Saturday, July 02, 2005
Council Overspend
We can rebuild him!.......Six Million Dollar Woman
It came as something of a massive shock to learn yeasterday that South Tyneside Council has overspent it's 323 million pound budget by six million pounds, it was not even made aware to the full Council meeting on Thursday afternoon. With amazing cheek Council Chief Executive Irene Lucas announced on the Council's website "As a result of our prudent budget and financial management in the past, we do have resources available to cover this overspend."
She means that this money will be taken from the reserves to fill the gap, so the poor Council Tax payers who have seen officers fail to control spending, will feel a very large hand dipping into their back pocket to take another six million, knowing full well that next year they can expect to be mugged again in order to top up the reserves. If this happened in the streets of South Tyneside, one could reasonably expect to see someone ending up behind bars! However, it's only 1.8% of the gross budget, we are told by Ms. Lucas. Wow, such candour!
If Asda at Boldon were to lose every penny of their takings over a week, you could be sure that the manager would be losing his job, but yet, it seems, that honour and integrity are old fashioned terms to those who are invested with the responsibility of safeguarding our finances. Has there been a comment from the Leader of the Council Paul Waggot? No, of course not, he is always the last to be heard when things go wrong, if we cast our minds back to the Trow Quarry incident we will recall that the Council Leader was one of the last people to air his views on the matter.
We elect our Councillors to represent us, to be the guardians of our money and to provide stewardship over the officers employed on our behalf. It's an onerous responsibility which has to be taken very seriously. If I were to be told that I had failed so miserably in my responsibilities, I would resign from my post, yet, I will be extremely surprised if any of the ruling Labour Group show such levels of integrity.
Please do not come to the people of South Tyneside asking for an increase in next year's budget and a hike in the Community Charge, you should not expect our support for such a course. Instead, why not make it a matter of policy that you will operate stringent financial controls and seek a Tax freeze for the much punished Council tax payers of this borough.
Councillors ought, at the very least, make a gesture to us by declining any proposed increases in their allowances, and droppoing the proposition to more than double the Mayoral Allowance.
I's time to get a grip and start applying strong controls on the officers, that is what we elected you to do.
Cookson Country Parade
It's the annual carnival this afternoon where the community gets together to enjoy ourselves, the parade leaves the Town Hall at 1.30 p.m. to make it's way through the town centre and along to the Bents Park on the sea front for an afternoon fair to raise money for local charities. I will be there hoping to get some good pictures for Curly's Corner Shop, so the rest of the world can see what is good about South Tyneside. Despite the bad news and the gripes, our geordie hospitality and humour will ensure that we have an enjoyable afternoon that any tourist would be pleased they came for. Unfortunately it always rains on the marchers!
Redhead's Landing gate was firmly closed again yesterday.
_________________________________________________________________
It came as something of a massive shock to learn yeasterday that South Tyneside Council has overspent it's 323 million pound budget by six million pounds, it was not even made aware to the full Council meeting on Thursday afternoon. With amazing cheek Council Chief Executive Irene Lucas announced on the Council's website "As a result of our prudent budget and financial management in the past, we do have resources available to cover this overspend."
She means that this money will be taken from the reserves to fill the gap, so the poor Council Tax payers who have seen officers fail to control spending, will feel a very large hand dipping into their back pocket to take another six million, knowing full well that next year they can expect to be mugged again in order to top up the reserves. If this happened in the streets of South Tyneside, one could reasonably expect to see someone ending up behind bars! However, it's only 1.8% of the gross budget, we are told by Ms. Lucas. Wow, such candour!
If Asda at Boldon were to lose every penny of their takings over a week, you could be sure that the manager would be losing his job, but yet, it seems, that honour and integrity are old fashioned terms to those who are invested with the responsibility of safeguarding our finances. Has there been a comment from the Leader of the Council Paul Waggot? No, of course not, he is always the last to be heard when things go wrong, if we cast our minds back to the Trow Quarry incident we will recall that the Council Leader was one of the last people to air his views on the matter.
We elect our Councillors to represent us, to be the guardians of our money and to provide stewardship over the officers employed on our behalf. It's an onerous responsibility which has to be taken very seriously. If I were to be told that I had failed so miserably in my responsibilities, I would resign from my post, yet, I will be extremely surprised if any of the ruling Labour Group show such levels of integrity.
Please do not come to the people of South Tyneside asking for an increase in next year's budget and a hike in the Community Charge, you should not expect our support for such a course. Instead, why not make it a matter of policy that you will operate stringent financial controls and seek a Tax freeze for the much punished Council tax payers of this borough.
Councillors ought, at the very least, make a gesture to us by declining any proposed increases in their allowances, and droppoing the proposition to more than double the Mayoral Allowance.
I's time to get a grip and start applying strong controls on the officers, that is what we elected you to do.
Cookson Country Parade
It's the annual carnival this afternoon where the community gets together to enjoy ourselves, the parade leaves the Town Hall at 1.30 p.m. to make it's way through the town centre and along to the Bents Park on the sea front for an afternoon fair to raise money for local charities. I will be there hoping to get some good pictures for Curly's Corner Shop, so the rest of the world can see what is good about South Tyneside. Despite the bad news and the gripes, our geordie hospitality and humour will ensure that we have an enjoyable afternoon that any tourist would be pleased they came for. Unfortunately it always rains on the marchers!
Redhead's Landing gate was firmly closed again yesterday.
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