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What Planet Are They On? - Eneida (4th Jul 2008 - 12:05:46) I've recently received the renewal form for my garden sack collection which, of course, has gone up again to £25.00. So I wasn't very impressed to read in the papers today that HCC have just spent £12,000 on 6 TAPS as part of their £40M taxpayer funded renovation of their Winchester HQ!!! How can they justify spending vast amounts of OUR money on luxurious offices for themselves at a time when ordinary people are really beginning to struggle just to pay their utility bills? It's beyond belief IMO.... Eneida

Re: What Planet Are They On? - Steve Read (5th Jul 2008 - 12:03:19) What Planet Are They On? Different one to most of us Eneida thats for sure. Its no different to all politicians, forget about doing a service for us the voters and looking after our interests blah, blah, blah. The object of the exercise is to get your nose as deep as you can into the trough for as long as you can, end of. Interestingly enough reading into todays paper some MP's were stating that they felt by voting to kerb expenses for themselves it would restore confidence and trust in them by us the voters. Yeah, OK hands up, who out there trusted one in the first place?

Re: What Planet Are They On? - Sue W (5th Jul 2008 - 13:49:55) What a question! Certainly not the same one as us hardworking mortals. I had a 'survey' call from a local party office, asking certain questions about the current run Council, and what proposals and changes they intend to implement. One question was about the 40million (+) budget to do up council offices - Well you can guess what I said to that!!. In fact from his reply it was the same as every other person. If so many ratepayers do not agree, will they shelve their ideas? Under the present climate they would be foolish not too, but we know they are not there to use their brains!!.

Re: What Planet Are They On? - PMN (7th Jul 2008 - 22:34:26) If HCC really need 6 taps and the taxpayer has to fund it, then fine but I would rather personally they asked me so I could buy a trade-pack in B&Q for ? £100 and even provide a plumber myself! Then we could spend £11,900 or so on something more appropriate. If you haven't already done so, I would suggest ALL taxpayers join the Taxpayers Alliance! I dread to think how much the sinks were, that would be required with £12,00 worth of taps! Kind regards, PMN

Re: What Planet Are They On? - Colin Davidovitz (8th Jul 2008 - 12:48:54) Re: eneida (4th July) It just shows you can’t believe what you read in newspapers today when a reporter can’t tell the difference between a tap and a plumbing system. The mechanical and plumbing systems in the new office building at the County Council’s Winchester HQ have been installed so that they can last for the next 30 years of the life of the building, proving that the engineers who designed the mechanical systems have thought through the economics of the building. The cost of the building will not fall on the Council Tax Payer as it is being paid for by selling off unwanted properties and with temporary borrowing which will be also be repaid from the sale of surplus assets. It will have twice the number of people occupying it than in the building it replaced, allowing the council to sell off or relinquish leases of other buildings. It will cost half as much to run and instead of needing £20 million to keep it maintained, the Council will have a capital asset with a significant and real rental value over the next 30 years. A better place for people to work in, and a great deal for the local tax payer - but that is not something you are likely to read in your local newspaper these days!

Re: What Planet Are They On? - Eneida (8th Jul 2008 - 16:23:53) "The cost of the building will not fall on the Council Tax Payer".....well that's alright then isn't it!!! Oh, by the way, who did these unwanted properties and surplus assets belong to in the first place and could the money they fetched have been used to reduce council tax...or is that a silly question ;) Eneida

Re: What Planet Are They On? - bill mouland (8th Jul 2008 - 16:38:04) Dear Colin Davidovitz. Before you start tap dancing over the £40m being spent at Hampshire County Council on renovated offices perhaps you should come clean - like the nice fresh water - and explain that you are the Conservative County Councillor who represents Chandler's Ford. You are also deputy Tory leader on Eastleigh Borough Council. PS Hope you like your new chair...Was that £1.25m of our money you spent on chairs and desks and furniture in a recession or was that wrong too? Of course if you are not Councillor Colin Davidovitz, BEM (British Empire Medal), then I apologise unreservedly. But you are, aren't you?

Re: What Planet Are They On? - Sue w (8th Jul 2008 - 21:03:11) Colin "tax payers money is not being spent - but being raised from selling off surpluses" - of what?, what the council owned, which belongs to the rate payers?? I think the local press has it right - the HCC/EDHC are selling off 'the Crown Jewels'. Pockets of land are being offered for development, when in some cases they should be kept as valuable 'open spaces' or used more for the community. I remember reading that they propose to sell off a small piece of land surrounding the War Memorial at Bordon, for housing. How stupid and shortsighted is that. But to give the employees better working conditions and plush offices must surely be worth the sacrifice. Get a life With the proposals to build (more housing) in the area, perhaps this money raised should be ploughed into the communities from where you are pinching it, provide the much needed facilities we DONT HAVE AT ALL, never mind upgrading something that exists! If it is falling apart, and the staff are at serious risk of injury then money should rightly be spent, otherwise you will fall short of the Governments Health and Safety at work! I think the word PRUDENCE should be applied.

Re: What Planet Are They On? - Dawn Hoskins (11th Jul 2008 - 10:38:25) I know that I am always harping on about transparency, but that is what this issue comes down to. All the time the ‘civil servants’ are allowed to spend whatever they deem fit on whatever they want without proper disclosure – be it for office furniture or second homes, the public will be suspicious about it. Full and transparent disclosure is the only way forward regarding expenses of any sort. The sooner this is grasped by local councils and central government the better. Joe [and Janet] Public would be appalled at the amounts spent on frivolity and unnecessary decoration of public offices, it would cause an outcry and a public backlash that would force them to reign in on spending OUR taxes. I call for bi-annual public lists. Not only on MP’s claims, but also on all council spending which disclose the exact amount spent and on what and what any justification for choosing the ‘most expensive’ options when ‘average’ and acceptable alternatives are available. Why should MP’s and EuroMP’s etc be permitted to stay in decadent and luxurious hotels eating overpriced and ‘overplayed with’ food, when the rest of us put up with a travel lodge! How dare the Olympic Committee be spending millions on ‘chefs’; how dare any public official of any sort drive around in a Jag / BMW’s whilst the public that they represent are crammed to the gunnels into tubes and trains which are dirty and overpriced; how dare Gordon Brown tell me to cut back on food and try to banish BOGOF’s [which save me money] whilst at the same time flying 1st class to an overpriced hotel to eat an 18 course meal. I am not saying that they should stay overnight in fleapits, but there is a very large gap between a good class business venue and frivolous luxury. Lets see a few more of our representatives cycling in to work like Boris does and maybe standing in the rain waiting for a train or a bus every now or then might humble them a bit. God forbid – they may even have to ‘interact’ with real members of the public! As the general population are pulling in their belts, it is quite sickening to hear about what our hard earned cash is being spent on. Not until the public can recognise themselves in the MP’s and civil servants that represent us, will be believe they are true believers in what they spout. Efficiency & wastage?!*……try looking in the mirror mate!

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