HBC's latest moronic act

[Neil]

My mate can I define mate Less, a mate is somebody who you call a friend, some one who will help in times of need and vise versa, some one you can rely on and be proud to be associated with, the person I think you are trying to refer, certainly does not fit that criteria, in fact there are far more people I have become acquainted with on this website fit that bill more readily

I think you described a friend not a mate. You can probably count true friends on one hand.

A mate is somewhere in between an acquaintance and a friend.

 

[jaysay]

I think you described a friend not a mate. You can probably count true friends on one hand.

A mate is somewhere in between an acquaintance and a friend.

Not in my book it ain't matey

 

[shillelagh]

Rossendale council brought this idea in in March of last year ie 2011 ... and as i used the card to pay my council tax at the post office ... i got my council tax bill with a bar code on it .. this was also to last me 10 months till id paid up ... tis a mess .. as the card was credit card size and fitted in my pocket ... this is A4 size .. which has been folded firstly by them and then again by me ... and stuffed in my pocket ... so then the rain couldnt get at it .... at least ive managed to get it to last so far .....

 

[davemac]

All we would like is a bit of common sense applied, the administration should be there to serve the people, but it does not.


When I retired from the council I was sent a final bill for my work mobile phone, as I didnt use it for personal calls, the bill was ten pence, yes 10p, it had a stamp on that cost more than that, it was in an envelope, and typed by a typist. I duly sent a cheque, I think at this stage the penny dropped. It would have cost more to cash than the face value, it never showed up on my bank statment as cashed.

The point of this though is that it was not the politicians that did this, it was the administrators just applying the rules as they thought best, and not the common sense rule.

 

[jaysay]

All we would like is a bit of common sense applied, the administration should be there to serve the people, but it does not.


When I retired from the council I was sent a final bill for my work mobile phone, as I didnt use it for personal calls, the bill was ten pence, yes 10p, it had a stamp on that cost more than that, it was in an envelope, and typed by a typist. I duly sent a cheque, I think at this stage the penny dropped. It would have cost more to cash than the face value, it never showed up on my bank statment as cashed.

The point of this though is that it was not the politicians that did this, it was the administrators just applying the rules as they thought best, and not the common sense rule.

Ya the Jobsworth award Dave, rules is rules, I work for the council and I'm not allowed to think for myself, but this doesn't happen just in local councils its in every public service area, because quite frankly its not their money they're wasting, it ours, the stupid part about it is those pushing the buttons pay into the same system too doh

 

[davemac]

Ya the Jobsworth award Dave, rules is rules, I work for the council and I'm not allowed to think for myself, but this doesn't happen just in local councils its in every public service area, because quite frankly its not their money they're wasting, it ours, the stupid part about it is those pushing the buttons pay into the same system too doh

jay, I think some of the problem stems from the early retirement/redundancy policy which was designed to reduce the workforce. this got rid of a lot of the experienced personnel, im not saying this attitude wasn't present before, but getting rid of 60 (to start with) resulted in a lot of people with little experience running sections.

 

[Neil]

jay, I think some of the problem stems from the early retirement/redundancy policy which was designed to reduce the workforce. this got rid of a lot of the experienced personnel, im not saying this attitude wasn't present before, but getting rid of 60 (to start with) resulted in a lot of people with little experience running sections.

How long ago was it they let that many go?

 

[davemac]

How long ago was it they let that many go?

it was spreed over 2002/2003 , I attended a large meeting with Cllr Britcliff and Mike Chambers chairing the meeting, initially asking for 45 people to volunteer for early retirement/redundency, this was late 2002, I think this number eventually went up to 65 but not too sure then in 2003 they left around may it was staggered a bit, I left in october

 

[jaysay]

it was spreed over 2002/2003 , I attended a large meeting with Cllr Britcliff and Mike Chambers chairing the meeting, initially asking for 45 people to volunteer for early retirement/redundency, this was late 2002, I think this number eventually went up to 65 but not too sure then in 2003 they left around may it was staggered a bit, I left in october

I find that strange Dave that Britcliffe would be at that meeting, as Labour were in control in late 2002

 

[davemac]

I find that strange Dave that Britcliffe would be at that meeting, as Labour were in control in late 2002

early retirement was on the table in 2002 for thiose that wanted it, but moved up a gear in 2003 with arms being twisted to take the offer, and cllr. Britcliffe was deffo the chair and it was from his very lips that I was informed that 45 jobs had to go voluntarily or it would be made compulsary. Mike Chambers was also pushing the numbers and reorganisation, who incidentaly came around and told everyone on the very day that all this was implemented that he was leaving to go to Bolton.

What day was this, you couldnt make this up, 1st April

 

[jaysay]

early retirement was on the table in 2002 for thiose that wanted it, but moved up a gear in 2003 with arms being twisted to take the offer, and cllr. Britcliffe was deffo the chair and it was from his very lips that I was informed that 45 jobs had to go voluntarily or it would be made compulsary. Mike Chambers was also pushing the numbers and reorganisation, who incidentaly came around and told everyone on the very day that all this was implemented that he was leaving to go to Bolton.

What day was this, you couldnt make this up, 1st April

The biggest mistake Britcliffe made was that the day after the election in 2000 when the Tories took overall control that he didn't tell Chambers to clear his desk the morning after

 

[davemac]

The biggest mistake Britcliffe made was that the day after the election in 2000 when the Tories took overall control that he didn't tell Chambers to clear his desk the morning after

It was after he left that they descided not to have a chief exec anymore and appointed 2 managing directors. That though is another story.

I think it says a lot that on the day that the changes he initiated came to pass he left, and without any warning

 

[Neil]

It was after he left that they descided not to have a chief exec anymore and appointed 2 managing directors. That though is another story.

Maybe you could start a thread on the history of HBC from your viewpoint, it sounds interesting.

 

[davemac]

Maybe you could start a thread on the history of HBC from your viewpoint, it sounds interesting.

It's a thought, wouldn't know where to start though as I worked for the council for 40 years.

 

[jaysay]

It's a thought, wouldn't know where to start though as I worked for the council for 40 years.

So you must have started for HBC right from day one then Dave, bet there are some very interesting tales to tell, people only actually know what goes on behind the scene when they're at the sharp end, even some councillors don't full what goes on, and as for the GP well that is another story

 

[Neil]

It's a thought, wouldn't know where to start though as I worked for the council for 40 years.

Day 1 would be a good place to start, have you seen our blog section, it would be ideal for your stories

 

[mobertol]

It's a thought, wouldn't know where to start though as I worked for the council for 40 years.

I wonder if you knew my Aunt -Diane Chaffer -she also worked for HBC from the age of 16 for about 40 years...

She also has interesting tales to tell about her time there.

 

[Benipete]

It's a thought, wouldn't know where to start though as I worked for the council for 40 years.

Once upon a time.

 

[jaysay]

I wonder if you knew my Aunt -Diane Chaffer -she also worked for HBC from the age of 16 for about 40 years...

She also has interesting tales to tell about her time there.

I knew Diane very well, although it was purely on telephone basis, I used to speak to here nearly every week

 

[gynn]

I remember Diane, too. Very keen artist, who if memory serves me right, retired to live in France.