Council finances in a shocking state

[g jones]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sent from mobile

[Neil]

Originally Posted by g jones

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

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

[cashman]

Originally Posted by g jones

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sent from mobile

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

[Eric]

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

[wallop79]

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

[steeljack]

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

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

[anzac]

Originally Posted by steeljack

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

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

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

[Josie Bloggs]

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

[walkinman221]

Originally Posted by steeljack

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

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

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

[garinda]

Disgraceful!

Outrageous!

A shocking lack of good manners.

They could at least have left a note.

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

[heth]

Originally Posted by cashman

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

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

[Margaret Pilkington]

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

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

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

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

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by Eric

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

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

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

[JCB]

Originally Posted by Eric

democratic socialism, .

What's that ?