It’s that time of year again, and the Birmingham Post have given a full run-down on just how our local council’s have faired in the Audit Commission’s annual assessments of their performance. And, for the most part, it isn’t great news. Amongst those who’ve dropped a star is would-be... Read more...
The self indulgent, self rewarding class of politicians is strongly represented today by Dame Jane Roberts, Chairman of the Councillors Commission. Having been charged with looking at how to improve local democracy, she has studied our newly released figures showing that a staggering 3,500 councillors have jumped on the Local Government... Read more...
We’ve been informed that there are now two vacancies at the East Hertfordshire Council Independent Remuneration Panel to be advertised in the local newspapers today (5 March) and tomorrow. You can find the advert at the bottom of this blog. Independent Remuneration Panels are citizen panels set up to... Read more...
I was shocked to read in this week's Economist about the problem that diabetics are facing disposing of their insulin needles. As things stand, if you are a heroin addict you can ditch your used needles and get new, clean ones with no questions asked and no cost incurred through... Read more...
In the news today is the judgement by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner that Caroline Spelman did wrongly, if unintentionally claim the salary of her nanny on her Parliamentary allowances. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the last case of an MP abusing taxpayers' money - the general opinion doing the... Read more...
Criticism is often raised that the NHS employs more managers and back office staff than frontline doctors and nurses - rightly. Whilst Government Ministers and NHS officials predictably huff and puff that all the office jobs are essential cogs that keep the machine running, what actualy are all these jobs?... Read more...
This week there are 500 government jobs on offer as you can see from the table opposite. It all has to be paid for, all the above average salaries, gold plated pensions, car allowances, benefits, paid holiday and even, as we found out in Cheltenham and North Tyneside, paid leave... Read more...
It has been reported today that Essex County Council are thinking of privatising their public services. They estimate that the plan they are considering (remember that word, it will come in handy later) could save taxpayers up to £200 million. So far, so good. ... Read more...
Since Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) were introduced by the Major government in 1992, they have been fraught with controversy. Despite promising to reduce costs and improve efficiency, projects have tended to go over budget and overtime. PFI allows the Government to pay for the building – and often the... Read more...
The TPA has long been campaigning for disclosure of public spending to be the norm, rather than the exception. The Freedom of Information Act is extremely useful, but it still relies on getting lucky with shots in the dark, and it's an arduous process at times. We have been applying... Read more...
A National Audit Office report – ‘Helping Government Learn’ – was released today outlining the need for Government departments to learn from past failures. Several projects were noted for their success, but just as many were flagged up as cases where lessons had not been heeded. For instance the... Read more...
The Economist provided a helpful guide to Government education jargon last week, in their insert 'Translating eduspeak'. Here are just some of their insightful observations: Satisfactory - One of the four possible judgements of the schools inspectorate (the other there are inadequate, good and outstanding). It means "unsatisfactory". ("Inadequate", for... Read more...
Our report into council pensions today has exposed a shocking number of councillors who have opted into the local government pension scheme. Yes, you thought it was just for council staff, but no, since 2003 councillors have been given the opportunity to opt into the scheme. Already given generous allowances,... Read more...
The ongoing roll of news about the crushingly huge cost of RBS' liabilities - now 70% taken on by British taxpayers - continues today, dreadful revelation after dreadful revelation. Almost as worrying than the historic losses that taxpayers have inherited from Sir Fred "The Shred" Goodwin is the fact that the latest... Read more...
Politics and common sense rarely go hand in hand, and the current debate over Royal Mail is quickly becoming a prime example of this.The Times reports today that Lord Mandelson - in desperate efforts to avoid a backbench rebellion - will promise to enshrine in primary legislation the public's majority... Read more...
Politics and common sense rarely go hand in hand, and the current debate over Royal Mail is quickly becoming a case par excellence. The Times reports today that Lord Mandelson - in desperate efforts to avoid a backbench rebellion - will promise to enshrine in primary legislation the public's majority... Read more...
It has been reported in the Daily Telegraph and elsewhere today that council tax is set to rise by a staggering 3% in April. The LGA issued a somewhat contradictory statement, announcing the rise and then saying that councils were working 'flat out' to keep council tax down and that... Read more...
Today you will find 508 jobs in government as the adjacent table shows. It all costs money, money your council tax increase is going to (but not in Hammersmith and Fulham who will again cut their council tax this year). So weep into your cornflakes as we perform a merry... Read more...
A panel set-up to improve Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been highly criticised by elected members for paying its board members allowances totalling no less than £62,000 – that works out at a whopping £400 per meeting. The Stoke-on-Trent Governance Board (GTB) uses money provided by the Regional Improvement Efficiency... Read more...
In our struggle with Kent Country Council, the Information Commissioner has ruled in favour of the TaxPayers' Alliance. Some background: In putting together the Town Hall Rich List 2008, we asked all the councils in the UK to provide details of those employees earning over £100,000. Many councils, appreciating that... Read more...
From the Bristol and South West TPA blog: TaxPayers’ Alliance urges Bristol politicians to co-operate to cut taxes “Best of the Budgets” would provide a 2.2% tax cut The Taxpayers' Alliance (TPA) wishes to congratulate all the political parties currently represented on Bristol City Council for the... Read more...
Below you'll find the latest campaign diary by our erstwhile organiser, Peter Webb. We've built up an impressive branch in Surrey, with constant communication, meetings with senior councillors and a constant presence in Surrey arguing for local taxpayers. 17th Messaged Michael Gosling (Executive Member Resources) asking about Organisation chart... Read more...
If you happen to live in Stoke-on-Trent there’s a one in ten chance that you’re ‘badly overweight’ according to The Sentinel. Should your sheer size start to impact upon your well-being, then your local health trust have ensured that there’s a contingency plan in place to zip you off to... Read more...
We still hear more and more murmurings of 3 million unemployed by the end of the year. But not in local government! Fewer people in the private sector paying for yet more in the public sector makes for economic catastrophe. Of the 519 government jobs you can apply for this... Read more...