Blackburn with Darwen Council under-spent by £6million

4:30pm Tuesday 10th July 2012 in Darwen

BLACKBURN with Darwen council under-spent its budget by more than £6million despite its Labour leaders complaining about the damaging effect of government cash cuts.

A report to the authority’s cabinet reveals the saving, which will now be put into its contingency reserve.

It begins by noting that the council “faced an unprecedented reduction in government funding of £33 million in the 2011/12 financial year in addition to ongoing reductions to specific grant made unexpectedly during the 2010/12 year.”

The report adds: “The council also anticipates further reductions in further years”.

But the officers tell the senior councillors on the executive board that actual spending in the 12 months to March 31st was £148.585 million against an original approved budget of £154.855 million.

The net saving of £6.27 million - four per cent of the total spending of the council - will go into reserves.

Conservative opposition leader Michael Lee said: “I shall be asking questions at the executive board meeting on Thursday about this underspend.

“My concern is whether the council is making savings for a rainy day out of current savings to the detriment of services.

“Is this underspend being achieved to put money in reserves for next year in case of further cuts and are we going to see redundancies in future as a result of this?”

The authority’s cabinet member for resources Andy Kay said: “This is not an underspend as such. We work on a two year programme and this is a prudent saving as a result of good management which has been put in the reserves to be available for next year.”

Comments (20)

4:44pm Tue 10 Jul 12

Dave_P says...

I've worked for the council and every year we made savings by under spending, we had that much removed from the next years budget.
Morons
I've worked for the council and every year we made savings by under spending, we had that much removed from the next years budget. Morons Dave_P

4:44pm Tue 10 Jul 12

RUinsane says...

NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks
NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks RUinsane

4:45pm Tue 10 Jul 12

2 for 5p says...

So that means they could cut council tax next year.
I bet a pound to a peanut they dont
So that means they could cut council tax next year. I bet a pound to a peanut they dont 2 for 5p

5:13pm Tue 10 Jul 12

CapitaBackHander says...

So no excuses for all the litter then and un cut grass!
So no excuses for all the litter then and un cut grass! CapitaBackHander

5:33pm Tue 10 Jul 12

Rumpole says...

""this is a prudent saving as a result of good management......""!

So what kind of management did we have before the cuts?
""this is a prudent saving as a result of good management......""! So what kind of management did we have before the cuts? Rumpole

6:01pm Tue 10 Jul 12

sen c ble says...

CapitaBackHander wrote:
So no excuses for all the litter then and un cut grass!
So many times I've seen road sweepers, and two on some roads, on unlittered roads and streets, ignoring blocked road drains and gulleys. It makes me wonder who in person manages the enviromental services!
[quote][p][bold]CapitaBackHander[/bold] wrote: So no excuses for all the litter then and un cut grass![/p][/quote]So many times I've seen road sweepers, and two on some roads, on unlittered roads and streets, ignoring blocked road drains and gulleys. It makes me wonder who in person manages the enviromental services! sen c ble

6:43pm Tue 10 Jul 12

Rover2008 says...

RUinsane wrote:
NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks
the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them
[quote][p][bold]RUinsane[/bold] wrote: NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks[/p][/quote]the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them Rover2008

6:51pm Tue 10 Jul 12

district01 says...

Tony Blair’s wanting to help the remains of his ‘New Labour’ survivors by offering them his successful salesman expertise. Unfortunately the main problem was and still is that he was really a New Conservative. Now just a failed politician trying to rewrite his personal history.

Blackburn with Darwen council ‘New Labour’ Party - Left high and dry because Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ survivors are still there!
Tony Blair’s wanting to help the remains of his ‘New Labour’ survivors by offering them his successful salesman expertise. Unfortunately the main problem was and still is that he was really a New Conservative. Now just a failed politician trying to rewrite his personal history. Blackburn with Darwen council ‘New Labour’ Party - Left high and dry because Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ survivors are still there! district01

7:17pm Tue 10 Jul 12

2 for 5p says...

I know this might be a bit undemocratic but I think we could be better off with appointed councilors, because the lot we keep voting in are not fit to run a sweet shop.
I know this might be a bit undemocratic but I think we could be better off with appointed councilors, because the lot we keep voting in are not fit to run a sweet shop. 2 for 5p

7:28pm Tue 10 Jul 12

RUinsane says...

Rover2008 wrote:
RUinsane wrote:
NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks
the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them
funny last time I looked the ones on pole lane had been there for three years you utter twonk. I take it you fill em in for a livin? c'mon man pull yer finger out.
[quote][p][bold]Rover2008[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]RUinsane[/bold] wrote: NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks[/p][/quote]the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them[/p][/quote]funny last time I looked the ones on pole lane had been there for three years you utter twonk. I take it you fill em in for a livin? c'mon man pull yer finger out. RUinsane

7:52pm Tue 10 Jul 12

CapitaBackHander says...

RUinsane wrote:
Rover2008 wrote:
RUinsane wrote:
NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks
the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them
funny last time I looked the ones on pole lane had been there for three years you utter twonk. I take it you fill em in for a livin? c'mon man pull yer finger out.
The ones on Borough Rd and side of Health Centre even longer and dangerous (re breaking and ABS affected) at a junction cars always park on.
Putting patch of tarmac in a hole is NOT repairing a pot hole!
[quote][p][bold]RUinsane[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Rover2008[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]RUinsane[/bold] wrote: NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks[/p][/quote]the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them[/p][/quote]funny last time I looked the ones on pole lane had been there for three years you utter twonk. I take it you fill em in for a livin? c'mon man pull yer finger out.[/p][/quote]The ones on Borough Rd and side of Health Centre even longer and dangerous (re breaking and ABS affected) at a junction cars always park on. Putting patch of tarmac in a hole is NOT repairing a pot hole! CapitaBackHander

8:03pm Tue 10 Jul 12

mark007 says...

Rover2008- Do you drive in Blackburn? The roads are in awful condition, One that always springs to mind is the awful dip in the road just before tasty bites across from the hamilton arms
Rover2008- Do you drive in Blackburn? The roads are in awful condition, One that always springs to mind is the awful dip in the road just before tasty bites across from the hamilton arms mark007

8:03pm Tue 10 Jul 12

mark007 says...

CapitaBackHander wrote:
RUinsane wrote:
Rover2008 wrote:
RUinsane wrote:
NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks
the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them
funny last time I looked the ones on pole lane had been there for three years you utter twonk. I take it you fill em in for a livin? c'mon man pull yer finger out.
The ones on Borough Rd and side of Health Centre even longer and dangerous (re breaking and ABS affected) at a junction cars always park on.
Putting patch of tarmac in a hole is NOT repairing a pot hole!
Rover2008- Do you drive in Blackburn? The roads are in awful condition, One that always springs to mind is the awful dip in the road just before tasty bites across from the hamilton arms
[quote][p][bold]CapitaBackHander[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]RUinsane[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Rover2008[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]RUinsane[/bold] wrote: NOOOOOOO, don't put it in contingency reserve, fill the pot holes in you utter twonks[/p][/quote]the potholes are being repaired you twonk those lads on the highways work extremely hard until mother nature decides to cause more work for them[/p][/quote]funny last time I looked the ones on pole lane had been there for three years you utter twonk. I take it you fill em in for a livin? c'mon man pull yer finger out.[/p][/quote]The ones on Borough Rd and side of Health Centre even longer and dangerous (re breaking and ABS affected) at a junction cars always park on. Putting patch of tarmac in a hole is NOT repairing a pot hole![/p][/quote]Rover2008- Do you drive in Blackburn? The roads are in awful condition, One that always springs to mind is the awful dip in the road just before tasty bites across from the hamilton arms mark007

9:13pm Tue 10 Jul 12

mavrick says...

district01 wrote:
Tony Blair’s wanting to help the remains of his ‘New Labour’ survivors by offering them his successful salesman expertise. Unfortunately the main problem was and still is that he was really a New Conservative. Now just a failed politician trying to rewrite his personal history.

Blackburn with Darwen council ‘New Labour’ Party - Left high and dry because Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ survivors are still there!
Best new Tory they ever had,I thought I was the only one who thought that. He is still a deluded but dangerous politician.
[quote][p][bold]district01[/bold] wrote: Tony Blair’s wanting to help the remains of his ‘New Labour’ survivors by offering them his successful salesman expertise. Unfortunately the main problem was and still is that he was really a New Conservative. Now just a failed politician trying to rewrite his personal history. Blackburn with Darwen council ‘New Labour’ Party - Left high and dry because Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ survivors are still there![/p][/quote]Best new Tory they ever had,I thought I was the only one who thought that. He is still a deluded but dangerous politician. mavrick

1:11am Wed 11 Jul 12

enuff_izanuff says...

6 Million, i could re tarmac every road in Blackburn and Darwen with that. Hmmmm!
6 Million, i could re tarmac every road in Blackburn and Darwen with that. Hmmmm! enuff_izanuff

2:49am Wed 11 Jul 12

s_smith says...

Dave_P wrote:
I've worked for the council and every year we made savings by under spending, we had that much removed from the next years budget.
Morons
Myth.
[quote][p][bold]Dave_P[/bold] wrote: I've worked for the council and every year we made savings by under spending, we had that much removed from the next years budget. Morons[/p][/quote]Myth. s_smith

7:05am Wed 11 Jul 12

happycyclist says...

2 for 5p wrote:
I know this might be a bit undemocratic but I think we could be better off with appointed councilors, because the lot we keep voting in are not fit to run a sweet shop.
It works for business -a company interviews people and picks the best candidate, not the most popular one, which is what our electoral system is based on. It's time we moved on from the outdated 'democracy' and party politics.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: I know this might be a bit undemocratic but I think we could be better off with appointed councilors, because the lot we keep voting in are not fit to run a sweet shop.[/p][/quote]It works for business -a company interviews people and picks the best candidate, not the most popular one, which is what our electoral system is based on. It's time we moved on from the outdated 'democracy' and party politics. happycyclist

10:34am Wed 11 Jul 12

A Darener says...

Perhaps they could spend the money sludge gulping all the drains. All round us are blocked with silt.
Perhaps they could spend the money sludge gulping all the drains. All round us are blocked with silt. A Darener

10:52pm Wed 11 Jul 12

totcoms says...

a question for Rover2008.--- How many people fill the potholes as a fulltime job?????????
a question for Rover2008.--- How many people fill the potholes as a fulltime job????????? totcoms

7:14pm Thu 12 Jul 12

district01 says...

happycyclist wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
I know this might be a bit undemocratic but I think we could be better off with appointed councilors, because the lot we keep voting in are not fit to run a sweet shop.
It works for business -a company interviews people and picks the best candidate, not the most popular one, which is what our electoral system is based on. It's time we moved on from the outdated 'democracy' and party politics.
Thanks to Tony Blair’s ‘new labour’ party how can anyone ever vote for them again? It’s only the mistaken allegiance of those thinking that party to be the party of old that keeps them afloat. Those surviving leaders are still earning themselves a good living only by apposing everything under the sun without giving credible alternatives of their own. Politicians are just a party nameplate these days and nothing more. Tony Blair the very successful hide away conservative having gotten away with everything under the sun. Even a war does prove my point!
[quote][p][bold]happycyclist[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: I know this might be a bit undemocratic but I think we could be better off with appointed councilors, because the lot we keep voting in are not fit to run a sweet shop.[/p][/quote]It works for business -a company interviews people and picks the best candidate, not the most popular one, which is what our electoral system is based on. It's time we moved on from the outdated 'democracy' and party politics.[/p][/quote]Thanks to Tony Blair’s ‘new labour’ party how can anyone ever vote for them again? It’s only the mistaken allegiance of those thinking that party to be the party of old that keeps them afloat. Those surviving leaders are still earning themselves a good living only by apposing everything under the sun without giving credible alternatives of their own. Politicians are just a party nameplate these days and nothing more. Tony Blair the very successful hide away conservative having gotten away with everything under the sun. Even a war does prove my point! district01

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