Cheadle and Gatley Lib Dems are moving
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by Lib Dem team on 7 October, 2014
Last week I headed over to Rochdale Council’s swanky new building, Riverside 1, for the first meeting of the STaR committee.
One of the ways councils across the country are looking to save money is by working together on joint ventures: instead of everyone having their own layers of management and staffing, there’s just one department.
It’s not proved easy though. Different councils have all sorts of ways of doing things, political objectives and challenges they face.
STaR is a joint procurement body run for the benefit of Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale (hence the acronym-name – feel free to invent your own!) Working together, the three councils will have considerably greater buying power so should be able to make savings.
When the three councillors met last week, we wanted to achieve more than just savings, though. We want to find ways to maximise our spending with local businesses and (a particular focus for Stockport) get even more apprentices.
The three councils have different political make-ups (Tory Trafford, Labour Rochdale and Lib Dem Stockport) but we’ve got a good working relationship, agree on what we want to achieve and see the benefits of working together.
10 Comments
Time to reinvent GMC ?…
Abolish the District Councils.
Elect one councillor per seat.
Election to take place once every five years.
A proportional electoral system should be used.
There’s no constitutional change like back-of-a-fag-packet constitutional change, eh Robert 😉
I don’t think I would make too much of swanky new council buildings when council tax takes such a huge proportion of my limited and, in real terms, diminishing income, even if it is Rochdale to which you are referring. I speak as an ex-council employee so I am not advocating for staff,to work in unsuitable conditions but there is a time to mention these things and this is not it.
Hi Carolyn, I mention it in passing and – as you rightly say – the building is in Rochdale. However, you raise a good point as Stockport also built a new council building (Fred Perry House) a few years ago.
Generally these buildings contribute to savings rather than costing money, so they play a part in minimising council costs.
Most councils have old buildings which cost more and more to maintain and a small fortune to heat. A new building will not only be far better for staff but save money over time – a win-win. That’s the case with Fred Perry House, it’s the case with the proposed new HQ for Stockport Homes and, although I don’t know, I’d guess the same is true of Riverside 1 in Rochdale.
We’re always looking for ways to save money on our property portfolio, and where constructing a new building saves money, I think we should generally do it.
Oneself would agree with RT.
There be far too many councils.
There be far too many councillors.
There be far too many ‘politicos’ – period !
No council enjoys a democratic mandate – most electors do not even elect them !!
Hi Ian having Fred Perry house now does this mean the council will now get rid of the old council building which I should imagine costs a fortune to run. Maybe a hotel chain or independent hotelier might buy it to convert.
The council has a lot of property across Stockport and everything’s being looked at. The Town Hall is currently full and very well used, so were it to be retired another building would have to be build first and there are no plans to do that at the moment.
Methinks the Town Hall be priceless, but, am sure it could be better used…
Take the Councillors out – put the towns council provided cultural services in there…
Central Library (the one and only such that Stocky needs).
Art Gallery.
Town Museum – currently taking up valuable commercial space in the Market Place.
The Hall itself will be just that – a space for assorted ‘gatherings’ / shows.
The Council Chamber could be included in a forthcoming rebuild of that concrete carbuncle – Stopford House !
As ever, Robert, your well-thought-out plans are a joy to read 🙂
‘Snickers’councillorr !…
RT has a sound suggestion, besides, television tourism vis-Ã -vis Stopford House has gone to ‘Mars’ !
Whilst on this ‘Topic’, could a new council chamber not be constructed be’Twix’ the Town Hall and Stopford House ? for a small ‘Bounty’ – if that would not be too much of a ‘Marathon’ !!