Northumberland County Council budget scrutinised
Once again they fail the people of Northumberland in the sevices they try and deliver to us ?
What is most interesting is the average age of Northumberland County Councillors, they are not young , and may need elderly care in a few years time ?
Published on 15/12/2006
Elderly care and highways should be given top priority by Northumberland County Council, with less money spent on the proposed reorganisation of schools.
That is the view of Haltwhistle Town Council on the county council’s budget for 2007/8.At its latest meeting, town council chairman Coun. Alan Sharp said:
“We are very concerned about Greenholme and nurse care provision.”Coun. Sharp added that more money needed to be allocated to highways, and particularly potholes.“Elderly care and the highways budget do concern me,” he said. “We are not getting the service we need. “I think we should voice genuine concerns about those.”Coun. Sharp said he believes education is highly important, but he does not think money has been spent very wisely on the proposed reorganisation of schools.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Bill Brooks Leader of Northumberland County Council
LOVES WASTING THE TAX PAYERS MONEY £15.000 , think it might be half the leaders salary ????????????????????????????????
Its not his money so why should NCC care
Newspaper adverts for council cost £15,000
Nov 17 2006
By The Journal
A publicity campaign extolling the services provided by Northumberland County Council cost £15,000, it has been revealed.
The authority took full-page advertisements in a number of local newspapers last week to highlight its public services and a range of community initiatives.
Now county council leader Coun Bill Brooks has defended the ads in the face of questioning from opposition councillors.
He said they cost £15,000 to run and the money was taken from the budget set aside to produce the council's annual report.
Coun Brooks said the ads were part of the publicity for the report and were aimed at informing the general public more clearly and effectively.
He said the content of the newspaper ads was accurate and reflected work done by partners and added: "Consultation has told us people want to know about what we spend money on and what we do.
Conservative councillor Sue Bolam said much of the information was published with council tax demands and in a recent A to Z of services the county produced.
"It seems somewhat unnecessary to take out full-page adverts at this point in time, when we have had consultations about various services where it appears the council has not listened to the public as well as it could have done," she said.
Its not his money so why should NCC care
Newspaper adverts for council cost £15,000
Nov 17 2006
By The Journal
A publicity campaign extolling the services provided by Northumberland County Council cost £15,000, it has been revealed.
The authority took full-page advertisements in a number of local newspapers last week to highlight its public services and a range of community initiatives.
Now county council leader Coun Bill Brooks has defended the ads in the face of questioning from opposition councillors.
He said they cost £15,000 to run and the money was taken from the budget set aside to produce the council's annual report.
Coun Brooks said the ads were part of the publicity for the report and were aimed at informing the general public more clearly and effectively.
He said the content of the newspaper ads was accurate and reflected work done by partners and added: "Consultation has told us people want to know about what we spend money on and what we do.
Conservative councillor Sue Bolam said much of the information was published with council tax demands and in a recent A to Z of services the county produced.
"It seems somewhat unnecessary to take out full-page adverts at this point in time, when we have had consultations about various services where it appears the council has not listened to the public as well as it could have done," she said.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
A open letter to Bill Brooks leader of NCC
Yet again the papers carry further nonsense from a County Councillor, this time a Tynedale member attacks Wansbeck Council and its ability to run services to the same standard as the County.
He is right Wansbeck would never be able to obtain the lowest possible rating for Adult social care – as the County have.
They would never be able to fail two Ofsteds in a row, obliging Gateshead to send officers to Morpeth to run the show for them.
Again he is right when Wansbeck who according to the Audit Commision provide a two star ‘good ‘ rating for value for money services – the same as Blyth Valley, what about the County –ohhhhh sorry forgot – they do not provide value for money – the National Audit Office tell us.
He is right – they would never close Care Homes Training Centres, libraries because they CARE. That’s right they CARE about their people.
Where this young mans naïve attack really fails though, is to talk about democracy.
Northumberland County Council’s Leader refuses to debate the White Paper with his Council.
He refuses to let them have a view on one or two unitaries. He prefers to stand by the vote 3 years ago under a different Leader and with a different Council.
But hey. Hang on. Does that mean he know accepts the peoples vote for two unitaries?
Of course not he avoids that question like the plague!
There is only one way out of this to leave the County with a shred of dignity.
Allow Councillors to debate the White Paper options now and express a view, and accept the referendum or have another if you so wish.
He is right Wansbeck would never be able to obtain the lowest possible rating for Adult social care – as the County have.
They would never be able to fail two Ofsteds in a row, obliging Gateshead to send officers to Morpeth to run the show for them.
Again he is right when Wansbeck who according to the Audit Commision provide a two star ‘good ‘ rating for value for money services – the same as Blyth Valley, what about the County –ohhhhh sorry forgot – they do not provide value for money – the National Audit Office tell us.
He is right – they would never close Care Homes Training Centres, libraries because they CARE. That’s right they CARE about their people.
Where this young mans naïve attack really fails though, is to talk about democracy.
Northumberland County Council’s Leader refuses to debate the White Paper with his Council.
He refuses to let them have a view on one or two unitaries. He prefers to stand by the vote 3 years ago under a different Leader and with a different Council.
But hey. Hang on. Does that mean he know accepts the peoples vote for two unitaries?
Of course not he avoids that question like the plague!
There is only one way out of this to leave the County with a shred of dignity.
Allow Councillors to debate the White Paper options now and express a view, and accept the referendum or have another if you so wish.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Districts unite against Northumberland County Council
News Post Leader 11 December 2006
Districts unite against county
DISTRICT councils are joining forces to see Northumberland County Council abolished in favour of two new authorities.
Authorities in Wansbeck and Blyth Valley are working in partnership with Tynedale, Alnwick, Berwick and Castle Morpeth in a bid to create two unitary councils.In a submission to the government, the partnership calls for one council for the rural areas and a separate one for the urban areas – Rural Northumberland and South East Northumberland.Each would focus on specific issues in its distinct areas as well as being financially sustainable and creating significant savings for council tax payers.
Leader of Blyth Valley, Coun Dave Stephens said: "The option that we are all supporting is the one that Northumberland residents voted heavily in favour of in the referendum of 2004."I want local government to cost less, be excellent across the county and have a real and meaningful relationship with the people we serve."
But county council chiefs say splitting up the communities by forming two separate authorities would cause irreparable damage and cause services such as schools and social services to be delivered less efficiently.County council leader, Coun Bill Brooks, said: "I don't believe our communities would be best served by being split up, and I have yet to see an argument which stands up to scrutiny that convinces me otherwise."From an economical perspective there are services which wouldn't be delivered as efficiently on a smaller scale, such as schools and social services."By having more than one council you would still get taxpayers paying for the expense and duplication of running two authorities, rather than more money going into frontline services."Officers at County Hall are looking into the option of one single council for Northumberland, taking on the responsibilities of the district councils.Coun Brooks said: "This is not about self preservation, this is about what is best for our communities, it is about replacing all district and county councils with something brand new, fit for purpose and efficient."I believe that, despite best efforts, the current structure of local government in Northumberland doesn't work, we know it is confusing, expensive and bureaucratic.
"Tynedale Council leader, Coun John Herron, said: "Northumberland County Council cannot be trusted to deliver its current services, never mind taking onboard additional services."The fact that the county council has chosen to completely ignore the vote of its residents from only two years ago speaks volumes."It is not a council that is interested in consulting or listening to residents in key decisions."
The proposals are being submitted in response to the Government's White Paper on Local Government.Coun Herron said: "The fact that six different councils with different political compositions can form such a strong alliance is testament to the passion that we all have for the people of Northumberland."
11 December 2006
Districts unite against county
DISTRICT councils are joining forces to see Northumberland County Council abolished in favour of two new authorities.
Authorities in Wansbeck and Blyth Valley are working in partnership with Tynedale, Alnwick, Berwick and Castle Morpeth in a bid to create two unitary councils.In a submission to the government, the partnership calls for one council for the rural areas and a separate one for the urban areas – Rural Northumberland and South East Northumberland.Each would focus on specific issues in its distinct areas as well as being financially sustainable and creating significant savings for council tax payers.
Leader of Blyth Valley, Coun Dave Stephens said: "The option that we are all supporting is the one that Northumberland residents voted heavily in favour of in the referendum of 2004."I want local government to cost less, be excellent across the county and have a real and meaningful relationship with the people we serve."
But county council chiefs say splitting up the communities by forming two separate authorities would cause irreparable damage and cause services such as schools and social services to be delivered less efficiently.County council leader, Coun Bill Brooks, said: "I don't believe our communities would be best served by being split up, and I have yet to see an argument which stands up to scrutiny that convinces me otherwise."From an economical perspective there are services which wouldn't be delivered as efficiently on a smaller scale, such as schools and social services."By having more than one council you would still get taxpayers paying for the expense and duplication of running two authorities, rather than more money going into frontline services."Officers at County Hall are looking into the option of one single council for Northumberland, taking on the responsibilities of the district councils.Coun Brooks said: "This is not about self preservation, this is about what is best for our communities, it is about replacing all district and county councils with something brand new, fit for purpose and efficient."I believe that, despite best efforts, the current structure of local government in Northumberland doesn't work, we know it is confusing, expensive and bureaucratic.
"Tynedale Council leader, Coun John Herron, said: "Northumberland County Council cannot be trusted to deliver its current services, never mind taking onboard additional services."The fact that the county council has chosen to completely ignore the vote of its residents from only two years ago speaks volumes."It is not a council that is interested in consulting or listening to residents in key decisions."
The proposals are being submitted in response to the Government's White Paper on Local Government.Coun Herron said: "The fact that six different councils with different political compositions can form such a strong alliance is testament to the passion that we all have for the people of Northumberland."
11 December 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Maybe if you talked to your fellow labour councillors this might not happen or do they not trust you any more Leader of the County Council Bill Brooks
Astonishing astounding - yes its another example of NCC riding roughshod over local communities and also an example of Districts who do not trust NCC to do anything other than on the cheap.
Astonishing astonishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Traffic chaos fears over waste complex
Dec 9 2006
By Dave Black, The Journal
Plans to build an £11m waste handling complex in Northumberland have been hit by fears it will create traffic chaos and road hazards for businesses and householders.
The row over the proposed waste recycling and transfer centre on the West Sleekburn industrial estate near Ashington could result in Wansbeck Council refusing to sell land required for the project.
Northumberland County Council and its partner SITA UK want to build the complex to handle 120,000 tonnes of refuse a year as part of a £34m, PFI-funded waste management project to boost recycling rates.
Now - following a heated public meeting earlier this week - district council leaders, traders on the industrial estate and residents are demanding action to improve access and tackle potential traffic problems.
About 220 wagons a day will bring waste into the site on an access road already heavily used by people visiting scrapyards, transport yards, a caravan business, a sawmill and plant hire and skip businesses on the estate.
There are fears that, without a new access road or significant measures to tackle the extra traffic, people in nearby West Sleekburn and Stakeford, along with the local middle school, will suffer.
Yesterday Coun David Nicholson, deputy leader of Wansbeck Council, said he is concerned that the county council and SITA are trying to do the job on the cheap by simply `tinkering' with the existing access road.
"This project has many benefits and I would like to see it go ahead, but as things stand it will mean absolute chaos down there in terms of traffic.
"I am not prepared to support this scheme if the price we have pay is local and vulnerable communities having to suffer."
Ken Forrest, who runs a scrapyard on the estate, said: "I have nothing against the waste plant but it is extremely congested here already and fetching in 220 more lorries a day is going to make things impossible and cause accidents."
Sawmill boss George Cape said: "All this extra traffic to the waste recycling site would make it impossible for our customers to get in or out, because it is absolutely chaotic at present. What we need is a new access road from the Spine Road."
Jean Davidson, secretary of the West Sleekburn residents' association, said: "Traffic through our village is already horrendous and we believe this would make things worse."
County council leader Bill Brooks said: "While it was astonishing to be informed so late in the day of this issue and the possibility of blocking the sale, we are in discussion with Wansbeck District Council to clarify and resolve this matter."
Astonishing astonishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Traffic chaos fears over waste complex
Dec 9 2006
By Dave Black, The Journal
Plans to build an £11m waste handling complex in Northumberland have been hit by fears it will create traffic chaos and road hazards for businesses and householders.
The row over the proposed waste recycling and transfer centre on the West Sleekburn industrial estate near Ashington could result in Wansbeck Council refusing to sell land required for the project.
Northumberland County Council and its partner SITA UK want to build the complex to handle 120,000 tonnes of refuse a year as part of a £34m, PFI-funded waste management project to boost recycling rates.
Now - following a heated public meeting earlier this week - district council leaders, traders on the industrial estate and residents are demanding action to improve access and tackle potential traffic problems.
About 220 wagons a day will bring waste into the site on an access road already heavily used by people visiting scrapyards, transport yards, a caravan business, a sawmill and plant hire and skip businesses on the estate.
There are fears that, without a new access road or significant measures to tackle the extra traffic, people in nearby West Sleekburn and Stakeford, along with the local middle school, will suffer.
Yesterday Coun David Nicholson, deputy leader of Wansbeck Council, said he is concerned that the county council and SITA are trying to do the job on the cheap by simply `tinkering' with the existing access road.
"This project has many benefits and I would like to see it go ahead, but as things stand it will mean absolute chaos down there in terms of traffic.
"I am not prepared to support this scheme if the price we have pay is local and vulnerable communities having to suffer."
Ken Forrest, who runs a scrapyard on the estate, said: "I have nothing against the waste plant but it is extremely congested here already and fetching in 220 more lorries a day is going to make things impossible and cause accidents."
Sawmill boss George Cape said: "All this extra traffic to the waste recycling site would make it impossible for our customers to get in or out, because it is absolutely chaotic at present. What we need is a new access road from the Spine Road."
Jean Davidson, secretary of the West Sleekburn residents' association, said: "Traffic through our village is already horrendous and we believe this would make things worse."
County council leader Bill Brooks said: "While it was astonishing to be informed so late in the day of this issue and the possibility of blocking the sale, we are in discussion with Wansbeck District Council to clarify and resolve this matter."
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