West Berkshire debt almost doubles Options

[Richard Garvie]

On Monday, I suggested at a meeting that I understand the need to save money on CCTV as we are nearly £50m in debt. Certain people shouted me down and had a pop. Last night at the Exec Members meeting, it was confirmed that in the last financial year, the debt has gone from £27m to just over £49m. That's an increase of around £200 per person in West Berkshire. Not household, but for every person in West Berks, the council loaned £200. We now need to save £40m after reduction in Government funding too, so that's around £89m of savings we need to make over four years.

Thoughts?

[Strafin]

I think this country, this county the government and the public sector in general are all out of control. I think Labour spawned an attitude in people which makes them believe the state can and should support all kinds of initiatives, and lifestyles. I think public sector wages wages are way and above the employees worth and I am sick to death of paying through the nose for everything so that this can be maintained. And yes I do believe this stretches to teachers, nurses, street cleaners and every single tier of our inefficient, over inflated trough of a government system.

[Bloggo]

I think this country, this county the government and the public sector in general are all out of control. I think Labour spawned an attitude in people which makes them believe the state can and should support all kinds of initiatives, and lifestyles. I think public sector wages wages are way and above the employees worth and I am sick to death of paying through the nose for everything so that this can be maintained. And yes I do believe this stretches to teachers, nurses, street cleaners and every single tier of our inefficient, over inflated trough of a government system.

I agree. The public sector has become a "coffee culture" where socialising over a cup of tea/coffee has taken priority over doing the job the employees were taken on to do. If the managers had the b*lls to insist that the employees got on with their jobs and spent less time discussing hairdoes, cloths, what their kids are doing etc they would find that they could easily get more done with less people reducing the financial penalty of those paying for it.

[dannyboy]

Hardly surprising considering the economic downturn of the last 3 years.

[Iommi]

I agree. The public sector has become a "coffee culture" where socialising over a cup of tea/coffee has taken priority over doing the job the employees were taken on to do. If the managers had the b*lls to insist that the employees got on with their jobs and spent less time discussing hairdoes, cloths, what their kids are doing etc they would find that they could easily get more done with less people reducing the financial penalty of those paying for it.

I didn't know you worked in the public sector!

[Richard Garvie]

I was more surprised that the elected members were happy to deny this figure on Monday, the fact they shouted me down and asked the media present not to quote me. Like in Government, we need to make savings but in a responsible way. Why is it only in recent months that the council have been slashing services? What is the current administration's plan long term plan to deal with the problems we face?

[user23]

I agree. The public sector has become a "coffee culture" where socialising over a cup of tea/coffee has taken priority over doing the job the employees were taken on to do.

Funny how a small group of blokes who generally spend much of their working day on chat forum are accusing others of a "coffee culture".

[Richard Garvie]

Funny how a small group of blokes who generally spend much of their working day on chat forum are accusing others of a "coffee culture".

My business isn't funded by taxpayers!!! I'm only stealing time from myself

[Strafin]

Funny how a small group of blokes who generally spend much of their working day on chat forum are accusing others of a "coffee culture".

You have no idea what I do or what hours I work so do one and get to work.