Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#1
Or would they prefer the easier way......................An East Kent Council!!!
A maverick mayor elected after promising to slash council spending, clear the streets of yobs and ditch politically correct services is the torch-bearer for how towns should be run.
On his first morning as Mayor of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, Peter Davies cut his salary from £73,000 to £30,000 then closed the council's newspaper for "peddling politics on the rates".
Now three weeks into his job, Mr Davies is pressing ahead with plans he hopes will see the number of town councillors cut from 63 to just 21, saving taxpayers £800,000.
Mr Davies said: "If 100 senators can run the United States of
America, I can't see how 63 councillors are needed to run Doncaster".
He has withdrawn Doncaster from the Local Government Association and the Local Government Information Unit, saving another £200,000. Mr Davies said, "They are just talking shops".
"Doncaster is in for some serious untwinning. We are twinned with probably nine other cities around the world and they are just for people to fly off and have a binge at the council's expense".
The mayor's chauffeur-driven car has also been axed by Mr Davies and the driver given another job. Mr Davies, born and bred in Doncaster, swept to power in the May election with 24,244 votes as a candidate for the English Democrats, a party that wants tight immigration curbs, an English Parliament
and a law forcing every public building to fly the flag of
St. George.
He has promised to end council funding for Doncaster's International Women's Day, Black History Month and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month.
He said, "Politicians have got completely out of touch with what people want.
"We need to cut costs. I want to pass on some savings I make in reduced taxes and use the rest for things we really need, like improved children's services".
Mr Davies has received messages from well wishers across the country and abroad as news of his no-nonsense approach spreads.
Now it's your chance to spread this most sensible way to run a town council.
NB. There are £ Millions to be saved with a Unitary of East Kent and more democratic than above.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
interesting read reg certainly the twinning and the periphery items that some councils spend money on will strike a chord with the public.
you mention town council but an elected mayor would have to be in control of a district or metropolitan authority so not much we can learn from this.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#3
Reg that story is from 2009, hardly new stuff. And yes Howard, Doncaster is a Metropolitan Borough Council.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#4
I would not care if the story was ten years old, can we do the same in Kent and DDC area,
I firmly believe there are far too many councillors at all levels.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#5
And too many levels.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#6
I agree with all of that.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
this will set keith off, one of his main issues has always been about too many levels of local government and too many councillors.
in my ward i have 9.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#8
Do we really need or want Parish, Town, District and Kent councillors.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#9
Jan Town Council is a Parish Council with bigger budget because it is bigger than the average Parish.You are Lucky in you ward,You have I County Cllr 2 District Cllrs Pam Brivio and myself and 3 Town Councillors Pam Brivio Ronnie Philpott and myself
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#10
i must say that we have too many but not sure which layer to cut out.
the town council do some good events but their communication skills are dire.
most people do not know what comes under district and county so maybe some more local decision making is required therefore cutting down on county control?
of course a unitary authority as championed by reg would lower overall costs.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#11
I think there are 2 options
a) get rid of parish/town councils leaving district and county and devolve some of the parish responsibilities to local community forums
or
b) get rid of district and county and create 2 possibly 3 unitary authorities covering Kent and beef up town/parish councils
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#12
howard;
your right time for my input again,,,,,,,
as howard states we have 9 cllrs in priory ward alone
4 town cllrs 3 district cllrs and 2 county cllrs
now take that across the 3 councils and see the cost of all those wards.
the cost of kent county cl;rs many years ago reached £660,000 and im sure is a lot higher now.
then you have cost of district cllrs and town.
certainly i would say the 3 councils should be working together to see how much of there services are needed.
for me i woud like to see a long term decision to disband the county council but first enough resourcves given to whomever takes on these services.
the county should send many of its services to district and some even to the town council, with the aim being to disolve the county council.
see peter we can agree on things, and hopefully we can see this being achieved very soon.
of course the county council will always defend its position and never give up the fight, but theres a real need for a unitary of some sort, but hopefully with this see the county council go
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#13
yes keith nobody you speak to knows who there county councillors are.
two years ago i was asked by a neighbour what your address was to write to, i explained that you had chucked it all in and gave them roger's details, that is just at district level let alone county.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#14
howard;
you will be surprized i still had a geezer today ask me about council work
its lovely to be out of it all though
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#15
# 11. ( b ) Has some mileage but please keep thinking ............East Kent Council.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#16
I agree Reg and we need fewer councillors but full time properly paid councillors, some with executive responsibilities, mirroring the Central government model. Town and parish councillors should also have more responsibility thrust upon them and should deal with most of the constituency work currently done by district and county members.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#17
John I know Parish and Town are the same I worded my list badly.
Ross, I agree to an extent get rid of DDC and KCC make each town responsible for their own affairs.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#18
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#19
# 11 and #16. have the ingredients that could be the starting point of initial talks between our four District Councils.
Because it is a case of Turkeys voting for Christmas it will need people of courage and a will to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of Local Government services to the people of Dover and East Kent.
It would be helpfull if the Leader of the Council is looking in on the DF to give his thoughts and comments.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
i am sure that paul is looking in reg.
there have been initial talks between district councils locally, inevitably there are problems that have to be overcome.
shared services are very complicated as each council categorises each department differently.
