Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#1
Good to see the Bleriot celebrations are up and running,as I said in another post I was in Dayton for the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers and went up in a reconstructed Wright 'B' Flyer and it should be a good weekend......but...
£250.00 + VAT for a dinner! That is scandalous at this time of Credit Crunch,well if you wanted to go and take your partner that is close to £600 plus drinks who could justify that! No doubt there will be guests and they will have thier dinner paid for them,and who will pay that,yes you can bet DDC and that is your money buying dinners.
No doubt Posh Barry has already ordered several spaces but for us meer mortals,there is no chance,most Dover families don't spend any where near £250 + VAT on a months food shopping,can this be justified.
What do Forumites think
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#2
what on earth are you getting for that for christs sake,the last supper.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#3
I like John think in these difficult times £250 per head is appaling .I cannot see any justification in spending that kind of money .There will also be a reception at the Town Hall which has to be paid for .I cannot divulge how much of Tax payers money is being spent but there is always the FIA .
I shall not attend events that in these difficult times are so costly .Why not have bangers and mash with a pint of beer .
I find it difficult to come to terms with these costs when we have a Town that is struggling .A few flowers would not come amiss .
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#4
It sees that the cost pays for the meal, Giles Brandreth speaking (oh joy), fireworks and an RAF band. If individuals wish to pay out that much for attending then fair play, but I do hope that the number of public officials attending is severely limited.
http://www.dover2009.com/galadinner.htmlGuest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#5
Well a very interesting thread..the first ive heard of it and thanks Phil for the link as it gives us the details. Ive certainly been guilty of the occasional extravagance meself in the past but that £250+vat price tag is tooooo tooo much.
The sad thing is it will almost certainly exclude the people of Dover. Clearly aimed at a London market where despite the recession money still flows aplenty and wages are much higher etc. Not much chance of too many people from inner Dover enjoying the evening, which is a shame. Bring back socialism
.
Ah but in this time of horrific expense fiddling in political circles, and Phil raises the point, how many of the inner council crowd will be lavishly and sumptiously dining free gratis, while the poor outside the door cant afford shoes for their kids.
Brian is right, Jesus Christ himself would need to turn up for this supper to make it worth the money!
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#6
Exactly so Paul. We don't want Dover not to be represented at all at the dinner, that would be simply embarrasing, but neither we don't want large numbers of those taking advantage of their status in the Councils using public money for a freebie. To be fair to the Bleriot organisers, although the dinner is out of bounds to us mere poor mortals, there are a lot of other events on that the public will be able to enjoy for free.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
#7
Yes Phil, thanks for that link, very useful, it gives us an insight into what can be enjoyed for free, it should be a great weekend for the people of Dover to enjoy the flypast etc whilst picnicing on the beach and also the evening firework display will be a real treat. There will be 3 cruise ships in that weekend, so the passengers can enjoy the spectacle
The cost of the dinner is a bit extravagant to say the least
I don't think Jesus will be turning up though PaulB, if he did, surely he would be turning the water into wine and the ticket price would be much more affordable!
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#8
I'll try hide myself in a tower and get a view of what is going on !! £250 must be out of most people leagues
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#9
Paul don't forget the Vat,another £37 +
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#10
Any councillors attending should pay for their own dinner and not fall into the trap that the current sorry state of MP's have fallen in to.
I hope Gwynn if attending is paying his own way.
Perhaps someone from the Council can confirm or deny that they no Councillors attending for "gratis".
After the huge losses made through poor investments in Iceland this just tops the bloody cake.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#11
i will inform people of my plans the very minute i have finished with the gas meter and looked down the backs of chairs.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#12
Anyone who shells out that much need their head testing and the person responsible for organisising it and setting that charge should be locked up in a loony bin for his own safety.
I would enjoy such an event, right up my street but I would certainly not pay more than £50 ph including VAT....
As far as Dover is concerned I would think that I might be the type who would be the 'target market' for this. I just cant see anyone being stupid enough to cough up.
I certainly hope our councillors and MP dont attend on their expenses.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#13
Amusingly the link for the application form on their web site does not work, it only opens a flyer for the gala dinner
"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
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#14
I'm sure the Chairman of Dover District Council (as First Citizen of the District) and his good Lady will be attending, but this must be the only "local" dinner where any public figure or Councillor who attends for free, will almost be too embarrassed to say so.
If there are local people who can afford to go, then I'm pleased that we do have such rich luminaries living here. Sadly, I'm not one of them either.
Did you find anything down the back of the sofa Howard, apart from two farthings and a piece of old cake ?
Roger
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#15
Roger of course as you stated the Chairman of the Council should attend but I would hope most sincerely no other councillor attends unless they cough up the £250+vat .
Im sure many cannot afford that .
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#16
I actually disagree with Sue and Roger, I dont think the Chairman should attend and refuse free tickets even if offered. And the Council Tax payers must not pay for it under any circumstances.
I believe he should publically snub the event, it is what the organisers deserve. It is an outrage that such a price should be set for this and particularly when we are in such a deep recession. It is not the time for such over the top extravagence/greed, whatever it is that has prompted the price to be set.
Perhaps the Chairman should instead organise an alternative dinner (Town hall perhaps) to be held at the same time and in direct competition and at a much, much more reasonable price.
I believe the Chairman and DDC would receive a great deal of good press for this (nationals, maybe?)
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#17
BarryW
I agree wholeheartedly with your posting above. A meal in the Town Hall @ £25.00 per head on the same night as the Bleriot Dinner would send out a strong message to the organisers and to the people of Dover that we will not be rode rough shod over by out of town rich party planners.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
#18
Will be interesting how many people attend this and who they are, money not very well spent in these times a lot more free events for the town and people of Dover would have been better.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#19
Well after talking to several Cllrs last night including Roger Nigel Gordon and Sue Delling from Deal they all think like me this Dinner is completely over the top,even Barry agreed with me and that is a first.
So lets see how many Cllrs decided to go and use the 'Gravy Train' to get a free Dinner,remember all those free complimentary dinners are being paid by everyone who pays the Poll Tax,wether it is County District or Town Coluncils it comes out of the same pot......your pot.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#20
I think the chairman has already agreed to host a table ??FIA will tell us in due course .I think Nigel has been having a say in the arrangements .I would never have agreed to such extravagance but it was hardly discussed at cabinet ,
I think its an outrage and people should be saying so
Oh what company you keep John ?.