Birmingham bankrupt

[Ducado]

Were paying the highest taxes since WW2. Where's that money going?

It certainly isn't going into council budgets.

I don't begrudge paying into a system that benefits all and reflects a decent standard of public services. I feel like I'm currently paying straight to Serco/Mitie/Carlyle directors and shareholders rather than services my taxes are supposed to pay for.

We are paying a £31bn for the Trident replacement, for a start

The painful truth is that government spending has not kept up with the population or the demographic of the population (we have lot more elderly people living longer than ever)

You do make a point about expensive contrats, mainly given to companies wo have some form of connection with the Tory party

 

[TinFoilHat]

Cup of tea. Sharp intake of breath. Say "Right!", and then we'll sort it out it.

It is the British way after all.

 

[TinFoilHat]

We are paying a £31bn for the Trident replacement, for a start

The painful truth is that government spending has not kept up with the population or the demographic of the population (we have lot more elderly people living longer than ever)

You do make a point about expensive contrats, mainly given to companies wo have some form of connection with the Tory party

You put it better than me.

There's a skew in where our funds are allocated.

 

[PragueBlue]

We live in a very complex society that has to be governed and run otherwise we descend into chaos and anarchy, if you cut funding to public services this is what you get.

Little things we take for granted like having rubbish collected, keepin the streets clean educating our children, sports and recreation (very important for the wellbeing of society) to run well it all costs money and a lot of money at that, and that's not including our health services which are failing massively because of reduced funding

The debate that's needed is not who can provide cut just enough to keep the country running, but are we willing to pay for world class services?

That to me is the main issue. We want/expect the same kind of services as the Scandinavians (for example) but that would most likely require tax hikes and few seem to be really willing to accept that.

Cuts obviously play a major part but so too does bad management. I worked for a county council many years ago and the wastage at that time was really quite staggering.

 

[Jimmieblue]

Its funny that up to this government things were running quite well, hardly any waiting lists investment in public services running at an acceptable level, it's took time but if you consistently under invest in public services they start to fall apart and that is exactly what is happening he country is falling apart and then add in the Brexit catastrophe you could say we are in a bit of a mess

All I’m saying is, it goes a lot deeper than throwing more money at all these institutions. I beg to differ over “things running quite well”. That doesn’t really cut it with me because I’m getting on a bit and the last time this country was running at an acceptable level was a long time ago. A complete rethink is what’s needed or things will get worse. I don’t know what shape it will take, but it won’t be a two-party system with the House of Lords or going back in the EU.

 

[Vic]

Same shit, different shovel. Why are you trying to make it Lab v Con thing, it's a crap management thing !

It's a Con thing. They cut all the central grants to local government.

 

[threespires]

At least we’ve got our debt and deficit under control though, so investing more money to boost services should be a doddle.

I see what you did there, you little tinker.

 

[Vic]

And that is proof that I'm making this one political is it...........Case rested m'lord...LOL

It's an anti crap management statement, and that includes the present government, Labour Councils, Conservative councils, any colour of rosette councils inbetween, NHS, Water companies etc, etc. They all have bugets, and responsibilities that they constantly fail, whilst lining their pockets.

There is one place where I'm loving crap management and executives pocketing vast amounts for crap management, and that's Old Toilet rag central !

Whereas the reality is that most council officers (planning, accounts, execs etc) could earn more in the private sector.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Having been to Birmingham, it looks like it went bankrupt in about 1975 and time has stood still since.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Its funny that up to this government things were running quite well, hardly any waiting lists investment in public services running at an acceptable level, it's took time but if you consistently under invest in public services they start to fall apart and that is exactly what is happening he country is falling apart and then add in the Brexit catastrophe you could say we are in a bit of a mess

Yeah but the thing you’ve got to remember is it was all Gordon Brown and Tony Blair’s fault that a load of greedy American bankers sold billions of dollars worth of dodgy mortgage derivatives that defaulted and came close to bankrupting the western world.

Bloody New Labour and their excessive spending on silly things like the NHS and local government.

 

[MouldensChippy]

Whereas the reality is that most council officers (planning, accounts, execs etc) could earn more in the private sector.

That old chestnut, they do it out of the goodness of their hearts as a favour to us ungrateful tax payers. If they could get more in the private sector, when you start adding in benefits like gold plated pensions, extra holidays, and more generous things like sick pay, and conditions they'd be off. Let's not kid ourselves.

They might not make the cut quality wise either ?

 

[blueinsa]

I blame brexit!

 

[I'm With Stupid]

That to me is the main issue. We want/expect the same kind of services as the Scandinavians (for example) but that would most likely require tax hikes and few seem to be really willing to accept that.

And yet every election, the Tories claim that actually we don't need to raise taxes to have world class public services, because their tax policies will grow the economy so much that the total amount of tax brought in will be more. And some people hear that and actually believe them.

 

[hilts]

Whereas the reality is that most council officers (planning, accounts, execs etc) could earn more in the private sector.

The private sector must be crap at recruiting as it seems there are literally 100s of thousands of public sector workers that could help them if only they knew where to look.

Come on private sector advertise your job on some sort of site, let's call it a job site for instance. Install a landline and bingo.

 

[hilts]

I blame brexit!

No more EU grants for bin men and cheap labour.

Sorry that's a lie still plenty of immigration doing the jobs that brits etc............

:-)

 

[hilts]

And yet every election, the Tories claim that actually we don't need to raise taxes to have world class public services, because their tax policies will grow the economy so much that the total amount of tax brought in will be more. And some people hear that and actually believe them.

The Tories don't really believe in the public sector outside of the bare minimum. Their supporters simply don't want to pay for them either.

 

[Vic]

That old chestnut, they do it out of the goodness of their hearts as a favour to us ungrateful tax payers. If they could get more in the private sector, when you start adding in benefits like gold plated pensions, extra holidays, and more generous things like sick pay, and conditions they'd be off. Let's not kid ourselves.

They might not make the cut quality wise either ?

Oh dear. They are off. Planning officers.



"This shift is likely to be a direct result of public spending cuts and many of the associated problems for local planning authorities discussed above. Local authorities will both lose the ability to fund the same amount of positions, and struggle to recruit to fill the ones they do have."

Resourcing Public Planning

RTPI research on Resourcing Public Planning shows impacts of cuts and offers solutions to get value from planning.

www.rtpi.org.uk

Same with other professions like accountants.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

The Tories don't really believe in the public sector outside of the bare minimum. Their supporters simply don't want to pay for them either.

As with gas, water, care homes, public transport etc. They can be privatised, but you’ll end up paying more for a shitter service.

 

[Ghandi's Flip Flops]

We are paying a £31bn for the Trident replacement, for a start

Assume when you say Trident you mean the ballistic missile sub replacements.
Just curious if you consider them worthwhile? (And I don't mean value for money)

 

[MouldensChippy]

Oh dear. They are off. Planning officers.

View attachment 92640

"This shift is likely to be a direct result of public spending cuts and many of the associated problems for local planning authorities discussed above. Local authorities will both lose the ability to fund the same amount of positions, and struggle to recruit to fill the ones they do have."

Resourcing Public Planning

RTPI research on Resourcing Public Planning shows impacts of cuts and offers solutions to get value from planning.

www.rtpi.org.uk

Same with other professions like accountants.

Is that not saying what I just stated. When the benefits to them are more, they will be off !

The result of which is that the crap is left. The ones who accept no responsibility.