Wednesday 23 June 2010

Where the cuts should start at Barnet Council

The press is full of talk of cuts to the public sector. All we hear is how the cuts will hurt. I have no doubt they will, but I don't believe that they should. There is also plenty of talk of how the Tories are going to cut Labour waste. Don't believe a word of it. Look at Barnet where the Tories have been in charge since 2002. When they took over, the CEO, Leo Boland earned £114,000. What does the current CEO, Nick Walkley get - £200,000 not only that but his two deputies get £180,000 each. So we now pay approx five times as much. Are we getting five times better services?

Look at Brian Coleman. He's a councillor for Totteridge and a member of the GLA. As he's Boris Johnsons mate he's also the chair of the LFEPA. How much wealth does Mr Coleman generate being a value for money Tory? How has Mr Coleman improved your life? How much do you think he gets for these roles? Over £100,000 per annum. Not bad for a few part time jobs which generate no wealth.

Barnet Council seem to believe that their role in life is to facilitate big profits for property developers. The Brent Cross scheme has no local support (apart from the people standing to make millions from it), but our Tory Councillors are queueing up to endorse it. Why? Once the development is built and the Borough grinds to a halt in traffic gridlock, they will be long gone, consigned to the dustbin of history. Too late for the rest of us. As the social problems stack up, a future generation will be left to deal with the mess.

So where should the cuts start at Barnet Council? Well lets start at the top. There is layer upon layer of senior managers who add nothing. It is a massively top heavy organisation. Once this layer has been savagely pruned, sack all of the consultants who supply them with endless reports. Slim down non core functions such as the PR department. Stop wasting money on Council run blogs, facebook sites, twitter sites etc. If councillors want this, do what I do, get a free one. Our beloved MP, Jacuzzi king Matthew Offord once told me that between five and fifteen percent of Barnet Staff did nothing useful. My guess is that they are probably the top five to fifteen percent of earners.

Ironic isn't it. A swivel eyed Trotskyite telling a Conservative Council Leader, Lynne Hillan how to save money.

4 comments:

Brian Coleman aka Mr Toad has GOT to go said...

Quite. And that £100,000.00 does not include his vast expenses nor all the free dinners. He gets paid a fortune but what on earth does he do with it all? It certainly doesn't go on travel and food!

caroline said...

Rog, why don't you forward this post to the guys in the Treasury? I am very fearful that unpaid carers will have their very meagre benefits cut, so sacking overpaid Barnet councillors would free up precious resources.

Broadway Blogger said...

The cuts by Barnet Council should start by cutting their Police component.

The Mill Hill Broadway Dome House Police "operation" costs over £1 million a year. It is worthless and provides nothing for the local community. It should be closed down immediately and the money saved.

The small figures being discussed will not even dent Council Tax. If the Policing in Mill Hill is so "bloated" then surely it may be possible in other areas of Barnet,

Saving say £4 million off the Council Tax budget by cutting bloated Police projects will bring down Council Tax and benefit the taxpayers of Barnet.

We need to think big - and look at real savings rather than play petty Party Politics.

Barnet Council must not cut front line services to the vulnerable. Therefore, cutting Police - Court - Political Propaganda - will surely be the most popular cuts with the public.

The new Lib - Con Government has recognised this at a National Level and I would hope that the local Conservative Party now back the plan and CUT the Police Waste in the Borough of Barnet.

The Traders and Residents of The Broadway have suffered too long with sirens and no beat officer - despite all the cash and CCTV. We know first hand how the Police are basically throwing taxpayers money down the toilet.

I spend alot of time in my office on the phone and my clients believe I live in the Bronx part of London because of the daily noise from sirens rather than one of the best areas in London which it really is.

Caroline is right - unpaid carers are where the money should be going NOT bloated public sector political projects by the failed New Labour Police State project.

Unknown said...

Can you write about "place shaping" that's council speak for enhancing their "brand" and countering negative perceptions by the way it really is 1984's the ministry of truth come alive