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ARE THEY TAKING THE RISE?
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| VOTE: Councillors' 'pay' rises of up to 36 per cent have been backed unanimously |
MOVES to give councillors pay rises of 17 to 36 per cent were backed on Wednesday - as was an inflation-busting council tax hike of 4.9 per cent.
Bournemouth Borough Council's Conservative cabinet approved the rises without a debate.
Unless challenged at the meeting of the full council on Thursday, February 21, the decision means a 34 per cent pay rise for the leader of the council, a 36 per cent pay rise for the deputy leader and a rise of nearly 32 per cent for every cabinet member. Backbench councillors will receive 17 per cent.
Mark Wallace, campaign director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said the move was "disgraceful," coming from a "supposedly cash-strapped council".
"This money does not come from thin air. It is paid for by hard-working taxpayers who increasingly struggle to pay the record levels of tax.
"The council's money is meant to be spent on essential services, not on feathering councillors' nests."
Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin, who is set to pocket almost £36,000 a year, stressed the recommendations had been made by an independent panel.
But this failed to impress former colleague David Clutterbuck, who is now chairman of the East Cliff and Town Centre Residents' Association, who said councillors' benefits already included a free laptop, free broadband and a free car park pass.
"When I was first on the council 20 years ago all we got was expenses," he said.
| "When I was first on the council 20 years ago all we got was expenses. You got an allowance of £12 when you turned up." | | David Clutterbuck |
|
"You got an allowance of £12 when you turned up. Now there's nothing to stop you not going.
"Cllr MacLoughlin ought to show proper leadership and turn this down in a time of restraint."
Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Claire Smith said her group would be proposing that the increases are delayed and then phased in.
"Council services are under such pressure that we feel these rises are not appropriate at this time," she said.
"I question it particularly because it's the cabinet members who are going to get the biggest remuneration from this and we now have an extra three cabinet posts."
Independent group leader Cllr Anne Rey said councillors were due for a rise but questioned whether members should be allowed to hold a multitude of top posts, earning them tens of thousands of pounds.
And Cllr Ben Grower, Labour group leader, said: "Allowances ought to be set nationally. Councillors shouldn't have to decide one way or another."
In 2002/03, when Bournemouth and switched from the old attendance-based scheme in line with government wishes, the base payment made to all councillors was £6,940. The leader of the council was paid an additional £10,410 to give a total of £17,350, and cabinet members received a total of £13,880.
6:21am Thursday 14th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: DemonDiva, Kinson on 7:24am Thu 14 Feb 08
As expected, it went through without debate. Did anyone ever doubt that it would?
Regarding the last paragraph of the report: So [bold]in 6 years[/bold] , the leader of the council's allowance has increased by very nearly [bold]TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS A YEAR![/bold] If that's not a scandal, I don't know what is!
As expected, it went through without debate. Did anyone ever doubt that it would?
Regarding the last paragraph of the report: So
in 6 years , the leader of the council's allowance has increased by very nearly
TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS A YEAR! If that's not a scandal, I don't know what is!
Posted by: fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown on 7:26am Thu 14 Feb 08
It's a pity the Taxpayers Alliance does not field candidates in local elections.
I hope all these allowances, laptops, free parking passes and other perks are subject to taxation.
The people of Bournemouth are in effect the employers of these money grabbers, we should
therefore have a say in how much we pay them – it is our money they are helping themselves to.
Perhaps the people of Bournemouth should boycott the next Council elections – in this "democratic" society this appears to be the [italic][bold]only[/bold][/italic] option we have left.
It's a pity the Taxpayers Alliance does not field candidates in local elections.
I hope all these allowances, laptops, free parking passes and other perks are subject to taxation.
The people of Bournemouth are in effect the employers of these money grabbers, we should
therefore have a say in how much we pay them – it is our money they are helping themselves to.
Perhaps the people of Bournemouth should boycott the next Council elections – in this "democratic" society this appears to be the
only option we have left.
Posted by: derek, dorset on 7:51am Thu 14 Feb 08
You will never stop this , so why not get yourself elected and get the gravy dish out .
You will never stop this , so why not get yourself elected and get the gravy dish out .
Posted by: godzilla, hamworthy on 8:14am Thu 14 Feb 08
Tempting but I have morals and would not make a good councillor
Tempting but I have morals and would not make a good councillor
Posted by: LauraM, Bournemouth on 8:24am Thu 14 Feb 08
I thought the people of Bournemouth did have a say - the people on the "independent panel" that suggested the rises?
I thought the people of Bournemouth did have a say - the people on the "independent panel" that suggested the rises?
Posted by: Nigel Gillespie, Bournemouth on 8:34am Thu 14 Feb 08
While people struggle to make a living and pay their bills these councillors decide to give themselves a payrise and put them in the "Fat Cat League".Once again Councillor McCloughlin decides to do it behind closed doors.It seems apparent that they stand for councillor for the allowances and not the people.I would like to see a demonstration outside the Town Hall against to show our contempt at them.When i lived in Boscombe,we had one councillor who decided he did not want the postition so he laid low and claimed the expenses untill the local election then stood down.We should have an attendance record placed on the councils website or a register avaliable for inspection at the Town Hall.One thing for sure is that with Cllr McCloughlin being leader,Bournemouth will not progress
While people struggle to make a living and pay their bills these councillors decide to give themselves a payrise and put them in the "Fat Cat League".Once again Councillor McCloughlin decides to do it behind closed doors.It seems apparent that they stand for councillor for the allowances and not the people.I would like to see a demonstration outside the Town Hall against to show our contempt at them.When i lived in Boscombe,we had one councillor who decided he did not want the postition so he laid low and claimed the expenses untill the local election then stood down.We should have an attendance record placed on the councils website or a register avaliable for inspection at the Town Hall.One thing for sure is that with Cllr McCloughlin being leader,Bournemouth will not progress
Posted by: bea, winton on 9:01am Thu 14 Feb 08
Last year the councillors voted for a zero per cent rise in allowances! Allowances are taxable income and are taxed.There should be some method of ensuring that Councillors attend meetings, currently it seems to be left to Councillors' consciences and some people, Ron Whittaker and Anne Rey in particular are more conscientious than others.
Last year the councillors voted for a zero per cent rise in allowances! Allowances are taxable income and are taxed.There should be some method of ensuring that Councillors attend meetings, currently it seems to be left to Councillors' consciences and some people, Ron Whittaker and Anne Rey in particular are more conscientious than others.
Posted by: Phil, Poole on 9:07am Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote][bold]LauraM[/bold] wrote:
I thought the people of Bournemouth did have a say - the people on the "independent panel" that suggested the rises?[/quote] Ah, but who actually sits on this 'independent' panel? I read elsewhere that it's headed by Neil Tointon, COO of Abbey Life. Why don't they have ordinary, local people on it instead?
LauraM wrote:
I thought the people of Bournemouth did have a say - the people on the "independent panel" that suggested the rises?
Ah, but who actually sits on this 'independent' panel? I read elsewhere that it's headed by Neil Tointon, COO of Abbey Life. Why don't they have ordinary, local people on it instead?
Posted by: Sarah, Bournemouth on 9:07am Thu 14 Feb 08
We've got to ask ourselves what these people do all day to warrant such a rise. There are more and more hard working people out here who work their socks off just to get by with bare basics, then you read about these money magnets taking our hard earned cash for their own greedy pockets! Come on out of the woodwork and your closed doors and let the people who pay you see you! You obviously have no cares or thoughts for all local people who make your luxury jobs possible. In the 10 years I have lived here my local councilor has still not found the time to introduce him/herself to me. It's no wonder locals are losing faith in the people who are meant to be looking out for them!
We've got to ask ourselves what these people do all day to warrant such a rise. There are more and more hard working people out here who work their socks off just to get by with bare basics, then you read about these money magnets taking our hard earned cash for their own greedy pockets! Come on out of the woodwork and your closed doors and let the people who pay you see you! You obviously have no cares or thoughts for all local people who make your luxury jobs possible. In the 10 years I have lived here my local councilor has still not found the time to introduce him/herself to me. It's no wonder locals are losing faith in the people who are meant to be looking out for them!
Posted by: Richard Mayes, Bournemouth on 9:12am Thu 14 Feb 08
It is very clear that these people have neither principles or a sense of shame. The average salary in Bournemouth is circa £14000 , less than these people ar e getting for messing things up.[bold]bold[/bold]
It is very clear that these people have neither principles or a sense of shame. The average salary in Bournemouth is circa £14000 , less than these people ar e getting for messing things up.
Posted by: Vernon Crepe, Littlehampton on 9:21am Thu 14 Feb 08
This is another example of what the the Council is all about, money!
Does anyone our there have a thread of respect left for them?
This is another example of what the the Council is all about, money!
Does anyone our there have a thread of respect left for them?
Posted by: John, Poole on 9:30am Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote]Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin, who is set to pocket almost £36,000 a year, stressed the recommendations had been made by an independent panel.[/quote]
So will MacLaughin be paying the police their proper pay rise and all other Council workers pay rises as agreed by independent bodies?
Your headline asks 'Are they taking the rise?' I believe they are taking the p.iss when their performance has just been judged as declining to p.i.ss poor by the independent Audit Committee!
Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin, who is set to pocket almost £36,000 a year, stressed the recommendations had been made by an independent panel.
So will MacLaughin be paying the police their proper pay rise and all other Council workers pay rises as agreed by independent bodies?
Your headline asks 'Are they taking the rise?' I believe they are taking the p.iss when their performance has just been judged as declining to p.i.ss poor by the independent Audit Committee!
Posted by: Dave, Bournemouth on 9:40am Thu 14 Feb 08
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid.
Salary £36,000pa.
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid.
Salary £36,000pa.
Posted by: Vernon Crepe, Littlehampton on 9:59am Thu 14 Feb 08
These Councillors (like the recently departed ones, and un-elected Council Officers) are repsonsible for the decline in quality of life in Bournemouth, it's shocking they are getting such rewards for failure.
These Councillors (like the recently departed ones, and un-elected Council Officers) are repsonsible for the decline in quality of life in Bournemouth, it's shocking they are getting such rewards for failure.
Posted by: Tim Aker, London on 10:01am Thu 14 Feb 08
This is how unaccountable local government has become. To have an 'independent' panel recommend such inflation busting hikes shows what little influence working taxpayers have in local government.
At present the TaxPayers' Alliance are campaigning against high cllr salaries, non-jobs and waste. We want to keep your council tax low. If you want to get involved, please go to our website www.taxpayersallianc
e.com where you can join the campaign for free. Or call us on 0845 330 9554 to get more information.
It's time we told the politicians that they work for us, not us for their privilege.
Thanks,
Tim Aker
Grassroots Coordinator
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
This is how unaccountable local government has become. To have an 'independent' panel recommend such inflation busting hikes shows what little influence working taxpayers have in local government.
At present the TaxPayers' Alliance are campaigning against high cllr salaries, non-jobs and waste. We want to keep your council tax low. If you want to get involved, please go to our website www.taxpayersallianc
e.com where you can join the campaign for free. Or call us on 0845 330 9554 to get more information.
It's time we told the politicians that they work for us, not us for their privilege.
Thanks,
Tim Aker
Grassroots Coordinator
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
Posted by: adrian fudge, boscombe east on 10:08am Thu 14 Feb 08
What makes this worse is if you look at the cuts they are proposing to accomodate this rise
Boredom Busters £20K
Youth Service £91K
Playgrounds £65K
Comunity Safety Projects £10K
Fernheath Play Association (09/10 onwards) £20K
Community Parks & Countryside Team £195K
I know this is more than the allowances but also concider that they are proposing to spend an extra £104K on BH Life so you will know how wonderful they are on a more frequent basis ,£500K on the "Town Centre Vision", additional Arts Subsidy (that is idetified as for the Winter Gardens ,which has been demolished ) and are spending a extra £300K on a Green Bin collection to replace the bag collection that was working satisfactorily
With the cuts in the youth orinentated services this will probably lead to more anti-social behaviour
If they feel that they are being underpaid (LOL) why not catch up at say a max 10% per annum and if they got rid of the extra Cabinet members they appointed and stuck to the original policy that nobody could claim more than one special responsability allowance they would not have to increase the Budget for this at all
What makes this worse is if you look at the cuts they are proposing to accomodate this rise
Boredom Busters £20K
Youth Service £91K
Playgrounds £65K
Comunity Safety Projects £10K
Fernheath Play Association (09/10 onwards) £20K
Community Parks & Countryside Team £195K
I know this is more than the allowances but also concider that they are proposing to spend an extra £104K on BH Life so you will know how wonderful they are on a more frequent basis ,£500K on the "Town Centre Vision", additional Arts Subsidy (that is idetified as for the Winter Gardens ,which has been demolished ) and are spending a extra £300K on a Green Bin collection to replace the bag collection that was working satisfactorily
With the cuts in the youth orinentated services this will probably lead to more anti-social behaviour
If they feel that they are being underpaid (LOL) why not catch up at say a max 10% per annum and if they got rid of the extra Cabinet members they appointed and stuck to the original policy that nobody could claim more than one special responsability allowance they would not have to increase the Budget for this at all
Posted by: Jayteer, Bournemouth on 10:11am Thu 14 Feb 08
I am saddened and outraged to read of this, yet completely unsurprised.
Whilst our police forces live a life of fighting for justice both rgearding their pay and during their jobs, they regularly leave the house in the morning for work, their return from a safe shift being uncertain.
The police have to deal with killers, guns,knifes and nasty people who scourge on society, and yet they are not recognised for their efforts, and are snubbed a pay rise.
Yet greedy councillors get authorisation for such hikes in their expenses and salaries for doing absolutely nothing, and not contributing to society.
We truly are living in a rip off state, and something needs to be urgently done about it.
Now is the time for mass protests and gov't overthrow, these suited monkeys have had it easy for far too long and are now loyally shafting us.
Why should we all suffer living normal lives, to pay for the privileges of the minority few?
Its wrong,unfair and cruel.
Whilst they are al celebrating at the town hall, we are now faced with another rise in April in council tax.
Thank you for representing the views and interests of the local people who made your miserable success stories a possibility.
I am saddened and outraged to read of this, yet completely unsurprised.
Whilst our police forces live a life of fighting for justice both rgearding their pay and during their jobs, they regularly leave the house in the morning for work, their return from a safe shift being uncertain.
The police have to deal with killers, guns,knifes and nasty people who scourge on society, and yet they are not recognised for their efforts, and are snubbed a pay rise.
Yet greedy councillors get authorisation for such hikes in their expenses and salaries for doing absolutely nothing, and not contributing to society.
We truly are living in a rip off state, and something needs to be urgently done about it.
Now is the time for mass protests and gov't overthrow, these suited monkeys have had it easy for far too long and are now loyally shafting us.
Why should we all suffer living normal lives, to pay for the privileges of the minority few?
Its wrong,unfair and cruel.
Whilst they are al celebrating at the town hall, we are now faced with another rise in April in council tax.
Thank you for representing the views and interests of the local people who made your miserable success stories a possibility.
Posted by: Vernon Crepe, Littlehampton on 10:16am Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote][bold]adrian fudge[/bold] wrote:
What makes this worse is if you look at the cuts they are proposing to accomodate this rise Boredom Busters £20K Youth Service £91K Playgrounds £65K Comunity Safety Projects £10K Fernheath Play Association (09/10 onwards) £20K Community Parks & Countryside Team £195K I know this is more than the allowances but also concider that they are proposing to spend an extra £104K on BH Life so you will know how wonderful they are on a more frequent basis ,£500K on the "Town Centre Vision", additional Arts Subsidy (that is idetified as for the Winter Gardens ,which has been demolished ) and are spending a extra £300K on a Green Bin collection to replace the bag collection that was working satisfactorily With the cuts in the youth orinentated services this will probably lead to more anti-social behaviour If they feel that they are being underpaid (LOL) why not catch up at say a max 10% per annum and if they got rid of the extra Cabinet members they appointed and stuck to the original policy that nobody could claim more than one special responsability allowance they would not have to increase the Budget for this at all [/quote] If only the new Council was run as effectively and honestly as in your day, eh?
adrian fudge wrote:
What makes this worse is if you look at the cuts they are proposing to accomodate this rise Boredom Busters £20K Youth Service £91K Playgrounds £65K Comunity Safety Projects £10K Fernheath Play Association (09/10 onwards) £20K Community Parks & Countryside Team £195K I know this is more than the allowances but also concider that they are proposing to spend an extra £104K on BH Life so you will know how wonderful they are on a more frequent basis ,£500K on the "Town Centre Vision", additional Arts Subsidy (that is idetified as for the Winter Gardens ,which has been demolished ) and are spending a extra £300K on a Green Bin collection to replace the bag collection that was working satisfactorily With the cuts in the youth orinentated services this will probably lead to more anti-social behaviour If they feel that they are being underpaid (LOL) why not catch up at say a max 10% per annum and if they got rid of the extra Cabinet members they appointed and stuck to the original policy that nobody could claim more than one special responsability allowance they would not have to increase the Budget for this at all
If only the new Council was run as effectively and honestly as in your day, eh?
Posted by: John, Poole on 10:17am Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid. Salary £36,000pa.[/quote] I am a property developer and would be pleased to attend lunch-time meetings to feed my greed. I have much experience at flat-lining and pocket-lining.Can attend independent interview behind closed doors to meet our wishes. No expenses pared!
Dave wrote:
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid. Salary £36,000pa.
I am a property developer and would be pleased to attend lunch-time meetings to feed my greed. I have much experience at flat-lining and pocket-lining.Can attend independent interview behind closed doors to meet our wishes. No expenses pared!
Posted by: Carl Barron, Dorset on 10:39am Thu 14 Feb 08
[bold]As I said before:[/bold]
This is blatant in your face total corruption by Public sector Workers. It's nothing less than theft one might say.
With MPs claiming excessive expenses on top of their Salaries, the House of Commons resembles 'The House of Crooks'.
[bold]OAP's have to either 'Eat or Heat'[/bold] almost everyone's pensions have been whittled away by corrupt government [bold]Just what are you working for?[/bold]
[bold]Yet there is something you can do collectively:
Deduct or 17% minimum from your total council Tax Bill 'Claiming Unfair and Ethical Practices' by your local Councillors of awarding themselves a wage increases above the National wage increase set by Government.[/bold]
As I said before:
This is blatant in your face total corruption by Public sector Workers. It's nothing less than theft one might say.
With MPs claiming excessive expenses on top of their Salaries, the House of Commons resembles 'The House of Crooks'.
OAP's have to either 'Eat or Heat' almost everyone's pensions have been whittled away by corrupt government
Just what are you working for?
Yet there is something you can do collectively:
Deduct or 17% minimum from your total council Tax Bill 'Claiming Unfair and Ethical Practices' by your local Councillors of awarding themselves a wage increases above the National wage increase set by Government.
Posted by: Martin, Bournemouth on 10:46am Thu 14 Feb 08
The problems start at national level.
The present Labour "government", the worst ever, has cut the level of Council relief to the bone, and is clawing more and more back from less and less people.
Too many get benefits - we also need to employ our own nationals before foreign workers.
If more worked, there would be more paying taxes, and Council Tax!
Why should landlords get exemption from Council Tax, if they have students? Why should the unemployed get exemption? They both get full services without paying anything. These things need to change.
If they did, we would have more money in the Borough to afford these ridiculous councillor pay rises, and if this Council did do that, they might justify themselves. Until they do, it is not fair to everyone who works, as all of us are suffering from rising food and energy prices, and a difficult housing market.
To justify 4.9 percent increase? Possibly, but allowance increases as high as this?
We are all suffering from tight purses - do the decent, thing - prove you are a councillor for the right reasons, and reject it!
The problems start at national level.
The present Labour "government", the worst ever, has cut the level of Council relief to the bone, and is clawing more and more back from less and less people.
Too many get benefits - we also need to employ our own nationals before foreign workers.
If more worked, there would be more paying taxes, and Council Tax!
Why should landlords get exemption from Council Tax, if they have students? Why should the unemployed get exemption? They both get full services without paying anything. These things need to change.
If they did, we would have more money in the Borough to afford these ridiculous councillor pay rises, and if this Council did do that, they might justify themselves. Until they do, it is not fair to everyone who works, as all of us are suffering from rising food and energy prices, and a difficult housing market.
To justify 4.9 percent increase? Possibly, but allowance increases as high as this?
We are all suffering from tight purses - do the decent, thing - prove you are a councillor for the right reasons, and reject it!
Posted by: snoff, Poole on 10:57am Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote][bold]godzilla[/bold] wrote:
Tempting but I have morals and would not make a good councillor[/quote] And you are also a giant reptile created by a nuclear bomb detonated in the Pacific!!!! Imagine trying to get into the Town Hall! - you'd scare the locals! :)
godzilla wrote:
Tempting but I have morals and would not make a good councillor
And you are also a giant reptile created by a nuclear bomb detonated in the Pacific!!!! Imagine trying to get into the Town Hall! - you'd scare the locals! :)
Posted by: paul, boscombe on 11:13am Thu 14 Feb 08
Might as well have a big bin at the town hall. we can all put our bank cards in and let our elected councilors help themselves.
Might as well have a big bin at the town hall. we can all put our bank cards in and let our elected councilors help themselves.
Posted by: Emulated, Bournemouth on 11:19am Thu 14 Feb 08
I have written to the council asking them not to put a copy of BH Life through my door as its junk mail and a waste of money. I thought the Liberals were bad enough but this lot is even worse.
I have written to the council asking them not to put a copy of BH Life through my door as its junk mail and a waste of money. I thought the Liberals were bad enough but this lot is even worse.
Posted by: Sarah, Bournemouth on 11:33am Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Vernon Crepe[/bold] wrote:
This is another example of what the the Council is all about, money! Does anyone our there have a thread of respect left for them? [/quote] er.....let me think......NO!
Vernon Crepe wrote:
This is another example of what the the Council is all about, money! Does anyone our there have a thread of respect left for them?
er.....let me think......NO!
Posted by: Chris, Ensbury Park on 11:33am Thu 14 Feb 08
Mr Fudge lists the cuts the Council are making, but can he honestly say that he never did, and is it not true that some of these cuts were alredy implemented under the Liberal Council. Did he not when in power have any rises in salaries or allowances, of course he did, but now he is out, it is time to kick butt, but not when he was in.
He brings up the Winter Gardens, another Liberal attribute to Bournemouth.
It does not matter who is in power. The fact is this, how can any of you warrant a substantial pay award when the town is in the state it is in.
Mr Fudge lists the cuts the Council are making, but can he honestly say that he never did, and is it not true that some of these cuts were alredy implemented under the Liberal Council. Did he not when in power have any rises in salaries or allowances, of course he did, but now he is out, it is time to kick butt, but not when he was in.
He brings up the Winter Gardens, another Liberal attribute to Bournemouth.
It does not matter who is in power. The fact is this, how can any of you warrant a substantial pay award when the town is in the state it is in.
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 11:48am Thu 14 Feb 08
What are the councillors allowances at other councils?
What are the councillors allowances at other councils?
Posted by: Terry Pardy on 12:16pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Greedy b******s! No Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin,you are not worth £20 an hour plus all your perks! I have to pay 20percent of my pension income to council tax and I am going to have to find another 4.9% this year. You lot are just money grabbing!
Greedy b******s! No Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin,you are not worth £20 an hour plus all your perks! I have to pay 20percent of my pension income to council tax and I am going to have to find another 4.9% this year. You lot are just money grabbing!
Posted by: John, Poole on 12:37pm Thu 14 Feb 08
And Communications Cabinet member, Nick King, what are the other Councils' performance ratings?
And Communications Cabinet member, Nick King, what are the other Councils' performance ratings?
Posted by: Mark, Bournemouth on 3:34pm Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote][bold]bea[/bold] wrote:
Last year the councillors voted for a zero per cent rise in allowances! Allowances are taxable income and are taxed.There should be some method of ensuring that Councillors attend meetings, currently it seems to be left to Councillors' consciences and some people, Ron Whittaker and Anne Rey in particular are more conscientious than others.[/quote] It has already been said that our independant Councillors are more concientious than many others. With the local tories undermining their own party with this town hall greed perhaps our revenge should be taken at national level.
Ron Whittaker MP or Anne Rey MP, maybe we don't agree with everything they say but at least they would be there for the right reasons - serving the community not themselves!
bea wrote:
Last year the councillors voted for a zero per cent rise in allowances! Allowances are taxable income and are taxed.There should be some method of ensuring that Councillors attend meetings, currently it seems to be left to Councillors' consciences and some people, Ron Whittaker and Anne Rey in particular are more conscientious than others.
It has already been said that our independant Councillors are more concientious than many others. With the local tories undermining their own party with this town hall greed perhaps our revenge should be taken at national level.
Ron Whittaker MP or Anne Rey MP, maybe we don't agree with everything they say but at least they would be there for the right reasons - serving the community not themselves!
Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 3:59pm Thu 14 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Mark[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]bea[/bold] wrote:
Last year the councillors voted for a zero per cent rise in allowances! Allowances are taxable income and are taxed.There should be some method of ensuring that Councillors attend meetings, currently it seems to be left to Councillors' consciences and some people, Ron Whittaker and Anne Rey in particular are more conscientious than others.[/quote] It has already been said that our independant Councillors are more concientious than many others. With the local tories undermining their own party with this town hall greed perhaps our revenge should be taken at national level.
Ron Whittaker MP or Anne Rey MP, maybe we don't agree with everything they say but at least they would be there for the right reasons - serving the community not themselves![/quote] I have backed Anne and Ron in the past,but having noticed that they constantly vote alongside with Labour and Lib Dems,and often back Grower,i can no longer accept them to be really Independent.I am now wondering if they would vote against the big extra expenses,seeing as Grower has chickened out of saying he was against.When it comes to making money they are all the same.
Mark wrote:
bea wrote:
Last year the councillors voted for a zero per cent rise in allowances! Allowances are taxable income and are taxed.There should be some method of ensuring that Councillors attend meetings, currently it seems to be left to Councillors' consciences and some people, Ron Whittaker and Anne Rey in particular are more conscientious than others.
It has already been said that our independant Councillors are more concientious than many others. With the local tories undermining their own party with this town hall greed perhaps our revenge should be taken at national level.
Ron Whittaker MP or Anne Rey MP, maybe we don't agree with everything they say but at least they would be there for the right reasons - serving the community not themselves!
I have backed Anne and Ron in the past,but having noticed that they constantly vote alongside with Labour and Lib Dems,and often back Grower,i can no longer accept them to be really Independent.I am now wondering if they would vote against the big extra expenses,seeing as Grower has chickened out of saying he was against.When it comes to making money they are all the same.
Posted by: Nigel Gillespie, Bournemouth on 4:17pm Thu 14 Feb 08
And while were at it .Perhaps Tobias Ellwood and Sir John Butterfill voted to keep their expenses secret under the " Freedom of Information act"-Its all public money and you are accountable to us! the same as these councillors are!
And while were at it .Perhaps Tobias Ellwood and Sir John Butterfill voted to keep their expenses secret under the " Freedom of Information act"-Its all public money and you are accountable to us! the same as these councillors are!
Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 5:39pm Thu 14 Feb 08
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY. My comments re macloughlin and beesley,and inviting you to phone them have been removed,now we know where the echo stands,and who knows who it stinks,macs and beasleys numbers are in Home News and can be got from town hall phone them.this is dictatorship
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY. My comments re macloughlin and beesley,and inviting you to phone them have been removed,now we know where the echo stands,and who knows who it stinks,macs and beasleys numbers are in Home News and can be got from town hall phone them.this is dictatorship
Posted by: Mike Pickering, Bournemouth on 5:57pm Thu 14 Feb 08
36 grand a year, that's rubbish..You can earn more than that in thousands of industries, without much training in many too. I earn that much working 6 hours a day - I guess it just goes to show what grade of person does the job, someone who couldn't manage a computer programming course or complete a degree.
Honestly, if we paid them twice or three times that the position might attract someone with more than a passing intelligence and/or creativity and some of the problems the town has might actually be solved. Can you imagine a successful company with the scope that the council has to fill paying it's ceo 36grand ?
Peanuts and monkeys, I'm afraid, you get what you pay for.
36 grand a year, that's rubbish..You can earn more than that in thousands of industries, without much training in many too. I earn that much working 6 hours a day - I guess it just goes to show what grade of person does the job, someone who couldn't manage a computer programming course or complete a degree.
Honestly, if we paid them twice or three times that the position might attract someone with more than a passing intelligence and/or creativity and some of the problems the town has might actually be solved. Can you imagine a successful company with the scope that the council has to fill paying it's ceo 36grand ?
Peanuts and monkeys, I'm afraid, you get what you pay for.
Posted by: TAXIMAN, parkstone on 6:24pm Thu 14 Feb 08
oh goody i look forward to increasing the taxi fares from between 17 and 36% without any problems from the council but as we cabbies have more interest to the wider general public than jo blogs councllors we will be giving it seriuos consideration as to what they can and cannot afford to pay!
oh goody i look forward to increasing the taxi fares from between 17 and 36% without any problems from the council but as we cabbies have more interest to the wider general public than jo blogs councllors we will be giving it seriuos consideration as to what they can and cannot afford to pay!
Posted by: dancingdog777, Christchurch on 8:06pm Thu 14 Feb 08
It's not as if councillors actually DO anything, apart from creating hot air and lining their pockets with tax payers money! The council offices and services run efficiently without concillors, so why not just sack the lot!
It's not as if councillors actually DO anything, apart from creating hot air and lining their pockets with tax payers money! The council offices and services run efficiently without concillors, so why not just sack the lot!
Posted by: Chris, Ensbury Park on 8:30pm Thu 14 Feb 08
At least we know where it is coming from. Having just read todays Echo, we find that it has been agreed to a 4.9% rise on Council Tax, this is without the Fire and Police add ons. And at the same time the Council have agreed to increase the Council House Rent by 5.12%. There was a little note added by Mr. Beesley that hopefully we will have a lesser increase in the 2009/2010 financial year. So that means there is another big one next year.
Well as the Council Leader is not sure whether he is worth the rise, I can categorically say that my one bedroom flat is not worth the rise either, therefore I will not be instructing my bank to up the increases. If next Thursday the full Council decide not to take the rises, then I might reconsider.
Our one bedroom flat has had nothing done to since 2006. Rubbish heating, and certainly not worth the Council Tax we pay. The new increase will mean £93.36 per month, £933.60p per annum, for what. The rent will be increased to £2853 per annum. I appreciate whole heartedly that a vast number of you will pay more, but this is for a one bedroom flat.
At least we know where it is coming from. Having just read todays Echo, we find that it has been agreed to a 4.9% rise on Council Tax, this is without the Fire and Police add ons. And at the same time the Council have agreed to increase the Council House Rent by 5.12%. There was a little note added by Mr. Beesley that hopefully we will have a lesser increase in the 2009/2010 financial year. So that means there is another big one next year.
Well as the Council Leader is not sure whether he is worth the rise, I can categorically say that my one bedroom flat is not worth the rise either, therefore I will not be instructing my bank to up the increases. If next Thursday the full Council decide not to take the rises, then I might reconsider.
Our one bedroom flat has had nothing done to since 2006. Rubbish heating, and certainly not worth the Council Tax we pay. The new increase will mean £93.36 per month, £933.60p per annum, for what. The rent will be increased to £2853 per annum. I appreciate whole heartedly that a vast number of you will pay more, but this is for a one bedroom flat.
Posted by: seven year itch on 12:52am Fri 15 Feb 08
[quote][bold]PokesdownMark[/bold] wrote:
What are the councillors allowances at other councils?
[/quote] About £40K at some councils, look up the figures for unitary councils in England and Wales and you'll get the information. The current allowance is about £7K per year and if as the independant body say a good councillor put in about 30 hours per week I'd say that was pretty good value for money. If its true the cabinet are working virtually full-time and they are doing it for about £15k a year then I have nothing but respect for them if they do all that for such a pittance. Quite frankly who would take such massive responsibility, be abused all the time and get it in the neck whatever they did for such terrible money. I am surprised by the venom on this site. If you think its all so easy then stand for election which you won't because you don't have enough sense of public duty to do such a huge amount of work for such a pittance. No wonder the councils in in this country are run by retired men or successful business people who the hell else could afford to do it? If you want to attract a cross section then councils need to pay reasonable allowance - how else will they attract experienced and skillful people. Cllr's take ultimate responsibility over and above officers who are paid in excess of £60k per year and our own councils chief exec about £120K. People have to be able to pay their blooming mortgage. Stick this job in the private sector and you'd be talking 6 figures why all the meanness?
PokesdownMark wrote:
What are the councillors allowances at other councils?
About £40K at some councils, look up the figures for unitary councils in England and Wales and you'll get the information. The current allowance is about £7K per year and if as the independant body say a good councillor put in about 30 hours per week I'd say that was pretty good value for money. If its true the cabinet are working virtually full-time and they are doing it for about £15k a year then I have nothing but respect for them if they do all that for such a pittance. Quite frankly who would take such massive responsibility, be abused all the time and get it in the neck whatever they did for such terrible money. I am surprised by the venom on this site. If you think its all so easy then stand for election which you won't because you don't have enough sense of public duty to do such a huge amount of work for such a pittance. No wonder the councils in in this country are run by retired men or successful business people who the hell else could afford to do it? If you want to attract a cross section then councils need to pay reasonable allowance - how else will they attract experienced and skillful people. Cllr's take ultimate responsibility over and above officers who are paid in excess of £60k per year and our own councils chief exec about £120K. People have to be able to pay their blooming mortgage. Stick this job in the private sector and you'd be talking 6 figures why all the meanness?
Posted by: RM, Poole, Dorset on 1:40am Fri 15 Feb 08
As Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin says he doesn't know whether he's worth the increase or not (quote in the Echo) should he really be leader of the Council where all the local financial decisions are made?
As Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin says he doesn't know whether he's worth the increase or not (quote in the Echo) should he really be leader of the Council where all the local financial decisions are made?
Posted by: fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown on 7:42am Fri 15 Feb 08
[quote][bold]seven year itch[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]PokesdownMark[/bold] wrote: What are the councillors allowances at other councils? [/quote] About £40K at some councils, look up the figures for unitary councils in England and Wales and you'll get the information. The current allowance is about £7K per year and if as the independant body say a good councillor put in about 30 hours per week I'd say that was pretty good value for money. If its true the cabinet are working virtually full-time and they are doing it for about £15k a year then I have nothing but respect for them if they do all that for such a pittance. Quite frankly who would take such massive responsibility, be abused all the time and get it in the neck whatever they did for such terrible money. I am surprised by the venom on this site. If you think its all so easy then stand for election which you won't because you don't have enough sense of public duty to do such a huge amount of work for such a pittance. No wonder the councils in in this country are run by retired men or successful business people who the hell else could afford to do it? If you want to attract a cross section then councils need to pay reasonable allowance - how else will they attract experienced and skillful people. Cllr's take ultimate responsibility over and above officers who are paid in excess of £60k per year and our own councils chief exec about £120K. People have to be able to pay their blooming mortgage. Stick this job in the private sector and you'd be talking 6 figures why all the meanness?[/quote] The problem is that this is [italic][bold]our[/bold][/italic] money and the people of Bournemouth have not even been consulted about these proposals.
seven year itch wrote:
PokesdownMark wrote: What are the councillors allowances at other councils?
About £40K at some councils, look up the figures for unitary councils in England and Wales and you'll get the information. The current allowance is about £7K per year and if as the independant body say a good councillor put in about 30 hours per week I'd say that was pretty good value for money. If its true the cabinet are working virtually full-time and they are doing it for about £15k a year then I have nothing but respect for them if they do all that for such a pittance. Quite frankly who would take such massive responsibility, be abused all the time and get it in the neck whatever they did for such terrible money. I am surprised by the venom on this site. If you think its all so easy then stand for election which you won't because you don't have enough sense of public duty to do such a huge amount of work for such a pittance. No wonder the councils in in this country are run by retired men or successful business people who the hell else could afford to do it? If you want to attract a cross section then councils need to pay reasonable allowance - how else will they attract experienced and skillful people. Cllr's take ultimate responsibility over and above officers who are paid in excess of £60k per year and our own councils chief exec about £120K. People have to be able to pay their blooming mortgage. Stick this job in the private sector and you'd be talking 6 figures why all the meanness?
The problem is that this is
our money and the people of Bournemouth have not even been consulted about these proposals.
Posted by: fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown on 7:48am Fri 15 Feb 08
[quote][bold]PETE WOODLEY[/bold] wrote:
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY. My comments re macloughlin and beesley,and inviting you to phone them have been removed,now we know where the echo stands,and who knows who it stinks,macs and beasleys numbers are in Home News and can be got from town hall phone them.this is dictatorship[/quote] If the telephone numbers you gave were Council numbers then I agree with you, if they were private numbers then I think the Echo was right in removing your comment – we are all entitled to some privacy in our private lives.
Council Telephone numbers and Email addresses for all these people can be readily found on the Council’s Website.
PETE WOODLEY wrote:
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY. My comments re macloughlin and beesley,and inviting you to phone them have been removed,now we know where the echo stands,and who knows who it stinks,macs and beasleys numbers are in Home News and can be got from town hall phone them.this is dictatorship
If the telephone numbers you gave were Council numbers then I agree with you, if they were private numbers then I think the Echo was right in removing your comment – we are all entitled to some privacy in our private lives.
Council Telephone numbers and Email addresses for all these people can be readily found on the Council’s Website.
Posted by: Phil, Poole on 8:54am Fri 15 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Mike Pickering[/bold] wrote:
36 grand a year, that's rubbish..You can earn more than that in thousands of industries, without much training in many too. I earn that much working 6 hours a day - I guess it just goes to show what grade of person does the job, someone who couldn't manage a computer programming course or complete a degree.
Honestly, if we paid them twice or three times that the position might attract someone with more than a passing intelligence and/or creativity and some of the problems the town has might actually be solved. Can you imagine a successful company with the scope that the council has to fill paying it's ceo 36grand ?
Peanuts and monkeys, I'm afraid, you get what you pay for.[/quote] Are you related to Loadsamoney by any chance? "Look at the size of my wad!" Hilarious.
Mike Pickering wrote:
36 grand a year, that's rubbish..You can earn more than that in thousands of industries, without much training in many too. I earn that much working 6 hours a day - I guess it just goes to show what grade of person does the job, someone who couldn't manage a computer programming course or complete a degree.
Honestly, if we paid them twice or three times that the position might attract someone with more than a passing intelligence and/or creativity and some of the problems the town has might actually be solved. Can you imagine a successful company with the scope that the council has to fill paying it's ceo 36grand ?
Peanuts and monkeys, I'm afraid, you get what you pay for.
Are you related to Loadsamoney by any chance? "Look at the size of my wad!" Hilarious.
Posted by: dailyechoreader, Bournemouth on 9:25am Fri 15 Feb 08
As an employee of the same council who will recieve the 17-36% pay rise, I am disappointed. I work some unsociable hours, with some difficult people, under sometimes difficult circumstances. My last pay rise was a mere 2.5%, 2.4% below the 4.9% council tax increase and 14.5 - 33.5% below their salary increase. What makes their job so much more than mine?
As an employee of the same council who will recieve the 17-36% pay rise, I am disappointed. I work some unsociable hours, with some difficult people, under sometimes difficult circumstances. My last pay rise was a mere 2.5%, 2.4% below the 4.9% council tax increase and 14.5 - 33.5% below their salary increase. What makes their job so much more than mine?
Posted by: the owl, bere regis on 9:32am Fri 15 Feb 08
I'm considerably richer than yow.
I'm considerably richer than yow.
Posted by: John, Poole on 10:00am Fri 15 Feb 08
[quote][bold]seven year itch[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]PokesdownMark[/bold] wrote: What are the councillors allowances at other councils? [/quote] About £40K at some councils, look up the figures for unitary councils in England and Wales and you'll get the information. The current allowance is about £7K per year and if as the independant body say a good councillor put in about 30 hours per week I'd say that was pretty good value for money. If its true the cabinet are working virtually full-time and they are doing it for about £15k a year then I have nothing but respect for them if they do all that for such a pittance. Quite frankly who would take such massive responsibility, be abused all the time and get it in the neck whatever they did for such terrible money. I am surprised by the venom on this site. If you think its all so easy then stand for election which you won't because you don't have enough sense of public duty to do such a huge amount of work for such a pittance. No wonder the councils in in this country are run by retired men or successful business people who the hell else could afford to do it? If you want to attract a cross section then councils need to pay reasonable allowance - how else will they attract experienced and skillful people. Cllr's take ultimate responsibility over and above officers who are paid in excess of £60k per year and our own councils chief exec about £120K. People have to be able to pay their blooming mortgage. Stick this job in the private sector and you'd be talking 6 figures why all the meanness?[/quote] Much of the outcry is because since this shower took power, they have achieved little more than getting Bournemouth downgraded to a 2* Council, which has put Bournemouth in the worst 25% of Councils in the country.In the better organised private sector such an appalling performance would result in no pay increase for those responsible, or in a few companies, even a pay decrease.
I agree with Cllr NickKing, pay these Councillors according to their performance!
seven year itch wrote:
PokesdownMark wrote: What are the councillors allowances at other councils?
About £40K at some councils, look up the figures for unitary councils in England and Wales and you'll get the information. The current allowance is about £7K per year and if as the independant body say a good councillor put in about 30 hours per week I'd say that was pretty good value for money. If its true the cabinet are working virtually full-time and they are doing it for about £15k a year then I have nothing but respect for them if they do all that for such a pittance. Quite frankly who would take such massive responsibility, be abused all the time and get it in the neck whatever they did for such terrible money. I am surprised by the venom on this site. If you think its all so easy then stand for election which you won't because you don't have enough sense of public duty to do such a huge amount of work for such a pittance. No wonder the councils in in this country are run by retired men or successful business people who the hell else could afford to do it? If you want to attract a cross section then councils need to pay reasonable allowance - how else will they attract experienced and skillful people. Cllr's take ultimate responsibility over and above officers who are paid in excess of £60k per year and our own councils chief exec about £120K. People have to be able to pay their blooming mortgage. Stick this job in the private sector and you'd be talking 6 figures why all the meanness?
Much of the outcry is because since this shower took power, they have achieved little more than getting Bournemouth downgraded to a 2* Council, which has put Bournemouth in the worst 25% of Councils in the country.In the better organised private sector such an appalling performance would result in no pay increase for those responsible, or in a few companies, even a pay decrease.
I agree with Cllr NickKing, pay these Councillors according to their performance!
Posted by: Tim Aker, London on 11:10am Fri 15 Feb 08
The TaxPayers' Alliance has gathered all councillor contact details from the council website. Click this link to lobby Bournemouth Councillors to vote against this pay hike:
http://tpa.typepad.c
om/campaign/2008/02/
can-you-spare-j.html
Keep up the fight, we have to hold this council to account.
Tim Aker
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
The TaxPayers' Alliance has gathered all councillor contact details from the council website. Click this link to lobby Bournemouth Councillors to vote against this pay hike:
http://tpa.typepad.c
om/campaign/2008/02/
can-you-spare-j.html
Keep up the fight, we have to hold this council to account.
Tim Aker
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
Posted by: Jill (OAP), Bournemouth on 1:47pm Fri 15 Feb 08
Just seems to be normal practice these days. So how about earning all that extra money and fight for the rest of us who don't have enough and are not likely to get these big raises in their income. We still have to pay the higher rates eg council tax but pensions do not go up by the same per centage. The lower wage groups and pensioners are still paying but getting less to live on!!
Just seems to be normal practice these days. So how about earning all that extra money and fight for the rest of us who don't have enough and are not likely to get these big raises in their income. We still have to pay the higher rates eg council tax but pensions do not go up by the same per centage. The lower wage groups and pensioners are still paying but getting less to live on!!
Posted by: ChunkyMonkey, Dorset on 4:08pm Fri 15 Feb 08
This is obscene! 17% pay rises when no one else dare even ask for 2%. JSA is £59 a week. Do these "elected people" wonder why there is crime on the street by "hoodies"? Stephen MacLoughlin doesn't know what he's worth, yet seems to think he can have a role of power. We are lost.
This is obscene! 17% pay rises when no one else dare even ask for 2%. JSA is £59 a week. Do these "elected people" wonder why there is crime on the street by "hoodies"? Stephen MacLoughlin doesn't know what he's worth, yet seems to think he can have a role of power. We are lost.
Posted by: Mike Pickering, Bournemouth on 11:08pm Fri 15 Feb 08
It's just a matter of degree, Phil from Poole.
Surely you could say the same thing - half of people earn more than half of other people - I was trying to put it into perspective that 36grand is not much money - you couldnt buy a decent house with a mortgage based on that, plus driving an average car, the cost of food etc - the price of living in this country has skyrocketed in the last 10 years, despite on paper inflation not being that great..
You have to work twice as hard now to get what you got for your money 15 years ago..and nothing left at the end of the month. No wonder people just want to escape into a bottle at the weekend and take out their frustrations on everyone and everything.
It's not a lot of money, is all I'm saying.
It's just a matter of degree, Phil from Poole.
Surely you could say the same thing - half of people earn more than half of other people - I was trying to put it into perspective that 36grand is not much money - you couldnt buy a decent house with a mortgage based on that, plus driving an average car, the cost of food etc - the price of living in this country has skyrocketed in the last 10 years, despite on paper inflation not being that great..
You have to work twice as hard now to get what you got for your money 15 years ago..and nothing left at the end of the month. No wonder people just want to escape into a bottle at the weekend and take out their frustrations on everyone and everything.
It's not a lot of money, is all I'm saying.
Posted by: dailyechoreader, Bournemouth on 11:54pm Fri 15 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid. Salary £36,000pa.[/quote] Also Wanted: Hard working intelligent person with a deep desire to help people. Public Sectors include Education, Highway Traffic, Social Services and Maintance. Expected Salary - Less than £32,000
Dave wrote:
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid. Salary £36,000pa.
Also Wanted: Hard working intelligent person with a deep desire to help people. Public Sectors include Education, Highway Traffic, Social Services and Maintance. Expected Salary - Less than £32,000
Posted by: dailyechoreader, Bournemouth on 11:54pm Fri 15 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid. Salary £36,000pa.[/quote] Also Wanted: Hard working intelligent person with a deep desire to help people. Public Sectors include Education, Highway Traffic, Social Services and Maintance. Expected Salary - Less than £32,000
Dave wrote:
Wanted part time person to attend meetings when it suits you. Experiance with making mistakes an advantage. All expences paid. Salary £36,000pa.
Also Wanted: Hard working intelligent person with a deep desire to help people. Public Sectors include Education, Highway Traffic, Social Services and Maintance. Expected Salary - Less than £32,000
Posted by: Chris, Ensbury Park on 12:58am Sat 16 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Tim Aker[/bold] wrote:
The TaxPayers' Alliance has gathered all councillor contact details from the council website. Click this link to lobby Bournemouth Councillors to vote against this pay hike:
http://tpa.typepad.c
om/campaign/2008/02/
can-you-spare-j.html
Keep up the fight, we have to hold this council to account.
Tim Aker
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com[/quote] I am, and I have. And I have had some good results. Looking forward to next Thursday.
Tim Aker wrote:
The TaxPayers' Alliance has gathered all councillor contact details from the council website. Click this link to lobby Bournemouth Councillors to vote against this pay hike:
http://tpa.typepad.c
om/campaign/2008/02/
can-you-spare-j.html
Keep up the fight, we have to hold this council to account.
Tim Aker
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
I am, and I have. And I have had some good results. Looking forward to next Thursday.
Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 4:42pm Sat 16 Feb 08
[quote][bold]fedupwithjobsworths[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]PETE WOODLEY[/bold] wrote:
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY. My comments re macloughlin and beesley,and inviting you to phone them have been removed,now we know where the echo stands,and who knows who it stinks,macs and beasleys numbers are in Home News and can be got from town hall phone them.this is dictatorship[/quote] If the telephone numbers you gave were Council numbers then I agree with you, if they were private numbers then I think the Echo was right in removing your comment – we are all entitled to some privacy in our private lives.
Council Telephone numbers and Email addresses for all these people can be readily found on the Council’s Website.
[/quote] The phone numbers as you say,can be found on the councils site,and in HOME NEWS,and can be googled,etc,so why are they worried about me, at 73 and in ill health,WHAT a pathetic lot to have a go at one o.a.p.,for speaking his mind.At my age,i will not wilter,i will find other ways,perhaps they will do a jeremy thorpe and find a hitman ?.they must be desperate,to be so vindictive,Macoughli
ns really showing his true self to ask the Echo to bar me.
fedupwithjobsworths wrote:
PETE WOODLEY wrote:
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY. My comments re macloughlin and beesley,and inviting you to phone them have been removed,now we know where the echo stands,and who knows who it stinks,macs and beasleys numbers are in Home News and can be got from town hall phone them.this is dictatorship
If the telephone numbers you gave were Council numbers then I agree with you, if they were private numbers then I think the Echo was right in removing your comment – we are all entitled to some privacy in our private lives.
Council Telephone numbers and Email addresses for all these people can be readily found on the Council’s Website.
The phone numbers as you say,can be found on the councils site,and in HOME NEWS,and can be googled,etc,so why are they worried about me, at 73 and in ill health,WHAT a pathetic lot to have a go at one o.a.p.,for speaking his mind.At my age,i will not wilter,i will find other ways,perhaps they will do a jeremy thorpe and find a hitman ?.they must be desperate,to be so vindictive,Macoughli
ns really showing his true self to ask the Echo to bar me.
Posted by: dancingdog777, Christchurch on 7:32pm Sat 16 Feb 08
[quote][bold]dailyechoreader[/bold] wrote:
As an employee of the same council who will recieve the 17-36% pay rise, I am disappointed. I work some unsociable hours, with some difficult people, under sometimes difficult circumstances. My last pay rise was a mere 2.5%, 2.4% below the 4.9% council tax increase and 14.5 - 33.5% below their salary increase. What makes their job so much more than mine?[/quote] It's because they're all Freemasons and they look after each other and sod the rest!
dailyechoreader wrote:
As an employee of the same council who will recieve the 17-36% pay rise, I am disappointed. I work some unsociable hours, with some difficult people, under sometimes difficult circumstances. My last pay rise was a mere 2.5%, 2.4% below the 4.9% council tax increase and 14.5 - 33.5% below their salary increase. What makes their job so much more than mine?
It's because they're all Freemasons and they look after each other and sod the rest!
Posted by: Chris, Ensbury Park on 10:11pm Sat 16 Feb 08
[bold]http://tpa.typepad.c
om/campaign/2008/02/
can-you-spare-j.html[/bold]
[bold]
Tim Aker
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com[/bold]
Use either of these to find all the email addresses. I have emailed everyone of them, and I have had some good replies back from around a dozen councillors. It will be good to see the result next Thursday.
Go for it, lobby them, see what they will say. Its our right to ask.
http://tpa.typepad.c
om/campaign/2008/02/
can-you-spare-j.html
Tim Aker
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
Use either of these to find all the email addresses. I have emailed everyone of them, and I have had some good replies back from around a dozen councillors. It will be good to see the result next Thursday.
Go for it, lobby them, see what they will say. Its our right to ask.
Posted by: highwaywarrior, Bournemouth on 11:54am Sun 17 Feb 08
Situation vacant:
Councillor for Bournemouth. No previous political or governmental experience necessary. The ability to be able to make grossly insensitive planning decisions (paid for by the applicant) is essential. Ignoring the advice of your local police service in terms of licensing issues is paramount as the town now thrives on alcohol fuelled violence. The ability to be hesitant at making decisions that actually benefit the local community is a must as the promise of more to come at the next election will ensure your position on the council. Having your own car to qualify for free parking at any location within the town is desirable. Your working hours are open to (mis)interpretation and completely flexible to suit you. Finally, the ability to prevaricate convincingly under media scrutiny would be a preferable character trait but on-the-job training can be provided. The council is an equal opportunities employer and applications are particularly welcome from the hearing impaired as listening to the views of your residents is not a requirement.
Salary: You name it.
Situation vacant:
Councillor for Bournemouth. No previous political or governmental experience necessary. The ability to be able to make grossly insensitive planning decisions (paid for by the applicant) is essential. Ignoring the advice of your local police service in terms of licensing issues is paramount as the town now thrives on alcohol fuelled violence. The ability to be hesitant at making decisions that actually benefit the local community is a must as the promise of more to come at the next election will ensure your position on the council. Having your own car to qualify for free parking at any location within the town is desirable. Your working hours are open to (mis)interpretation and completely flexible to suit you. Finally, the ability to prevaricate convincingly under media scrutiny would be a preferable character trait but on-the-job training can be provided. The council is an equal opportunities employer and applications are particularly welcome from the hearing impaired as listening to the views of your residents is not a requirement.
Salary: You name it.
Posted by: uticad, Sunny Bormuff!! on 10:16pm Sun 17 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Mike Pickering[/bold] wrote:
36 grand a year, that's rubbish..You can earn more than that in thousands of industries, without much training in many too. I earn that much working 6 hours a day - I guess it just goes to show what grade of person does the job, someone who couldn't manage a computer programming course or complete a degree. Honestly, if we paid them twice or three times that the position might attract someone with more than a passing intelligence and/or creativity and some of the problems the town has might actually be solved. Can you imagine a successful company with the scope that the council has to fill paying it's ceo 36grand ? Peanuts and monkeys, I'm afraid, you get what you pay for.[/quote] Yes Mike, agree in some part with you, BUT... working for a 'business' means producing something to sell for the money...you have to be a 'successful' business to EARN the money to pay a big salary. If you don't you go BUST. FACT.
This council DOED NOT produce any product to sell, makes no earnings from its employees, only SPONGES OFF US!!!
If the council was run like any self respecting business, it would have gone bust years ago. The old adage 'income must exceed expenditure' comes to mind. When you don't have to WORK hard for your money, because it's someone elses, it's easy!
Sad fact is, we are all held prisioner by this council. Unlike the real world, we can't take our business elsewhere, as we can in industry!
Mike Pickering wrote:
36 grand a year, that's rubbish..You can earn more than that in thousands of industries, without much training in many too. I earn that much working 6 hours a day - I guess it just goes to show what grade of person does the job, someone who couldn't manage a computer programming course or complete a degree. Honestly, if we paid them twice or three times that the position might attract someone with more than a passing intelligence and/or creativity and some of the problems the town has might actually be solved. Can you imagine a successful company with the scope that the council has to fill paying it's ceo 36grand ? Peanuts and monkeys, I'm afraid, you get what you pay for.
Yes Mike, agree in some part with you, BUT... working for a 'business' means producing something to sell for the money...you have to be a 'successful' business to EARN the money to pay a big salary. If you don't you go BUST. FACT.
This council DOED NOT produce any product to sell, makes no earnings from its employees, only SPONGES OFF US!!!
If the council was run like any self respecting business, it would have gone bust years ago. The old adage 'income must exceed expenditure' comes to mind. When you don't have to WORK hard for your money, because it's someone elses, it's easy!
Sad fact is, we are all held prisioner by this council. Unlike the real world, we can't take our business elsewhere, as we can in industry!
Posted by: accountability, Dallas Texas on 10:26pm Sun 17 Feb 08
[bold]I totally agree with you uticad.
Some of these councillors who do or have run successful businesses must have their brains removed once thet start attending the council to collect their allowances.
THEY SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON ATTENDING TO THEIR FAILING COUNCIL AND FORGET CLOSING TOWNSEND SCHOOL WHICH FROM WHAT I HEAR, IS BETTER RUN THAN THIS ABYSMAL EXCUSE FOR A COUNCIL![/bold]
I totally agree with you uticad.
Some of these councillors who do or have run successful businesses must have their brains removed once thet start attending the council to collect their allowances.
THEY SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON ATTENDING TO THEIR FAILING COUNCIL AND FORGET CLOSING TOWNSEND SCHOOL WHICH FROM WHAT I HEAR, IS BETTER RUN THAN THIS ABYSMAL EXCUSE FOR A COUNCIL! Posted by: Bournemouth UKIP, Bournemouth on 3:49pm Mon 18 Feb 08
If the voters suspend their critical judgement on polling day and continue to vote for their 'tribe' then nothing will change. Philip Glover, our prospective parliamentary candidate thinks the councillors should just get an allowance and no more:
http://www.westbourn
emouthukip.com
If the voters suspend their critical judgement on polling day and continue to vote for their 'tribe' then nothing will change. Philip Glover, our prospective parliamentary candidate thinks the councillors should just get an allowance and no more:
http://www.westbourn
emouthukip.com
Posted by: Tim Aker, London on 10:10am Tue 19 Feb 08
If you're angry at these potential pay rises, please go to the full council meeting where the vote will take place. It takes place this Thursday 21 February 7PM. You can find directions to the Town Hall here: http://www.bournemou
th.gov.uk/main/Maps/
default.asp#London
And a map here: http://www.bournemou
th.gov.uk/main/Maps/
council_offices.asp
Thank you all for your contributions to our campaign to stop politicians rewarding themselves for failure.
Best,
Tim Aker
Grassroots Coordinator
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
If you're angry at these potential pay rises, please go to the full council meeting where the vote will take place. It takes place this Thursday 21 February 7PM. You can find directions to the Town Hall here: http://www.bournemou
th.gov.uk/main/Maps/
default.asp#London
And a map here: http://www.bournemou
th.gov.uk/main/Maps/
council_offices.asp
Thank you all for your contributions to our campaign to stop politicians rewarding themselves for failure.
Best,
Tim Aker
Grassroots Coordinator
The TaxPayers' Alliance
www.taxpayersallianc
e.com
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