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Hazelmere

Bucks council warns massive service cuts ahead

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Published Date:
22 July 2010
Senior Reporter
Bucks County Council has warned that it will no longer be able to continue with many of the services it currently provides due to massive public spending cuts.
The authority has launched the Bucks Debate, a series of roadshows where residents get the chance to suggest ways money can be saved and what services should be prioritised.

At a council meeting today, leader, Cllr David Shakespeare said he expects the Government's grant to the council, which is around £84 million, to be cut by between 25 to 40 per cent in the comprehensive spending review.

Three million pounds has already been taken away from their current budget.

Any reductions will be on top of £52 million of savings the council has already had to make over the next four years.

Cllr Shakespeare said: "There is no doubt we face challenging times ahead in public sector services.

"When I say challenging times I mean it in the same sense as Dunkirk being a challenging experience for the nation as well.

"Increasingly, the role of councils will be about being providers of the last resort, helping those who really cannot help themselves."

He said services which the council does not have an obligation to provide may be scrapped altogether, while those it does have a responsibility to provide may be reduced or changed considerably.

The Bucks Debate at locations across the county in September, including September 10 at Booker Park School in Aylesbury and September 20 at Princes Risborough School, both starting at 7pm.

Deputy leader, Cllr Bill Chapple, said: "The Coalition Government has inherited a massive debt problem, and time for resolving it is not on their side.

"The longer they prevaricate, the more interest will accrue on that debt.

"We have already shouldered substantial in-year budget cuts and you don't need a crystal ball to predict that there is more to come.

"We know the 'Rolls Royce' level of services residents have received in the past cannot be sustained in the current economic climate.

"While we will always strive for the best, the bottom line is communities are going to have to become more self-sufficient, with support and back-up from us.

"The idea behind the Bucks Debate is to get people together, looking at ways we can all best serve the interests of our residents and maintain the best quality of life possible for all generations."

He added: " "This isn't about us, the Council, telling people what they want, it's about them telling us what they need.

"It's also about us finding out how residents can get more involved within their communities.

"I really do urge people to come along, play their part and help us to help them."

To visit the official Bucks Debate website, click here.

How do you think the council can save money or guarantee more income? What services should be cut or reduced first?

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  • Last Updated: 23 July 2010 12:12 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Aylesbury
 
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JR,

23/07/2010 01:20:35
Let's be honest here David, If we give you some really good ways of saving money, all you will do is ignore them and carry on doing what you want anyway!

First thing the council can do is stop paying out ridiculous sums to people who drive headlong into huge potholes!

Second thing is to reduce a few salaries of BCC top earners - Chris williams earns £200k+ and he is asking his staff for money saving ideas - on the kind of money he earns, he should have the answers already without asking the underpaid.

Next thing to do will be to get rid of the hundreds of levels of managers. I note in the recent Swanrider debacle there was mention of about half a dozen levels of management & how not one of them bothered to keep an eye on budgets, nor did they seem to care about the overspend - round up the guilty and sack them.

And what about all the gritters that BCC now own? About half a dozen brand new gritters were bought & now stand idle. Why? Surely BCC could have bought flatbed lorries for the road repair crews to use with a gritter attachment to sit on the bed (they don't repair roads when they are covered in ice/snow.

What about all the money that was wasted in the iceland bank scam? Whoever did the investment obviously knew nothing about investing money - there was plenty of warning on the internet about Iceland's problems. I wonder how many people were sacked over that fiasco?
And what about the pathfinder fiasco? £1 million invested to find out nobody wants to join in so the whole thing ends up swept under the carpet.
And what about all the other hair-brained schemes BCC is planning?
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Donald Pants,

Bucks 23/07/2010 19:18:45
I reckon JR is Chris Williams
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JR,

23/07/2010 22:06:56
It'd be nice to have his income - even if it was only for 1 year.
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Donald Pants,

Bucks 23/07/2010 22:44:43
I totally agree , if i was lucky enough to be in that position and i had been earning that amount of money for a number of years , Now is the time i would give something back and take a pay cut of roughly 100k or more a year.

There are alot of things in life more important than money and i feel i would get alot of respect and recognition and prove i do my job for the love of it and wanting to make an example to all my employees.

But alas i shall never be in that position i will just have to make do earning my 19k a year and doing my job to the best of my ability.
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Scout1000,

Aylesbury 25/07/2010 17:01:28
A pay cut!!!! I'm sure hes looking for a bonus because of all the money hes saved by getting rid of services to outside contractors that put in yet another layer of management. (Thats bound to save money and deliver good service)

I take it the people that the council will have to support are the top managers of the council after all they are in need aren't they.

The whole thing makes me sick, lights are being turned out, services are being cut and our illustrious leaders get new wheels because they can't be bothered to look where they are going.

The line from Animal Farm comes to mind "We are all equal its just that some of us are more equal than others."
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Scout1000,

Aylesbury 25/07/2010 17:03:29
They shouldn't just do their best, they should be SEEN to be doing their best
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Wiresfan,

Duckville 25/07/2010 22:44:56
#4, Donald.
My basic, O/T and bonuses still leave you a better earner than me.
The thing is, the senior folks don't live in our world, eating Lidl and "Value" brands because we simply can't afford better.

Going to the article, erm, when was the "Rolls Royce level of service"???
I've been in this town since 2003, and haven't spotted it yet, unless a council boss was driving it.
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JR,

26/07/2010 11:35:22
On Mix96 this morning, Penny Gray from Unison talked about BCC using consultants when it is trying to save cash & how there are plenty of staff on the payroll who have the skills.
Shakey defended the use of consultants as they are used for 'one-offs' or special, short term jobs. he says it is cheaper to bring in specialist knowledge.
Yes David, just like Swanrider management brought in a consultancy firm - at great expense - then ignored their recommendations (and what really beggars belief) they later brought in ANOTHER consultancy firm (who basically gave the same advice) - and STILL the managers ignored the recommendations.
Come on David, isn't it about time these wastrel and obviously incompetent managers were given the order of the boot - and no golden handshakes?

You can save hundreds of thousands pf pounds by simply chopping back all the dead wood, all the levels of managers who were promoted way beyond their level of competence, never mind all the touchy-feely second chances, these people are costing BCC thousands every day, they are obviously not up to the job.
And while you're at it, get rid of their managers as well - seems to me that if these people allow their subordinates to make stupid and costly decisions then they, too, can't be up to the job.


It's not rocket science.
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