Council finances in a shocking state
 

As many will know the Tories handed over power to Labour after 8 years at the helm last week. I thought I'd write to put some numbers and scale of the horror finances they have left.

1. In the last 12 weeks they racked up £5.2m of promises without the money to pay for them.

2. They failed to balence last years budget raiding the reserves to the tune of £300,000. A figure Labour now has to find to pay back last year AND find savings for every year.

3. The Tories planned on 5% Council Tax rise so they could make a promise of 0% this year. Labour has said it will be 0% this year so that's another £300,000 to find.

4. The Tories nationally have cut next years Government grant by £2.2million

5. The Cabinet Action fund for this years emergencies has all been deliberatly spent in month one , April leaving nothing for the remaining 11 months. The schemes themselves having not applied and not submitted any written proposal or VFM

6. Ditto Big Society grants -'all spent in month one April. Nothing left for the remaining 11 months in what appears to be a desperate money throwaaway-fest.

7. In 8 years little investment in Council services. £1m bill has been left to replace old bin and recycling wagons. Nothing has been put aside.

8. They all had been lining their pockets with large allowance needed up by multiple extra allowances.

All in the cuts must equate to the loss of 100 Council jobs at £3million, or one in five going. Then there are the cuts for each of the two years following on top.

The spending promises and legacy cuts alone equate to a Council Tax increase almost 60%. To gauge the scale of it all, the cuts equate to another 50% on the Council Tax.

None of this was a surprise. The outgoing Council had been mismanaging Council finances for years and were always going to be politically vindictive.

It was never about the public or voters and that's why it had to end.

Sent from mobile

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Please can whoever it is to do with make sure they buy bin/recyling wagons that are smaller for our narrow streets. People around me are getting fed up with the wagons hitting our walls and cars.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

If this is correct n i have no doubt it aint, have yeh got actual proof? if so my question is "Can anything be done Legal or Otherwise about it"?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Much as I respect democratic socialism, and those parties which, to a certain degree, represent it in politics, what I see in Graham's post is a setting up an all -purpose excuse for the incoming council majority. Kinda like "13 years of etc." :D(Sorry Jaysay; just had to do it:D I'll give myself a smack:hitting8:) This is one of things that bugs my ass about party politics: the predictability. Sure it's probably a mess; but many govts. leave messes for their successors. Sure Labour has been dealt a rotten hand; but what is important is how they play it.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Graham what happened to the money that Tesco gave the council, did this just end up being used as teletubbies £40+k spending money?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Would have thought considering the content of the original post in this thread it should have come from the new Leader of HBC or one of the majority party Borough Councillors who regulary subscribe to 'Accy-Web'

Guess all's right with the World and the Country and theres nowt going on in London requiring the deputy opposition whips attention , same with County Council business. :confused: :confused:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I thought exactly the same. Just hope that the MP is showing as much interest in the other part of his constituency namely the Rossendale Wards as I am sure they warrant as much of his interest as his hyndburn one's do.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Frightening if its true. Staff are clued up to the need for savings and are finding them, but have no control over things like cabinet action fund. It would be interesting to know the finance heads view on your claims. Will you be asking for an official reply from them?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

A little unfair that i think, graham is an accy lad so he is going to be concerned about what is going on here, after all you are in america are you not? But you still come on accy web to see whats going on here, are there no issues in the usa which concern you more? You live there at the end of the day:rolleyes::rolleyes:;)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Disgraceful!

Outrageous!

A shocking lack of good manners.

They could at least have left a note.

Labour minister Liam Byrne left note on desk: ‘There’s no money left’ (contains video)

:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I agree with you Cashy, you would think something could be done surely?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

wouldn't it be good if after a change of power, the last incumbents had to publish their final financial statistics?......perhaps then, there would be more care taken over what was spent, and the value of the spend to the community in general.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

There is no need as I am sure the incoming group will often do just that, unless the figure look good :D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

The '11 years of Tory tule' is lazy politics, something I am keen to avoid. However, these figures are necessary in order for the public to understand the nightmare scenario we have been left with and explain the measures that will now have to be taken over the next 24 months simply to break even. We're hopeful that we will be allowed to publish all figures that people want to see so that actual proof can be laid in front of them.

Peter Britcliffe must never be allowed anywhere near the seat of power in this borough ever again.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

What's that ? :rolleyes:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Well, I have never noticed before.(but then the Britcliffe regime has been sitting for a long while)
A final, outgoing financial statement, may make for more transparency too.
That would be no bad thing as it lets the electors know what the starting point of the new 'management' is.

I'm sure I saw a letter in one of the local papers From Councillor M Howorth, telling us all what good financial state the outgoing council had left us with....so someone out there is telling fiblets.........and considering the fiasco of the market hall.......I know who my money is on.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Maybe a monthly financial statement on the council website and in the local press would be excellent for open and transparency.

Do you think it will happen?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Maybe. You never know. With new regime in place I guess anything is possible....especially so, if there is the will to be open and honest.

But, just to be on the safe side I won't hold my breath.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I aint that much of n optimist.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Me neither Cashy......but I live in hope, and will die in Clayton.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Of course it will happen, remember all those open and transparent posts on here, I would look for them but I am changing a handbrake cable in the rain and thats more exciting :D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

its very rare i speak in support of graham but he has every right to bring this up on here because not only is he an accy lad,not only has he served Accrington well before heading into national politics ,not only is he a regular poster on here but he for years had to suffer the rule of Britcliff under which he was not only constantly under personal attack from him but even had to suffer his dead grandmother been dragged into a point scoring exercises by the tories.

thanx graham

we all ready knew the tories were crooked but at least you come here personally to speak your mind and not spoon feed questions you want asking to others to ask on your behalf

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Spot on! I hope Mancie reads this......because he has me down as a tory supporter. Silly Man!

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

great post accyman.:)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

as mr britcliffe isnt the leader of the council now .. there isnt nothing stopping him becoming a member on here is there ... mind you there wasnt anything stopping him before ... then he could ask questions of the councillors on here and debate anything thats on here ... like we all do ... i wonder if hed sign up using his name like what ken did ...

hey something just struck me ... wonder if bee is mr britcliffe ........

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Thats a real insult
To Bee:D:D:D:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Thats a definite no.;)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

A thread claiming to know the true identity of Bee has been deleted, which has convinced me that that poster was correct

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Dont leave us hanging who was it ?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I refrain from gossip - no harm is being done by Bee's posts.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Regular members of this forum will know I have been warning of this since November. The problem isnt just with last years budget. In February the Council set an "unbalanced" budget which contained 600,000 pounds worth of uncertain income predictions which, as far as I know, have not been fully examined, as the then Chair of Scrutiny Committee wouldn't allow them to be questioned.

It can only be that the previous administration rode rough shod over the professional advice of officers, who have now been left to pick up the pieces with the new administration.

Don't blame the officers.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I think we all know where the blame lies.......and it isn't with the officers.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I don't think anyone is blaming the officers. Your last paragraph sums up what has happened.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I know they aren't to blame. You know they aren't to blame. Lets hope the External Auditors are as charitable. They always like SOMEONE to blame to justify their astronomical fees, and officers are usually in the firing line!

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

also other stuff on another thread about that very subject, as toyah once sang "Its A Mystery":hehetable But far be it fer me to cast the first stone.............Just the BIGGEST. pmsl

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

The new Chair of Scrutiny is a real swine, I'm fairly sure that there will be a few questions tabled that certain members of the previous administration would rather were not asked.

Or the findings published.

Oops.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

if any illegal doings such as fraud can be proven will charges be pressed.Not suggesting illegal goings on have occurred but if they have been and can be proven it would be nice to see punishment handed out for once.Or to borrow one mans claim are they all made of tefal and nothing sticks to them ?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Think the old maxim 'travel broadens the mind " and I've never had a parochial (closed/small) mind . Seems to me lots of Hyndburn locals are primed and ready to comment on US and World affairs /events and no-one complains about that .
One or two points if you want to keep things "local" maybe you should be using the HBC web-site ....oops forgot , it doesn't work , seem to remember lots of money spent but nothing to show , obivously the elected Council at the time were 'conned' into accepting a bum system on advice from Council employed IT experts ( do these folks still have jobs at HBC ?) .
Not sure , and may be wrong here (sure someone will correct me soon enough) but I'm of the understanding that the bloke/chap/guy who started , owns , operates and finances this site is or was an overseas non domiciled Brit, based somewhere in eastern Europe so maybe your anti Hyndburn resident bias is a bit off target .
I'm also supposing your against a non resident Brit owning/saving Accrington Stanley from the knackers yard , maybe all the folks who follow Stanley in the various football threads should be excluded from posting comments on Accy web , or maybe folks who live outside the Borough be banned from posting videos on the music thread , or maybe its your dislike of the occasional weather report from Canada
My suggetion ...... if you are so upset at non Hyndburn residents commenting and posting you should contact one of the moderators and have them 'isolate' our isps/posts to anything non Hyndburn , that way you and other local residents (including Bee, can discuss to your hearts content the merits of the colour of the local dog muck fouling the pavements and argue about who had the market stall next to Uncle Dick) ;) :D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Aaaannnnnnd reeeeeeelax lol :D

ps:

have you not told them your only in the usa because you are an undercover spy and are using this forum to pass on secret information to your handler ?

oops soz about blowing your cover :(

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Who did have the stall next to Uncle Dick:confused:

Oh, and it's cold and rainy here;) Kinda Accyish:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I miss the old days.

I actually feel a little bereft.

Not much fun.

Just with Judy, and a few sausages.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...toD1bOkLs1y84g

:rolleyes::D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Wasn't it Aunt Fanny's fancy goods?

:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

It's common knowledge that the owner of this site started Accy Web, in order for those from the area to stay in touch with 'home'. Wherever in the world, the four winds wind have blown 'em.

I like our Yanky contributors.

I always picture them sat on a swing, on some porch.

Chewin' baccy.

Gun cocked.

Ready to see of any of dem damn pinko liberals.

:flamethro

:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkinman221 (Post 906486) A little unfair that i think, graham is an accy lad so he is going to be concerned about what is going on here, after all you are in america are you not? But you still come on accy web to see whats going on here, are there no issues in the usa which concern you more? You live there at the end of the day:rolleyes::rolleyes:;)

Guess all's right with the World and the Country and theres nowt going on in London requiring the deputy opposition whips attention , same with County Council business. From steeljacks original post

I think if you read your original post and mine they say the same thing,yours commenting on grahams other duties maybe suffering because of his attention to matters in accrington when he should be concentrating on his other duties.And mine commenting on what i thought was an unfair assumption graham was neglecting his parliamentary duties because he was commenting on this matter.You made the point that his attention should be further south , not in so many words but the inferencer was there none the less there.I merely turned that point round on you,but you didnt seem to like it and commented that i was saying that out off town/country posters should be banned(that only applies to yorkshire folk:D) this is not the case ,as for commenting on american/ world issues i am quite entitled to do so, as you are more than entitled to comment on english/ world issues but then again so is graham;) .Anyway back to the dog muck, and i will endeavour to find out for you who has the stall next to uncle dick:rolleyes::D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Can you please stop giving out weather reports for your foreign country thx:D:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Have some of this ! :rolleyes:

YouTube - Dueling Banjos Deliverance





That SJ jigging away at the back there ? :D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

How about cutting all council salaries in excess of say £30k p.a. by half? For example, if you get £40k now, you end up with £35k? That way the ordinary employee is not badly affected, and the number of jobs does not reduce?

I know this is not directly Hyndburn council expenditure, but what on earth is happening on the M65/A56 every night near the M65/A56 junction?

It has been going on for well over a year now. Cones and workmen out in all weathers. The result so far is a traffic island if you are turning up the A56 coming from the Colne end of the M65. That was completed a few months back, but they are still up to something. I doubt these people are being paid peanuts for whatever it is they are up to, so the cost to date must be astronomical.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I am ignoring you DIG after all you dont even live in this country.:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Most people do, but I can live with it ! :D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I am pleased that Graham took time out of his busy schedule to let us know the state of financial affairs....he is, after all, still the MP for the locality, and as such will still have a firm interest in what is going on here.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Would you like your salary reducing by £5?

Its ok saying that over £30 is a lot of money but people set their lifestyles around their income. By cutting wages like that council employees could loose their homes.

I am glad I dont work for you.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

in some cases tho it could be a case of lose £5000 or be made redundant .. what would you choose ....

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

That would depend on the individual concerned, their age and how much redundancy they would get paid. Also depends if they want to work again (age dependant) and if they expect to be able to get another job.

Its not a straight forward question and is what happened where I work a few years ago before I joined them.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

if it goes to the vote tho all the workers have to decide... either all take a cut or you make some redundant ... and you dont know whos being made redundant until after the vote ...

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

All sounds lovely...and after the vote "they" would have another vote on who should be on the commitee that decides who should loose their job...as a matter of course none of the commitee members would loose theirs :rolleyes:... but then I'm just a cynic ;)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I'm just terribly worried about how this might affect the arts in Hyndburn.

Particularly the wooly, flash mob, imaginary swimming sort of community arts, that are so vital to our cultural well-being.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

i cant see there's going to be a problem.Those that are used to handouts from their pal will soon adapt to the new flavor of arse they will have to kiss.Just hope the begging bowl is kicked out of their hands and any money that maybe avialable be spent in other areas that have been neglected for so long .

hey ho there's always the lottery their a bit gullible and will throw money at anything with the word charity attached to it :)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I have been informed ( by a totally reliable source) that PB had 2 personal assistants who are now going to be made redundant after our new leader decided he didn't need them.....( obviously sorry that 2 people are being made redundant but did they really have jobs in the first place??)
Why on earth did PB have 2 PA's??? He isn't the president of the USA!

Big , big questions coming your way Peter, I hope you have some very good answers ....

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

well thats him knackered. will have to read Accyweb himself.:rofl38::rofl38::rofl38::rofl38:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I expect they would have been classed as office staff..and fair enough I would not want anyone to loose their job..but if these staff were employed to consult and carry out political services to the leader and they are under his/her control it's dodgy.. but the new Admin will likely do the same..or will they ;)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

How do you know he can read:rolleyes::D:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

It won't be easier for a food taster, checking the butties weren't poisoned, and a grape peeler, to find new jobs, in these dark days.

:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I thought one was his dresser.:eek::D:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Presumably the job description included.....

"Doing the Leader's dirty work for him."

So the solution is simple. Redeploy them to a job cleaning the executive loos.

:)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I notice that a new member has joined - 'PeterB':eek::D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I'll keep my eye on our newest member Margaret, it couldn't be could it:eek:;)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Could be my fault.

He laughed recently, when I said we were this forum's answer to these two...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ES642ixjUX...ie+and+ada.jpg


You might get your nose pushed out.

There could be a new Cissy in town.

;):eek::D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Which is which:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

You're the one who always comes off worst.

;):D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I owe you karma

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Didn't think I was in the equation G. thought it suited you and PB more over the garden wall:rolleyes::D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Not TheExLeadersOfficeHBC?

I notice he is seemingly sufficiently advised to have blocked his v-card from being downloaded.

If it is The One then I would probably suggest a more open approach on this forum.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

He was asking if I'd spoken to you, and I said only on here, where we bickered like Cissy and Ada, which made him laugh.

I'm not fussy.

Fight it out amongst yourselves.

Any old stooge will do for me.

;):D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Not before i viewed it.:alright: though its gone now just checked pmsl

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

It could be Bee mark II

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Keep them guessing mate :D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I thought several people on here already knew who that was :rolleyes::D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I don't think the finances are as bad as has been suggested.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

probably worse lol

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

To be honest Ken I wouldn't know how to bloke my V card nor would I want to, but I honestly think if PB was going to join this site and bloke his V card, why would he us PeterB as a screen name, doesn't fly with me:rolleyes:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Whilst were being honest, i doubt very much if he would have the backbone to join.:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Um I don't know, after all's said and don't he could come on here say out he wanted without having to prove a word:rolleyes:Life's so much more fun in opposition:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

This subject always makes me smile.

Will you be saying the same about the new leader if he does not join?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

that depends on the arrogance, incompetence, of the guy.;) plus the departing one has always been a media junkie.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Whoooooooooooooo I don't know how you can be so cruel, he can't help it if he's so photogenic:rolleyes:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Contempt has to be earned wi me.;) summat "Thatcher" "Blair""P.B." "Keva Coombes" all managed quite easily, therein is the difference between us.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Well surely he gave that out in spades;)

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

I wouldn't bank on seeing Miles on the forum anytime soon, it's not his style at all.

On the other hand, don't expect to hear him slagging Accyweb off or trying to get it shut down because a couple of members make a bad comment about the Labour group. There probably won't be HBC staff reading the forum on his behalf and I find it unlikely that he will be proclaiming his declarations under a weighty pseudonym as if via a third party. I wouldn't expect him to ask for threads to be deleted or posts to be removed on the grounds that they don't paint him in a flattering light, either.

There's always the libel courts but I personally wouldn't go down that route without a very good reason.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

No, Miles does not strike me as being the publicity hungry person that PB appeared to be.
He is the kind of chap who quietly gets on with what needs doing......the less fuss, the better.

I can live with that.

Jaysay......you mentioned PB was photogenic(should've gone to Specsavers, Jay).......that would not be my descriptive term for him! :D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Coughs and sneezes spread diseases.




















So do brown-nosers.

Especially when they've had to quickly remove their snout from one unsavoury place, and start shoving their proboscis up pastures new.

:rolleyes:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

but whom would serve him so willingly.Surely he dosnt have someone with such power on the forum to do that for him at the drop of a phonecall.

surely if this was the case it would be ironic that their master is trying to take down a site they help maintain and expect them to abuse the trust that has been put in them to be fair?

i often wondered if he had a big red bat phone installed into his puppets homes

mind you i dare say support may be flagging now hes not in control of the purse strings and his backside is less appealing to even the most habitual ass kisser

this firefox libel checker is great it says this post is good

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

If you are suggesting that a mod is deleting posts at someone elses request then post a name or stop just trying to cause trouble.

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Will you tell him or should I?

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Just a point, the account TheLeadersOffice on here does that automatically transfer to the new leader and if saw has he changed the password:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

No, that username remains the property of Cllr. Britcliffe.

Perhaps they'll let him change it.

SittingOutsideTheLeadrersOfficeHBC.

:rolleyes::D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Views expressed on this website are mine and mine alone, are, always have been, and always will be, here endeth the gospel according to jaysay:D besides you see him a hell of a sight more than me, 2 in 4 years ain't that often:rolleyes:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Ya know what they say about sitting outside the tent G.:D

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

He still cares though. Even if from a distant.

He asked me very recently about your good self.

Love never dies.

;)

:Banane41::Banane41:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

No.

What?

Make sure you're well lubricated, in case you sit on a tent peg?

:eek:

Re: Council finances in a shocking state
 

Um just a pity he couldn't ask me himself;);)