Christchurch councillors approve tax rise proposals (From Bournemouth Echo)

sack all the councillors and all their expense claims that would save a lot of money and reduce council tax bills , why do we need them.
councillors have big egos lording it over other people. to many layers of so called democracy.

They need that money to help fill the huge pothole in Wick Lane. It will need more!

I think if I asked my employer for a 1.95% pay rise because I was unable to live within my means he would tell me to look for other employment, wouldn't it be great if we could all demand a pay rise like councils do.

Hessenford wrote:
I think if I asked my employer for a 1.95% pay rise because I was unable to live within my means he would tell me to look for other employment, wouldn't it be great if we could all demand a pay rise like councils do.

Given that inflation is running at a higher figure than 1.95%, it means they're effectively still asking for less money than last year!

speedy231278 wrote:

Hessenford wrote:
I think if I asked my employer for a 1.95% pay rise because I was unable to live within my means he would tell me to look for other employment, wouldn't it be great if we could all demand a pay rise like councils do.

Given that inflation is running at a higher figure than 1.95%, it means they're effectively still asking for less money than last year!

And given that most people have not had a pay rise for two years this is in fact a pay reduction but we still have to pay our bills and live within our means, something the council has not yet learned to do.
To save money they should cut some of the dead wood from their offices, we all have to make sacrifices in this present climate.

Hessenford wrote:

speedy231278 wrote:

Hessenford wrote: I think if I asked my employer for a 1.95% pay rise because I was unable to live within my means he would tell me to look for other employment, wouldn't it be great if we could all demand a pay rise like councils do.

Given that inflation is running at a higher figure than 1.95%, it means they're effectively still asking for less money than last year!

And given that most people have not had a pay rise for two years this is in fact a pay reduction but we still have to pay our bills and live within our means, something the council has not yet learned to do. To save money they should cut some of the dead wood from their offices, we all have to make sacrifices in this present climate.

Completely agree. They live on their own planet.
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If they freeze all their wages in the Council the main inflation buster is fuel costs. I'm sure that could be off set by shedding a few unwanted and overpaid councillors plus reducing expenses.
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They make it far too easy to claim. If I need to claim expenses for my job I need it pre-approved, then approved by the MDs PA with receipts, then I have to fill in about 50 forms. They make it deliberately difficult so you don't bother unless it's a foreign trip.
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With struggling businesses I'm sure they can get any contract or outsourced work done cheaper too if they bothered to shop around.

Sir Alan wrote:
sack all the councillors and all their expense claims that would save a lot of money and reduce council tax bills , why do we need them.
councillors have big egos lording it over other people. to many layers of so called democracy.

Well said, how do we get rid of them, from what I have read and heard the leader Cllr Nottage is the one who really needs to go ASAP, I feel he may have the biggest voice out of them all.
As for the rise the answer should be NO.
Get rid of all the Cllr allowances and fees then we may well reconsider, let's trim from the top first .

Before you start charging us more how about putting right some of the roads in the area first, then think about taking a leaf out of Bournemouth council book, which is to open up the surplus cash you have squirrelled away for such times as these.
I think these mandarins in Christchurch council are living on a different planet.

“The worrying thing is if we continue to accept the freeze grants, by 2015 we are going to be looking at a very large increase.”



Eric Pickles has made it clear that local authorities increasing the Council tax will pay heavily in the long run.

Wouldn't it be better for the councillors who passed this, to pay the increased amount out of their own savings for all the residents. Then they could be seen to be doing something for the residents! See how they like being forced to give up their savings!

So come along all you councillors who read these comments lets see some replies, If you have the guts, no I thought not only reply on mass safety in numbers what.

skydriver wrote:

Sir Alan wrote:
sack all the councillors and all their expense claims that would save a lot of money and reduce council tax bills , why do we need them.
councillors have big egos lording it over other people. to many layers of so called democracy.

Well said, how do we get rid of them, from what I have read and heard the leader Cllr Nottage is the one who really needs to go ASAP, I feel he may have the biggest voice out of them all.
As for the rise the answer should be NO.
Get rid of all the Cllr allowances and fees then we may well reconsider, let's trim from the top first .

And having got rid of all the councillors, what do you propose?

As you haven't yet worked it out for yourself, maybe I should explain that councillors are elected by you, me and our neighbours to represent us. Remove them and who will represent the local tax payers? The paid employees at the council would be free to run amok with our money.

The fact that any/all councillors may have selective deafness when it comes to listening to what we want is a different issue which can be dealt with by regular ear-bending or voting for someone else next time.

So, 'Sir Alan', 'Skydriver' and others, what have YOU actually done to express your opinions to your local councillors??

Phixer wrote:

skydriver wrote:

Sir Alan wrote:
sack all the councillors and all their expense claims that would save a lot of money and reduce council tax bills , why do we need them.
councillors have big egos lording it over other people. to many layers of so called democracy.

Well said, how do we get rid of them, from what I have read and heard the leader Cllr Nottage is the one who really needs to go ASAP, I feel he may have the biggest voice out of them all.
As for the rise the answer should be NO.
Get rid of all the Cllr allowances and fees then we may well reconsider, let's trim from the top first .

And having got rid of all the councillors, what do you propose?

As you haven't yet worked it out for yourself, maybe I should explain that councillors are elected by you, me and our neighbours to represent us. Remove them and who will represent the local tax payers? The paid employees at the council would be free to run amok with our money.

The fact that any/all councillors may have selective deafness when it comes to listening to what we want is a different issue which can be dealt with by regular ear-bending or voting for someone else next time.

So, 'Sir Alan', 'Skydriver' and others, what have YOU actually done to express your opinions to your local councillors??

Phixer and others may be interested in this article from the BBC website on councillor's pay - http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-politics-21
511885 , "Councils have been told to curb the pay of senior staff after figures suggested more than 28,000 are receiving at least £50,000 a year."

Turtlebay wrote:

Phixer wrote:

skydriver wrote:

Sir Alan wrote:
sack all the councillors and all their expense claims that would save a lot of money and reduce council tax bills , why do we need them.
councillors have big egos lording it over other people. to many layers of so called democracy.

Well said, how do we get rid of them, from what I have read and heard the leader Cllr Nottage is the one who really needs to go ASAP, I feel he may have the biggest voice out of them all.
As for the rise the answer should be NO.
Get rid of all the Cllr allowances and fees then we may well reconsider, let's trim from the top first .

And having got rid of all the councillors, what do you propose?

As you haven't yet worked it out for yourself, maybe I should explain that councillors are elected by you, me and our neighbours to represent us. Remove them and who will represent the local tax payers? The paid employees at the council would be free to run amok with our money.

The fact that any/all councillors may have selective deafness when it comes to listening to what we want is a different issue which can be dealt with by regular ear-bending or voting for someone else next time.

So, 'Sir Alan', 'Skydriver' and others, what have YOU actually done to express your opinions to your local councillors??

Phixer and others may be interested in this article from the BBC website on councillor's pay - http://www.bbc.co.uk

/news/uk-politics-21

511885 , "Councils have been told to curb the pay of senior staff after figures suggested more than 28,000 are receiving at least £50,000 a year."

We would get rid of those we did put there and replace with ones with some who listen to the people who put them there and those who have some real interest in what the locals want and not what the councillors want,they have made so may gaffs it is time they went. By the sound of your comments you may well be one we want rid of, at least you could say if you are.and if you are for goodness sake take note of what the locals are saying if you really want to keep Christchurch a good place to live.

I would like to know why no mention has been made of the Christchurch Borough Council reserves, or would I be right in thinking these are now "EDDC Reserves". Surely reserves ciould have been used rather than a Council Tax Increase.

Victor_Meldrew_ Jnr wrote:
I would like to know why no mention has been made of the Christchurch Borough Council reserves, or would I be right in thinking these are now "EDDC Reserves". Surely reserves ciould have been used rather than a Council Tax Increase.

I agree thats what reserves are for if this is not a economic emergency i dont know what is.Ever more shops and businesses closing we could use this money to help business and private Council Tax payers.Mind you i think theyve got some other tax plan up their sleeves makes me shudder

Well Phixer, as it happens I am one of those who has written, Emailed and Spoken to a councillor ,who represents my district. Conclusion - a waste of time.
Reserves? they are now a common source to the district.
Many have worked to present their views on subjects from meeting halls to potholes or parking,- little or no response . A current rumour? , the closure of High Street and Bridge St. to traffic - no comment. Ah Well - so it go'es.

Goodie for the Council!

And the ratepayers get...diddlysquat.

The usual win-win.

Wait i've got an idea. Lets get rid of all the councillors- they have no idea what's going on, don't represent the views of residents, just claim expenses and are only in it for the high profile publicity being a borough councillor brings (oh the kudos).

Next we sack all the officers in the council as they are all over paid and get fat cat pensions and are only in it to get as much money as they can whislt doing as little work as possible.

Then we replace them all with volunteers from the local community (brilliant idea Mr Pickles who of course does all his duties for free) who would get paid nothing and not be able to claim expenses but who would only be in it to benefit their local community and not for any self publicity or to promote their own agenda's.

We tell all local residents that no longer will their bins be collected and they have to dispose of all their own refuse and to do so responsibily so as not to make a mess - oh, no local tips however as Dorset Councty Council are also being similarly disbanded to reduce council tax). Perhaps some more volunteers would man the local tips or even band together and set up their own free community refuse collection service.

Planning - the volunteer 'councillors' tell people not to build anything that no-one else likes but no one is allowed to tell anyone what is or is not acceptable. See - easy, who needs planners.

Volunteers for sorting out the beaches (all those dog walkers can do that) grass cutting can be done by those living within 10m of grass verges etc and we'll be fighting off volunteers to bring their own lawn mowers to cut recreation grounds and open spaces.
If you get a hole in the road outside your house - get out there and fill it yourself. All parking charges and restrictions are cancelled - up to you where you park just be considerate, we know you will be.

Noisy parties - vigilante groups can tour round and deal with them.

Strays - what harm do they ever do anyway and street cleaning volunteers will deal with the dog fouling and littering.

Next week we'll sort out the police (plenty of know it alls who can tell others what to do), fire (we've all got garden hoses haven't we), ambulances (plenty of people carriers out there), social services (old people need to look after themselves more and kids are all wrapped in cotton wool anyway and a bit of abuse toughens them up), education is overated and there are no jobs anyway so why bother.

I could go on but i think i have proved its easy to sort out and judging by comments on here plenty of volunteers only too keen to step in and do it for nothing to serve their own communities.