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£90,000 well spent? |
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Jun 13 2014, 12:27 PM
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I like the reply when asked about Sandleford: QUOTE When asked if she thought that the project’s aim of reducing pollution proved campaigners’ point that Sandleford was not a suitable site for 2,000 houses, Mrs Cole said: “I have already expressed my views on Sandleford – that is another issue separate to the travel plan. The mitigation we are proposing for Sandleford is sufficient.” A fob-off reply if there ever was one. The fact the survey is being undertaken undermines her statement.
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Jun 13 2014, 06:36 PM
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QUOTE (Jonno @ Jun 13 2014, 11:18 AM) From the Newbury Weekly News - "Over the next three months, six travel advisors will visit 5,000 homes in south Newbury and Greenham to record residents’ current travel habits and suggest alternative ways of travel. The project – ‘change the way you move’ – is costing £90,000 – with £52,000 coming from West Berkshire Council"
Given the budget cuts on children, the disabled and the elderly in these times of austerity, do people really think this is the best use of our money? Even without the budget cuts it would not imo be money well spent. How much would an online survey cost in comparison? It also seems very intrusive - a bit like the chuggers who cold call. As an aside I wonder how the Councillors who voted this idea through got to the Council meeting. Perhaps they should conduct a survey amongst themselves.
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Jun 13 2014, 07:05 PM
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QUOTE (Lolly @ Jun 13 2014, 07:36 PM) Even without the budget cuts it would not imo be money well spent. How much would an online survey cost in comparison? An online survey would be cheap - but most residents would not fill it in, rendering it pointless. A postal survey might get better coverage but probably no more than 50% QUOTE (Lolly @ Jun 13 2014, 07:36 PM) It also seems very intrusive - a bit like the chuggers who cold call. To be fair the only way to get good coverage for a survey is to cold call (by phone or door knocker). QUOTE (Lolly @ Jun 13 2014, 07:36 PM) As an aside I wonder how the Councillors who voted this idea through got to the Council meeting. Perhaps they should conduct a survey amongst themselves. I very much doubt that any councillors voted this idea through - WBC doesn't work that way. Most councillors have pretty much nothing to do since they abolished all the committees that used to scrutinise ideas like this. Nowadays a council employee comes up with an idea, convinces his/her boss(es) and they then take it to the Executive Member responsible for their department (the only councillor involved in most cases) - if the Exec Member approves it then it goes ahead.
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Jun 13 2014, 07:16 PM
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QUOTE (Lolly @ Jun 13 2014, 07:36 PM) Even without the budget cuts it would not imo be money well spent. How much would an online survey cost in comparison?
It also seems very intrusive - a bit like the chuggers who cold call.
As an aside I wonder how the Councillors who voted this idea through got to the Council meeting. Perhaps they should conduct a survey amongst themselves. I wonder how many legitimate sales people will start using that patter as part of their intro. script...'ding dong'. Hello madam, I expect you've seen in the local paper (holds copy of NWN out) that a survey is going on, have you a few minutes at the moment...... Oh well, let's just put it down to mid summer madness!
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Know your place!
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Jun 13 2014, 07:45 PM
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QUOTE (blackdog @ Jun 13 2014, 08:05 PM) I very much doubt that any councillors voted this idea through - WBC doesn't work that way. Most councillors have pretty much nothing to do since they abolished all the committees that used to scrutinise ideas like this. Nowadays a council employee comes up with an idea, convinces his/her boss(es) and they then take it to the Executive Member responsible for their department (the only councillor involved in most cases) - if the Exec Member approves it then it goes ahead. So employee notices he and his chums are short of holiday money. Comes up with idea. It's OK chaps £90k in the overtime pot- job done! Who says democracy is dead - only the paying public!
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Jun 13 2014, 07:49 PM
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QUOTE (blackdog @ Jun 13 2014, 08:05 PM) I very much doubt that any councillors voted this idea through - WBC doesn't work that way. Most councillors have pretty much nothing to do since they abolished all the committees that used to scrutinise ideas like this. Nowadays a council employee comes up with an idea, convinces his/her boss(es) and they then take it to the Executive Member responsible for their department (the only councillor involved in most cases) - if the Exec Member approves it then it goes ahead. I stand corrected! If that is how 'democracy' works in West Berkshire it explains a lot. Are we to assume that Hilary Cole is the Exec Member responsible then? Perhaps she could survey her own transport choices? And remember that many West Berkshire residents don't work in central Newbury or locally ( within walking or cycling distance).
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Jun 13 2014, 08:49 PM
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QUOTE (Lolly @ Jun 13 2014, 08:49 PM) I stand corrected! If that is how 'democracy' works in West Berkshire it explains a lot. Are we to assume that Hilary Cole is the Exec Member responsible then? Perhaps she could survey her own transport choices? And remember that many West Berkshire residents don't work in central Newbury or locally ( within walking or cycling distance). I think that the hidden agenda which identifies what people's habits are is a bit disconcerting. As far as catching a bus or cycling, I doubt that is something I would want to do, it's so much easier to grab the keys and go when I want to go. There are no bus stops within miles of where I work (apart from the Vodafone busses of course which are up and down like a w....s drawers) so that's a non event for me. Money badly spent employing part timers. Nice work if you can get it.
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Jun 13 2014, 09:38 PM
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QUOTE (Lolly @ Jun 13 2014, 08:49 PM) I stand corrected! If that is how 'democracy' works in West Berkshire it explains a lot. Are we to assume that Hilary Cole is the Exec Member responsible then? Perhaps she could survey her own transport choices? And remember that many West Berkshire residents don't work in central Newbury or locally ( within walking or cycling distance). Hilary Cole is an Exec Member and she's the one talking it up - so I'd guess she's the one who signed it off. Reading also went over to the Executive style of governance when WBC did (councils were empowered to decide to adopt this new style or stick with the old committee based management system about 10 years ago). Last year they decided it was undemocratic and reverted to the committee system. Sadly WBC has shown no sign of doing the same.
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Jun 14 2014, 08:59 AM
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It just beggars belief that they want to spend £90 grand on a survey to tell them what everyone who doesn't work for WBC knows? There are too many cars on the p**ss poor roads that they have done nothing about over the years and are still at a loss as to what to do about it! That there is very little public transport choice for the times and areas that people want to travel from and to!
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