Re: The value of public funded art
 

Eye eye Sherlock on the job:D

Re: The value of public funded art
 

Peter Britcliffe has something which is called the Cabinet Action Fund, a pot of money ringfenced for whatever the Leader of the Council sees fit to spend it on. In previous years it has been around the £60k mark but this year has been upped to £100k and the spending allowance for the controlling group as a whole has been increased by around £690k. The official figures suggest that there has been a £1.9m saving in the past year but most of that is made up from a VAT rebate and not a saving at all.

Just glance at The Accrington Observer each week and see how many cheques are being handed out by the Conservative councillors on a regular basis, and that is only the ones in the public eye. I have requested a full breakdown of this mystical fund since 1999 and not had the figures yet but it is not audited and no receipts have to be provided.

It is a shocking way to be accounting for the borough's money and not one Conservative councillor opposes it. It places a huge sum of money in the hands of one man, it cannot be right whatever party is in control.

Jaysay, before you even think about the old Blair & Brown routine, I couldn't give a toss about Westminster's previous mistakes. This is something I can actually do in Hyndburn, I would desperately like to cut all the wasteful spending on our own doorstep and it would be so easy to do.

Re: The value of public funded art
 

You're damn right I am....

Re: The value of public funded art
 

The political landscape is shifting in Hyndburn and there is the very real possibility of the Conservatives losing control completely next May in the local elections. They are well aware of this and so are spending everything they can while they can which is why little pet projects in places such as Baxenden (see bye-election next month...) are very publicly getting handouts to sweeten the voters.

Whoever wins next May loses.

If the Tories retain control they can trot out the old faithful '13 years of Labour rule' tripe having bankrupted the borough despite having had 11 years in control in Hyndburn and telling us at every opportunity (minus 2003 but that always gets forgotten).

If Labour win then there will be nothing in the pot and the council will be financially screwed leading to hideous cuts, not all of which would be necessary if a bit of prudency was exercised right now. However, this will enable Peter Britcliffe to stand up in public and decry Labour's savagery and again trot out the line about '13 years of Labour rule' leading to the state of the borough.

Hyndburn needs to make cuts now, the Tories have control now and yet are throwing money away. Do something about it on polling day.

Please.

Re: The value of public funded art
 

I've always wondered why Labour have all the answers in opposition, yet cock everything up big style, at every level, when in power, talking is cheap and nothing is cheaper than a Labour politician's that keep cheeping;)

Re: The value of public funded art
 

It's also cheap, because party loyalty prevents it, for being able to say when something is wrong. Irrespective of who's done it.

Talking of cheap, and therefore costs, anyone know yet how much funding the community art project the Victorian Swimming Gala, is costing us?

Re: The value of public funded art
 

What does that phrase mean , and is there evidence to confirm it ?

Re: The value of public funded art
 

It actualy means JCB, that if you call a cow a pig long enough people start to believe you:rolleyes:

Re: The value of public funded art
 

'Cheeping'...now there's one of Peter's words if ever I heard it, which I have several times from his mouth.

All I'm talking is common sense - don't carp on about Labour's bad spending and then keep quiet about Hyndburn Conservatives doing the same thing.

Re: The value of public funded art
 

Think someone might be digging up PB's garden ! :D Wonder how many skellietons they'll find :eek:

Re: The value of public funded art
 

As I've said before, why not ask your cousin, Cllr Dobson? The Conservative majority can barely be called that now and even Peter Britcliffe is alleged to have said that time is running out. It doesn't matter who is in control next year, the financial situation will still be the same for Hyndburn's public services.

That should worry you and if it doesn't then think about it again.

Re: The value of public funded art
 

Well there's only you keeps saying they are,

Re: The value of public funded art
 

The inability not to see what's under their nose, for some is quite an art form.

Talking of art.

A few rolls of blue chiffon, some bunting, and a few thespians in jersey knit suits and mop caps.

How much?

Re: The value of public funded art
 

I'll remember that when I next get a piece of beef and fancy pork instead . :)

Shades of George Orwell's " 1984 " .

Re: The value of public funded art
 

Its always the same after a change of government Ken, in 1997 when Labour won the GE, Labour had a 41 seat majority on HBC, 44 labour 3 Conservative councillors was the make up on a 47 seat council, by 1999 they'd lost control ;)