Councillors expenses

[MargaretR]

Hang on a minute ....I understood that PB has connections to some town centre cafe where he will likely get fed free.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Hang on a minute ....I understood that PB has connections to some town centre cafe where he will likely get fed free.

Oh come on Margaret you don't expect Peter to walk from Scaitcliffe house to the Market Hall just for lunch, who the hell would hold the fort whilst he was away

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by jaysay

No more fishy than Doltons doing printing for HBC

I wondered when that little nugget would get another showing. Printing council literature is pretty much a necessity, someone has to do it so why not a local firm? Butties, on the other hand, are a luxury.

If I was on £31k+ per year I think I'd just about be able to treat myself. I get £4,500 for being a councillor and even I don't consider it a loss of anemity or any of that 'against human rights' guff.

Free sandwiches? Ta ta.

[gynn]

The contract for providing lunches at Scaitcliffe House is, under the Council's constitution, deemed to be a small contract, and as such will effectively fly under the radar in terms of requiring competitive tenders to be sought. To retain the Council's "Excellent" status, the external auditors will only look for evidence of similar providers giving similar value for money.

I assume that no other providers can do the job, because no "Excellent" council would go anywhere near allowing a serving member of the controlling group to profit personally from providing the refreshments for unbiased meetings, would they?

[katex]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

Then we must think of the staff who live in fear of the chop.....

Can't believe you said this, Ken. Whilst I agree with your 'policy' of searching out smaller spendings to relieve the budget ... holding this up as a guilt trip to staff at HBC losing their jobs is dirty tactics. Not impressed.

As for solvent councillors not claiming the expenses they are entitled to, and which would ease some lesser well off councillor's income so that they can carry out their duties without the pressure of expense, I have no time for this smug martyrdom.

I stand by my original post.

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by katex

Can't believe you said this, Ken. Whilst I agree with your 'policy' of searching out smaller spendings to relieve the budget ... holding this up as a guilt trip to staff at HBC losing their jobs is dirty tactics. Not impressed.

As for solvent councillors not claiming the expenses they are entitled to, and which would ease some lesser well off councillor's income so that they can carry out their duties without the pressure of expense, I have no time for this smug martyrdom.

I stand by my original post.

I think a certain tongue-in-cheek factor is not quite coming across in my posts.

However, I'm not being entirely flippant either about whittling out spending like this so that the people who do the actual work don't get fired. I'd rather go without the odd free meal if I knew that the ward caretaker would be litter-picking that week, or the call-centre was fully staffed, or the binmen weren't trying to cram everything into even fewer shifts, etc.

I'm quite surprised you're being seemingly quite supportive of free buffets for the councillors when the rest of the borough is wondering if they'll even have a job this time next year. I have to say that walking into a meeting to find a free lunch waiting for me and then telling everyone in Rishton that cuts have to be made doesn't sit well with my conscience.

There are hundreds of other examples of small amounts being dished out for no real reason, you only need to scan The Observer to see that. Little cheques to individuals for £250 here, £500 there....nice votewinners and even nicer for the people on the receiving end but we aren't here to use public money in that way, we should be spending to improve whole communities and once you start totting up all the little things you suddenly find that you've got a big saving.

There's also the Cabinet Action Fund which has magically been increased to £100k this year and something which the Leader of the Council can spend as he sees fit. Looking back over the years I have to say that I wouldn't have parted with a lot of it and feel that it is a lot of money in the hands of one politician.

I'll say it again, we aren't here to shout about what jolly nice chaps we are, we aren't here to crow to the world about how 'excellent' we are and we shouldn't be getting perks when the rest of the borough struggles. Even the Mayor paid for his own Civic Celebrations this year!

I can appreciate that you think there's dirty tactics at play but a council can't scream about making savage cuts and ignore ways of cushioning the blow.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by gynn

The contract for providing lunches at Scaitcliffe House is, under the Council's constitution, deemed to be a small contract, and as such will effectively fly under the radar in terms of requiring competitive tenders to be sought. To retain the Council's "Excellent" status, the external auditors will only look for evidence of similar providers giving similar value for money.

I assume that no other providers can do the job, because no "Excellent" council would go anywhere near allowing a serving member of the controlling group to profit personally from providing the refreshments for unbiased meetings, would they?

How many lunches a year are we talking about, that deems the cost too small for it to tendered out?

Who caters for other council events, receptions etc?

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by garinda

How many lunches a year are we talking about, that deems the cost too small for it to tendered out?

Who caters for other council events, receptions etc?

All catering seems to be done by Hurns and sets the council back between roughly £2000-£4000 per year, last year it was £4059.79.

Occasional one-off payments have also been made from the Cabinet Action Fund for special events.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

All catering seems to be done by Hurns and sets the council back between roughly £2000-£4000 per year, last year it was £4059.79.

Occasional one-off payments have also been made from the Cabinet Action Fund for special events.

Not such a triffling amount to many people here in Hyndburn.

Most companies in the private sector would tender out catering for something that cost that much, to ensure they were getting value for money.

A nice 'little' earner for Cllr. Hurn.

[JCB]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

All catering seems to be done by Hurns and sets the council back between roughly £2000-£4000 per year

Roughly £2000-£4000 .

Crikey one is double the other .

[garinda]

Originally Posted by JCB

Roughly £2000-£4000 .

Crikey one is double the other .

I suppose that varience could be explained by whether the King demanded the crusts be cut off his butties, or proclaimed there are juicy cherries on his buns.

[Less]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

All catering seems to be done by Hurns and sets the council back between roughly £2000-£4000 per year, last year it was £4059.79.

Occasional one-off payments have also been made from the Cabinet Action Fund for special events.

Surely, roughly is against all you are preaching?

espescially when last year was above roughly?


Or are you giving way to inflation?

[garinda]

Perhaps if someone hadn't wanted to change the name of Hyndburn Borough Council, not to Accrington and Districts, blah, blah, blah, they'd chosen the name the Court of Hamalot B.C., they might have had more success.

Spamalot B.C., probably wouldn't have been seen as a palatable option, even though it would be more economically preferable.

There are obviously refined tastes to pander to, which can only be satisfied with the finest morsels.

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by Less

Surely, roughly is against all you are preaching?

espescially when last year was above roughly?


Or are you giving way to inflation?

Fair point.

It has varied between about £2000-£4000 a year since 2004.

[accysimon]

Originally Posted by jaysay

No more fishy than Doltons doing printing for HBC

What is the issue of Daltons (as it should be spelt) doing printing for HBC? I know Graham Jones worked there, but he was in opposition wasn't he, so how could he have any influence over this?