We are all in it together. Options

[GMR]

"We are all in it together," as David Cameron said. So it is nice to see that not only the poor is suffering but those at the richer end of our society. According to the Newbury Weekly News "17 top-earning district council staff cost taxpayers £1.84 million". Top earner was Chief executive Nick Carter whose annual salary - in 2009 - £133,418. But the cost of his position increased to £175,860 by the time his £5,000 car allowance, employer's pension and national insurance contribution were added. The minimum salary of a senior civil servant is £58,200 while an MPs wages is £65, 738. Our PM (who runs the whole country) gets only £142,500. Nick Carter gets approximately £33,000 more than the MP. So I can see the suffering and sacrificed he has made so that we can all be in it together. Of course I could add that the director of environment - John Ashworth - only gets £133,066, but I won't. So I say to you hard earning tax payers in the West Berkshire region to spare a thought for those that have sacrificed so much for us and being part of those that are suffering and tightening their belts. So let us give a silent prayer to those 17 top-earners at our Tax payers' expense. We are all in it together.

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools" Martin luther King.

"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separetly" Benjamin Franklin

[On the edge]

Oh come on GMR! Worth every penny. After all what would happen if he wasn't there? Doesn't bear thinking about. Yet it could so easily happen. He would go elsewhere else, like S****horpe or Clacton, and then where would we be? No one to sign Mr Ashworth's expenses or leave chits, No one to ask the Directors to see that Department Heads check the Section Heads are ensuring the Team Leaders are making sure the the Officers are giving the Chargehands the right instructions to the workers putting up road signs and the like. Its all pressure, would you really like a job where you are constantly worrying about what to do next? The top job isn't really operational, that leaves far more time for thinking and as we can see a lot of thought goes into West Berkshire.

[Andy Capp]

Yes, Newbury without a £175k CEO doesn't bear thinking about!

[GMR]

Oh come on GMR! Worth every penny. After all what would happen if he wasn't there? Doesn't bear thinking about. Yet it could so easily happen. He would go elsewhere else, like S****horpe or Clacton, and then where would we be? No one to sign Mr Ashworth's expenses or leave chits, No one to ask the Directors to see that Department Heads check the Section Heads are ensuring the Team Leaders are making sure the the Officers are giving the Chargehands the right instructions to the workers putting up road signs and the like. Its all pressure, would you really like a job where you are constantly worrying about what to do next? The top job isn't really operational, that leaves far more time for thinking and as we can see a lot of thought goes into West Berkshire.

Yes, Newbury without a £175k CEO doesn't bear thinking about!

Silly me.... never thought of that

[motormad]

Rather than moan at the council staff for managing to get and hold well paid jobs why don't you perhaps work harder? Or maybe, become a councilor?
Seems legit to me.

[Andy Capp]

Rather than moan at the council staff for managing to get and hold well paid jobs why don't you perhaps work harder? Or maybe, become a councilor?
Seems legit to me.

[Strafin]

Rather than moan at the council staff for managing to get and hold well paid jobs why don't you perhaps work harder? Or maybe, become a councilor?
Seems legit to me.

There's so much wrong with this I don't know where to begin.

[dannyboy]

Rather than moan at the council staff for managing to get and hold well paid jobs why don't you perhaps work harder? Or maybe, become a councilor?
Seems legit to me.

Bloody ****, well said that man. Or is it your dad posting?

[motormad]

My Dad lives in Reading so it's most certainly me.

I'm not saying that I agree with the high amounts of pay, but at the end of the day, if some matey can get a £175,000 a year then frankly, well done to him and I think it's funny how people get angry at that that - So I don't agree with the high pay but I probably couldn't do a better job, so why moan about it.

If being a councilor is so easy as often discussed by those with Beards, why not become a one yourself and earn that sort of money? That way you too can afford your own Helicopter.

"a quote of non-direct relation to my above comments" Someone who I'm using to try and make me look smarter.
"i probably didn't say this, but if I did then I take it all back" Dave from Number Sixty-Two.

[newres]

Rather than moan at the council staff for managing to get and hold well paid jobs why don't you perhaps work harder? Or maybe, become a councilor?
Seems legit to me.

If council staff worked harder, we could perhaps manage with less of them.

[Andy1]

The Military, Nurses, Policemen and Women, Fire Fighters too name a few, work very hard. They provide a service unlike any sector in that they make a difference and yet does their pay reflect that. Mind you they did choose to do the job.

[Strafin]

Do they work that hard though? Or are they professions that are so valuable we're afraid to challenge that? And the CE of the council is not worth that kind of money, and the nature of the public sector seems to be that people are kept in jobs and promoted all the time because its deemed that what should happen. Again not much challenging going on, because they have unlimited funds. They just keep putting up council tax.

[On the edge]

Do they work that hard though? Or are they professions that are so valuable we're afraid to challenge that? And the CE of the council is not worth that kind of money, and the nature of the public sector seems to be that people are kept in jobs and promoted all the time because its deemed that what should happen. Again not much challenging going on, because they have unlimited funds. They just keep putting up council tax.

Quite so!

[Rowley Birkin]

what a miserable post having a go at soilders and nurses

first time counciltax has gone up in a few years init

the cost of stuff goes up with inflation so they either have to put tax up by a bit or cut stuff

[Strafin]

What a ridiculous response, firstly I didn't have a go at anyone, I asked a question. Secondly council tax goes up every year and is scheduled to go above the government target next time round. Thirdly there are many more people who work for the council, soldiers and nurses don't. I think you illustrate my point though, dare to question whether or not the NHS or military is value for money and you're met with the same reply.

[Rowley Birkin]

What a ridiculous response, firstly I didn't have a go at anyone, I asked a question. Secondly council tax goes up every year and is scheduled to go above the government target next time round. Thirdly there are many more people who work for the council, soldiers and nurses don't. I think you illustrate my point though, dare to question whether or not the NHS or military is value for money and you're met with the same reply.

counciltax didn't go up last year don't think it went up before either

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/old-news-article-19065

stop bashing nurses and soilders lets hope you never need their services

[Strafin]

Well again, I haven't actually "bashed" anyone, and I believe council tax has gone up every year recently, I could be wrong on that though. However what I am suggesting is that it's not always a bad thing to cut stuff.

[Andy Capp]

counciltax didn't go up last year don't think it went up before either

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/old-news-article-19065

stop bashing nurses and soilders lets hope you never need their services

He didn't bash nurses or soldiers, he questioned why it is out of bounds to criticise them. Being a nurse or a soldier doesn't necessarily make you a good one. As for a Executive pay, I feel that is a fair target and a question more people around the world should question, especially share holders. Executive pay has soared compared to average pay.

[Ron]

If being a councilor is so easy as often discussed by those with Beards, why not become a one yourself and earn that sort of money? That way you too can afford your own Helicopter.

It's not councilors getting this sum, it's a 'hired hand'.

[Andy Capp]

Rather than moan at the council staff for managing to get and hold well paid jobs why don't you perhaps work harder? Or maybe, become a councilor? Seems legit to me.

This isn't bout being envious of their salary, it is about questioning whether the salary they receive is appropriate under the circumstances!

Bloody ****, well said that man. Or is it your dad posting?

There are times when I think you are the protagonist!