Newbury Community Forum

General Boards => Got something to say? => Topic started by: BrianB on January 28, 2017, 10:08:39 am

Title: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: BrianB on January 28, 2017, 10:08:39 am
QuoteLast week, at a West Berkshire Council meeting, opposition leader Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham North) asked what the council was doing to help local businesses throughout the roadworks.

To which the executive member for planning and highways, Jeanette Cliffford (Con, Northcroft), replied: "The A339 project will bring genuine benefits to us all. 

"But if there's one sector in West Berkshire that has a special understanding of the importance of  investing for the future, looking after vital assets and balancing short term pain for long term gain, it's our business community.

"Our business men and women in West Berkshire know that the A339, our busiest road, is essential to the economic health of our district and they know it has to be looked after.

"The very fact all these separate projects have been combined and co-ordinated is something to celebrate. Overall, this highly-professional planning has reduced cost and disruption - but I know it's been a long haul.

"We will continue to support local businesses by good planning, good information and being ready to help in special cases:

"If local businesses find they need help with more formal business continuity planning, they should get in touch and we will be able to provide advice

"If local businesses  feel they've lost trade because of this project they should get in touch with the Valuation Office Agency, where temporary help might be available with their business rates."

Mrs Clifford added: "When this huge project is finished, West Berkshire will have an asset to be proud of.

"The A339 will help us provide the new housing that the district needs and it will unlock the economic potential of the London Road Industrial Estate, this strategic site so very near to the centre of the town.

"Good news for local businesses. Good news for us all."
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on January 28, 2017, 09:57:44 pm
In their own minds yes. The power of self aggrandisement and delusion knows no bounds as far as WBC are concerned. They mistake belief in their own capabilities for competency. The truth - that they are  bloated and stilted into total incompetency by years of role sitting when any commercial company would have got rid years ago - passes them by as they reward themselves handsomely for their failures.
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on January 30, 2017, 02:02:30 pm
Yet more evidence if any were needed. A shameful con to justify taxing residents more whilst delivering less.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/20477/tax-hike-for-thatcham-residents-as-town-council-looks-to-take-on-more-services.html
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on February 06, 2017, 11:54:52 am
The rot continues. At almost every level the council is passing on the costs of it's own inefficiency back to the local taxpayers rather than getting rid of those who continue to fail. Time for a mass cull of senior management who are clearly not up to the job but cling on for their own benefit.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/thatcham/20539/thatcham-s-lib-dems-condemn-9-5-per-cent-rise.html


http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/20546/parents-anger-at-school-transport-hike.html
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on February 09, 2017, 07:10:31 pm
They really are a complete and utter shambles. Cut operational staff, cut services, tax rise above inflation but no removal of senior executives who have failed over several years and the grand palaces they live in. They should have been shedding overhead but instead retain it so that the ratio of overhead to costs/services continues in a negative direction. Shameful self serving failures.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/20584/council-tax-bills-set-to-rise-by-almost-five-per-cent-in-april.html
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on February 20, 2017, 11:50:59 am
They still don't get it do they ? We need them to reduce overhead by getting rid of premises altogether and contracting services out, not adding to the risk by swapping buildings and playing property developer with their private sector mates.
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on February 22, 2017, 10:46:33 am
Well that did not take long - and that's before the actual numbers unwind. If education perform as badly as ever in their financial management then figure could be a lot worse. And still no one senior gets the sack , I wonder why ?

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/20703/west-berkshire-council-predicting-overspend-of-more-than-750-000.html
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Old Goat on February 25, 2017, 10:16:19 pm
It's frankly beyond bizzare.  Like going to Tesco, paying the usual amount your weeks food shopping but only getting two tins of beans and a packet of tea bags.  Then finding whilst they have stopped selling everything but beans and tea and there are only two checkouts open, there are still the same number of managers and supervisors about.
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on March 06, 2017, 03:31:05 pm
Anyone spot the gross financial mismanagement in this ? And still no-one gets the sack. Unbelievable !

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/20821/west-berkshire-schools-facing-funding-cuts-for-vulnerable-pupils.html
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Old Goat on March 08, 2017, 09:33:31 am
Well, it's simply a further example demonstrating that local government is pointless.  Frankly, against the real problem here, this is a non issue.

Education has become a dustbin for money; the waste in the physical operation unbelievable.  We have thrown money at education for years, yet standards measured against international performance have simply declined - to a level where we have created generations of automotons; none capable of thought, let alone innovation.

Harsh that may be, but look at a classic educational solution. Feed primary school kids at lunchtime and performance over all will dramatically increase.  Thus went the Clegg flagship policy.  We spent millions nationwide doing this and it's been in operation for long enough to see results........no point in giving the answer is there?  But the free meals spending goes on.

No point in fighting the blob.
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on March 09, 2017, 12:10:01 pm
Education in West Berkshire is definitely in a very poor state overall with a few beacons of good quality hiding an underperforming rump of poor performance that has been allowed to continue for several years now. Coupled with gross financial mismanagement it beggars belief that rapid and radical change has not been initiated to correct this. Instead we are asked to believe that those who have created and sustained the problem will go on and solve it. This is the kind of magical thinking that tells us the council executive and political leadership are not up to the demands of their portfolios. You are right Old Goat the council are not fit for purpose.
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on March 21, 2017, 11:33:12 am
More proof of incompetence at the highest levels just keeps rolling in. They will not do the honourable thing and fall on their swords so just how do we organise to remove them at the ballot box ?

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/20961/bitter-disappointment-as-400-homes-approved-on-appeal.html
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: only me on April 14, 2017, 01:01:34 pm
Quote from: Number 6 on March 21, 2017, 11:33:12 am
More proof of incompetence at the highest levels just keeps rolling in. They will not do the honourable thing and fall on their swords so just how do we organise to remove them at the ballot box ?


How about this for a novel idea.... PUT YOURSELF FORWARD instead of hiding at the back on anonymous internet fora that nobody reads chucking insults.... You think you can do a better job then step forward. People keep saying it's a Gravy Train so why not stick your snout in the trough too?
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: Number 6 on April 14, 2017, 07:28:46 pm
Thank you for your less than constructive comment 'only me'. You obviously have not  studied how the party political system works to keep independent challenges from succeeding, despite many attempts by independents locally. There are other places you can use for such less informed commentary.
Title: Re: Does this quote really refer to West Berkshire Council?
Post by: only me on April 17, 2017, 09:06:09 pm
Quote from: Number 6 on April 14, 2017, 07:28:46 pmThere are other places you can use for such less informed commentary.

I take it you like muttering to yourself in this forum wasteland?   fair play... tara..