations of the independent body, which for accommodation included a London weighting, and was substantially more than the previous allowance.

They chose to ignore it, and voted for the allowance to be much more than was recommended by the independent body.

The issue is about principles...and some people don't have 'em.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Keep promising myself will have the last word on this .. but Hey, I'm a woman.

You digressed a little there Garinda.

Have agreed myself in a past post that the limit of the meal was upped from the recommendation .. but still think is reasonable @ £25.

Actually, Graham Jones quoted the allowance for Planning as £750, and was only £742 ... :D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Just so we're clear, some of our councillors didn't fully follow the recommendations of the independent body.

They voted to raise the limit even higher than was suggested.

:D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

...and thanks to insider information from Jaysay, we now know exactly how much Cllr. Britcliffe actually needed to spend in London to feed his little face.

A figure that came in under the allowance suggested by the independent body, so why was it deemed necessary to hike the limit up even higher?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

The way it was worded was a little misleading.


No comment ;)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I actually think that it would be wrong for any councillor being out of pocket when attending to council business, be it staying in an hotel or claiming money for having to miss work, if you are in full time employment you cannot expect the boss to pay you when your not there. If councillors were out of pocket going their duties the only people we would get as councillors would be people on long term sick or retired people, which to my mind would be very counter productive. When I first got involved in politics 40 odd years ago, all meetings were held at night, well they were in Ossy, because I attended regularly, and councillors were NOT paid for their attendance. Okay its a different kettle of fish today, but I've always been of the opinion that we should have fewer councillors but make them full time, then we may attract more people into local government,which would be great for the Borough overall.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I think all the councillors are guilty of this. Jones admitted earlier that he voted for second allowances and takes them, yet the independent body recommended that second allowances should not be taken. He of course, voted against them first, because at that vote it would mean Britcliffe got paid more because he sits on a lot of committees, and does a lot of work. Nothing like voting against something so you can criticise the leader in the paper for 'not taking up any additional roles so why would he need more money' then taking extra money yourself. I don't suppose Jones will apologise for this hypocrisy. ;)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

unless i missed it, i aint noticed G.J. calling you "Barrett" andrew.:rolleyes:

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

No its usually much worse than that cashy:D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Not Cyfr?

That is terrible!

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Within 4 weeks of gaining power in 2002 we were given a Tory report saying how bankrupt the Council was. It is on record we began cost cutting in July and redundancies in August (from June) ***why would we do that???**. The Audit reports for 2000, 2001 and 2002 say the Council has significant financial weaknesses.

Andrew - once again you're wrong in desperately trying to float the sinking ship Tory.

Plonker. Tories have put up Council Tax 5% every year from 2004 except one where it was 4%. Labour (amendment) have had their budget pass financial regulations and has been between 2 and 3.5% every year since 2004. In 2003 it was 4%.

The Tories bring many late decisions to Council de riggeur. We asked for a 20 minute recess and then a full debate which could have lasted hours if neccessary. The report was comprehensive and simple. People in the public gallery read it and could comprehend it. Tories voted to end the debate before it even started so how did Tories know how complex it was!

Andrew you are becoming one of those silly Tories that people laugh it because you are so ridiculous.

1. The Daily (tory)graph did the reseach and printed the story
2. The Lancs Evening Telegraph ran the Hyndburn expensive headlines.
3. Labour Councillors reprinted the data.
4. Stop trying to censor anything anti-Tory.

5. The Conservatives have announced 3.6% Council Tax increase but they are pushing up their portion 7% I now believe with 10% cuts. Excellent Council, Excellent Finances???? Why rob people then with more high taxes.

6. You're not going to like our next leaflets then!

So we have to accept you're policies then? Not what you just stated regarding allowances. Andrew, think before you speak.

Andrew - that's outrageous. You're last two leaflets front page MAJOR policy, Sport for all was worked up totally by me - not the Labour Group if we are getting personal, and re badged as Conservative. I take that as as a compliment.

Ditto The u-turn on Town Councils, Name Change, and the comprehensive financial way forward for the market hall which is now being done which is 100% me again in ideas and direction. The execution of my ideas you're quite right is the Conservatives prerogative.

And last month the Conservatives voted with my ideas on Working Mens Clubs. O&S agreed to look at my idea for a Town Planner and I have personally dragged blighted sites policies from the dark ages to average. Get rid of the Tories and it will be excellent.

Finally lets take a look at Tory failure in full horror. Woodnook. In 2003 Peel had 19% boarded up in Derby Street area. By 2006 it is none or 1.

You're an obnoxious person Andrew because you try and slur me yet I gave more than you'll ever know.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

You just can't resist you're personal attacks can you! It shows how much the truth is getting to you that you personally have to go after me instead of telling people what YOU The Conservatives are doing positively.

Let's get the facts right again.
1. Tories bring massive allowance increases to Council every year. Labour never have. Priorities.
2. In general Labour vote against - The Tories with a majority win and allowances go up. Everyone collects the new allowance including independents.
3. Tories remove one extra allowance limit. Labour vote against and loose. Both the above in general go against what the Independent (far away) Renumeration panel advises.
4. Labour vote FOR (as a one off) a SMALL allowance for Planning £750. Councillor Jones declines putting himself on the Planning Committee for the next two years - too busy elsewhere
5 Tories milk second and further allowances by kicking Labour of Vice chairs and increasing the allowances for Vice Chairs to £5000 (from £1700). As well as Chairs and other important positions at £6000 to £9000.
6 The Tories make 5 Labour Councillors sit on Planning (normally 3) and Councillor Jones is FORCED to fill (as we have been losing Councillors at elections). £750 per year allowance is taken as 2nd allowance.

Andrew - don't try and paint me as something I am not. You're proving you're an obnoxious little twerp because you get everything wrong, use mis informartion to slur good people for party political gain.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

[QUOTE=g jones;677005]Within 4 weeks of gaining power in 2002 we were given a Tory report saying how bankrupt the Council was. It is on record we began cost cutting in July and redundancies in August (from June) ***why would we do that???**. The Audit reports for 2000, 2001 and 2002 say the Council has significant financial weaknesses.

Andrew - once again you're wrong in desperately trying to float the sinking ship Tory.

I would add for clarity - The Labour finances of 2002 and 2003 balanced and was signed off by Peter Britcliffe. Explain that as the Tories weren't in power that year!

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Do Local and County Councillors qualify for any type of pension benefits like MPs and other civil-service workers ? Seems to have been mentioned that they lose money (wages) whilst away from work on Council business so their contributions to any pension plan must be reduced as well .
Just curious ;)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Just to illustrate how Peter Britcliffe is economical with the truth (to put it politely) read this report (from Hyndburn Council's website) of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2009/10 as presented to Cabinet on Wednesday 4 February 2009. Peter Britcliffe announced to everyone present that Council Tax would rise by 3.6%, but if you read the report it shows Hyndburn's share of the Council Tax increasing by 7% (see page 38 of the report, were it itemises Hyndburn, Lancashire Police Authority, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and Lancashire County Council).
http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...to_Cabinet.pdf

In Accrington Observer the Council Tax increase was announced as 3.6%

Council tax to rise by 3.6 per cent - News - Accrington Observer

Maybe a Tory supporter can explain why the residents of Hyndburn have been given incorrect (and misleading information).

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

How many dire warnings dished out on the current ecomic siuation are being taken notice of?
18 months ago the rate paid to savers was in the region of 6%...The Pound was 1.42 against the Euro.
20,000 people went bankrupt in the last three months of last year...Add that to the 20.000 the people they employed...and I would say many did.
The banks having conned billions out of the government are not lending but considering huge bonuses to the dick heads who failed.
Where are we going?
The polls are suggesting yet again that the New Labour Government have gone 'Tits Up'.
I remember Maggie Thatcher and what she was responsible for but there are quite a few on here who remember what Harold Wilson was responsible for and this bunch of nerds are following in the same footsteps.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Yes they do. The normal LCC/HBC pension but only pro rata their income/allowances. No extra payments allowed. Of course getting knocked off means you discontinue payments too.

Because there are some nasty people around i will put it in this order.
1. I haven't claim petrol/mileage
2. I haven't claim childcare despite having a child (this may change!!!!! LOL)
3. I do put into the pension scheme - none of the other 35 councillors do. Because of Maggie we never had enough (or regular enough) to put into a pension so I, like many my age, have nothing (other than this small pension).

I notice Councillor Britcliffe is lining up another personal attack on me. One trip to London that cost £90. He knows HIS staff could only get me a train fare for £200 to London.

Labour Councillors looked this up and after some searching found it was available for £140.

I know he is lining up any personal attack he can get in.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Does 'this post come under 'Ducking or Diving'?
We are talking about peanuts here.....Is this what local politics is about?
This topic may turn the likes of Garinda on but it does nothing for me.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Well you have no need to carry on reading (and posting) on this topic if it doesn't interest you. Also as you are not a resident (or council tax payer) in hyndburn, I am sure it is will not concern you how much subsistence allowances for HBC councillors are raised too. There are many serious issues of 'improper' use of Council Tax Payers money that need to be raised in a public forum, such as this. I am sorry if it bores you, but as you now live in Spain, I would have thought you might be more interested in how your local taxes were being spent there.

This is not ment as a criticism of Eric's posting, I know he now lives in Canada, but at least he is trying to ask how local government functions her in Hyndburn.

I appreciate that you have never agreed with anything Garinda or I have posted, since we tried (along with several other people) to give you some helpful advice. But you did not want to listen to the advice, just have general rant about bank charges.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Surely not?

It is he who is the 'victim of vile and vicous attacks'.

Well at least according to Jaysay, writing to the press about a 'local internet forum'.

Perhaps he meant Hyndburn Life.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

nothing like juicy local politics.jut the way it should be.:)let the truth be out..

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

That is a very polite way of telling him to sling his hook :D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I am sure all Councillors are used to personal attacks. It appears to be an unfortunate downside to be in politics.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Sadly that seems to be true, as I pointed out in Silly Cowgate.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Maybe you should go to the library and find out the facts. Labour have voted for higher council tax. You believe in high taxation. Just look at national government for proof. You can't deceive everyone. I'm just glad we haven't had Labour in control or everyone would be paying a much higher council tax.

Good work. Deceive the public. Shame on you. I do hope its deception, because if you simply don't understand basic economics, which have been explained to you many times, then I fear dearly if you ever get in control of the borough.

Oh wait, you don't understand economics. You thought council tax had gone up 69% in ten years because you worked it out wrong. Oh dear.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Posted via Mobile DeviceAndrew you have conviently not answered how 7percent increase, as per last Cabinet report was annouced as 3.6 percent by Peter Britcliffe. I did post a link to the report for you. But maybe you do not understand simple economics.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Sorry, not sure my maths are up to scratch here but if the tax was 151.53 ten years ago and is now 221 - isn't that a 69% increase? Where am I going wrong with the calculation? Please explain.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Because you have only calculated what percentage is £151.53 of £221 not the increase. Should take away £221 -£151.23 = £69.77, then divide by £151.23 x 100 = 46.14 %

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Fair enough, couldn't work it out - not good on percentages.

Would have thought Graham would have got that right. Then again, it's Clare who's doing the budget so as long as she gets her sums right we'll be ok. ;)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I bet you know a pint is 100% more than a 1/2 pint :p

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Perhaps with time you'll come to accept that it was our most augustly Conservative of daily newspapers, the Daily Telegraph, that labelled Hyndburn as one of the most expensive Council Taxes in the country.

You might not agree with how they came to their conclusion, but I suggest you wouldn't be querying it if the Telegraph had said we were the least expensive.

It's up to the people who are actually paying the bill, to decide who they believe, the Daily Telegraph, or yourself.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Yes, yes I would, because it's wrong. We are not the least expensive or the most expensive. I doubt Graham is explaining the figures to people in his leaflets, so people cannot decide what to believe other than being told the lie that we have the most expensive council tax.

Lets see what the Telegraph say about the ten most expensive councils. Ten most expensive areas for council tax - Telegraph Hyndburn is not the most expensive, or the 10th most expensive. Graham needs to stop deceiving the public.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

As I recollect the advice forthcoming on that day was ineffectual rubbish.
The charge has since been returned to us with interest.
I have close relations in Hyndburn who pay all that is demanded of them, that is why I am still interested.
Maybe you are right about not agreeing with anything that you and Garinda post............That should tell you something....or would you like me to Kow Tow. :rolleyes:

Re: Living off the fat of the land
 

[i]Posted via Mobie[/IRoyboy the advice Garinda and I gave you was to approach the Halifax and ask for the charges to be refunded and to apply for an overdraft facility (which is completely free). You choose to ridicule the advice, but IT certainly was not infectual. I certainly don't expect you to 'Kow Tow' . I take it your relatives are happy with the increase in subsistence allowances and the £1500 spent on Area Council calendars then?

Re: Living off the fat of the land
 

This advice?

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ges-31627.html

It wasn't just us two though, plenty of other people offered advice, that was churlishly rejected because no one else apparently wanted to moan about legal charges banks, made for those who bounce cheques.:rolleyes:

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I've never seem any retraction printed in the Daily Telegraph, after they'd published as fact that Hyndburn was one of the most expensive boroughs in relation to it's Council Tax.:rolleyes:

As I've said before I've lived in the most expensive borough in England, Lambeth, and one which each year fought to have the lowest Council Tax with Westminster, Wandsworth. The former being a terrible place to live, and the latter a joy.

It's up to the people who use their hard earned money to pay their Council Tax bills in Hyndburn, to decide whether it's expensive or not, in relation to the quality of service given in return.

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Garinda did you click the link? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1899...uncil-tax.html Do you think its shameful for councillors to claim its the most expensive and deceive the public? I do.

Re: Living off the fat of the land
 

Don't forget to mention the cheque was returned for the sake of 39p......hardly a major crime?

Take care Accyweb.....notice the brat in action yet again.
All we wait for now is the tantrum.
Everybody likes me he say's...........some chance. :eek:

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I did not know you read it daily. Good man ;)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I notice you, or H.B.C., didn't make a legal challenge when the Daily Telegraph printed the story about Hyndburn having one of the most expensive Council Taxes in the county.

Might it be that although you dispute how they arrived at their findings, their lawyers are pretty hot at making sure their newspaper only prints the truth, for the reason that they'd be easily sued otherwise.

Anyway, we digress. This thread is actually about some councillors ignoring the recommendations of an idependent body, and voting to award themselves a higher limit for allowances.

Perhaps when you yourself actualy start paying a proportion of your income towards a Council Tax bill, you might be in a better position to judge if you think the increased allowances were really needed, or indeed if you thought what you received back in services was expensive or not.;)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I like to read everything I can, to ensure a broad view of things, besides which I like their crossword.:D

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I think I missed it.

The link, to the telegraph, clearly states we are not the most expensive council. Do you think its wrong for Labour to print that we are, as it is a lie?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Besides a very right wing political bias, the quality of reporting is very good, if a little dry.

An example being a story they ran last week. You do get the facts, but not the obvious misery some poor people are suffering.

Britons living in Spain 'not prepared for when dream goes sour' - Telegraph

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

At the risk of being jumped on, can someone remind me what this thread is meant to be about?

I seem to be receiving a different, older, thread!

http://planetsmilies.net/sad-smiley-384.gif

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Andrew -

I notice you are still ignoring the 'misleading' information Peter Britcliffe gave out at last Wednesday's Cabinet meeting about the rise in Council Tax for 2009/10 for only being 3.6% (and not informing the meeting that this included the other precepting authorities figures).See
http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...to_Cabinet.pdf
page 38 clearly shows that the proposal is for Hyndburn's share of the Council Tax is to raise by 7% (and before you say it is a typographical error - I have doubled checked all the figures - for the rise in all bands for Hyndburn's share of the Counil Tax).

Do you think is wrong for the Leader of the Council to give misleading information to the Council Tax payers of Hyndburn?

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I think any political party is free to use information from a factual report that has appeared in the national press, in the good old Daily Telegraph, the archest right wing paper, no less.

Just the same as local newspapers are free to reprint the story...which they did.

Re: Living off the fat of the land
 

I think he probably meant to say everybody likes him except you ;)

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Posted via Mobile Device who cares they all lie, do nothing, raises taxes and yet spend nothing of it on whats needed! Why i dont vote because who ever wins nothing ever changes!

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

MCR ADIM meant to add.. that doesn't include hard working localLabour Councillors who have been 10 years in opposition. Have tried to do good things but been stopped by local Conservatives.

Like;
Removing 50% Council Tax Relief to Landlords with empty properties
Pegging Council Tax to inflation
Stopping Tory privatisation which I see has cost me another 400k in losses at the Sports centre...

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

Posted via Mobile Device actually i did vote for labour last year! As it was my first time i could vote and wanted to do it!

Re: Living off the fat of the land.
 

I could have swore I just posted this link Ten most expensive areas for council tax - Telegraph from April 2008, citing 2008/2009 council tax, and how Hyndburn was not the most expensive. The article you're refering to was January 2007, and seems to no longer be online. Probably because it was completely misleading as we both know most people in Hyndburn do not live in band D properties.

Of course, we could just deceive everyone, and keep saying the council tax is most expensive in Hyndburn, despite us not being in the top 10 most expensive as linked above. I personally think that's wrong though, I guess Labour disagree with me as they are happy to mislead people for their own electoral advantage.