Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity Options

[Simon Kirby]

Is see in the paper that Greenham Parish Council are to borrow a further £150k to pay for some more repairs to the Greenham Common Control Tower that they didn't initially allow for. There seems to be no difficulty finding money for vanity projects, and the Town Council have increased their budget by 4% and are going to borrow £500k for an ice cream kiosk as well as buying the ceremonial mayor a new fox-furred robe - so is austerity real, or is this just a Tory con.

[Cognosco]

Is see in the paper that Greenham Parish Council are to borrow a further £150k to pay for some more repairs to the Greenham Common Control Tower that they didn't initially allow for. There seems to be no difficulty finding money for vanity projects, and the Town Council have increased their budget by 4% and are going to borrow £500k for an ice cream kiosk as well as buying the ceremonial mayor a new fox-furred robe - so is austerity real, or is this just a Tory con.

I think it outrageous that they are having to borrow more money in these difficult times?
Surely they can find a few more wheelchairs or other essential services they can confiscate instead of having to borrow?

[je suis Charlie]

Is see in the paper that Greenham Parish Council are to borrow a further £150k to pay for some more repairs to the Greenham Common Control Tower that they didn't initially allow for. There seems to be no difficulty finding money for vanity projects, and the Town Council have increased their budget by 4% and are going to borrow £500k for an ice cream kiosk as well as buying the ceremonial mayor a new fox-furred robe - so is austerity real, or is this just a Tory con.

I'll see that, and raise this,
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/17...taff-after.html

[x2lls]

I'll see that, and raise this,
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/17...taff-after.html

Six years is a long time and requirements change.

There is no rule saying you cannot hire previously employed staff.
I wonder how much was saved in the long term.

[Andy Capp]

5% re-employ seems fair to me. Many managers don't know WTF people actually do, and one way to find out is to remove them.

[Gazzadp]

What struck me about reading that article was how julian Swift-Hook's name was conspicuous by its absence, so far be it from me to suggest but it would appear that he is happy to comment on positive "control tower" matters, but now that the proverbial cr*p is hitting the fan, he has decided to fly below the control towers radar! Typical behaviour of a councillior in West Berkshire.

[x2lls]

What struck me about reading that article was how julian Swift-Hook's name was conspicuous by its absence, so far be it from me to suggest but it would appear that he is happy to comment on positive "control tower" matters, but now that the proverbial cr*p is hitting the fan, he has decided to fly below the control towers radar! Typical behaviour of a councillior in West Berkshire.

He wasn't asked. If he was, his response would have been published.

You make an astounding assumption.

[Simon Kirby]

The control tower project has gone horribly wrong, and holding the control tower discussions in secret when the wheels were falling off prevented the kind of public scrutiny that would potentially have given the councillors a reality-check and allowed them to pull the plug before they were too committed. Council meettings are supposed to be held in public for just this reason and this lack of openness is as much responsible for tje mess as anything else. There should be some accountability.

[Exhausted]

Typical behaviour of a councillior in West Berkshire.

I know you are not perhaps suggesting that JSH is a WBC councillor but using West Berkshire and councillor in the same line does imply that in my opinion. The whole Control Tower thing is to do with Greenham Parish Council and whilst we might know that it was an expenditure too far for a small parish, it was perhaps for the right reasons and one which, led by a very "committed" parish councillor was certainly a hands up all those in favour decision.

[Andy Capp]

I know you are not perhaps suggesting that JSH is a WBC councillor but using West Berkshire and councillor in the same line does imply that in my opinion. The whole Control Tower thing is to do with Greenham Parish Council and whilst we might know that it was an expenditure too far for a small parish, it was perhaps for the right reasons and one which, led by a very "committed" parish councillor was certainly a hands up all those in favour decision.

Which means the comment you are criticising is grammatically correct.

[Cognosco]

I know you are not perhaps suggesting that JSH is a WBC councillor but using West Berkshire and councillor in the same line does imply that in my opinion. The whole Control Tower thing is to do with Greenham Parish Council and whilst we might know that it was an expenditure too far for a small parish, it was perhaps for the right reasons and one which, led by a very "committed" parish councillor was certainly a hands up all those in favour decision.

Is it not the responsibility of the individual Councillor to find out all the facts and make an informed decision on those findings?
So unless there were facts that the general public were unaware of then the very ambitious project was doomed for failure from the start, unless Greenham precept payers were prepared to finance the projects yearly loss running costs!

You are of course not mentioning that all of our local Councils are more or less run as one! All decisions are usually approved by or refused by WBC. Occasionally a charade is carried out to give the impression otherwise! Hence why WBC and NTC share Councillors.

[On the edge]

I know you are not perhaps suggesting that JSH is a WBC councillor but using West Berkshire and councillor in the same line does imply that in my opinion. The whole Control Tower thing is to do with Greenham Parish Council and whilst we might know that it was an expenditure too far for a small parish, it was perhaps for the right reasons and one which, led by a very "committed" parish councillor was certainly a hands up all those in favour decision.

Yep, got it.

That's the party line; just a bit too big for Greenham, top marks to JSH for trying, all done with the best of intentions. That's OK then all squared up now, so doubles all round.



.........the proles are watching!

[On the edge]

I know you are not perhaps suggesting that JSH is a WBC councillor but using West Berkshire and councillor in the same line does imply that in my opinion. The whole Control Tower thing is to do with Greenham Parish Council and whilst we might know that it was an expenditure too far for a small parish, it was perhaps for the right reasons and one which, led by a very "committed" parish councillor was certainly a hands up all those in favour decision.

Yes it was an expenditure too far and because such expenditures have happened in several parish level councils locally it must surely demonstrate that these bodies are seriously out of control; in both democratic and financial terms.

As to the leader being committed and it being done for the right reasons, I seem to recall much the same was said about Derek Hatton and Liverpool some good few years back.

[Exhausted]

Yes it was an expenditure too far and because such expenditures have happened in several parish level councils locally it must surely demonstrate that these bodies are seriously out of control; in both democratic and financial terms. As to the leader being committed and it being done for the right reasons, I seem to recall much the same was said about Derek Hatton and Liverpool some good few years back.

I was trying to be "kind" with my choice of words. I could have said arrogant but feel free to use whatever title you wish. I agree that the parish councils could be construed as being out of control but is this because our councils have a political allegiance and when the leader wants to push something through a version of the whip is used making the councillors toothless.

Wasn't Derek Hatton found not guilty by the way.

You are of course not mentioning that all of our local Councils are more or less run as one! All decisions are usually approved by or refused by WBC. Occasionally a charade is carried out to give the impression otherwise! Hence why WBC and NTC share Councillors.

Do you believe that is true and if it is true, surely we have an illegality in the procedural system.

[On the edge]

You are quite right. Hatton wasn't found guilty; what has happened isn't a crime, it's simply exploiting weaknesses. Nonetheless, the biggest weakness comes from those 'silent members' who simply close ranks when the problems are made manifest. That's politics though, which as you rightly point out serve us ill locally.

[Cognosco]

I was trying to be "kind" with my choice of words. I could have said arrogant but feel free to use whatever title you wish. I agree that the parish councils could be construed as being out of control but is this because our councils have a political allegiance and when the leader wants to push something through a version of the whip is used making the councillors toothless.

Wasn't Derek Hatton found not guilty by the way.



Do you believe that is true and if it is true, surely we have an illegality in the procedural system.

Only if it was investigated properly and proved.............but then again people know that water does not run uphill unless pushed somehow?