Hyndburn Labour unhappy at cuts?

Ken Moss · 03-08-2010, 07:29

I have just read Cllr Britcliffe's wonderfully self-congratulatory Viewpoint on the council website:

Leaders Viewpoint July 2010

Whilst echoing his own column in The Observer and not telling us anything about the real spending going on, the final paragraph is neither professional or accurate.

In actual fact, the Hyndburn Labour group agree that cuts do need to be made across the borough and are not opposing them all as is implied here. The Labour group put forward a motion that was carried at the last full council meeting to send a letter to the chancellor opposing the rise in VAT - Cllr Britcliffe was such a man of the people that he tried to have it quashed and turn it round into an attack on opposition groups.

The cuts that I personally would love to see generally relate to self-serving projects from Britcliffe himself and figure-fiddling that makes it look like he has personally saved us £1.9m over the past year. In actual fact he awarded himself £690k extra last year to fund projects and has just had around £600k from a VAT refund dating back years. With additional creative accounting he hasn't saved a bean, plus he has just increased the 'Cabinet Action Fund' to £100k, despite the fact that he has consistently underspent the £60K allowance in previous years. This fund can be spent in any way that the Leader wishes on anything he chooses and has the right of veto on any application.

This is our money, he is trying to spend vast amounts this year that will leave whoever is in power next year with nothing in the pot. Forget your political allegiances and ask what is good for Hyndburn because Labour, Conservative or other, we will all be in the same boat. Simply attacking the previous administration is not my idea of a good answer or showing that you want to do what is best for the people today.

Do we really need the Floral Market towns project and how much is it costing?

How much is spent on new projects in each ward?

What are the figures for spending the Cabinet Action Fund in previous years and what are the applications that have been passed this year?

I would urge you all to question Hyndburn Council spending and take it up with Peter Britcliffe directly as his contact details are at the bottom of the page on the link above.

Acrylic-bob · 03-08-2010, 12:41

Ok so, the question to asked is why is the idoit-in-cheif so anxious to get his ugly mug in the papers and to paint himself as everyones benevolent older brother? What is his ulterior motive? Am I correct in supposing that he was mightly miffed when he was not selected to stand for the parliamentary constituency at the last election? If so might there not be some connection? Or does he, perhaps, have ambitions in quango related areas?

Tealeaf · 03-08-2010, 12:56

God moves in mysterious ways - and so does Britcliffe. There is no doubt that he was seriously peeved off at not being selected as the constituency candidate and I would guess that due to the age factor he is unlikely to be selected in 5 years time or whenever the next election pops up. Maybe he's angling for a seat in the Lords? Now there's a thought - Lord Britcliffe of Ossy!

As for the quango malarky, I suspect nothing will happen there, simply because this government is intent on getting rid of them. There is however, one frightening possibility and that concerns the revamp of the local NHS bureaucracy. If,as planned, the purse strings are to be handed over to local GP's then invariably there will be some form of political representation to sit alongside them and so that means someone like Britcliffe could well end up determining clinical priorities for the ill folk of Hyndburn. Yuk!

Margaret Pilkington · 03-08-2010, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

God moves in mysterious ways - and so does Britcliffe. There is no doubt that he was seriously peeved off at not being selected as the constituency candidate and I would guess that due to the age factor he is unlikely to be selected in 5 years time or whenever the next election pops up. Maybe he's angling for a seat in the Lords? Now there's a thought - Lord Britcliffe of Ossy!

As for the quango malarky, I suspect nothing will happen there, simply because this government is intent on getting rid of them. There is however, one frightening possibility and that concerns the revamp of the local NHS bureaucracy. If,as planned, the purse strings are to be handed over to local GP's then invariably there will be some form of political representation to sit alongside them and so that means someone like Britcliffe could well end up determining clinical priorities for the ill folk of Hyndburn. Yuk!

Aaaaaargh! It doesn't bear thinking about Tealeaf.......why did you have to bring up that spectre and give me nightmares?

Ken Moss · 04-08-2010, 06:51

He was indeed miffed by all accounts, so much so that he was seen watching television in his living room on May 6th when he should have watching Karen Buckley get roundly thrashed at the polls.

I learned from a surprising source yesterday that it is understood there were secret meetings to discuss a leadership challenge while Britcliffe had his recent holiday.

I would welcome such a move, it would be nice to argue the toss with a leader of the opposition that I have some respect for.

SPUGGIE J · 04-08-2010, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Aaaaaargh! It doesn't bear thinking about Tealeaf.......why did you have to bring up that spectre and give me nightmares?

Because he is right. Anything that becomes decentralised polictitions want in to be sure it is run right regardless of the fact interference culled at one level opens up some at a different level. Quango's are government approved control freaks that arnt happy unless they are ramming fingers in the pies. When they pull out some of the filling goes as well.

Right if Briti does end up as Mr T says then all of you need to move to Ossy as true to form they will get the best deal.

Gordon Booth · 04-08-2010, 16:36

It's not really any of my business as I don't now live in Hyndburn,but a report which appears to summarize the things which the leader of a large council thinks are important for a whole month of his leadership and boils down to £1 Blackpool trips,50 pence swimming for young people and an update on a snooker club suggests not a lot is happening in Hyndburn.Is that so? Oh, and has a go at Labour for having a go at him.Isn't that what they're there for? And no,I'm not Labour.

Ken Moss · 04-08-2010, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

It's not really any of my business as I don't now live in Hyndburn,but a report which appears to summarize the things which the leader of a large council thinks are important for a whole month of his leadership and boils down to £1 Blackpool trips,50 pence swimming for young people and an update on a snooker club suggests not a lot is happening in Hyndburn.Is that so? Oh, and has a go at Labour for having a go at him.Isn't that what they're there for? And no,I'm not Labour.

There is plenty that needs looking at in Hyndburn but the problem is that money is being thrown at pet projects rather than long term objectives. £500 for a Kabaddi tournament in Oswaldtwistle? Another dollop of cash to celebrate 10 years of Area Management Councils? We're in a recession, we should be stopping all this frivolous spending and channelling bigger amounts into what is important.

Hyndburn only really equates to St Andrews ward as far as Britcliffe is concerned, which is why all the really 'good news' is centred there.

In fairness to him, Peter has given Rishton (my ward) and the rest of the borough the free bus service to Far Corfe.