First wave of Blackburn with Darwen Council staff told their jobs are at risk (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Keep bleating on Liebour, yet you still waste money hand over fist. Your only safe in this county if your an illegal or pensioner.

I sure you will be able to survive on £71 a week, if you don't use your heating and go to the food banks, oh wait a minute, come April you will have 20% council tax to pay and if you live in social housing a bedroom tax, just hope you and hubby don't live in a four bedroom house on your own.!!!!

looks like some more for the dole

bet her job is not on the line.no top brass either. its a job for the boys

Due to pension liabilities these types of jobs are completely unaffordable in the first place.

Hopefully these cuts will bring down my Council Tax bill.

liddle 'un - don't hold your breath..............
............ whoever heard of bills coming down!!!???

I live in spain and I bet the council wish they had 500 people on their books let alone make 500 redundant. It is a joke to see how many people the councils and government employ and it needs sorting. Before you ask, no the vulnerable do not suffer, families and charities and voluteers see to that. My council tax was 51€ a year for the last 10 years and has just gone up due to the recession. It is a joke how much you lot pay.

Welcome to he real world , these people have had it to cosy for years , I'm self employed and get no help of no one just my self ...... Thay reckon every , £1 that's paid in council tax. , 80 p goes to there pensions , good ridence I say :)))

a few more ways for the council to save money..

scrap the funding for the running track, Scrap the new bus shelter/station/urin
al and sell ALL the land, scrap any funding for the "cathedral" improvements we don`t need a hotel!!, forget about the link road, it`s doing ok as is sell the land.

I`m a carer and thanks to this council (and the last government who left the country skint (i don`t support ANY party) i`m going to loose 30-40% of the money i get having to pay the bedroom tax and council tax, and there is nothing i can do about it.

Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole !
*
How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

blackburn_carer wrote:
a few more ways for the council to save money..

scrap the funding for the running track, Scrap the new bus shelter/station/urin

al and sell ALL the land, scrap any funding for the "cathedral" improvements we don`t need a hotel!!, forget about the link road, it`s doing ok as is sell the land.

I`m a carer and thanks to this council (and the last government who left the country skint (i don`t support ANY party) i`m going to loose 30-40% of the money i get having to pay the bedroom tax and council tax, and there is nothing i can do about it.

Groooaannn.......

Scrap the running track - it's capital funding and will save very little on the revenue budget (which is the one where the £30m has to be saved from).
*
Bus station etc - this is mainly a big Govt grant. Hardly any money would be saved if this scheme was scrapped.
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Hotel - Cathedral - this is private dosh not the Councils.
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Link road - again Govt grant / capital funding.
*
Well done blackburn_carer - you have managed to find about 2 and 6 in savings when £30m is needed !
*
Did Labour introduce the bedroom tax - NO !. Did Labour introduce the Council Tax ? NO!
*
Do you honestly think Labour would have implemented these types of cuts to the most vulnerable ? Do you honestly think Labour would have cut funding to BwD far more than to southern rural Councils (who are hardly being cut at all) ?
*
Quite frankly blackburn_carer it's your own fault for not voting and letting in the ConDems.

phil kernot wrote:
Welcome to he real world , these people have had it to cosy for years , I'm self employed and get no help of no one just my self ...... Thay reckon every , £1 that's paid in council tax. , 80 p goes to there pensions , good ridence I say :)))

Well what 'they reckon' isn't at all true.
50% of Council Tax goes on schools /education, 25% on social services. Only a tiny p/c goes on pensions.

coates warder wrote:
bet her job is not on the line.no top brass either. its a job for the boys

DOH !!! A Councillor is ELECTED by the people every 4 years. Her job is ion the line every 4 years.
*
Loads of the 'top brass' have been made redundant or their posts deleted.

blackburn_carer wrote:
a few more ways for the council to save money..

scrap the funding for the running track, Scrap the new bus shelter/station/urin

al and sell ALL the land, scrap any funding for the "cathedral" improvements we don`t need a hotel!!, forget about the link road, it`s doing ok as is sell the land.

I`m a carer and thanks to this council (and the last government who left the country skint (i don`t support ANY party) i`m going to loose 30-40% of the money i get having to pay the bedroom tax and council tax, and there is nothing i can do about it.

how about saving some money by reducing the number of councillors. Why does the Council need 60+ councillors.

How much does Jack Straw cost Blackburn with Darwen in his retirement?

The same old story. Government and Council bosses are no different than company bosses. When everything goes sour because of their poor management they always have a soft pillow to fall on.

The majority of Blackburn with Darwen voted for those who run Blackburn with Darwen council. Did YOU vote for them? Political bias is the downfall of politics which results in a free ride for the undeserving!

Just imagine what it would be like to have a government party pension when you retire. Must be the most secure job in the world. Find yourself a safe seat and dream of your retirement. You can‘t lose!

Ok - I need some facts here .

Not wishy-washy drivel , Facts .

A breakdown please of the "2,800" jobs .

Does this include teachers , police . firemen etc. ?

Yes or no ?

Does this include the boys and girls on the bins ?

Yes or no ?

The above should not be cut , they do a superb job under difficult circumstances . I have a lot of respect for them .

Facts please - break down by numbers .

-------------------

Now - I made the following comment some time ago .
After some reseach I find Blackburn is twinned with -
Peronne (France)

Altena (Germany)

Tarnow (Poland)

Ever heard of any of those towns ? - Me neither .

Get rid of the fat cats - the health and safety morons who ban kids from playing conkers - the one legged lesbian diversity coordinaters - the five a day fruit and veg idiots - the "I'm fining you £80 because your nine month old dropped his rattle" clowns .

--------------------
-------

My earlier comment -
I stand by every word .


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 ."

Ah, politics, lovely. Left versus right, but they're all in it to boost their egos and fill their pockets; local or national. And we all pay in the end. Just pawns in their game, rich or poor. Get over yourselves you politickers in this story, this is the price we pay for 'democracy'. Cameron or the Millibrands - they've never lived in our worlds or had real jobs (or no jobs), and are totally out of touch with real life as we live it. Especially up North.

fireonthemountain wrote:
Ok - I need some facts here .

Not wishy-washy drivel , Facts .

A breakdown please of the "2,800" jobs .

Does this include teachers , police . firemen etc. ?

Yes or no ?

Does this include the boys and girls on the bins ?

Yes or no ?

The above should not be cut , they do a superb job under difficult circumstances . I have a lot of respect for them .

Facts please - break down by numbers .

-------------------

Now - I made the following comment some time ago .
After some reseach I find Blackburn is twinned with -
Peronne (France)

Altena (Germany)

Tarnow (Poland)

Ever heard of any of those towns ? - Me neither .

Get rid of the fat cats - the health and safety morons who ban kids from playing conkers - the one legged lesbian diversity coordinaters - the five a day fruit and veg idiots - the "I'm fining you £80 because your nine month old dropped his rattle" clowns .

--------------------

-------

My earlier comment -
I stand by every word .


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 ."

what does using their tummies as their income mean for those of us who only mastered English?

tajmahalovertheoldma
rket wrote:
Ah, politics, lovely. Left versus right, but they're all in it to boost their egos and fill their pockets; local or national. And we all pay in the end. Just pawns in their game, rich or poor. Get over yourselves you politickers in this story, this is the price we pay for 'democracy'. Cameron or the Millibrands - they've never lived in our worlds or had real jobs (or no jobs), and are totally out of touch with real life as we live it. Especially up North.

What is happening hear is a example of democracy does not work.
people only vote in idiots like Cameron and Milliband on the basis of how much they will be better off , not what would make the Country better off.
We will probobly have to put up with democracy for another decade or to before the whole system self destructs.

We expect this behaviour from the conservatives. It is the libdems who are to blame. Abandoning their political convictions given a scent of power... What is it they say about power corrupting...?

imhjones -

1 - "tummies" is the plural of "tummy" .

2 - as an expert in the english language , surely you know that
the word "english" would not be capitalised halfway through a sentence .

3 - please use quotaion marks whenever necessary .

4 - your statement would be better starting with a capital letter .

My apologies .

Should have been "quotation marks" .

moh wrote:

blackburn_carer wrote:
a few more ways for the council to save money..

scrap the funding for the running track, Scrap the new bus shelter/station/urin


al and sell ALL the land, scrap any funding for the "cathedral" improvements we don`t need a hotel!!, forget about the link road, it`s doing ok as is sell the land.

I`m a carer and thanks to this council (and the last government who left the country skint (i don`t support ANY party) i`m going to loose 30-40% of the money i get having to pay the bedroom tax and council tax, and there is nothing i can do about it.

how about saving some money by reducing the number of councillors. Why does the Council need 60+ councillors.

Numbers of Councillors are decided by the independent Boundary Commission reviews NOT the Council.

district01 wrote:
How much does Jack Straw cost Blackburn with Darwen in his retirement?

The same old story. Government and Council bosses are no different than company bosses. When everything goes sour because of their poor management they always have a soft pillow to fall on.

The majority of Blackburn with Darwen voted for those who run Blackburn with Darwen council. Did YOU vote for them? Political bias is the downfall of politics which results in a free ride for the undeserving!

Just imagine what it would be like to have a government party pension when you retire. Must be the most secure job in the world. Find yourself a safe seat and dream of your retirement. You can‘t lose!

''How much does Jack Straw cost Blackburn with Darwen in his retirement?''

The answer is : NOTHING.

What is remarkable are the large number of suggestions from people for the Council to save money by cutting jobs it doesn't have or services it doesn't provide or things the Council provides wholly funded by central government.

The Council does not, for example, pay Jack Straw's pension, build hotels or have any Council houses (these were transferred in 2001).

phil kernot wrote:
Welcome to he real world , these people have had it to cosy for years , I'm self employed and get no help of no one just my self ...... Thay reckon every , £1 that's paid in council tax. , 80 p goes to there pensions , good ridence I say :)))

The real world is housing the homeless, helping the abused, caring for our needy.

If the residents of this unbelievably poor town didn't need the council then there wouldn't be people queuing out of the town hall door or pestering the b-direct office. Councils exist simply to provide a service that raises the quality of life for it's residents and if you are lucky, you will never have the need of it.

Your self imposed employment choice has nothing to do with the 'real world' and more to do with simply making money

phil kernot wrote:
Welcome to he real world , these people have had it to cosy for years , I'm self employed and get no help of no one just my self ...... Thay reckon every , £1 that's paid in council tax. , 80 p goes to there pensions , good ridence I say :)))

I am in awe of a man who educated himself (never needing to go to school) and educates any kids he has himself; provides all his own healthcare; runs a business without ever needing to use the public highway, pavement or streetlighting; generates his own electricity; pays for his own private fire service and police force; pays his parents' pensions out of his own pocket; and empties his own bins.

Most of us just couldn't do all these things Phil Kernot says he does and live in the real world.

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole !
*
How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Oh how quaint.
Labia created nothing, except a culture of entitlement.
You state that labie created jobs...so do be a darling and explain why ( in 2008) there was over 7 million economcally inactive people in the UK.
That does not nclude OAPS.
YOUR party virtually bankrupted this country, ruined the private pensions of millions.
Oh...don't try to blame the "bankers"..afterall, which idiot created the tripartide system, thus stymieing the power and control of the Bank of England?

english rose 1 wrote:

district01 wrote:
How much does Jack Straw cost Blackburn with Darwen in his retirement?

The same old story. Government and Council bosses are no different than company bosses. When everything goes sour because of their poor management they always have a soft pillow to fall on.

The majority of Blackburn with Darwen voted for those who run Blackburn with Darwen council. Did YOU vote for them? Political bias is the downfall of politics which results in a free ride for the undeserving!

Just imagine what it would be like to have a government party pension when you retire. Must be the most secure job in the world. Find yourself a safe seat and dream of your retirement. You can‘t lose!

''How much does Jack Straw cost Blackburn with Darwen in his retirement?''

The answer is : NOTHING.

How about the lane load of afghanis that he allowed to stay in the uk?
(Stanstead hijack)

english rose 1 wrote:

coates warder wrote:
bet her job is not on the line.no top brass either. its a job for the boys

DOH !!! A Councillor is ELECTED by the people every 4 years. Her job is ion the line every 4 years.
*
Loads of the 'top brass' have been made redundant or their posts deleted.

Whereas due to the state of the economy ( mainly screwed up by the likes of you and your party) most people's jobs in the private sector are on the line each and every day.

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

And now she's there full time she can do even more damage....
These cuts are pure politics....blaming the government....

jimpy0 wrote:
Keep bleating on Liebour, yet you still waste money hand over fist. Your only safe in this county if your an illegal or pensioner.

Or a paedo.....

Pearl neclesse wrote:

jimpy0 wrote:
Keep bleating on Liebour, yet you still waste money hand over fist. Your only safe in this county if your an illegal or pensioner.

Or a paedo.....

jimpy0 wrote:
Keep bleating on Liebour, yet you still waste money hand over fist. Your only safe in this county if your an illegal or pensioner

If you think pensioners are in a safe place your in for a very miserable retirement..

I read these comments and feel somewhere between hope and despair.
Despair at some of the twaddle people think and say. Hope when there's a bright idea.
The Council and the MP go around the town about 8 or 10 Friday nights a year with people like the Police and NHS there. I have been to a couple, good fun, informative. Have some of the twaddlers above attended? Doubt it.
Or have they written to Mrs Holleren? Doubt it.
Get involved properly, you might make a difference?

It always comes down to the people having to suffer due to the inept bumbling idiots that achieve the higher managerial posts in places like the councils, NHS etc, & who then waste vast sums of money & then jobs/services have to go.

For example the complete idiot who arranged the contract for the market floor which is due to be redone at a massive cost to the people of Blackburn. I'll bet they aren't facing the loss of their job.

500 jobs going from those working with vulnerable adults & children. How can we possibly do with less people in these vital area's??

High time the longterm out of work & prisoners got put to good use to assist the council with various aspects of keeping the borough clean etc. Saves the council money & makes those being indulged & cosseted earn their keep.

A total of 849,000 public sector jobs were "manufactured" under New Labour to help secure future votes.

These jobs could now disappear and most of the general public would not notice a drop in service levels (was it really that bad in 1997?).

I noticed an attempt earlier to trivialise the pensions issue but the facts are stark (copy and paste job but this kind of info is not hard to find):

"In 2005/06 the pension shortfall sat at £200 million, before increasing to £5.6 billion in 2010/11. By 2016/17 it is expected to hit £15.4 billion, an 77-fold increase in 11 years.

The cost of this huge shortfall will end up falling on taxpayers if the government fails to bring in further reforms, and it will cost every household the equivalent of £1,230 a year."

The proposed cuts are just scratching at the surface of what needs to be done. In the meantime, the country's debt levels continue to escalate.

english rose 1 wrote:

district01 wrote:
How much does Jack Straw cost Blackburn with Darwen in his retirement?

The same old story. Government and Council bosses are no different than company bosses. When everything goes sour because of their poor management they always have a soft pillow to fall on.

The majority of Blackburn with Darwen voted for those who run Blackburn with Darwen council. Did YOU vote for them? Political bias is the downfall of politics which results in a free ride for the undeserving!

Just imagine what it would be like to have a government party pension when you retire. Must be the most secure job in the world. Find yourself a safe seat and dream of your retirement. You can‘t lose!

''How much does Jack Straw cost Blackburn with Darwen in his retirement?''

The answer is : NOTHING.

Just take a look at Blackburn with Darwen.

You will then see the cost!

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole !
*
How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Surely EVERY council employee should be told that their job is at risk. With 20% cuts in central government funding, some really tough decisions will need to be made. I sincerely hope that management positions will also be lost among the up-coming cull.
At the very least, I would hope that Councillors have the decency to freeze their allowances (but a 20% cut would sit better with me), and severely cut back on other 'expenses'.
I am sure that most wards within BWD could manage with a single Councillor, so numbers could be cut without making a huge difference in giving individuals a 'voice'.

This is fact - I see more of Jack Straw MP out and about in Blackburn than I have ever seen of the latest elected ward councilor.

I have emailed this councilor twice on two separate issues, and he has failed to get back to me on both issues.

Some councilors do a hell of a lot in their ward, and others do naff all but take their allowance as if they have given a good service.

People can call Jack Straw what they want, but he is in Blackburn a lot, and holds surgeries in various parts of the town for people with problems to go to.

I believe there are far too many elected councilors in the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen. Get rid of some and they would never be missed because they were never active in the first place. For some councilors, their allowance is the easiest money ever earned, and it was time the rubbish ones were weeded out and sent on their way. High Time.

All the know alls, all the numpties and all of the bar room experts you don't have a clue about planning and managing budgets. If you was thrown in there to try it I would hate to see how much more of a mess we'd all be in so get a life, get a job and pay your way.

blooming heck - that english rose woman sound like a broadcaster from radio moscow world service in the 1980s telling the world about record wheat harvest and the increased output in soviet steel factories.

peregrine.soars wrote:
All the know alls, all the numpties and all of the bar room experts you don't have a clue about planning and managing budgets. If you was thrown in there to try it I would hate to see how much more of a mess we'd all be in so get a life, get a job and pay your way.

By the comment I take it your one of the working scroungers ( jobsworth) at the town hall. And the town hall doesnt know anything either about planning and managing budgets?

hasslem hasslem wrote:
blooming heck - that english rose woman sound like a broadcaster from radio moscow world service in the 1980s telling the world about record wheat harvest and the increased output in soviet steel factories.

I would guess its Kate Hollern

buckoff wrote:

hasslem hasslem wrote:
blooming heck - that english rose woman sound like a broadcaster from radio moscow world service in the 1980s telling the world about record wheat harvest and the increased output in soviet steel factories.

I would guess its Kate Hollern

she's scottish - i think its someone called davina

peregrine.soars wrote:
All the know alls, all the numpties and all of the bar room experts you don't have a clue about planning and managing budgets. If you was thrown in there to try it I would hate to see how much more of a mess we'd all be in so get a life, get a job and pay your way.

How would you know what we are all capable of doing or not doing, if working or not or paying our way??

The difference between us & 'those managing budgets' at the council is...they are getting paid extremely well to do that particular job. SO if they screw it up then they're open to scrutiny like that or not.

english rose 1 wrote:

moh wrote:

blackburn_carer wrote:
a few more ways for the council to save money..

scrap the funding for the running track, Scrap the new bus shelter/station/urin



al and sell ALL the land, scrap any funding for the "cathedral" improvements we don`t need a hotel!!, forget about the link road, it`s doing ok as is sell the land.

I`m a carer and thanks to this council (and the last government who left the country skint (i don`t support ANY party) i`m going to loose 30-40% of the money i get having to pay the bedroom tax and council tax, and there is nothing i can do about it.

how about saving some money by reducing the number of councillors. Why does the Council need 60+ councillors.

Numbers of Councillors are decided by the independent Boundary Commission reviews NOT the Council.

IF MOST SERVICES ARE CUT CAN COUNCILLORS NOT TAKE A CUT IN ALLOWANCES. I dont think that will happen.

norah bhatty wrote:
This is fact - I see more of Jack Straw MP out and about in Blackburn than I have ever seen of the latest elected ward councilor.

I have emailed this councilor twice on two separate issues, and he has failed to get back to me on both issues.

Some councilors do a hell of a lot in their ward, and others do naff all but take their allowance as if they have given a good service.

People can call Jack Straw what they want, but he is in Blackburn a lot, and holds surgeries in various parts of the town for people with problems to go to.

I believe there are far too many elected councilors in the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen. Get rid of some and they would never be missed because they were never active in the first place. For some councilors, their allowance is the easiest money ever earned, and it was time the rubbish ones were weeded out and sent on their way. High Time.

completely agree, a small minority work hard but many dont do much and keep taking their allowances. See if they take a cut in allowances and save some services.

liddle 'un wrote:
A total of 849,000 public sector jobs were "manufactured" under New Labour to help secure future votes.

These jobs could now disappear and most of the general public would not notice a drop in service levels (was it really that bad in 1997?).

I noticed an attempt earlier to trivialise the pensions issue but the facts are stark (copy and paste job but this kind of info is not hard to find):

"In 2005/06 the pension shortfall sat at £200 million, before increasing to £5.6 billion in 2010/11. By 2016/17 it is expected to hit £15.4 billion, an 77-fold increase in 11 years.

The cost of this huge shortfall will end up falling on taxpayers if the government fails to bring in further reforms, and it will cost every household the equivalent of £1,230 a year."

The proposed cuts are just scratching at the surface of what needs to be done. In the meantime, the country's debt levels continue to escalate.

Amazing eh. And yet the unions fight tooth and nail to keep this completely unsustainable gravy train rolling. They inhabit a world of financial fairy tales.

Worse, they aim to strike to cause the most inconvenience to the general public.

So they are striking to keep poor suckers paying something which is downright unfair - an unjustified benefit to the few, paid for by the low paid majority - at the same time putting those same poor suckers out as much as possible. They literally don't care, openly and shamelessly shafting the common man at any opportunity.

What good are the unions to the general working man? None is the answer; they are there to his detriment. There can be absolutely no doubt about that.

What is Labour's answer to this? They categorically don't have one. And yet these people might get in power in a couple of years time. God help us.

buckoff wrote:

peregrine.soars wrote:
All the know alls, all the numpties and all of the bar room experts you don't have a clue about planning and managing budgets. If you was thrown in there to try it I would hate to see how much more of a mess we'd all be in so get a life, get a job and pay your way.

By the comment I take it your one of the working scroungers ( jobsworth) at the town hall. And the town hall doesnt know anything either about planning and managing budgets?

... and judging by your response I'd guess you are a special brew drinking, Jeremy Kyle lovin' dole dosser.

You could always get a job with the council in 2015 when liebour get back in power!

Oh no, wait. You need good qualifications and work experience to get on the gravy train.

ChiRho wrote:
We expect this behaviour from the conservatives. It is the libdems who are to blame. Abandoning their political convictions given a scent of power... What is it they say about power corrupting...?

Gotta love this comment.

Yeah it's definitely those dastardly Lib Dems who are to blame.

You do realise that the Lib Dems are very much a minority party in the coalition don't you? That means they effectively have to feed off the scraps; concessions with their interests against the Tories. So when George Osborne is fighting tooth and nail for tax cuts for his rich friends for instance, and the Lib Dems are fighting for tax cuts for the lowest earners, the result is the Lib Dems get some lip service concessions, but the greedy rich piggies have to also get their well earned tax break.

I fail to see therefore how decisions made for the benefit of everyone overall - not self interests in the public sector or fat cats in the private - are "corrupt" decisions. I mean what do the Lib Dems get themselves from these "corrupt" decisions they have supposedly made?

I don't agree with the Lib Dems on everything; notably Europe (if Tony Blair is coming out to support something then you've got to know there is major self interest there), but I don't see any self interest on their decisions. Their decisions are based on what they think is best for the common man. It's such a novel approach they get hammered for it. In a tabloid world, spin always trumps decency unfortunately.

Only Labour and the Tories have had chances in real power, and in both cases self interest has very much taken priority. The Lib Dems have never had that opportunity.

I think if everyone was honest, they'd agree that the Lib Dems solely in power would be far better for the common man than the Tories or Labour have clearly ever been. The tragedy is that's unlikely to happen and we're stuck in this self interest cycle with those the two main parties.

Spin currently trumps decency. Shame.

jack daniels wrote:

buckoff wrote:

peregrine.soars wrote:
All the know alls, all the numpties and all of the bar room experts you don't have a clue about planning and managing budgets. If you was thrown in there to try it I would hate to see how much more of a mess we'd all be in so get a life, get a job and pay your way.

By the comment I take it your one of the working scroungers ( jobsworth) at the town hall. And the town hall doesnt know anything either about planning and managing budgets?

... and judging by your response I'd guess you are a special brew drinking, Jeremy Kyle lovin' dole dosser.

You could always get a job with the council in 2015 when liebour get back in power!

Oh no, wait. You need good qualifications and work experience to get on the gravy train.

Hear, Hear. Although one is unaccustomed to this type of debate, you are one hundred percent correct. The rather inane ramblings and comments above sum up the true level of understanding of the workings of organisations and business's.
These concerns whether private or public need the correct expertise and knowledge to manage the resources and financial plans to their utmost especially in these difficult times so end up having to take hard decisions that make for leaner, fitter and robust establishments to survive the future.

True the goverment always saying about people in poverty if there that bothered why dont they stop taking and try and live our lives for real

they cant comment

moh wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

moh wrote:

blackburn_carer wrote:
a few more ways for the council to save money..

scrap the funding for the running track, Scrap the new bus shelter/station/urin




al and sell ALL the land, scrap any funding for the "cathedral" improvements we don`t need a hotel!!, forget about the link road, it`s doing ok as is sell the land.

I`m a carer and thanks to this council (and the last government who left the country skint (i don`t support ANY party) i`m going to loose 30-40% of the money i get having to pay the bedroom tax and council tax, and there is nothing i can do about it.

how about saving some money by reducing the number of councillors. Why does the Council need 60+ councillors.

Numbers of Councillors are decided by the independent Boundary Commission reviews NOT the Council.

IF MOST SERVICES ARE CUT CAN COUNCILLORS NOT TAKE A CUT IN ALLOWANCES. I dont think that will happen.

DOH !! Councillors in BwD have indeed cut their allowances by 10% and have not had any increase in allowances for 4 years.
*
So you are absolutely wrong moh !
*
Oh and please name the Cllr you e-mailed and failed to get a response from.

tombhoy wrote:
Surely EVERY council employee should be told that their job is at risk. With 20% cuts in central government funding, some really tough decisions will need to be made. I sincerely hope that management positions will also be lost among the up-coming cull.
At the very least, I would hope that Councillors have the decency to freeze their allowances (but a 20% cut would sit better with me), and severely cut back on other 'expenses'.
I am sure that most wards within BWD could manage with a single Councillor, so numbers could be cut without making a huge difference in giving individuals a 'voice'.

Councillors have already cut their allowances by 10% and have had no increase for the last 4 years.
*
BwD has the lowest Councillor allowances of any Unitary Authority with the exception of Rutland.
*
Numbers of Councillors are not decided by the council but by the iindependent boundary commissioners.

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole !
*
How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT.
*
You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole !
*
How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT.
*
You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole !
*
How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT.
*
You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

you tell her - she sounds like a right stroppy floosie

This is a party political broadcast on behalf of the

NO NONESENCE PARTY
Stop fighting wars , settle your differences over skype (its free) or even let the leaders challenge each other to a duel , gloves across face style . Stop welcoming strangers into this green and pleasant land tho look after all who are here now .
Turn off the gush of money pouring from the tax payers and the little leaks will go and the CARERS of Blackburn will help the needy .

THIS IS NO NONSENCE

get the kettle on .

The level of the Council Tax is not an effective measure of council efficiency or effectiveness. The Council Tax is merely one input among many and any assessment about efficiency and effectiveness can be made only by comparing or relating inputs to outputs. Local government outputs are exceedingly hard to measure.

A high level of Council Tax may signify a high level of outputs. More to the point council outputs fall foul of the iceberg phenomenon.

If one considers the full range of council services as an iceberg it is not hard to understand why many hold to the view that councils don’t do much. This is because a great many people see those services or activities that are highly visible, but councils perform a great many activities that are either unseen or seen only infrequently by the many, or seen frequently only be a few.

Basing your view of a council solely on those activities that you can see leads to a view that is highly distorted.

What seems to have got lost in much of the commentary here is that a lot of good, decent, hard-working people that in the vast majority of cases are doing important and worthwhile jobs that add value to the local community are now under threat of losing their livelihoods; and some will do so.

People that have worked alongside each other as colleagues for years and quite possibly are friends will be pitched against each other.

This is going to be a very bruising experience for many and a catastrophe for others. No one with any shred of humanity could make light of this, or take pleasure from these events.

Jack Herer wrote:

ChiRho wrote:
We expect this behaviour from the conservatives. It is the libdems who are to blame. Abandoning their political convictions given a scent of power... What is it they say about power corrupting...?

Gotta love this comment.

Yeah it's definitely those dastardly Lib Dems who are to blame.

You do realise that the Lib Dems are very much a minority party in the coalition don't you? That means they effectively have to feed off the scraps; concessions with their interests against the Tories. So when George Osborne is fighting tooth and nail for tax cuts for his rich friends for instance, and the Lib Dems are fighting for tax cuts for the lowest earners, the result is the Lib Dems get some lip service concessions, but the greedy rich piggies have to also get their well earned tax break.

I fail to see therefore how decisions made for the benefit of everyone overall - not self interests in the public sector or fat cats in the private - are "corrupt" decisions. I mean what do the Lib Dems get themselves from these "corrupt" decisions they have supposedly made?

I don't agree with the Lib Dems on everything; notably Europe (if Tony Blair is coming out to support something then you've got to know there is major self interest there), but I don't see any self interest on their decisions. Their decisions are based on what they think is best for the common man. It's such a novel approach they get hammered for it. In a tabloid world, spin always trumps decency unfortunately.

Only Labour and the Tories have had chances in real power, and in both cases self interest has very much taken priority. The Lib Dems have never had that opportunity.

I think if everyone was honest, they'd agree that the Lib Dems solely in power would be far better for the common man than the Tories or Labour have clearly ever been. The tragedy is that's unlikely to happen and we're stuck in this self interest cycle with those the two main parties.

Spin currently trumps decency. Shame.

Spot on, Jack.

The only thing the LibDems have failed on in the coalition was their insistence for a vote on PR. They allowed themselves to compromise with AV -at which point the whole country let them down by opting for the status quo rather than any sort of political change. With PR, the LibDems would have been able to call far more shots. WE let them down.

Kevin, Colne wrote:
The level of the Council Tax is not an effective measure of council efficiency or effectiveness. The Council Tax is merely one input among many and any assessment about efficiency and effectiveness can be made only by comparing or relating inputs to outputs. Local government outputs are exceedingly hard to measure. A high level of Council Tax may signify a high level of outputs. More to the point council outputs fall foul of the iceberg phenomenon. If one considers the full range of council services as an iceberg it is not hard to understand why many hold to the view that councils don’t do much. This is because a great many people see those services or activities that are highly visible, but councils perform a great many activities that are either unseen or seen only infrequently by the many, or seen frequently only be a few. Basing your view of a council solely on those activities that you can see leads to a view that is highly distorted. What seems to have got lost in much of the commentary here is that a lot of good, decent, hard-working people that in the vast majority of cases are doing important and worthwhile jobs that add value to the local community are now under threat of losing their livelihoods; and some will do so. People that have worked alongside each other as colleagues for years and quite possibly are friends will be pitched against each other. This is going to be a very bruising experience for many and a catastrophe for others. No one with any shred of humanity could make light of this, or take pleasure from these events.

I agree with what you are saying and it will be a shame that many people providing worthwhile and much needed services will lose their livlihoods to the detrement of the wider community....but the blame has to rest upon the vast inefficiencies that have been overseen by the council over the last decade. They relied year upon year for central government funding to "top up" and mask these inefficiencies with funding increases....now that funding is being cut the council is playing party politics....and any council leader or exec members that have second jobs must take a 50% cut in their salary... running a council does not constitute being paid the same as a CEO of blue-chip company..can the leader of the council compete with such CEO's...i doubt she would be able to...same old labour clap trap and shifting the blame...the red party has a stranglehold in a town that needs more business expertise within the council than those who have inherited the top jobs given their allegiances to a political party...until the town does not wake up it will not prosper...I reside in westminster my council tax band is F £998 in BwDC same band is £2,138.40...my rubbist is collected twice a week and we get all the services we require...its not the most popular council but its run lean...as the pedigree of leaders are successful business people! take note Hollern and step aside!

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote: Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! * How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT. * You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

Labour councils are usually based in towns and cities where manufacturing was once the main source of employment. They are also where you will find the cheap immigration workforce that the capitalist factory owners employed to raise their own profits and feather their own nests.

Now these jobs have gone; we still have the same people claiming benefits.

Clearly, in high unemployment/poverty towns there are fewer people paying into the pot, requiring additional funding from central government.

It is this additional money that has been cut, resulting in far more Labour councils desperately trying to make their books balance.

Again the capitalists seem intent of destroying the lives of the majority.

jack daniels wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote: Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! * How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT. * You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

Labour councils are usually based in towns and cities where manufacturing was once the main source of employment. They are also where you will find the cheap immigration workforce that the capitalist factory owners employed to raise their own profits and feather their own nests. Now these jobs have gone; we still have the same people claiming benefits. Clearly, in high unemployment/poverty towns there are fewer people paying into the pot, requiring additional funding from central government. It is this additional money that has been cut, resulting in far more Labour councils desperately trying to make their books balance. Again the capitalists seem intent of destroying the lives of the majority.

Mr Daniels, the factory owners you refer to are and were prominent members of the party you don't support, i agree that additional council tax subsidy is quite high 17% of the total....however its does not mean that just because blackburn is classed as a poverty town you need extra money from the government...the council needs to eradicate and limit the amount given in council tax benefit and eliminate waste...did you know that your council has over £20mill in reserves why not use that to cover short falls and make the cuts more bearable...
take an interest in your council's spending and question spending read the recently released BwDBC revenue report 12/13 and capital expenditure till 2015....some items beggers's belief

capitalists are the backbone of this country without them we would still be using a horse and a cart and collecting rag and bone...you should be a little more careful about your capitalist bashing as all businesses small / large are capitalist ventures to make a profit that pay corporation taxes on declared profits

BlackburnEyes wrote:

jack daniels wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote: Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! * How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT. * You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

Labour councils are usually based in towns and cities where manufacturing was once the main source of employment. They are also where you will find the cheap immigration workforce that the capitalist factory owners employed to raise their own profits and feather their own nests. Now these jobs have gone; we still have the same people claiming benefits. Clearly, in high unemployment/poverty towns there are fewer people paying into the pot, requiring additional funding from central government. It is this additional money that has been cut, resulting in far more Labour councils desperately trying to make their books balance. Again the capitalists seem intent of destroying the lives of the majority.

Mr Daniels, the factory owners you refer to are and were prominent members of the party you don't support, i agree that additional council tax subsidy is quite high 17% of the total....however its does not mean that just because blackburn is classed as a poverty town you need extra money from the government...the council needs to eradicate and limit the amount given in council tax benefit and eliminate waste...did you know that your council has over £20mill in reserves why not use that to cover short falls and make the cuts more bearable... take an interest in your council's spending and question spending read the recently released BwDBC revenue report 12/13 and capital expenditure till 2015....some items beggers's belief capitalists are the backbone of this country without them we would still be using a horse and a cart and collecting rag and bone...you should be a little more careful about your capitalist bashing as all businesses small / large are capitalist ventures to make a profit that pay corporation taxes on declared profits

Thank you for your reply Mr Eyes.

Can I point out that I haven’t actually stated which party I support.

Of course BwD needs additional funding from central government. It has massive social and economic issues because of it’s high levels of poverty, which it can’t generate through council tax alone. It is also a popular place (for this and previous governements) to transport our ever increasing asylum seekers numbers. We could always wait to see how the Tories reduction in council tax pans out and I’m sure this will have a domino effect on the lives of many of our poorest.

The £20million it has in reserves however shouldn’t be squandered and needs to be retained for a rainy day. Of course, this is something you have an issue with so maybe it is something that you need to address.

Yes, Capitalists have played an important part in the history of this country but some where absolute animals, such as William Hulton, who paid their workers with tokens or vouchers that could only be redeemed in their company shops. On the other hand, we also have Sir Titus Salt, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Akroyd and Joseph Rowntree, who made significant social change and worked hard to bring improvement to the masses.

To many of the former and not enough of the latter if you ask me.

Today, many employers are happy to pay East European workers the minimum wage (or below in some cases), well aware of the media coverage regarding the squalor they are living in.

History does have a way of repeating itself….

jack daniels wrote:

BlackburnEyes wrote:

jack daniels wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote: Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! * How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT. * You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

Labour councils are usually based in towns and cities where manufacturing was once the main source of employment. They are also where you will find the cheap immigration workforce that the capitalist factory owners employed to raise their own profits and feather their own nests. Now these jobs have gone; we still have the same people claiming benefits. Clearly, in high unemployment/poverty towns there are fewer people paying into the pot, requiring additional funding from central government. It is this additional money that has been cut, resulting in far more Labour councils desperately trying to make their books balance. Again the capitalists seem intent of destroying the lives of the majority.

Mr Daniels, the factory owners you refer to are and were prominent members of the party you don't support, i agree that additional council tax subsidy is quite high 17% of the total....however its does not mean that just because blackburn is classed as a poverty town you need extra money from the government...the council needs to eradicate and limit the amount given in council tax benefit and eliminate waste...did you know that your council has over £20mill in reserves why not use that to cover short falls and make the cuts more bearable... take an interest in your council's spending and question spending read the recently released BwDBC revenue report 12/13 and capital expenditure till 2015....some items beggers's belief capitalists are the backbone of this country without them we would still be using a horse and a cart and collecting rag and bone...you should be a little more careful about your capitalist bashing as all businesses small / large are capitalist ventures to make a profit that pay corporation taxes on declared profits

Thank you for your reply Mr Eyes. Can I point out that I haven’t actually stated which party I support. Of course BwD needs additional funding from central government. It has massive social and economic issues because of it’s high levels of poverty, which it can’t generate through council tax alone. It is also a popular place (for this and previous governements) to transport our ever increasing asylum seekers numbers. We could always wait to see how the Tories reduction in council tax pans out and I’m sure this will have a domino effect on the lives of many of our poorest. The £20million it has in reserves however shouldn’t be squandered and needs to be retained for a rainy day. Of course, this is something you have an issue with so maybe it is something that you need to address. Yes, Capitalists have played an important part in the history of this country but some where absolute animals, such as William Hulton, who paid their workers with tokens or vouchers that could only be redeemed in their company shops. On the other hand, we also have Sir Titus Salt, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Akroyd and Joseph Rowntree, who made significant social change and worked hard to bring improvement to the masses. To many of the former and not enough of the latter if you ask me. Today, many employers are happy to pay East European workers the minimum wage (or below in some cases), well aware of the media coverage regarding the squalor they are living in. History does have a way of repeating itself….

What kind of a rainy day are you expecting that justifies hoarding £20mil...central government are funding BwDc to the tube of £610per person (you do the maths) i'm not trying to guess your political preference (read carefully) you are quoting industrialists from a bygone era where workers were loyal and lived within their means (and lived in how you put in squalor) and most of all did a hard days graft...not something i can say for the non eastern europeans you keep blaming! If the indiginous population were happy to collect the dole and were too proud to do menial jobs for the last 10 years then the chickens are coming home to roost! they now can't compete in the labour market....also you might want to walk through some of the so called deprived areas in blackburn and count the number of new highpowered mercedes,bmw's and porsches that are parked outside and then tell me you have massive social and economic problems if you can afford these luxuries then you can't expect the rest of us to pay for their subsidies...the result of the economic cuts will result in people making do..tightning belts not having the latest iphone when you on the dole! and most of all get the locals to compete in the labour market....and not moan about "all johnny foreigners 'takin a'll jobs like" and your point of asylum seekers being dumped on the doorstep of the council you have a point but you may want to check your facts they came with a lot of extra funding per person so the "deprived" councils rubbed their hands with glee and took them on without a long-term plan and in order to receive asylum seekers you need councils to apply for them! they dont just turn up...

The only idiots are the likes of me and the rest of the people who have commented. Why do we put up with it all? Plenty of suggestions being put forward, but no positive action.

Us the public don't have any real imput into anything that goes on in this borough, the first time the likes of us hear about it is when we read it in this newspaper.

Anybody up for chairing a 'What the Public Really Wants' group? Why do so few of us not bother to attend as many debates as possible and put our side across for a change?

My biggest gripe is about the many councilors we have. Do we need all of them - NO. Do all of them really serve their wards to the best of the ability - NO - then why not see them on their way? Councilors get a basic payment and then how the figure rises when the expenses are added? Are these claims checked vigorously? I can put in a few hours in checking out claims - would there be as many if I did?

I don't really blame the council all of the time. Cameron and Co have implemented savage cuts throughout the country and this council has to make cuts to account for the reduction in funding. Not an easy job by anyone's standards.

Despatch some councilors down the road, weed out the ones who do very little, and leave us with a group of genuine people who will do their best for the people of their wards - how much would be saved I wonder?

why don't you do the same as we do down here in the smoke...mass mobilise your local people and attend council meetings scrutinise thats what we do here and we as residents have our voices heard and we win...you have a vote but when people vote for the liebours because their grand-dad and their dad does/did then what you get is exactly what you have in Blackburn a labour run council that does exactly what it wants because it knows that come what may the X will be on the labour candidate! until that changes you will see more of the same! and with regards to your point about councillors i totally agree.....i know of atleast two councillors who reside not far from the town hall that only get voted in as they are considered "our men in the council" and wing it in on the liebour ticket they do nothing nor can they converse with any intent

the above comment was for you norah..... x compo

liddle 'un wrote:
A total of 849,000 public sector jobs were "manufactured" under New Labour to help secure future votes.

These jobs could now disappear and most of the general public would not notice a drop in service levels (was it really that bad in 1997?).

I noticed an attempt earlier to trivialise the pensions issue but the facts are stark (copy and paste job but this kind of info is not hard to find):

"In 2005/06 the pension shortfall sat at £200 million, before increasing to £5.6 billion in 2010/11. By 2016/17 it is expected to hit £15.4 billion, an 77-fold increase in 11 years.

The cost of this huge shortfall will end up falling on taxpayers if the government fails to bring in further reforms, and it will cost every household the equivalent of £1,230 a year."

The proposed cuts are just scratching at the surface of what needs to be done. In the meantime, the country's debt levels continue to escalate.

And at what ponit did Gordon Brown inform the councils that they no longer had to ring fence the pension pots which all those street cleaners / carers / school dinner ladies etc were paying into? I bet that you would find a correlation between the two dates if you looked.
I'm also fed up of people complaining about Public Sector workers (yes, like those above) requiring council tax payers to put some money into their pension pots. Why is it so difficult to grasp the obvious? Most company pension schemes (including the Govt's fancy new system) require employee AND employer to contribute. FACT: as public sector employees, YOU, the C tax payer are these people's employers. What would you rather? That they all retire and go on Pension Credit / Income Support / Housing benefit, then you can refer to them as scroungers who couldn't be bothered putting money away for their pension? And before you all go on about the cushy pensions, I have three more things to say:
1. By the time many Public Service employees retire, they won't have a final salary pension either - it is well and truly on its way out.
2. How many of you are prepared to empty your own bins, educate your own children, drive your own fire engines / ambulances / police cars, clean your own schools / hospitals / streets? These are the people who are affected.
3. Would you like to go on working as a bin man until you are 70? As the pension age goes up, many of todays new recruits will - and many of those in their 40's will be at it well after 65 years old.

BlackburnEyes wrote:

jack daniels wrote:

BlackburnEyes wrote:

jack daniels wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote: Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! * How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT. * You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

Labour councils are usually based in towns and cities where manufacturing was once the main source of employment. They are also where you will find the cheap immigration workforce that the capitalist factory owners employed to raise their own profits and feather their own nests. Now these jobs have gone; we still have the same people claiming benefits. Clearly, in high unemployment/poverty towns there are fewer people paying into the pot, requiring additional funding from central government. It is this additional money that has been cut, resulting in far more Labour councils desperately trying to make their books balance. Again the capitalists seem intent of destroying the lives of the majority.

Mr Daniels, the factory owners you refer to are and were prominent members of the party you don't support, i agree that additional council tax subsidy is quite high 17% of the total....however its does not mean that just because blackburn is classed as a poverty town you need extra money from the government...the council needs to eradicate and limit the amount given in council tax benefit and eliminate waste...did you know that your council has over £20mill in reserves why not use that to cover short falls and make the cuts more bearable... take an interest in your council's spending and question spending read the recently released BwDBC revenue report 12/13 and capital expenditure till 2015....some items beggers's belief capitalists are the backbone of this country without them we would still be using a horse and a cart and collecting rag and bone...you should be a little more careful about your capitalist bashing as all businesses small / large are capitalist ventures to make a profit that pay corporation taxes on declared profits

Thank you for your reply Mr Eyes. Can I point out that I haven’t actually stated which party I support. Of course BwD needs additional funding from central government. It has massive social and economic issues because of it’s high levels of poverty, which it can’t generate through council tax alone. It is also a popular place (for this and previous governements) to transport our ever increasing asylum seekers numbers. We could always wait to see how the Tories reduction in council tax pans out and I’m sure this will have a domino effect on the lives of many of our poorest. The £20million it has in reserves however shouldn’t be squandered and needs to be retained for a rainy day. Of course, this is something you have an issue with so maybe it is something that you need to address. Yes, Capitalists have played an important part in the history of this country but some where absolute animals, such as William Hulton, who paid their workers with tokens or vouchers that could only be redeemed in their company shops. On the other hand, we also have Sir Titus Salt, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Akroyd and Joseph Rowntree, who made significant social change and worked hard to bring improvement to the masses. To many of the former and not enough of the latter if you ask me. Today, many employers are happy to pay East European workers the minimum wage (or below in some cases), well aware of the media coverage regarding the squalor they are living in. History does have a way of repeating itself….

What kind of a rainy day are you expecting that justifies hoarding £20mil...central government are funding BwDc to the tube of £610per person (you do the maths) i'm not trying to guess your political preference (read carefully) you are quoting industrialists from a bygone era where workers were loyal and lived within their means (and lived in how you put in squalor) and most of all did a hard days graft...not something i can say for the non eastern europeans you keep blaming! If the indiginous population were happy to collect the dole and were too proud to do menial jobs for the last 10 years then the chickens are coming home to roost! they now can't compete in the labour market....also you might want to walk through some of the so called deprived areas in blackburn and count the number of new highpowered mercedes,bmw's and porsches that are parked outside and then tell me you have massive social and economic problems if you can afford these luxuries then you can't expect the rest of us to pay for their subsidies...the result of the economic cuts will result in people making do..tightning belts not having the latest iphone when you on the dole! and most of all get the locals to compete in the labour market....and not moan about "all johnny foreigners 'takin a'll jobs like" and your point of asylum seekers being dumped on the doorstep of the council you have a point but you may want to check your facts they came with a lot of extra funding per person so the "deprived" councils rubbed their hands with glee and took them on without a long-term plan and in order to receive asylum seekers you need councils to apply for them! they dont just turn up...

It’s not for me to justify the councils decision for £20 million pound reserves but a simple look at the costs for each department within the council show that £20 million would not last long if there was a crisis. Therefore I can understand there need to retain this ‘rainy day’ money rather than squander it and have nothing in reserve. What would you suggest would be a suitable amount? Maybe you could forward your suggestion to the council with an explanation as to why you know more than they.

“where workers were loyal and lived within their means”

Seriously, with the token system that was paid by numerous scoundrels meant that even if you worked, you couldn’t afford to find another job. People couldn’t afford to buy their own homes either and had to live in the housing provided by the mill owners. You moved job and you moved home.

Loyal?

I’d call it more like chainless slavery.

As for living within their means. Spend a few minutes outside the radio Lancashire offices in Blackburn and you’ll see a sign telling how the starving working class where shot down by the army during the plug riots. The mill owners paid so little that people starved. Your idea of this glorious industrial age seem to be of another time and place.

Who are these non eastern europeans I have been blaming?

When was this?

The only people at fault are the greedy capitalists who are more interested in profit than the people who work for them.

Why do you now feel that you have to blame people claiming benefits? Are you not just jumping on the Tory band wagon of passing the blame to the poor for the problems we face rather than the bankers and George Osborne?

Why are you also denying the facts about the poverty in BwD. Do a few BMW’s denote that everybody is doing well or does it mean a few have done well for themselves? Did I say that 100% of the population lives in poverty? No…

Does every household own a German vehicle? I think not.

Why do you feel that you have to educate me on the concept of living within your means? My original comment was mentioned how labour was popular in working class towns that now had high levels of unemployment. Your comments now seem to be moving away from this towards something you feel more strongly about.

I clearly didn’t complain about "all johnny foreigners 'takin a'll jobs like", so who are you directing this comment at?

Seriously though. If you wish to continue this conversation, feel free, but could I please ask if you could slightly improve your sentence structure, as the lack of full stops, capital letters ect makes for challenging reading and can lead to misinterpretation (such as the comment about my political preference).

bigste wrote:
I live in spain and I bet the council wish they had 500 people on their books let alone make 500 redundant. It is a joke to see how many people the councils and government employ and it needs sorting. Before you ask, no the vulnerable do not suffer, families and charities and voluteers see to that. My council tax was 51€ a year for the last 10 years and has just gone up due to the recession. It is a joke how much you lot pay.

You're absolutely right; I live in Luxembourg (the richest country per capita in the world) and my "council tax" is..........well I don't really know it's that little. No wonder the Government can't get the deficit down if local councils have still not got to grips with their bloated work-forces!

happycyclist wrote:

Jack Herer wrote:

ChiRho wrote:
We expect this behaviour from the conservatives. It is the libdems who are to blame. Abandoning their political convictions given a scent of power... What is it they say about power corrupting...?

Gotta love this comment.

Yeah it's definitely those dastardly Lib Dems who are to blame.

You do realise that the Lib Dems are very much a minority party in the coalition don't you? That means they effectively have to feed off the scraps; concessions with their interests against the Tories. So when George Osborne is fighting tooth and nail for tax cuts for his rich friends for instance, and the Lib Dems are fighting for tax cuts for the lowest earners, the result is the Lib Dems get some lip service concessions, but the greedy rich piggies have to also get their well earned tax break.

I fail to see therefore how decisions made for the benefit of everyone overall - not self interests in the public sector or fat cats in the private - are "corrupt" decisions. I mean what do the Lib Dems get themselves from these "corrupt" decisions they have supposedly made?

I don't agree with the Lib Dems on everything; notably Europe (if Tony Blair is coming out to support something then you've got to know there is major self interest there), but I don't see any self interest on their decisions. Their decisions are based on what they think is best for the common man. It's such a novel approach they get hammered for it. In a tabloid world, spin always trumps decency unfortunately.

Only Labour and the Tories have had chances in real power, and in both cases self interest has very much taken priority. The Lib Dems have never had that opportunity.

I think if everyone was honest, they'd agree that the Lib Dems solely in power would be far better for the common man than the Tories or Labour have clearly ever been. The tragedy is that's unlikely to happen and we're stuck in this self interest cycle with those the two main parties.

Spin currently trumps decency. Shame.

Spot on, Jack.

The only thing the LibDems have failed on in the coalition was their insistence for a vote on PR. They allowed themselves to compromise with AV -at which point the whole country let them down by opting for the status quo rather than any sort of political change. With PR, the LibDems would have been able to call far more shots. WE let them down.

Amen to that brother.

Everything given away for AV. Everyone carried away for nothing.

ChiRho wrote:
We expect this behaviour from the conservatives. It is the libdems who are to blame. Abandoning their political convictions given a scent of power... What is it they say about power corrupting...?

Nick Clegg's political suicide has also resulted in a backwards step in education, fewer police and a weakened NHS. He's led his party into a rich kids club house, an inevitabe triple dip and shortly out of his cherished EU.

jack daniels wrote:

BlackburnEyes wrote:

jack daniels wrote:

BlackburnEyes wrote:

jack daniels wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote: Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! * How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT. * You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

Labour councils are usually based in towns and cities where manufacturing was once the main source of employment. They are also where you will find the cheap immigration workforce that the capitalist factory owners employed to raise their own profits and feather their own nests. Now these jobs have gone; we still have the same people claiming benefits. Clearly, in high unemployment/poverty towns there are fewer people paying into the pot, requiring additional funding from central government. It is this additional money that has been cut, resulting in far more Labour councils desperately trying to make their books balance. Again the capitalists seem intent of destroying the lives of the majority.

Mr Daniels, the factory owners you refer to are and were prominent members of the party you don't support, i agree that additional council tax subsidy is quite high 17% of the total....however its does not mean that just because blackburn is classed as a poverty town you need extra money from the government...the council needs to eradicate and limit the amount given in council tax benefit and eliminate waste...did you know that your council has over £20mill in reserves why not use that to cover short falls and make the cuts more bearable... take an interest in your council's spending and question spending read the recently released BwDBC revenue report 12/13 and capital expenditure till 2015....some items beggers's belief capitalists are the backbone of this country without them we would still be using a horse and a cart and collecting rag and bone...you should be a little more careful about your capitalist bashing as all businesses small / large are capitalist ventures to make a profit that pay corporation taxes on declared profits

Thank you for your reply Mr Eyes. Can I point out that I haven’t actually stated which party I support. Of course BwD needs additional funding from central government. It has massive social and economic issues because of it’s high levels of poverty, which it can’t generate through council tax alone. It is also a popular place (for this and previous governements) to transport our ever increasing asylum seekers numbers. We could always wait to see how the Tories reduction in council tax pans out and I’m sure this will have a domino effect on the lives of many of our poorest. The £20million it has in reserves however shouldn’t be squandered and needs to be retained for a rainy day. Of course, this is something you have an issue with so maybe it is something that you need to address. Yes, Capitalists have played an important part in the history of this country but some where absolute animals, such as William Hulton, who paid their workers with tokens or vouchers that could only be redeemed in their company shops. On the other hand, we also have Sir Titus Salt, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Akroyd and Joseph Rowntree, who made significant social change and worked hard to bring improvement to the masses. To many of the former and not enough of the latter if you ask me. Today, many employers are happy to pay East European workers the minimum wage (or below in some cases), well aware of the media coverage regarding the squalor they are living in. History does have a way of repeating itself….

What kind of a rainy day are you expecting that justifies hoarding £20mil...central government are funding BwDc to the tube of £610per person (you do the maths) i'm not trying to guess your political preference (read carefully) you are quoting industrialists from a bygone era where workers were loyal and lived within their means (and lived in how you put in squalor) and most of all did a hard days graft...not something i can say for the non eastern europeans you keep blaming! If the indiginous population were happy to collect the dole and were too proud to do menial jobs for the last 10 years then the chickens are coming home to roost! they now can't compete in the labour market....also you might want to walk through some of the so called deprived areas in blackburn and count the number of new highpowered mercedes,bmw's and porsches that are parked outside and then tell me you have massive social and economic problems if you can afford these luxuries then you can't expect the rest of us to pay for their subsidies...the result of the economic cuts will result in people making do..tightning belts not having the latest iphone when you on the dole! and most of all get the locals to compete in the labour market....and not moan about "all johnny foreigners 'takin a'll jobs like" and your point of asylum seekers being dumped on the doorstep of the council you have a point but you may want to check your facts they came with a lot of extra funding per person so the "deprived" councils rubbed their hands with glee and took them on without a long-term plan and in order to receive asylum seekers you need councils to apply for them! they dont just turn up...

It’s not for me to justify the councils decision for £20 million pound reserves but a simple look at the costs for each department within the council show that £20 million would not last long if there was a crisis. Therefore I can understand there need to retain this ‘rainy day’ money rather than squander it and have nothing in reserve. What would you suggest would be a suitable amount? Maybe you could forward your suggestion to the council with an explanation as to why you know more than they. “where workers were loyal and lived within their means” Seriously, with the token system that was paid by numerous scoundrels meant that even if you worked, you couldn’t afford to find another job. People couldn’t afford to buy their own homes either and had to live in the housing provided by the mill owners. You moved job and you moved home. Loyal? I’d call it more like chainless slavery. As for living within their means. Spend a few minutes outside the radio Lancashire offices in Blackburn and you’ll see a sign telling how the starving working class where shot down by the army during the plug riots. The mill owners paid so little that people starved. Your idea of this glorious industrial age seem to be of another time and place. Who are these non eastern europeans I have been blaming? When was this? The only people at fault are the greedy capitalists who are more interested in profit than the people who work for them. Why do you now feel that you have to blame people claiming benefits? Are you not just jumping on the Tory band wagon of passing the blame to the poor for the problems we face rather than the bankers and George Osborne? Why are you also denying the facts about the poverty in BwD. Do a few BMW’s denote that everybody is doing well or does it mean a few have done well for themselves? Did I say that 100% of the population lives in poverty? No… Does every household own a German vehicle? I think not. Why do you feel that you have to educate me on the concept of living within your means? My original comment was mentioned how labour was popular in working class towns that now had high levels of unemployment. Your comments now seem to be moving away from this towards something you feel more strongly about. I clearly didn’t complain about "all johnny foreigners 'takin a'll jobs like", so who are you directing this comment at? Seriously though. If you wish to continue this conversation, feel free, but could I please ask if you could slightly improve your sentence structure, as the lack of full stops, capital letters ect makes for challenging reading and can lead to misinterpretation (such as the comment about my political preference).

Mr Daniels not everything I say is directed to you personally its a reflection of what I hear when I am in blackburn....If BwDBC knew more than me they would not be in a position where they are having to cut deeper due to the year on year council budget deficits that are "hidden" within balance sheets. My suggestions along with many other peoples to BwDBC will go in one ear and out the other. I did not mention anywhere in my post that the industrial age was glorious...you mentioned industrialists like rowntree, salt and ackroyd which commanded loyal workforces....but to challenge some of your claims...I am not blaming people in receipt of benefit if they need it then they are entitled to it...my problem is that there is a high number of career benefits claimants and cheats within the borders of BwBDC that forces the council to provide 17% of Council Tax subsidies to those who are not entitled to it...if the council want to save money they should start by reducing this number and ensure that only those that are entitled recieve this subsidy. Now I suggest you either take a bus, drive, walk start from say Shear Brow and work your way east and count the "few" german vehicles you see, you may even bump into a few councillors on your way. I feel strongly and object to you constantly laying the blame on the door capitalists! Not all capitalists are greedy and we certainly don't live in an age where Mill owners dictate to the workforce, there are many capitalists within Blackburn that pay a fair wage and treat the workforce with dignity. I don't think you can be educated anymore and I certainly reject the notion that I am trying to educate you in anyway...your original comment re labour being popular in working class towns...first of all blackburn cannot be classed anymore as purely working class the demographic has changed significantly, secondly they were only popular as there was a rightful need for workers rights to be heard they took a foothold in the town and they now have a stranglehold on the town that has held it back for so long. So if the town wants to prosper it must engage and accept a new form industry, have a flexible workforce and most of all instill a desire for people to work. The LT reported that BwDBC has 4500 people unemployed in a town of about 100,000approx not exactly a high ratio now is it?

@blackburneyes

So lets just clarify a few things….

You directly link me with your comments and then state “not everything I say is directed to you personally its a reflection of what I hear when I am in blackburn”. Where is the logic in this? Who else is going to read your comment?

You consider yourself you be in a better position to solve the current problem in BwD because -

“If BwDBC knew more than me they would not be in a position where they are having to cut deeper due to the year on year council budget deficits that are "hidden" within balance sheets”. Would it not be prudent to come and save the day then? Will we see the picture of your arrival in the LT?

You stated that
“capitalists are the backbone of this country without them we would still be using a horse and a cart and collecting rag and bone”

to which I replied that they where far from wonderful and supported my statement with an example of the token system ( and with a few heroic exceptions). You have failed to mention the plug plots which suggests that your original statement about people being loyal and living within their means is unfounded.


Then you suggests I take a walk around Shear Brow, a place I know fairly well, just to count a few german cars, parked on the pavement. Are the local residents not entitled to spend their money on nice western consumer items? The people of that area work and deserve their BMW’s like everyone else.

Why have you highlighted this area? Is there a point you are trying to make?

Maybe I can show you round and we can look at all the houses that need structural repairs or have recently had then because people didn’t have the money to do it themselves. Something repeated in Griffin, Mill Hill, Audley, Johnsone st and many other poor parts of this town

I think the time for you to ’try’ to educate me has long gone, as you have shown no clear signs of sound knowledge and that maybe you should try to learn the history of our country before you try to make a point.

The facts are that the town is in the 10 most deprived in England, has historically had, and still has a industrial/working class background, therefore making it a working class town.

What else would you consider it? Middle class? Under class?

It is the capitalist Ideology, pushed through from the time of Thatcher and Regan that has been shown as the catalyst of this global financial problem where the poor of the world pay extortionate prices to give the rich a comfortable pay out on the shares. It is why I put the blame squarely at the door of the capitalists.

Remember that when you pay your gas, electric, water, petrol, mortgage, shopping bill……

The comments are for everyone to read and this is a platform of debate after all!
if you know shear brow well as i do ( i grew up on those streets) then you will be able to correlate between council tax benefits and other state benefits and the cars that are parked outside...it does not take a genius to work it out! if you can afford western nicities then you can **** well afford to pay your council tax and work! if there is a job going at BwD for a hero let me know i'll definately apply for it....i'll turf half the exec chamber for a start...would you like to be my right hand man? what you fail to realise is that the Blackburn has failed to move on when a progressive forward thiking council is needed we have one that is party political and no sign of an alternative...when a council can justify building a knock-off of sydney harbour bridge and reconfiguring roads that would be able to host an F1 race instead of address the crumbling houses that need attention what does that tell you!

It seems me you have alot of ideas yourself perhaps you should sit on Kate Hollerns lap and sort it all out for her

When I pay for my council tax, gas, electric, water, petrol, unfortunately i never had a mortgage!, shopping bill i can do so with a clear mind that none of it is from a handout from the government……ever
yone was poor at one stage in their life and needed a hand up that does not mean you cant aim higher and strive to get ahead! instead of bleating on about how tough things are!

BlackburnEyes wrote:
The comments are for everyone to read and this is a platform of debate after all! if you know shear brow well as i do ( i grew up on those streets) then you will be able to correlate between council tax benefits and other state benefits and the cars that are parked outside...it does not take a genius to work it out! if you can afford western nicities then you can **** well afford to pay your council tax and work! if there is a job going at BwD for a hero let me know i'll definately apply for it....i'll turf half the exec chamber for a start...would you like to be my right hand man? what you fail to realise is that the Blackburn has failed to move on when a progressive forward thiking council is needed we have one that is party political and no sign of an alternative...when a council can justify building a knock-off of sydney harbour bridge and reconfiguring roads that would be able to host an F1 race instead of address the crumbling houses that need attention what does that tell you! It seems me you have alot of ideas yourself perhaps you should sit on Kate Hollerns lap and sort it all out for her When I pay for my council tax, gas, electric, water, petrol, unfortunately i never had a mortgage!, shopping bill i can do so with a clear mind that none of it is from a handout from the government……ever yone was poor at one stage in their life and needed a hand up that does not mean you cant aim higher and strive to get ahead! instead of bleating on about how tough things are!

Maybe you are new to this kind of thing but if you quote somebody then your comment is directed at them. Not exactly difficult is it....

"it does not take a genius to work it out! if you can afford western nicities then you can **** well afford to pay your council tax and work!"

Are you implying that people are commiting benefit fraud? Are people spending their money on fast cars? Dangerous ground my friend.

Did anybody say that that 100% of the population is claiming housing? Certainly not I. I simply stated it was a poor town - easily backed up by evidence.

Please stop thinking you can educate me. You've still not shown the inteligence or ability to prove any point as yet and simply try to change the subject to evade the truth. For example -

What is this waffle about F1 races and the sydney harbour bridge? What is this waffle about Kate Holerns lap?

Is it the responsibility of the council to repair private housing stock? Of course not - but it shows how you might not be able to teach the council anything after all....

jack daniels wrote:

BlackburnEyes wrote:
The comments are for everyone to read and this is a platform of debate after all! if you know shear brow well as i do ( i grew up on those streets) then you will be able to correlate between council tax benefits and other state benefits and the cars that are parked outside...it does not take a genius to work it out! if you can afford western nicities then you can **** well afford to pay your council tax and work! if there is a job going at BwD for a hero let me know i'll definately apply for it....i'll turf half the exec chamber for a start...would you like to be my right hand man? what you fail to realise is that the Blackburn has failed to move on when a progressive forward thiking council is needed we have one that is party political and no sign of an alternative...when a council can justify building a knock-off of sydney harbour bridge and reconfiguring roads that would be able to host an F1 race instead of address the crumbling houses that need attention what does that tell you! It seems me you have alot of ideas yourself perhaps you should sit on Kate Hollerns lap and sort it all out for her When I pay for my council tax, gas, electric, water, petrol, unfortunately i never had a mortgage!, shopping bill i can do so with a clear mind that none of it is from a handout from the government……ever yone was poor at one stage in their life and needed a hand up that does not mean you cant aim higher and strive to get ahead! instead of bleating on about how tough things are!

Maybe you are new to this kind of thing but if you quote somebody then your comment is directed at them. Not exactly difficult is it....

"it does not take a genius to work it out! if you can afford western nicities then you can **** well afford to pay your council tax and work!"

Are you implying that people are commiting benefit fraud? Are people spending their money on fast cars? Dangerous ground my friend.

Did anybody say that that 100% of the population is claiming housing? Certainly not I. I simply stated it was a poor town - easily backed up by evidence.

Please stop thinking you can educate me. You've still not shown the inteligence or ability to prove any point as yet and simply try to change the subject to evade the truth. For example -

What is this waffle about F1 races and the sydney harbour bridge? What is this waffle about Kate Holerns lap?

Is it the responsibility of the council to repair private housing stock? Of course not - but it shows how you might not be able to teach the council anything after all....

do you even live in Blackburn if you did you'd know that the recent bridge connecting the area near audley is a knock off of Sydney harbour bridge and that the road layout near Blackburn college leading up to johnson st is an F1 track.....

its you that has no intelligence if you lived in Blackburn you'd know that in the mid to late 80's grants were given to upgrade and improve housing stock in poor areas and yes they were private houses but you wouldn't know that....if you know the truth why don't you stand for election and enlighten your fellow citizens...and for your benefit you are past education as you have been truly indoctrinated and corrupted by socialist self pitying ideology......but don't worry the medicine has been prescribed from the coalition so it hits you right between the eyes and in your pocket.......and you needn't bother responding as i will not read it too da loo.....

BlackburnEyes wrote:

jack daniels wrote:

BlackburnEyes wrote:
The comments are for everyone to read and this is a platform of debate after all! if you know shear brow well as i do ( i grew up on those streets) then you will be able to correlate between council tax benefits and other state benefits and the cars that are parked outside...it does not take a genius to work it out! if you can afford western nicities then you can **** well afford to pay your council tax and work! if there is a job going at BwD for a hero let me know i'll definately apply for it....i'll turf half the exec chamber for a start...would you like to be my right hand man? what you fail to realise is that the Blackburn has failed to move on when a progressive forward thiking council is needed we have one that is party political and no sign of an alternative...when a council can justify building a knock-off of sydney harbour bridge and reconfiguring roads that would be able to host an F1 race instead of address the crumbling houses that need attention what does that tell you! It seems me you have alot of ideas yourself perhaps you should sit on Kate Hollerns lap and sort it all out for her When I pay for my council tax, gas, electric, water, petrol, unfortunately i never had a mortgage!, shopping bill i can do so with a clear mind that none of it is from a handout from the government……ever yone was poor at one stage in their life and needed a hand up that does not mean you cant aim higher and strive to get ahead! instead of bleating on about how tough things are!

Maybe you are new to this kind of thing but if you quote somebody then your comment is directed at them. Not exactly difficult is it....

"it does not take a genius to work it out! if you can afford western nicities then you can **** well afford to pay your council tax and work!"

Are you implying that people are commiting benefit fraud? Are people spending their money on fast cars? Dangerous ground my friend.

Did anybody say that that 100% of the population is claiming housing? Certainly not I. I simply stated it was a poor town - easily backed up by evidence.

Please stop thinking you can educate me. You've still not shown the inteligence or ability to prove any point as yet and simply try to change the subject to evade the truth. For example -

What is this waffle about F1 races and the sydney harbour bridge? What is this waffle about Kate Holerns lap?

Is it the responsibility of the council to repair private housing stock? Of course not - but it shows how you might not be able to teach the council anything after all....

do you even live in Blackburn if you did you'd know that the recent bridge connecting the area near audley is a knock off of Sydney harbour bridge and that the road layout near Blackburn college leading up to johnson st is an F1 track.....

its you that has no intelligence if you lived in Blackburn you'd know that in the mid to late 80's grants were given to upgrade and improve housing stock in poor areas and yes they were private houses but you wouldn't know that....if you know the truth why don't you stand for election and enlighten your fellow citizens...and for your benefit you are past education as you have been truly indoctrinated and corrupted by socialist self pitying ideology......but don't worry the medicine has been prescribed from the coalition so it hits you right between the eyes and in your pocket.......and you needn't bother responding as i will not read it too da loo.....

Ok. I not bother responding.
You just keep on running with your tail between your legs

hasslem hasslem wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:

english rose 1 wrote:

buckoff wrote:
Why stop at 500? double it then reduce the council tax most of these jobs were created by labour. Its a joke if Kate Hollern held a full time job at Blackburn college till recently she cant have been doing much at the town hall.

Being a Councillor is a 'job' with a 4 year fixed term contract as the voters can vote you out if they wish. If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole !
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How terrible of Labour to CREATE jobs !! You are right, - lots of new jobs both in the private and public sector were created. Are you saying we need a lot less nurses, police, carers ??

Well how come labour run councils charge higher rates of council tax? Its because they are clueless at running business in fact they couldn't even run a tap. You have hit the nail on the head there Quote If Coun Hollern was voted out then you'd no doubt be moaning that she was claiming dole ! in other words what your saying is labour councillors are not capable of any other job in other words useless!!!!!

Council Tax is actually LOWER under Labour Councils. FACT.
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You are the one that said Con Hollern shouldn't work !

Where did I say that? And its not fact. Torie councils are far more efficient lower unemployment cheaper council tax.

you tell her - she sounds like a right stroppy floosie

And wears flat heeled shoes too....

hasslem hasslem wrote:
blooming heck - that english rose woman sound like a broadcaster from radio moscow world service in the 1980s telling the world about record wheat harvest and the increased output in soviet steel factories.

Nail hit on head.

Talk about spouting the party propaganda

happycyclist wrote:

Jack Herer wrote:

ChiRho wrote:
We expect this behaviour from the conservatives. It is the libdems who are to blame. Abandoning their political convictions given a scent of power... What is it they say about power corrupting...?

Gotta love this comment.

Yeah it's definitely those dastardly Lib Dems who are to blame.

You do realise that the Lib Dems are very much a minority party in the coalition don't you? That means they effectively have to feed off the scraps; concessions with their interests against the Tories. So when George Osborne is fighting tooth and nail for tax cuts for his rich friends for instance, and the Lib Dems are fighting for tax cuts for the lowest earners, the result is the Lib Dems get some lip service concessions, but the greedy rich piggies have to also get their well earned tax break.

I fail to see therefore how decisions made for the benefit of everyone overall - not self interests in the public sector or fat cats in the private - are "corrupt" decisions. I mean what do the Lib Dems get themselves from these "corrupt" decisions they have supposedly made?

I don't agree with the Lib Dems on everything; notably Europe (if Tony Blair is coming out to support something then you've got to know there is major self interest there), but I don't see any self interest on their decisions. Their decisions are based on what they think is best for the common man. It's such a novel approach they get hammered for it. In a tabloid world, spin always trumps decency unfortunately.

Only Labour and the Tories have had chances in real power, and in both cases self interest has very much taken priority. The Lib Dems have never had that opportunity.

I think if everyone was honest, they'd agree that the Lib Dems solely in power would be far better for the common man than the Tories or Labour have clearly ever been. The tragedy is that's unlikely to happen and we're stuck in this self interest cycle with those the two main parties.

Spin currently trumps decency. Shame.

Spot on, Jack.

The only thing the LibDems have failed on in the coalition was their insistence for a vote on PR. They allowed themselves to compromise with AV -at which point the whole country let them down by opting for the status quo rather than any sort of political change. With PR, the LibDems would have been able to call far more shots. WE let them down.

Would they also be more able to put their speeding points elsewhere too?