Cheadle and Gatley Lib Dems are moving
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by Lib Dem team on 1 December, 2014
Stockport’s Lib Dem leader, Cllr Sue Derbyshire, was one of over a hundred council leaders from all parties and right across the country to call for radical reform in local government if important services are to survive the future years of government spending cuts promised by all the main parties.
Funding for services provided by councils has borne the brunt of austerity while demand continues to rise. When the chancellor delivers his autumn statement this Wednesday, “more of the same” cannot be an option.
After a 40% reduction in funding during this parliament, our efficiency savings are coming to an end. Further reductions without radical reform will have a detrimental impact on people’s quality of life and will lead to vital services being scaled back or lost altogether. Services such as libraries, leisure centres and road maintenance continue to buckle under the strain of cuts and the ever-rising cost of caring for our growing elderly population. Failure to address this will not only jeopardise other services, but will pass costs on to the NHS, which will have to pick up the pieces if we cannot protect adult social care or provide the services that keep people healthy.
Last week, the Smith commission set out a better deal for Scotland, granting more control over funding and recognising the importance of devolving power down beyond Holyrood. It’s England’s turn now.
There is compelling evidence that taking decisions closer to the people affected achieves better results and saves money. It is vital that the autumn statement sets out a new settlement for England, which puts powers beyond Westminster, and shares out tax and spending across the UK on a fair basis. The people we represent, who look north of the border with envy at the greater control Scots are to get over their everyday lives, will expect nothing less.
The letter appears in last Sunday’s Observer newspaper.
7 Comments
Even little Wales with only twenty-two (?) Unitary Councils be considering reducing the number of such – BY HALF !
Time for England to follow suit – Unitary Councils only – then SLASH the numbers !
Stockport MBC ? = history – or at least it should be !
Manchester CC – for the whole county (drop the ‘Greater’ nonsense) – would be our choice. Time to face up to reality – the ‘outside world’ only sees MANCHESTER – Stocky means nothing to them !
Wales has 22 councils for 3.1 million people, Greater Manchester has 10 councils for 2.55 million people, so you’re right that Wales has some way to go to achieve the same councillor/resident ratio as GM and halving their number would leave them similar to us (though there are other challenges with a far more rural area).
Too many councillors – each area has three which should be reduced to two asap.May cost more initially but savings will be made in future years.
But when do turkeys vote for Christmas?
Councillors are of almost no significance in cost terms. Council costs I understand are more than 70% driven by manpower costs. For example Greater Manchester has 10 chief executives which incurs around £2 million per year salary cost. That’s bad enough but try buying the pension entitlements of this group – its probably around £40 million – and that’s for 10 people.
Given the still horrendous state of the annual deficit (£90 billion) and cumulative state deficit of £1.4 trillion its obvious we have a massive state spending problem. It can’t be fixed by taxation as the economy would implode, it can’t be fixed by taxing the uber rich (who have never paid tax, don’t pay tax and never will pay tax) so its clear whoever wwind the next election will have to cut spending further.
If councils think they can have devolved taxation powers to increase taxes they need a basic understanding of economics to realize the economic devastation they will inflict on their areas.
I agree with the principle of localisation provided its focus is improved efficiency and reduced costs. Less going on expensive council manpower. A start could be made on reducing the chief executives and the tier below to drastically reduce the organisational costs in Greater Manchester. Also just have one HR and 1 finance department for GM etc.
For example Shell has 1 HR department for the the whole of Europe with all the attendant cost savings. Why does every council have to have one ? Massive cost savings are clearly possible so the reducing spending gets spent on those who need it and not inefficient back office council departments.
Indeed, but…
There be far too many ‘bums’ busily covering their backsides – just wait for Councillor Roberts trying to justify the need for all these people – and himself !
Public Sector ‘workers’ in general AND Council ‘workers’ in particular are by far the least productive element of the British workforce – all those tea breaks, non-jobs and, to add insult to injury – jobsworths.
Solution ?…
One Council only for the whole of the Manchester ‘region’.
One Councillor only for each of the c.100 seats on the new County Council.
One election for said council every Five years only.
That said – even then – one doubts said council will ever achieve a ‘mandate’ from its electorate – 50+% turnout + 50+% support for the ruling party/ies.
One of the big problems for small communities such as Gatley (where I live), and Cheadle is the loss of small shops and parking facilities. Speakinf as an ex shopkeeper with 56 years of experience running my own business, when I first started my rates in the shop were £1-50 per week, by the time I retired they had risen £120-00 per week – and even accounting for inflation it is a massive rise – this and the rise of Supermarkets accounts for many new & old businesses not making it. The small shops used to provide a major scource of income for Corporations, but money grabbing Councils didnt care about these businesses & allowed too many Supermarkets – the answer is to half the rates of small businesses.
The Tatton Cinema saga is a disgrace that Stockport Corporation has allowed to meander on for many years instead of taking a firm stand – making a compulsory purchase order, and turning the rear area behind the facade into a much needed parking space which would be a big boost both for local shopkeepers and residents- after all – this is the last available space in Gatley Village that could be used for this purpose – come on Councillors – instesd of talking about it – get it done !!!
How many other residents feel the same ? (S.Powell 53 years Gatley Resident)