Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Well on our local news it's announced I n this financial year KCC has to save 96 million, and more savings for 2012
what will be cut to make such larg savings?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Sometimes the need for efficiencies creates an opportunity to re-think what we do and do it better. Cuts are not always a bad thing unless they leave people in genuine need disadvantaged. I think we too often jump, pavlovian style, when we hear the word "cuts". That makes people shy of actually doing anything radical and realistic.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
I think to be fair BERN thats a fair wack out of budgets i agree should always look at where you can save, local govt has been doing it year on year
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
they had that money back from iceland to offset against the figure mentioned.
will be interesting to see what they see as essential.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
here it is courtesy of kent on line.
Around 400 jobs are to be lost at Kent County Council next year, it's been revealed.
The authority has today set out details of its spending plans for next year as it unveils a budget saving of £97million.
This involves a raft of measures, including saving £38m in energy efficiency from having fewer staff and other savings, saving £24million from a reform of services and increasing some charges for services.
The £38m will be saved by:
Removing £11.4million for time-limited projects in the current budget
Removing £7.2million from staffing budgets
Saving £13.1million on contracted services
Saving £1.3million from managing our buildings more efficiently
Saving £3.1million from children's services through enhanced prevention
But it has also outlined a £723million building programme over the next three years, including £340million to be spent on schools and academies; £140million on roads and public transport and £20million for superfast broadband.
It also has plans to spend £34million on housing initiatives, including loans to make use of empty homes and help for first-time buyers.
The council's ruling Conservative administration has confirmed it plans no increase in the council tax but its savings plan will mean another round of job losses as part of the 1,500 going over three years.
Sources say the proposed budget of about £2bn will not hit frontline services but there could be higher charges for some services.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
lets see how it all pans out
unlikely not to hit front line services
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
fully agree keith, if they can save that vast amount of money without making front line cuts then they must have been giving golden goodbyes to a lot of executives and frittering away money in general.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
yes howard and with 1,500 jobs going and no affect on services
makes you wonder what all these geezers were employed for in the first place
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Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Cost of Blue Badge going up from £2.00 to £10.00.
Its only every 3 years and will be better quality badge but it is still a big jump and yet another swipe at the disabled.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
garyc
probably sadly the start of things to come
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that won't make much of a dent in their cost savings.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
No, not much savings there for KCC.
But add that to the free swimming, Tai Chi, hydro-therapy and other such clinics that have been stopped, plus the loss of bus passes and tokens that have been stopped, that's a big dent in the health and pocket of the disabled.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
Lets assume
1. that the Council has had its grant from Central Government cut
2. Central Government has limited the amount the council tax can be raised by
Therefore the budget available to KCC has effectively been cut
Whilst I am uncomfortable at reduction in services for pensioners, what would you cut instead? Which jobs would you lose?
"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 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
It's hard to answer your question, Ross.
The problem is, nothing is being done to create or find alternative work for the people who are sent home.
Each unemployed person on benefits get's about £600 a month (if it includes housing benefit), which then comes from taxpayers money.
So the State saves here, and then pays up there as a consequence. Unemployment rises all th time now.
And as we all know, that's more people with less spending power, which in turn restricts the economy. A vicious spiral.
So someone has to come up with an isea to create work, productive work the results of which can be sold on the home/world market.
I'm still sticking to my proposals of community farms and orchards. We could employ many thousands more people in Kent in that sector. Would also keep people fit.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
ross,i am sure the top 2 or 3 tiers would take a pay cut if they wearnt so greedy.allso you could cut some deadwood from that level as well.
#8 is a good question. Without implying criticism of the workers themselves (actually this is in the lap of management and is an argument for better management not a reduction in either services or in management) there was and is much waste in the time management of support workers etc who make up the frontline of social services. So indeed - what were some of them doing during their working day. This is an opportunity to realistically and without blame look at that and do it better.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Gary, a big jump yes but as you say it is valid for three years and roughly the cost of three pints of beer. Still value for money as a holder does not have to pay most car parking costs and can park almost anywhere.
Ross, I would cut the arts which although nice and create employment are not a necessity.
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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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