Last Nights Council Meeting

[Ossywarrior]

id be a lot happier if it hadnt gone up

[SPUGGIE J]

Originally Posted by Ossywarrior

id be a lot happier if it hadnt gone up

Only the water part on mine will the Council Tax stays the same. Sadley though, even though its good in some ways its bad we dont have the services increase that we want even though we have more in our pockets.

[claytonender]

Originally Posted by Ossywarrior

yep that is a good start to save money but i just wonder how much power does the council have over council tax rises ? is it just there choice? as it does seem a foolish decission since there has been a 71% increase in people claiming job seekers in hyndburn ..... or say it was reported

The figures people claiming Job seekers Allowance in Hyndburn (as of January 2009) are 1753 claiments, at the same time last year the figures were 1110. Personally I think seeing the actual figures rather rhan percentages makes more sense, becuse just seeing 71% would not tell you what it was a percentage of.

There is 3.6% of the working population of Hyndburn a
claiming Job seekers Allowance (the figure for Jan 2008 was 2.2%).

There is a report to HBC Cabinet, which is being hel next Wednesday 4 March. This is a link tot he breakdown of the figures- which shows the numbers in each ward of the borough. Unfortunately the 5 most deprived wards -Church, Spring Hill, Central, Peel, Barnfield have the highest percent unemployed, and Baxenden (which is the least deprived ward) the lowest.

This is a link to the report
http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...arch_09_1_.pdf

[Ossywarrior]

that makes more sense but is there a way to get how many are out of work i.e claiming jobseekers and other benefits or is that not possible?

[claytonender]

Originally Posted by Ossywarrior

that makes more sense but is there a way to get how many are out of work i.e claiming jobseekers and other benefits or is that not possible?

The figures on the report I gave the link for show actual claimant count as at Jan 2009 - in total for Hyndburn and broken down by ward.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

Yes rather than just hinting at veiled corruption, name names.

It's not like you to be so bashful and coy.

If you're right you'll be fine, if not we'll have that talked about brew when I come to visit you in the clink.

The councillor was George Slynn, and he was a director of Barnfield Construction plus other companies all registered at Companies House, I'm not saying that there was corrupt practices going on, but it does seem very strange that a councillor of Bernards standing (can never understand why he's never been the group leader) doesn't seem to know and it maybe just me but the leader of the council being a director of a company that was undertaking a lot of council work did not sit well with me.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by claytonender

The figures people claiming Job seekers Allowance in Hyndburn (as of January 2009) are 1753 claiments, at the same time last year the figures were 1110. Personally I think seeing the actual figures rather rhan percentages makes more sense, becuse just seeing 71% would not tell you what it was a percentage of.

There is 3.6% of the working population of Hyndburn a
claiming Job seekers Allowance (the figure for Jan 2008 was 2.2%).

There is a report to HBC Cabinet, which is being hel next Wednesday 4 March. This is a link tot he breakdown of the figures- which shows the numbers in each ward of the borough. Unfortunately the 5 most deprived wards -Church, Spring Hill, Central, Peel, Barnfield have the highest percent unemployed, and Baxenden (which is the least deprived ward) the lowest.

This is a link to the report
http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...arch_09_1_.pdf

I think that you may just think about percentages the way that I do claytonender, they can be very misleading, I once remember somebody stating that their organisations membership had taken off over 12 month period, membership had increased by150% there used to be two of them now there are 5

[derekgas]

Originally Posted by jaysay

The councillor was George Slynn, and he was a director of Barnfield Construction plus other companies all registered at Companies House, I'm not saying that there was corrupt practices going on, but it does seem very strange that a councillor of Bernards standing (can never understand why he's never been the group leader) doesn't seem to know and it maybe just me but the leader of the council being a director of a company that was undertaking a lot of council work did not sit well with me.

I just wonder if this only happens in hyndburn, and with only one political party, I would guess not, perhaps someone who has time should look at how many councillors etc are directors of companies carrying out work for council/government, I for one think the eaga grants money is lining the pockets of people that would maybe cause concern, I have no proof of this, it is an assumption, it is sad that we think in this way, but it is after all the way we have learned to think as a direct result of political corruption/greed.

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by derekgas

I just wonder if this only happens in hyndburn, and with only one political party, I would guess not, perhaps someone who has time should look at how many councillors etc are directors of companies carrying out work for council/government,

It's not just direct involvement though. There's a lot of who you know not what you know goes on in all walks of life, politics and big business is probably the biggest 'gainer' of all though.

[derekgas]

Agreed lancsdave, which makes the bickering, laying of blame, accusations and insults within this thread more laughable, methinks there are NO politicians who give 100% to the job, or are 100% honest. Im sure you know very well the other word for politics, a clue? It begins with B and ends in s or x depending on your preference!

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by derekgas

Im sure you know very well the other word for politics, a clue? It begins with B and ends in s or x depending on your preference!

I do know because it's already been mentioned in this thread or a similar thread......... Biscuits

[derekgas]

Ah! Or bix? yes of course, knew you would know!

[Bernard Dawson]

Originally Posted by jaysay

The councillor was George Slynn, and he was a director of Barnfield Construction plus other companies all registered at Companies House, I'm not saying that there was corrupt practices going on, but it does seem very strange that a councillor of Bernards standing (can never understand why he's never been the group leader) doesn't seem to know and it maybe just me but the leader of the council being a director of a company that was undertaking a lot of council work did not sit well with me.

I think you will find that most of the companies where Joint Venture Companies, between in this case Barnfield Construction and the Council.

Over the years there have been several joint venture companies that the council has, and still is involved with

They were set up as means of bringing investment into the borough. It was also at a time when the Government was encouraging closer co-operation between local authorities and the private sector.

It was normal procedure for the council to appoint councillors to serve on the joint venture company. But there was defiantly no remuneration for the councillors involved.

There are also other limited companies that councillors get appointed too, mainly charities. But again no remuneration for the councillors involved.

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by garinda

Nice.

Can't really be called a bung I suppose, but an interesting thing to ponder for the people of Hyndburn who might now be on short time or out of work, that they may be indirectly funding free season tickets, courtesy of £80,000 worth of their Council Tax, when they are having to explain to their kids why they can't take them to see their favourite team.

Just as an aside to this - last year the Council gave a youth drama project affiliated with Oswaldtwistle Players some funding. As a gesture of thanks, Oswaldtwistle Players committee sent the council via Cllr Britcliffe some free tickets for the next show.

He came to see the show and brought with him a personal cheque to cover the cost of the tickets that he'd used.

Now, I know that the £20 for tickets for an Ossy Players show doesn't compare with the value of tickets given to the council for Acc Stan - but does show that Peter was completely above board with everything and didn't take advantage of the fact that the Council had given a grant.

Just thought I'd post something to show him in a good light.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Robert Owen

I would just point out also that the council recently has missed out on the chance of much needed external funding, because apparently the form wasn't filled in correctly.

Are these forms filled out by Councillors or Council Officers?

If Officers, how would it have been different under a Labour Council?