Up to 500 jobs to go at Blackburn with Darwen Council (From Lancashire Telegraph)

How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

midas wrote:
How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

Too much! Get it spent. The rainy days have arrived!

This is what you get with a labour council. No idea how to save and be more efficient. If this was Conservative council tax would be cheaper but no one can complain you voted for the spend spend waste of space party. No wonder Blackburn is like it is thanks to jack straw and his stooges!!

A Darener wrote:

midas wrote:
How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

Too much! Get it spent. The rainy days have arrived!

This is the coalitions doing. You talk about the Council's reserves but little regard is taken for what the Government is actually doing to our towns and citys across the country.
Let me remind you that this Government gives 11 billion to overseas aid, 9.2 billion to the EU, 600 or so MP's that are not happy with 65k a year, **** up train tenders to the tune of 40 million, banks having our money thrown at them, tax avoidance which nothing is being done about, millions spent on countless inquiries that lead nowhere. Smacks of a Mrs Thatcher in the 80's, next thing they will be bringing back the poll tax.
It is time that we stood up and realised that this coalition are ripping the heart out of us. Devide and conquer comes to mind.

buckoff wrote:
This is what you get with a labour council. No idea how to save and be more efficient. If this was Conservative council tax would be cheaper but no one can complain you voted for the spend spend waste of space party. No wonder Blackburn is like it is thanks to jack straw and his stooges!!

Lets just see what the LCC do with there budget cut shall we?

It matters not how the council has in reserve. This is the ghost of Thatcher getting her own way in destroying councils in favour of the American system. Where councils should meet once per year to give out contracts to the private sector to carry out public services.
The rapid destruction of public services and the NHS by this coalition is unprecedented in its viciousness. By 2015 if there is a change of government I doubt if much of the services will be salvageable. They keep claiming it is to reduce the deficit. I am afraid it is the biggest con since decimalisation. This country is not that broke or ever has been, The Tory accountants have stretched the figures to suit the political paymasters. The whole financial situation has been so badly handled it had to be a political con. Just look at who is suffering and who is not. There in lies the answer.

It matters not how the council has in reserve. This is the ghost of Thatcher getting her own way in destroying councils in favour of the American system. Where councils should meet once per year to give out contracts to the private sector to carry out public services.
The rapid destruction of public services and the NHS by this coalition is unprecedented in its viciousness. By 2015 if there is a change of government I doubt if much of the services will be salvageable. They keep claiming it is to reduce the deficit. I am afraid it is the biggest con since decimalisation. This country is not that broke or ever has been, The Tory accountants have stretched the figures to suit the political paymasters. The whole financial situation has been so badly handled it had to be a political con. Just look at who is suffering and who is not. There in lies the answer.

Hopping mad wrote:

A Darener wrote:

midas wrote: How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

Too much! Get it spent. The rainy days have arrived!

This is the coalitions doing. You talk about the Council's reserves but little regard is taken for what the Government is actually doing to our towns and citys across the country. Let me remind you that this Government gives 11 billion to overseas aid, 9.2 billion to the EU, 600 or so MP's that are not happy with 65k a year, **** up train tenders to the tune of 40 million, banks having our money thrown at them, tax avoidance which nothing is being done about, millions spent on countless inquiries that lead nowhere. Smacks of a Mrs Thatcher in the 80's, next thing they will be bringing back the poll tax. It is time that we stood up and realised that this coalition are ripping the heart out of us. Devide and conquer comes to mind.

Before you remind us about Central Government perhaps you can remind us how much this Council has in reserve?

mavrick wrote:
It matters not how the council has in reserve. This is the ghost of Thatcher getting her own way in destroying councils in favour of the American system. Where councils should meet once per year to give out contracts to the private sector to carry out public services. The rapid destruction of public services and the NHS by this coalition is unprecedented in its viciousness. By 2015 if there is a change of government I doubt if much of the services will be salvageable. They keep claiming it is to reduce the deficit. I am afraid it is the biggest con since decimalisation. This country is not that broke or ever has been, The Tory accountants have stretched the figures to suit the political paymasters. The whole financial situation has been so badly handled it had to be a political con. Just look at who is suffering and who is not. There in lies the answer.

Of course it matters, how can it not matter if a Council is laying off 500 jobs because of a lack of money. It is a simple question - how much do the councils have in reserve?

Hopping mad wrote:

A Darener wrote:

midas wrote:
How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

Too much! Get it spent. The rainy days have arrived!

This is the coalitions doing. You talk about the Council's reserves but little regard is taken for what the Government is actually doing to our towns and citys across the country.
Let me remind you that this Government gives 11 billion to overseas aid, 9.2 billion to the EU, 600 or so MP's that are not happy with 65k a year, **** up train tenders to the tune of 40 million, banks having our money thrown at them, tax avoidance which nothing is being done about, millions spent on countless inquiries that lead nowhere. Smacks of a Mrs Thatcher in the 80's, next thing they will be bringing back the poll tax.
It is time that we stood up and realised that this coalition are ripping the heart out of us. Devide and conquer comes to mind.

Spot on there Mr Mad. Absolutely spot on!

quite simply,this government should be ousted then people wouldn't lose their jobs. i am one of the 500 who are going to lose their jobs.trying to privatise everything they can,god love and be hold it will be the nhs next. people need to grow a back bone for the next general election and vote for change.we should pull out of the eu so it free's up jobs then all the money will be put back into our own economy.
david cameron.......''devi
l in disguise''

Manuel Hung wrote:

Hopping mad wrote:

A Darener wrote:

midas wrote:
How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

Too much! Get it spent. The rainy days have arrived!

This is the coalitions doing. You talk about the Council's reserves but little regard is taken for what the Government is actually doing to our towns and citys across the country.
Let me remind you that this Government gives 11 billion to overseas aid, 9.2 billion to the EU, 600 or so MP's that are not happy with 65k a year, **** up train tenders to the tune of 40 million, banks having our money thrown at them, tax avoidance which nothing is being done about, millions spent on countless inquiries that lead nowhere. Smacks of a Mrs Thatcher in the 80's, next thing they will be bringing back the poll tax.
It is time that we stood up and realised that this coalition are ripping the heart out of us. Devide and conquer comes to mind.

Spot on there Mr Mad. Absolutely spot on!

agree with you

What a total and utter disgrace.

The council pays for union reps to do union work full time. The unions have enough money spare themselves to give millions to Labour in political donations.

It's a club for fat cats.

What's more important - front line services or party political donations?

Why are the council paying full time union reps when they are making cuts to front line services? Where is the announcement that the council are cutting this obvious wastage?

What a total disgrace. What happened to leaders with integrity? What happened to leaders who looked out for the man in the street, rather than keeping the gravy train rolling?

Hopping mad wrote:

A Darener wrote:

midas wrote:
How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

Too much! Get it spent. The rainy days have arrived!

This is the coalitions doing. You talk about the Council's reserves but little regard is taken for what the Government is actually doing to our towns and citys across the country.
Let me remind you that this Government gives 11 billion to overseas aid, 9.2 billion to the EU, 600 or so MP's that are not happy with 65k a year, **** up train tenders to the tune of 40 million, banks having our money thrown at them, tax avoidance which nothing is being done about, millions spent on countless inquiries that lead nowhere. Smacks of a Mrs Thatcher in the 80's, next thing they will be bringing back the poll tax.
It is time that we stood up and realised that this coalition are ripping the heart out of us. Devide and conquer comes to mind.

That's just not true though.

You talk about tax avoidance, but who created all the fat cats in the public sector where many - unbelievably -don't pay tax, they are allowed to run tax avoidance schemes? Why it was Labour of course, who told us solemnly that all these public servants needed huge wages to compete with the fat cats in the private sector, and then because we are paying them so much, they need to manage their own tax affairs through accountants etc. What a shambles.

You talk about the banking crisis as well, forgetting it was good old Gordon Brown, with his light touch mantra, which brought this country to his knees, knighting Fred Goodwin, amongst a whole host of other undeserving unpleasant people who caused this mess. Labour clearly wasn't looking out for the little man then, they were firmly in bed with the fat cats.

You are right about the EU though and the eye watering wastage. So why is Labour campaigning so hard to keep that gravy train going?

Don't pretend black is white. Yes the Tories seem interested most in looking after their fat cat friends, but Labour were just as bad when they were in power. Look at Tony Blair now - flying everywhere by helicopter from his mansion. Is he the fallen hero of the working class? Is he heck, he's just another fat cat who has piled misery on the British public.

Divide and conquer? What's actually the difference between Labour and the Tories; they both shaft the hard working man in street?

Councils are currently awash with fat cats created by Labour policy. Cut those and you don't need to cut any front line services at all. The trouble is it's the fat cats making the decisions themselves, with the unions protecting them, so instead it will the poor suckers on the front line who'll suffer. And the public of course.

What is the point of spending money on public meetings to ask communities what their priorities are then totally disregarding them by implementing cuts in the areas that are always top of the list? Childrens Services, Leisure & Recreation, Street Cleaning & Grass Cutting, Public Amenities.
With regards school uniform grants - Borough leader Kate Hollern said she was devastated at having to make the change: “I hate to do this.
“I don’t know what some families will do. I can visualise children going to school without proper shoes.“I just hope schools or charities can help families out.” 5,325 families affected by this, where are the schools going to get funding from to help out Kate? Charities are folding everyday due to government cuts. And if families could help out i'm sure they would already be doing so, the uniform grant was there for the most needy. 500 jobs at the council but no mention of the knock on effect of the cuts on other jobs due to closure or shorter opening hours at the care homes, childrens centres, libraries etc. Your community your call - my ar**** this council wants community and friends of groups to take over the running of these places and services. All well and good, the problem is Cllr Hollern that whilst there are people willing to do this, insurance, facility hire, CRB's, health & safety etc costs money and you are proposing to cut funding to such groups willing to volunteer their time. The so called 'Big Society' has always been there and whilst spending money on so called community consultation (that is then ignored) and publicity that the council will loan out litter pickers so people can clean their own streets, the cuts are undermining the many established organisations & activities (majority of which are run by voluntary groups) within the Borough without whom a lot of children and elderly would be without social activities and assistance.
No cuts are going to be popular but these are a slap in the face to those who bothered to fill in surveys or attend meetings in the belief that their opinions counted for something. We should have known better.

midas wrote:

mavrick wrote:
It matters not how the council has in reserve. This is the ghost of Thatcher getting her own way in destroying councils in favour of the American system. Where councils should meet once per year to give out contracts to the private sector to carry out public services. The rapid destruction of public services and the NHS by this coalition is unprecedented in its viciousness. By 2015 if there is a change of government I doubt if much of the services will be salvageable. They keep claiming it is to reduce the deficit. I am afraid it is the biggest con since decimalisation. This country is not that broke or ever has been, The Tory accountants have stretched the figures to suit the political paymasters. The whole financial situation has been so badly handled it had to be a political con. Just look at who is suffering and who is not. There in lies the answer.

Of course it matters, how can it not matter if a Council is laying off 500 jobs because of a lack of money. It is a simple question - how much do the councils have in reserve?

Midas, You know that every council has to keep a certain amount of money in reserve. The reserve is not for continuing services that are facing cuts. Once the money is spent it is gone. How long would any reserve last when 500 jobs are dependant up on it?
The destruction is there, and to try and blame the last government for this crisis is nothing but a joke. Nothing is sacred to this coalition. they talk big and then announce cuts, They are borrowing more money than ever, why? we have less services all round, so where is all this borrowed money going? I think it is fair to say we are not all in this together.

What the hell are we getting for our Council Tax now? Services being cut all the time. All I can see that we are getting is our bins emptied and I can get someone to do that privately for less than £100 a month. I for one will not pay my tax next year as this country is now near to being 3rd world. Never in my lifetime have I seen so many people starving, homeless and living in poverty. Give money to our own and stop giving the good life to the immigrants and low life that come here for an easy ride.

mavrick wrote:

midas wrote:

mavrick wrote:
It matters not how the council has in reserve. This is the ghost of Thatcher getting her own way in destroying councils in favour of the American system. Where councils should meet once per year to give out contracts to the private sector to carry out public services. The rapid destruction of public services and the NHS by this coalition is unprecedented in its viciousness. By 2015 if there is a change of government I doubt if much of the services will be salvageable. They keep claiming it is to reduce the deficit. I am afraid it is the biggest con since decimalisation. This country is not that broke or ever has been, The Tory accountants have stretched the figures to suit the political paymasters. The whole financial situation has been so badly handled it had to be a political con. Just look at who is suffering and who is not. There in lies the answer.

Of course it matters, how can it not matter if a Council is laying off 500 jobs because of a lack of money. It is a simple question - how much do the councils have in reserve?

Midas, You know that every council has to keep a certain amount of money in reserve. The reserve is not for continuing services that are facing cuts. Once the money is spent it is gone. How long would any reserve last when 500 jobs are dependant up on it?
The destruction is there, and to try and blame the last government for this crisis is nothing but a joke. Nothing is sacred to this coalition. they talk big and then announce cuts, They are borrowing more money than ever, why? we have less services all round, so where is all this borrowed money going? I think it is fair to say we are not all in this together.

Under Labour or the Tories, we've never been in this together.

Labour were absolutely fine with fat cats in the private sector - they knighted them in droves after all - as long as there were fat cats in the public sector too. I mean wtf?

Accordingly the biggest drift between rich and poor, in both the private and public sector, happened under the last Labour government. And we are supposed to believe that Labour is on the side of the man in the street? Pull the other one, because their shameful record in power tells a completely different story.

That's where the money is of course. Labour's policy was huge, eye watering public spending, all paid for on debt. Gordon Brown decided we should spend now - lots and lots and lots, more than we actually had, even though they were boom years - and it would be OK for our children and grand children to pay for it.

Of course this fantasy was completely unsustainable, let alone totally unfair, and so even with these cuts, we are still spending too much, which means we are borrowing more, and paying more interest for nothing. Labour, with a straight face incredibly, tell us we should be spending more though. Like they haven't created enough mess as it is.

My goodness the public suffers under Labour. Spend, spend, spend, borrow, borrow, borrow - crash.

so parents who get £20+ for there first child and £13 for the others will struggle to buy shoes for there kids, i`ve just had a look at "George from asda" and the kids boys shoes are £8-15 and shoes for teenage boys £16-28 not going to break the bank is it. start saving now, you`ll have enough for next term.

also the OAP homes are not suitable as there don`t have "en-suite" have the council looked at the places in Blackburn? they don`t all have en-suite yet you want to send then to places like that. again a quick search and to quote the top 3 on the list (no names) 25 rooms 12 en-suite, 69 with 14, 20 with 0!!

why not save more money and NOT spend money on the running track, also don`t put money in to new sports complex at the college, cut Councillors wages by 10% (i`m sure you could still live on £20,000, and wouldn`t need a 2nd job)

milano wrote:
What is the point of spending money on public meetings to ask communities what their priorities are then totally disregarding them by implementing cuts in the areas that are always top of the list? Childrens Services, Leisure & Recreation, Street Cleaning & Grass Cutting, Public Amenities.
With regards school uniform grants - Borough leader Kate Hollern said she was devastated at having to make the change: “I hate to do this.
“I don’t know what some families will do. I can visualise children going to school without proper shoes.“I just hope schools or charities can help families out.” 5,325 families affected by this, where are the schools going to get funding from to help out Kate? Charities are folding everyday due to government cuts. And if families could help out i'm sure they would already be doing so, the uniform grant was there for the most needy. 500 jobs at the council but no mention of the knock on effect of the cuts on other jobs due to closure or shorter opening hours at the care homes, childrens centres, libraries etc. Your community your call - my ar**** this council wants community and friends of groups to take over the running of these places and services. All well and good, the problem is Cllr Hollern that whilst there are people willing to do this, insurance, facility hire, CRB's, health & safety etc costs money and you are proposing to cut funding to such groups willing to volunteer their time. The so called 'Big Society' has always been there and whilst spending money on so called community consultation (that is then ignored) and publicity that the council will loan out litter pickers so people can clean their own streets, the cuts are undermining the many established organisations & activities (majority of which are run by voluntary groups) within the Borough without whom a lot of children and elderly would be without social activities and assistance.
No cuts are going to be popular but these are a slap in the face to those who bothered to fill in surveys or attend meetings in the belief that their opinions counted for something. We should have known better.

Shameful isn't it.

Currently the council looks like a club for fat cats who all look after their own interests, rather than the public's needs.

This Labour council would rather our poorest kids go to school without shoes, rather than stop paying union reps to do union work.

The shame.

mavrick wrote:

midas wrote:

mavrick wrote: It matters not how the council has in reserve. This is the ghost of Thatcher getting her own way in destroying councils in favour of the American system. Where councils should meet once per year to give out contracts to the private sector to carry out public services. The rapid destruction of public services and the NHS by this coalition is unprecedented in its viciousness. By 2015 if there is a change of government I doubt if much of the services will be salvageable. They keep claiming it is to reduce the deficit. I am afraid it is the biggest con since decimalisation. This country is not that broke or ever has been, The Tory accountants have stretched the figures to suit the political paymasters. The whole financial situation has been so badly handled it had to be a political con. Just look at who is suffering and who is not. There in lies the answer.

Of course it matters, how can it not matter if a Council is laying off 500 jobs because of a lack of money. It is a simple question - how much do the councils have in reserve?

Midas, You know that every council has to keep a certain amount of money in reserve. The reserve is not for continuing services that are facing cuts. Once the money is spent it is gone. How long would any reserve last when 500 jobs are dependant up on it? The destruction is there, and to try and blame the last government for this crisis is nothing but a joke. Nothing is sacred to this coalition. they talk big and then announce cuts, They are borrowing more money than ever, why? we have less services all round, so where is all this borrowed money going? I think it is fair to say we are not all in this together.

Who knows how long the reserves would last because they don't seem willing to say how much they have!!
.
How can you have a debate about public service cuts when you don't say how much money you have?
.
I'm not blaming the last government I just want to be in possession of all the important facts, like how much money is available.
.
Nothing should be sacred.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has £48.039M in utilisable reserves in the Statement of Accounts for 2011/12.There was actually an increase in its reserves of £4.848M in 2011/12. Capital Receipts of £26.22M for Sale of Capital Assets are outstanding. There also remains £1.057M in uncollected Council Tax - one of the highest levels in the UK.

If I were a Resient of Blackburn with Darwen I would be calling for a referendum to ensure the utilisation of the maximum amount of the Reserve Fund as possible, the Sale of Additional Capital assets, a reduction in the purchase of Capital assets in the Current Financial Year and Legal Action to recover uncollected Council Tax.

This has nothing to do with Margaret Thatcher or the coalition, this is all Gordon Brown,s fault. Jobs at councils when there were none family tax credit
to all even people on a good wage claiming, so that everybody would vote Labour in again. Well it all came back to bite them Labour should hang there head in shame the mess they have left the country in.And as for blackburn council they have never got anything right in the 40 years i have lived here.

Why do we donate £50,000 to Turton Tower out of interest

I'm a single parent with a 5yr old disabled child. She has 1 to 1 assistance at school. This help has been invaluable and without it she would not have been able to attend "normal" school. She is very bright and loves everything about her school. It would be devastating for her if we lost this service.

The current economic crisis has been three decades in the making.

Robert Prechter’s 1995 book ‘At the Crest of a Tidal Wave’ laid out where the USA and other Western nations were headed, although he was incorrect in terms of the time before catastrophe would strike. Peter Warburton’s book ‘Debt and Delusion’ published in 1999 – when Labour were following Conservative spending plans – explained that we were on the road to disaster after 20 years of unbridled credit expansion. This was followed by Bill Bonner’s book ‘Financial Reckoning Day’ in 2003 and ‘Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis’ in 2006. Finally Fred Harrison’s ‘Boom Bust: House Prices, Banking and the Depression of 2010’ published in 2005 laid out the case of the path we were taking.

All of these commentators had one thing in common – they were for the most part ignored by policy makers and derided and ridiculed by the mainstream media and smug metropiltan elite.

Gordon Brown is not the man solely responsible for the current crisis. This is not to say that he carries no responsibility but he was one player among many and he had the misfortune to be in office giving the key of debt an extra turn just before the spring broke.

I say all this because the mainstream media are promoting the narrative that no one saw this crisis coming.

This is blatant falsehood and simply not true. In fact, it’s a lie.

The word lie is not one that I use lightly but the media having failed in their duty are now engaging in outright deceit by promoting a revision of history to hide their culpability. In addition they are demonising Gordon Brown, of whom I am no fan, to hide their failings. It is shameful, but par for the course.

Remember this next day you buy a national newspaper.

Could we have been in a better position if the media had done their job properly in the first place? Yes.

Would we now be in a better position if Gordon Brown had not confused a cyclical credit boom by believing it was structural economic growth? Yes.

Council leader Kate Hollern i bet she did not cut her wage

Hopping mad wrote:

buckoff wrote:
This is what you get with a labour council. No idea how to save and be more efficient. If this was Conservative council tax would be cheaper but no one can complain you voted for the spend spend waste of space party. No wonder Blackburn is like it is thanks to jack straw and his stooges!!

Lets just see what the LCC do with there budget cut shall we?

if this was a conservative council, this town would be twice as bad as it is now, have you forgotten its a tory government thats caused all this in the 1st place, Cameron and his cronies want to see the north on its knees, we stand for nothing up here, its time the north fought back, this town is bleak enough and will only get worse under this tory rule, if Clegg and the rest of his cronies walked away what then?? they are not an elected government and its time they where shown by people who do have a brain and a bit of the old english backbone that we have had enough and will take anymore..councils cannot be blamed for the cutbacks that are killing our towns they take orders from the henchmen at the top

So they planned fot £27m but need to find |£30m. Perrhaps the £3m extra could come out of the £50m they have in "reserve"?
.
Though even at 3% they will be getting £1.5m in interest.

Cllr Ged Mirfin wrote:
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has £48.039M in utilisable reserves in the Statement of Accounts for 2011/12.There was actually an increase in its reserves of £4.848M in 2011/12. Capital Receipts of £26.22M for Sale of Capital Assets are outstanding. There also remains £1.057M in uncollected Council Tax - one of the highest levels in the UK.

If I were a Resient of Blackburn with Darwen I would be calling for a referendum to ensure the utilisation of the maximum amount of the Reserve Fund as possible, the Sale of Additional Capital assets, a reduction in the purchase of Capital assets in the Current Financial Year and Legal Action to recover uncollected Council Tax.

Good work that councillor.

Incredibly this is beginning to look like Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council making cuts to front line services just to have a go at government spending.

Do Labour have no shame? Deliberately holding back spending on front line services for purely political reasons. Do they not care about the people who will suffer? Old people, children, the poor and vulnerable - they are being treated with nothing less than contempt by the people who are supposed to be on their side.

And for what? For cheap political point scoring.

I don't how these people can sleep at night when they must know they are damaging people's lives massively for purely selfish reasons.

anfieldlady wrote:

Hopping mad wrote:

buckoff wrote:
This is what you get with a labour council. No idea how to save and be more efficient. If this was Conservative council tax would be cheaper but no one can complain you voted for the spend spend waste of space party. No wonder Blackburn is like it is thanks to jack straw and his stooges!!

Lets just see what the LCC do with there budget cut shall we?

if this was a conservative council, this town would be twice as bad as it is now, have you forgotten its a tory government thats caused all this in the 1st place, Cameron and his cronies want to see the north on its knees, we stand for nothing up here, its time the north fought back, this town is bleak enough and will only get worse under this tory rule, if Clegg and the rest of his cronies walked away what then?? they are not an elected government and its time they where shown by people who do have a brain and a bit of the old english backbone that we have had enough and will take anymore..councils cannot be blamed for the cutbacks that are killing our towns they take orders from the henchmen at the top

Jeez, get off your horse will you.

Much as I think Cameron is weak, and Osborne on a different planet to the normal working person, it's ludicrous to suggest they want to see "the north on it's knees".

They want a strong successful north that pays it's own way.

Under Labour, the north is a huge exercise in public sector wastage, forever dependent on the south. How is that ever going to make the north strong?

Kevin, Colne wrote:
The current economic crisis has been three decades in the making.

Robert Prechter’s 1995 book ‘At the Crest of a Tidal Wave’ laid out where the USA and other Western nations were headed, although he was incorrect in terms of the time before catastrophe would strike. Peter Warburton’s book ‘Debt and Delusion’ published in 1999 – when Labour were following Conservative spending plans – explained that we were on the road to disaster after 20 years of unbridled credit expansion. This was followed by Bill Bonner’s book ‘Financial Reckoning Day’ in 2003 and ‘Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis’ in 2006. Finally Fred Harrison’s ‘Boom Bust: House Prices, Banking and the Depression of 2010’ published in 2005 laid out the case of the path we were taking.

All of these commentators had one thing in common – they were for the most part ignored by policy makers and derided and ridiculed by the mainstream media and smug metropiltan elite.

Gordon Brown is not the man solely responsible for the current crisis. This is not to say that he carries no responsibility but he was one player among many and he had the misfortune to be in office giving the key of debt an extra turn just before the spring broke.

I say all this because the mainstream media are promoting the narrative that no one saw this crisis coming.

This is blatant falsehood and simply not true. In fact, it’s a lie.

The word lie is not one that I use lightly but the media having failed in their duty are now engaging in outright deceit by promoting a revision of history to hide their culpability. In addition they are demonising Gordon Brown, of whom I am no fan, to hide their failings. It is shameful, but par for the course.

Remember this next day you buy a national newspaper.

Could we have been in a better position if the media had done their job properly in the first place? Yes.

Would we now be in a better position if Gordon Brown had not confused a cyclical credit boom by believing it was structural economic growth? Yes.

Very true.

Much of blame lies squarely with Thatcher and her "big bang" in the city - gifting everyone's finances to vultures.

We get screwed over by the Tories. We get screwed over by Labour. No two ways about it.

I am one of the 500 affected by the job cuts at the council. I work in one of the care homes for the elderly. I am disgusted by the coucil and the effects it will have on our elderly residents. Another move at their time of life will for many will be detrimental. These are the people who were born in this country, who took this country through a world war and built it up after, have worked all their lives and have contributed. Why is that the council chooses to cut the services that affect our most vunerable.

Jack Herer wrote:

Hopping mad wrote:

A Darener wrote:

midas wrote:
How much money do the Council have "in reserve"?

Too much! Get it spent. The rainy days have arrived!

This is the coalitions doing. You talk about the Council's reserves but little regard is taken for what the Government is actually doing to our towns and citys across the country.
Let me remind you that this Government gives 11 billion to overseas aid, 9.2 billion to the EU, 600 or so MP's that are not happy with 65k a year, **** up train tenders to the tune of 40 million, banks having our money thrown at them, tax avoidance which nothing is being done about, millions spent on countless inquiries that lead nowhere. Smacks of a Mrs Thatcher in the 80's, next thing they will be bringing back the poll tax.
It is time that we stood up and realised that this coalition are ripping the heart out of us. Devide and conquer comes to mind.

That's just not true though.

You talk about tax avoidance, but who created all the fat cats in the public sector where many - unbelievably -don't pay tax, they are allowed to run tax avoidance schemes? Why it was Labour of course, who told us solemnly that all these public servants needed huge wages to compete with the fat cats in the private sector, and then because we are paying them so much, they need to manage their own tax affairs through accountants etc. What a shambles.

You talk about the banking crisis as well, forgetting it was good old Gordon Brown, with his light touch mantra, which brought this country to his knees, knighting Fred Goodwin, amongst a whole host of other undeserving unpleasant people who caused this mess. Labour clearly wasn't looking out for the little man then, they were firmly in bed with the fat cats.

You are right about the EU though and the eye watering wastage. So why is Labour campaigning so hard to keep that gravy train going?

Don't pretend black is white. Yes the Tories seem interested most in looking after their fat cat friends, but Labour were just as bad when they were in power. Look at Tony Blair now - flying everywhere by helicopter from his mansion. Is he the fallen hero of the working class? Is he heck, he's just another fat cat who has piled misery on the British public.

Divide and conquer? What's actually the difference between Labour and the Tories; they both shaft the hard working man in street?

Councils are currently awash with fat cats created by Labour policy. Cut those and you don't need to cut any front line services at all. The trouble is it's the fat cats making the decisions themselves, with the unions protecting them, so instead it will the poor suckers on the front line who'll suffer. And the public of course.

Jack you seem to think that I am a Labourite and I am in someway biased. I am not and recognise the mistakes that Labour have made in the past but you my friend are totally blue in your thinking and suspect that you are a Consevative councillor or something.
You can trawl through history all you want but the reality is that the current parties in power making decisions now are the Conservatives and Libdems. They are making these cuts now not yesterday and can only look at what is happening now. The coalition are spending on the EU, there is gifts to foreign states at the same time they are cutting budgets for local councils.
When I said devide and conquer, this was meant in the context of rich and poor, those who have and those who have not.
Centralise yourself instead of sitting on your blue chair, in your blue room with blue tinted glasses on.

I think by law the council has to hold back some money in reserve for emergencies - flood, fire, disasters but perhaps some could be used to soften this blow? Worth considering before essential social services are cut, though agree with closing some children's centres, I'm sure a place the size of Blackburn and Darwen doesn't need 13!
Very sorry for good people losing their jobs as I know a lot of staff work hard, and take pride in their jobs and it will do more damage to the local economy. But I'm pleased to see council at least talking about getting rid of Turton Tower - let's hope they follow through. How much money has been wasted on promoting and maintaining that non attraction over the years? Never should have taken it on in the first place.

Councils are currently awash with fat cats created by Labour policy. Cut those and you don't need to cut any front line services at all. The trouble is it's the fat cats making the decisions themselves, with the unions protecting them, so instead it will the poor suckers on the front line who'll suffer. And the public of course.

Superb comment .

Looking at Kate Hollern - I reckon it's a long time since
she went hungry .

Now - how to solve the problem .

Firstly - most towns in Britain are "twinned" with somewhere else .
Cancel that totally . Put a line through it .Let's face it , it is an excuse
for a junket , on expenses to achieve nothing . I am paying for this .
I do not want to .

Secondly - no-one but no-one in the council gets a wage more
than £52.000 a year . If you can't live on a grand a week , well....

Thirdly - council employees contribute towards their pensions .
Properly .

Forthly - council houses - plenty of room in The Gorbals .
No , I have no sympathy for those who choose the lifestyle of
using their tummies as their income .

I could continue . Instead I will await the abuse from the real
fat cats - those who vote Liebour in order to stay on the gravy train .

This month John Prescott's 2 jag. Labour council in Yorkshire are having to re-write their employment contracts because they've realised that they can't keep paying over the odds in expenses - for example where any other private company pays the taxman's recommended 45p mileage allowance they've been paying 65p p/m. I see BwD are advertising for a "Quality & Effectiveness" manager at £61.7k p/a and also willing to pay £46.1K p/a for a music manager, both will probably be offered out of pocket expenses.

wrinkles wrote:
This month John Prescott's 2 jag. Labour council in Yorkshire are having to re-write their employment contracts because they've realised that they can't keep paying over the odds in expenses - for example where any other private company pays the taxman's recommended 45p mileage allowance they've been paying 65p p/m. I see BwD are advertising for a "Quality & Effectiveness" manager at £61.7k p/a and also willing to pay £46.1K p/a for a music manager, both will probably be offered out of pocket expenses.

the borough is not short of money but they need more and more vermin so they are going the right way

Worriedforfuture wrote:
I think by law the council has to hold back some money in reserve for emergencies - flood, fire, disasters but perhaps some could be used to soften this blow? Worth considering before essential social services are cut, though agree with closing some children's centres, I'm sure a place the size of Blackburn and Darwen doesn't need 13!
Very sorry for good people losing their jobs as I know a lot of staff work hard, and take pride in their jobs and it will do more damage to the local economy. But I'm pleased to see council at least talking about getting rid of Turton Tower - let's hope they follow through. How much money has been wasted on promoting and maintaining that non attraction over the years? Never should have taken it on in the first place.

The best comment on here.

tenerc wrote:
so parents who get £20+ for there first child and £13 for the others will struggle to buy shoes for there kids, i`ve just had a look at "George from asda" and the kids boys shoes are £8-15 and shoes for teenage boys £16-28 not going to break the bank is it. start saving now, you`ll have enough for next term.

also the OAP homes are not suitable as there don`t have "en-suite" have the council looked at the places in Blackburn? they don`t all have en-suite yet you want to send then to places like that. again a quick search and to quote the top 3 on the list (no names) 25 rooms 12 en-suite, 69 with 14, 20 with 0!!

why not save more money and NOT spend money on the running track, also don`t put money in to new sports complex at the college, cut Councillors wages by 10% (i`m sure you could still live on £20,000, and wouldn`t need a 2nd job)

if these homes that are being closed down are not suitable why have they spent thousands and thousand s over the last few months doing them up, and are still spending on them as we speak. also if these homes are closing why are the staff still going on training courses, an absolute waste of money if you ask me when they are closing down. they also say old people in these homes that are closing will be put into new homes that are being built, how can they, they have not even started building these homes yet. and the first home to close will be this october.its a disgrace whats happening to these old peoples homes, just remember councilors you will be old one day. oh but i forget you will all be going private.

fireonthemountain wrote:
Councils are currently awash with fat cats created by Labour policy. Cut those and you don't need to cut any front line services at all. The trouble is it's the fat cats making the decisions themselves, with the unions protecting them, so instead it will the poor suckers on the front line who'll suffer. And the public of course.

Superb comment .

Looking at Kate Hollern - I reckon it's a long time since
she went hungry .

Now - how to solve the problem .

Firstly - most towns in Britain are "twinned" with somewhere else .
Cancel that totally . Put a line through it .Let's face it , it is an excuse
for a junket , on expenses to achieve nothing . I am paying for this .
I do not want to .

Secondly - no-one but no-one in the council gets a wage more
than £52.000 a year . If you can't live on a grand a week , well....

Thirdly - council employees contribute towards their pensions .
Properly .

Forthly - council houses - plenty of room in The Gorbals .
No , I have no sympathy for those who choose the lifestyle of
using their tummies as their income .

I could continue . Instead I will await the abuse from the real
fat cats - those who vote Liebour in order to stay on the gravy train .

please can u explain what you mean by paying properly into pensions i pay into my pension every week properly, are you trying to say we fiddle our pensions.

Who is this Joker .. Buckoff ?
Tory councils are notorious for not giving a 'flying' about 'services', you only have to look at this pathetic government and their privatization by stealth and winding down of the NHS to see that, also Education is due to be 'rogered' by the Tories also.
Councils are having to cut back due to Government funding cuts and it is a personal tragedy for people being laid off or losing services they have come to rely on.

up_norf wrote:
Who is this Joker .. Buckoff ?
Tory councils are notorious for not giving a 'flying' about 'services', you only have to look at this pathetic government and their privatization by stealth and winding down of the NHS to see that, also Education is due to be 'rogered' by the Tories also.
Councils are having to cut back due to Government funding cuts and it is a personal tragedy for people being laid off or losing services they have come to rely on.

.... and to prove your point

The Guardian 22/1/2013

The "easyCouncil" model of no-frills local services is set to go on trial this spring after the High Court announced it will review a £320m services contract due to be outsourced by the Conservative-control
led London Borough of Barnet.

The case is being brought by Maria Nash, a 67-year old disabled resident who says she fears for her life if support services are removed if and when the private outsourcing firm, Capita, takes over. The judicial review of the legality of the contract means the signing of the deal, which was supposed to happen at the end of January, has been delayed.

The judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice is the sternest test yet of radical council reforms being tested around the country. Councils last year faced cuts in their spending budgets averaging over 10% caused by Whitehall cuts and declines in council tax revenues, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

Similar attempts at radical cuts and outsourcing have triggered political crises at Cornwall Country Council – where the leader was ousted – and Suffolk County Council, where the leader stepped down.

Nash's case is that neither the Capita contract, nor a planned £290m contract to outsource planning, cemeteries, highways, environmental health and other services, are legal because the council has failed to consult on the decisions, has failed to meet its public sector equality obligations and based its decisions on "grossly inadequate assessments of the relative merits and risks involved and hence are unreasonable and amount to a breach of its fiduciary duty."

How many work in parking services?

Get rid of that lot for starters.

Then look at every other dept and sack the top man and his four underlings. All the work is done by those at lower levels and the malaise of middle/senior management in LA is staggering.

This won't happen however because, as usual, the ones's who will go are the ones at the bottom who do all the work whilst the FInal Salary brigade are laughing all the way to their pension.

There are some great people who work in local authority, but there are also some absolute c0cks who are being paid a fortune to do nothing. If you're working at BwD and you're on more than £35k, you're one of them!!!!!!!!

Are any of the top earners on the Council going or are they prepared to take a paycut to help keep any of the proposed service cuts going? What is the chief exec salary these days?
As there is a large labour population in that area, is this partly political to get the conservatives voted out asap?