Council votes for council tax rise and service cuts (From Hereford Times)
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Council votes for council tax rise and service cuts
1:55pm Monday 18th February 2013 in News
HEREFORDSHIRE Council has voted unanimously for a 1.9 per cent council tax rise.
The 2013/14 budget and future financial strategy was also backed by a big majority at this morning's full council meeting.
The extent of the cuts in that strategy to cover the council's £10m shortfall on the 2013/14 budget was outlined by the Hereford Times earlier this month.
Another 100-120 job losses across the council are also expected.
At the meeting the council was challenged by opposition members to push the council tax rise up to the 2 per cent that would trigger a referendum.
But the eventual vote for the rise was unanimous.
Voting figures for the budget and financial strategy were:
FOR: 32
AGAINST: 11
ABSTAINED: 11
The council's 2013/14 capital programme - outlined by the Hereford Times last week - was backed by a similar margin.
Comments(50)
probono
says...
3:15pm Mon 18 Feb 13
saying 'I didn't vote for/against it, so don't blame me'.
fordshire77
says...
3:22pm Mon 18 Feb 13
littlewhitebull
says...
3:35pm Mon 18 Feb 13
Would they be happy at the next council election for the electorate to have a box under the list of candidates in which an X could be placed if an elector wished to abstain?
I actually find myself having admiration for those who voted for the budget, rather than those who abstained. At least they had the guts to climb off the fence.
When will we be told whether any 'cuts' suggested by the citizens are to be included?
Eddiebear
says...
5:21pm Mon 18 Feb 13
littlewhitebull
says...
6:33pm Mon 18 Feb 13
moonhead66
says...
7:02pm Mon 18 Feb 13
TwoWheelsGood
says...
7:23pm Mon 18 Feb 13
swampy
says...
7:38pm Mon 18 Feb 13
wyesider
says...
7:47pm Mon 18 Feb 13
Herefordshire is one of 81 councils to announce an increase in council tax so far. More will probably follow suit.
However, 40 councils have announced increases of 2% or more. This should trigger referendums in the areas affected, but so far I have not heard of one council that has declared a referendum. Hopefully, Mr Pickles will intervene?
15 councils have announced rises of 3.5% or more. They are Breckland 7.8%; North Dorset 4.77%; East Lindsey 4.4%; South Cambridgeshire 4.3%; South Kesteven 4%; Exeter 4%; Swansea 3.8%; Manchester 3.7%; Huntingdonshire 3.63%; Runnymede 3.62%; Ashford 3.55%; Bolton 3.5%; Oldham 3.5%; Rochdale 3.5%; South Hams 3.5%
Littlewhitebull stated that Cornwall’s councillors reversed the decision to increase their own allowances after Cornish taxpayers vented their feelings. I wonder if taxpayers elsewhere will alter councils’ decisions to increase council tax?
Mr.Herefordian
says...
10:56pm Mon 18 Feb 13
What is the point, they should resign and let someone who can vote yes or no. So much for the mojority of the independents sitting on the fence.
bobby47
says...
12:41am Tue 19 Feb 13
It's getting worse. I wouldn't bloody mind so much if things were just depressing but this nemesis of ours is increasing the level of rat excrement we are stood in and making things depressingly bloody awful.
Why is Jarvis doing this? Why is he fixated on forming limited companies?
Hes so bloody resilient!
He won't go. He'll never go. Hes a formidable adversary and he ain't for throwing in his hand.
Honestly, if I was fishing down the Wye and Jarvis approached being carried by the Wye current and he shouted pleadingly, 'Save me. Im on my way to bloody Avonmouth', I'd shout, 'Get stuffed Jarvis Im ledgering for Barbel'.
When I first started this bloody Posting I read the writings of Lukio, TWG and the other old hands and I foolishly concluded, 'We'll soon get rid of him'
Well I was wrong. Hopelessly wrong. He feeds on our hostility and he's invigorated by our opposition to his plans and grand design, which is, to destroy Hereford completely.
And what happens when the Monsoon seasons arrives and we're all bloody under water again. He'll scurry down the Yazor bloody Brooke pipe, pull out the vegetation and off we go again.
Every bloody day is worse than the last and its all his fault.
He won't go! He'll never leave us and I've gotta get help!
JohnBoym458
says...
6:57am Tue 19 Feb 13
Ubique5740
says...
4:22pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Letter from Jo Davidson, Director for People’s Services
Vacancies
Heads of Service (2 posts) £50,206-£54,412 per annum, plus
a market forces supplement of £1,401 per annum
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
Service Managers (3 posts) £38,961-£42,747 per annum, plus
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
Team Leaders (5 posts) £34,549-£38,042 per annum, plus
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
Social Workers £26,276-£30,011 per annum. plus
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
probono
says...
7:49am Wed 20 Feb 13
Roger J
says...
9:36am Wed 20 Feb 13
/news/uk-politics-21
511885
megilleland
says...
8:21pm Wed 20 Feb 13
From Daily Mirror 20th February 2013
'Dragged out of bed': Man dies after night-time arrest for not paying council tax
He was awoken by two officers who arrived at night to arrest him at a friend’s houseboa
A man collapsed and died after being arrested for not paying his council tax.
Steve Bore, 31, was awoken by two officers who arrived at night to arrest him at a friend’s houseboat.
He was thought to have fallen from the jetty on to a muddy embankment and then appeared to have a fit.
An ambulance was called shortly after midnight on Sunday but he was pronounced dead in Basildon General Hospital two hours later.
A caravan resident at Smallgains Marina, on Canvey Island, Essex, said: “He has epilepsy, I believe.
"Police came in the night and dragged him out of bed.”
The officers were on duty yesterday.
A postmortem was inconclusive and a probe has been launched by the Police Complaints Commission.
IPCC Commissioner, Mary Cunneen said: "I would like to extend my condolences to Mr Bore’s family and friends at this very difficult time.
"It is vital when someone dies in the custody of the police that an investigation is conducted independently of the force involved.
"I will ensure that we do all within our power to provide answers to the many questions that arise from this tragic and premature death.”
Is this the future for vulnerable people who cannot pay the rising council tax charges. Come April 1st with council tax bills arriving, bedroom tax, business rates and utility prices escalating I can see trouble ahead. Is this what our councillors want?
megilleland
says...
8:24pm Wed 20 Feb 13
dippyhippy
says...
8:57am Thu 21 Feb 13
y found work again quite quickly,but much lower wage. He fell behind,was taken to court,£85. court costs on top, then received a formal letter asking for details where he worked, as they were going to stop what he owed at source.If he did not comply with this,they would send the bailiffs round. All this for £240.This guy works hard to support his young family. Do this council not realise what a struggle so many people are having just to keep their heads above water??
William Rudd
says...
10:44am Thu 21 Feb 13
They can stick it where the sun don't shine
Werintrouble
says...
11:41am Thu 21 Feb 13
Now what happens? Who's going to talk absolute rubbish, complete nonsense and drivel and tripe.
Littlewhitebull and Mizza spring to mind as being worthy successors.
I reckon the throne should go to the one who can prove they ain't friends with Mr Jarvis.
Ubique5740
says...
11:57am Thu 21 Feb 13
Biomech
says...
12:47pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Oh and if anyone is interest, they are closing the Multistorey carpark for 25 weeks for refurbs. I would have commented on the article - but the HT haven't written one yet, so, as a dutyful citizen, I thought I'd give you the news myself :P
littlewhitebull
says...
1:06pm Thu 21 Feb 13
William Rudd wrote:Yes, William - I did. When I presented my 80p I got an enormous shock. "I need another 40p, pal," said the shop assistant.
Anyone gone to buy the Hfd Times today? £1.20 !!!
They can stick it where the sun don't shine
"No," I replied, "I've got a Hereford Times, not the New York Times."
"Look at the price on the front," the assistant said.
"£1.20! What, is this April 1st, or have I been asleep for many years?" I asked completely bemused.
The shop assistant told me that many people had put the paper back on the pile and refused to pay a 50% increase.
Could the HT not have told us the price was to be increased?
Where is the explanation for this massive increase?
Biomech
says...
2:18pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Who knows though, maybe it's to support the new writers that they were recently advertising for. If the quality of the material goes up, I think a small price rise in response to that would be ok.
littlewhitebull
says...
4:57pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Biomech wrote:Biomech - thanks for the info'. Any idea when this car park will close for the 25 week period, please?
I still don't know how they get an expenses allowance in the tens of thousands. What the hell do they buy? My expenses claim doesn't even come to a fraction of that.
Oh and if anyone is interest, they are closing the Multistorey carpark for 25 weeks for refurbs. I would have commented on the article - but the HT haven't written one yet, so, as a dutyful citizen, I thought I'd give you the news myself :P
Biomech
says...
5:02pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Biomech
says...
5:06pm Thu 21 Feb 13
wyesider
says...
5:08pm Thu 21 Feb 13
How can you juistify a price increase of 50%?
Having bought this newspaper for over 60 years, I now have a feeling that my wife and I will have to view via the website. Yet, as one person has already stated - it may be that a charge for viewing is introduced.
As far as I am aware, previous editions of the HT did not indicate a price rise, or the reason for a huge increase.
swampy
says...
5:24pm Thu 21 Feb 13
dippyhippy
says...
5:24pm Thu 21 Feb 13
moonhead66
says...
6:01pm Thu 21 Feb 13
who ever owns the HT needs to rethink and adjust to the market needs and wants. or just get in touch with its readers.
its a shame we can cant encourage MNA Media to do an online version of the Journal.
Biomech
says...
6:04pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Put the printed copy at £1.00 and digitise the HT to an online magazine style (maybe even a big overhaul of this website) which would be supplimented with ad space and intelligent ads (right now I see ads all over the place and 3 of the same ad!).
I would also develop the social media arm (actually is there one now?) to include bitsize news items over twitter and facebook.
The HT can only work so fast, there's a clever trick to creating instant, dynamic content content, but if I told them that I'd be out of a job ;P
Biomech
says...
6:06pm Thu 21 Feb 13
TwoWheelsGood
says...
11:19am Fri 22 Feb 13
Ubique5740
says...
2:42pm Fri 22 Feb 13
I see in the cheaper Journal that HCC are intending to remove the lime trees from the grassed central reservation in Edgar St near to the "Tesco" island.
Not to date published in the HT , just wondering why. Is it a similar story to some which come out of HCC and elsewhere which are of public interest which the HT do not publish?
Biomech
says...
4:20pm Fri 22 Feb 13
This is the planning application.
http://www.herefords
hire.gov.uk/housing/
planning/58286.aspx?
ID=130148
It's part of their decongestion scheme which I think, and I'm only making a logical guess, they are just going to remove that "island" so they can increase the number of lanes at the traffic light end to relieve the strain on Edgar Street (ie 3-4 lanes)
Interested Onlooker
says...
6:02pm Fri 22 Feb 13
Ubique5740 wrote:The story about the lime trees was the main story on page 5 of the Hereford Times dated Thursday, 21 February, with a large picture of the threatened trees and a picture of people protesting at their removal.
Drifting off the story...... I see in the cheaper Journal that HCC are intending to remove the lime trees from the grassed central reservation in Edgar St near to the "Tesco" island. Not to date published in the HT , just wondering why. Is it a similar story to some which come out of HCC and elsewhere which are of public interest which the HT do not publish?
So how he can say it wasn't reported is baffling.
GDJ
says...
9:51pm Sun 24 Feb 13
Ubique5740 wrote:This reveals more than a failure in the past and present to plan the capacity of the workforce - leading to a situation where they feel they have to throw bribes at people to work here.
Perhaps they are cutting jobs to squeeze the below in,copied from HCC website.
Letter from Jo Davidson, Director for People’s Services
Vacancies
Heads of Service (2 posts) £50,206-£54,412 per annum, plus
a market forces supplement of £1,401 per annum
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
Service Managers (3 posts) £38,961-£42,747 per annum, plus
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
Team Leaders (5 posts) £34,549-£38,042 per annum, plus
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
Social Workers £26,276-£30,011 per annum. plus
a welcome payment of £5,000
a relocation package of up to £5,000
To me this also shows an archaic management think - that tall hierarchical structures work best.
Assuming only one level for social workers this indicates there will be
social workers - team leaders - service managers - heads of service - assistant directors - director - deputy Chief Exec and chief exec = potentially 8 layers through which orders will be passed down, and barriers to prevent inconvenient information getting up to the top. No modern, responsive organisation should be organised this way. Managers need to be much closer to the front line not sitting at Brockington looking at powerpoint structures and excel cost spreadsheets.
I bet if you asked the front line social workers, they would not say "what we need is several layers of management above us".
Biomech
says...
10:08pm Sun 24 Feb 13
WYSIATI
says...
10:49pm Sun 24 Feb 13
I thought there was a wish for good quality staff from the frontline through to the management and to get away from having to use agency staff to fill posts that full time staff do not want to take because the pay is not enough to bring people here from other authorities.
Yeah, I'd love a load of excellent social workers to rock up from anywhere and move to Hereford for nothing save a lot of work and a load of abuse but I don't really think that's going to happen.
If we know how to do it better than the professionals working there then I hope we'll be applying for the jobs.
Biomech
says...
11:17pm Sun 24 Feb 13
TwoWheelsGood
says...
12:16am Mon 25 Feb 13
WYSIATI
says...
8:41am Mon 25 Feb 13
It's essential that each and every case that the social workers look at is properly and carefully assessed and that each and every decision made is crossed checked and risk assessed.
So you have a front line social worker working on a large number of cases - they have a team manager who supervises and organises a group of social workers - probably including training etc for those with less experience so far so good - above that you'd have a manager who is responsible for the group of teams and is therefore head of social work.
I would imagine that above that each person listed has multiple responsibilities - the where several services come together - and with the new reduced structure from 2011 the director (who typically in the past would have had either children or adult now has both (and public health?) and the chief exec has everything - not sure I can see what layers you want to cut out of that?
And TWG as far as I know these are jobs with serious responsibilities if there are huge numbers of highly qualified good people ready to do them where are they? I suspect it's a real market and at the moment the people are going elsewhere for more money.
mizza21
says...
10:38am Mon 25 Feb 13
The noticeable thing there is that there's 3 highly paid jobs in management positions with large salaried attracted etc etc.
Then there's the social worker position (a job where someone does some actual work), modest salary albeit with a goldenish handshake.
Herefordshire is an attractive place to live. I live here and I can vouch for it being well nice and that.
The 5K up front is a sweetener, because the salary offered is only slightly above average. A qualified social worker may have to relocate too as HEREford is not exactly on the beaten track.
Thinning out mamangement is pretty much always a good idea.
I'd thin em out with a Bl00dy Machete.
(I was only kidding about the machete, just in case anyone takes offfence. It was a remark meant to illustrate my annoyance at managers justifying their oftimes superfluous positions at the expense of people what actually do work. I realise many managers are nice and have families and I wouldn't really want them dead with their head on a stake as a warning to the rest of em,, That would be barabaric)
GDJ
says...
11:15am Mon 25 Feb 13
WYSIATI wrote:WYSIATI,
I was thinking about that layered structure and thinking about the sort of work we're talking about here. It's essential that each and every case that the social workers look at is properly and carefully assessed and that each and every decision made is crossed checked and risk assessed. So you have a front line social worker working on a large number of cases - they have a team manager who supervises and organises a group of social workers - probably including training etc for those with less experience so far so good - above that you'd have a manager who is responsible for the group of teams and is therefore head of social work. I would imagine that above that each person listed has multiple responsibilities - the where several services come together - and with the new reduced structure from 2011 the director (who typically in the past would have had either children or adult now has both (and public health?) and the chief exec has everything - not sure I can see what layers you want to cut out of that? And TWG as far as I know these are jobs with serious responsibilities if there are huge numbers of highly qualified good people ready to do them where are they? I suspect it's a real market and at the moment the people are going elsewhere for more money.
A thoughtful post as always.
I suppose my point is that the current senior management are locked into a way of thinking that has to have all those layers - it isn't a structure specific to the needs of social work - you will also find heads of service etc in the education side. I would have more confidence if a truly independent expert had diagnosed what was going wrong. What structures do the best performing authorities with similar areas have? What processes and procedures have been shown to work well? If you start from a blank piece of paper rather than patching up your existing structure you might do better in the long term.
Also, I would hope (but don't expect) the recruitment to start at the bottom. There is no point in having more middle and upper managers successfully recruited if they still don't have the actual social workers to supervise. The managers should only be recruited after the social workers are in place.
Biomech
says...
11:27am Mon 25 Feb 13
Someone is scared that they won't get the job filled so they throw money at it. The next person raises the bar, then the next, then the next, until you have a football culture where everyone is paid a ridiculous sum of money purely down to fear. It's already well established in the banking world.
(Many many years ago, the world cup was leering and Britains most sensational player was primed for an appearance. Then the Columbians bought him for a large sum of money. In order to prevent the same thing happening again, football players wages went up - and up - and up - and up - and you know the rest)
Biomech
says...
11:28am Mon 25 Feb 13
I have no problems with a bonus, but you give a bonus AFTER a success. Not before and certainly not just for taking a job.
littlewhitebull
says...
11:46am Mon 25 Feb 13
My experience of bonuses in the workplace has been that you have to work hard to achieve the targets and standards set. If the target was met and the standard passed muster - then you you were awarded your bonus.
Under-achievement was not rewarded.
This made you work hard and ensure your work was of good quality. A sound business proposition, in my opinion.
dippyhippy
says...
3:49pm Mon 25 Feb 13
TwoWheelsGood says...
2:20pm Mon 18 Feb 13