Council: tell us where to cut services (From Bucks Free Press)
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Council: tell us where to cut services
4:37pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 in
RATEPAYERS are being invited to help a council decide which services lose funding or get axed in a new online survey.
Visitors to Wycombe District Council’s website are invited to rate services to help cash-strapped bosses decide where next’s year budget is spent.
The web-based scheme is a first for the council, which controversially closed Holywell Mead outdoor swimming pool in this year’s budget.
See the link at the bottom of this story to take the survey.
Services residents can rate include crime prevention, CCTV, toilets, rubbish collection, parks, sport centres and Wycombe Museum.
They can rate as many or as few of the 18 services as they like – and are shown how much extra council tax they would pay based on their choices.
It also shows the consequences of increasing or reducing cash. Marking down sport centres, CCTV and parks, for example, says this could see them close.
The process is expected to take 10 to 20 minutes. Paper forms are available at council offices in High Wycombe, Princes Risborough and Marlow.
Bosses hope the move will help them make “difficult decisions” to scale back or cut services to save cash. The average ratepayer will give WDC about £124 for this year’s council tax.
In a stark warning, deputy leader Tony Green said: “We can’t guarantee any particular facility will remain.
“It would be dishonest to suggest there wouldn’t be reductions in services and staffing.”
Proposals will be on the table in December.
Along with the pool move, last year’s cuts saw public toilets closed and historic Bassetsbury Manor, used for functions, put on the market for £1m.
Cllr Green said: “It is to give people an opportunity to help us make the decisions that we know we are going to have to make.”
He said: “The residents of the district pay the council tax and it is quite reasonable they say where it should be spent.”
Conservative Cllr Green said he hoped more than 1,000 people would complete the survey and results would go on the council’s website. Residents must give their name and post code.
Cuts were needed as Government cash support was not enough and income was down from residents. Fewer are using council car parks because of the recession, for example.
The council wants no increase on its part of the total council tax bill, about a tenth, he added.
It was 3.2 per cent this year. Fire, police, parish councils and Buckinghamshire County Council bosses get the rest and the total bill is about £1,400.
Although the web programme allows users to set council tax above five per cent, in reality the council is forbidden from doing this by the Government.
Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Brian Pollock welcomed the move.
He said: “I hope it will give an idea of the costs of the council as long as the people who log on are representative of the district.”
The county council, which gets the lion’s share of the final bill, is also consulting on its budget for next year.
Residents can respond via The Buckinghamshire Times, which is delivered to homes in the county.
Comments(30)
WycombeSuxers
says...
5:11pm Tue 20 Oct 09
yog
says...
5:48pm Tue 20 Oct 09
What a con!
No question on whether residents want the open air pool saved.
No question on whether to cut Councillors allowances or the chief executives.
No questions on the employment of outside consultants.
No questions on the duplication of effort by our three levels of councils (2 in Wycombe)
No question on the use of existing reserves.
No question on whether this survey was worth the money spent!
wayneo
says...
5:54pm Tue 20 Oct 09
Oliver Newbury
says...
5:54pm Tue 20 Oct 09
am i the only one wrote:Couldn't they have done this before closing the pool?
Cut the funding for all "multi cultural" groups, if they wont integrate then why should us council tax payers support them to the exclusion of the majority ?
Oliver Newbury
says...
6:08pm Tue 20 Oct 09
Oliver Newbury wrote:Oops- didn't mean to quote you!
am i the only one wrote:Couldn't they have done this before closing the pool?
Cut the funding for all "multi cultural" groups, if they wont integrate then why should us council tax payers support them to the exclusion of the majority ?
Hunt-DeAth
says...
8:10pm Tue 20 Oct 09
time to go clarke
says...
8:48pm Tue 20 Oct 09
Hunt-DeAth wrote:Your a prime example of whats bad in this District !!!!
Cut social services, cut recreation, cut bin collection, cut everything and give the money back to those of us with big houses who pay for all the work-shy scroungers. What's the point of voting tory, having a tory council if we can't bash the oiks.
tigeran
says...
9:32pm Tue 20 Oct 09
Hunt-DeAth wrote:Absolutely!! Totally agree with all but the bins!! Lol!! cut Social and save 3/4 of this whole countries problems and bring in camps for the low life that are on social!!
Cut social services, cut recreation, cut bin collection, cut everything and give the money back to those of us with big houses who pay for all the work-shy scroungers. What's the point of voting tory, having a tory council if we can't bash the oiks.
678
says...
10:04pm Tue 20 Oct 09
chris740
says...
10:14pm Tue 20 Oct 09
can someone make our tea
and wipe our backsides,
because we are to thick to do it ourselfs,
you lot have not got a clue what to do nexted.
time is running out for you lot
demoness
says...
10:34pm Tue 20 Oct 09
I have done a feasability study and really all Marlow does is produce a lot of hot air and thus causes an increase in the size of the hole of the ozone layer.
So close it - problem solved.:)))
demoness
says...
10:36pm Tue 20 Oct 09
time to go clarke wrote:You really aren't very bright are you time to go clarke?
Hunt-DeAth wrote: Cut social services, cut recreation, cut bin collection, cut everything and give the money back to those of us with big houses who pay for all the work-shy scroungers. What's the point of voting tory, having a tory council if we can't bash the oiks.Your a prime example of whats bad in this District !!!!
You don't recognise satire when you see it do you?
Mind you, you are a lib dem....
Oh and it is you're..... not your.
J B Blackett
says...
11:42pm Tue 20 Oct 09
demoness wrote:It's that Marlow love-hate thing again , d. Admit it.
Close Marlow... that will save loads of money and we can keep the pool and enviromental centre.
I have done a feasability study and really all Marlow does is produce a lot of hot air and thus causes an increase in the size of the hole of the ozone layer.
So close it - problem solved.:)))
.
The Marlovians will be saying "On yer bike" to you if you're not a bit more circumspect.
.
You are fearless but do mind how you go.
J B Blackett
says...
12:06am Wed 21 Oct 09
.
The only thing that I couldn't honestly answer was the 'ethnicity' question. I found it difficult to reply to with the options that were given.
.
It didn't ask what ethnic group I was - just what colour I was. Are the two things connected ? A bit strange , I thought.
.
I didn't seem to fit any of the types offered. The nearest thing was Irish (which I wouldn't mind being , in fact I think I might quite like that - but I'm not Irish - and I am also honest).
.
So I couldn't complete the form. Why does the Council (Councillor Green in particular) want to know what colour I am ?
.
To be honest (again) I don't think a lot about it , except when I feel a bit ill and peering in the mirror I look a bit pasty and under the weather.
.
On the other hand when I'm full of life and healthy, I am a completely different colour ! But there was no VARIABLE category or other suitable classification.
.
So Sorry WDC I cannot complete the questionaire and I feel I've let you down. Perhaps I'm being a bit pedantic.
.
Regards.
demoness
says...
7:45am Wed 21 Oct 09
J B Blackett wrote:I can't help it...
demoness wrote: Close Marlow... that will save loads of money and we can keep the pool and enviromental centre. I have done a feasability study and really all Marlow does is produce a lot of hot air and thus causes an increase in the size of the hole of the ozone layer. So close it - problem solved.:)))It's that Marlow love-hate thing again , d. Admit it. . The Marlovians will be saying "On yer bike" to you if you're not a bit more circumspect. . You are fearless but do mind how you go.
Marlow traumatises me.:( I think they could close it and save a fortune.
wycombenewbie
says...
8:23am Wed 21 Oct 09
yog wrote:Nice to hear you're finally opposing the campaign to add an adidition teir of government to wycombe. That Town Council idea you're always on about!
What a con! No question on whether residents want the open air pool saved. No question on whether to cut Councillors allowances or the chief executives. No questions on the employment of outside consultants. No questions on the duplication of effort by our three levels of councils (2 in Wycombe) No question on the use of existing reserves. No question on whether this survey was worth the money spent!
Congratulations on seeing the light, smaller, less interferring government is better!
yog
says...
9:01am Wed 21 Oct 09
wycombenewbie wrote:Not quite my view!
yog wrote:Nice to hear you're finally opposing the campaign to add an adidition teir of government to wycombe. That Town Council idea you're always on about!
What a con! No question on whether residents want the open air pool saved. No question on whether to cut Councillors allowances or the chief executives. No questions on the employment of outside consultants. No questions on the duplication of effort by our three levels of councils (2 in Wycombe) No question on the use of existing reserves. No question on whether this survey was worth the money spent!
Congratulations on seeing the light, smaller, less interferring government is better!
I want a 2 tier system everywhere.
Parish/Town and Unitary.
sai-diva
says...
10:50am Wed 21 Oct 09
They will use the results of this 'survey' to pass the buck.
When they have to make cuts, they will just say 'we asked the electorate, and this is what they told us to do, it's not our fault'.
Selective hearing, 'cos most of the time they don't listen to what we want, or bother to ask.
The only people who will fill in this form will be people with personal agendas, rather that people who care about the welfare of the whole town.
So they want to draw a large salary, and then not take responsibility for their actions.
Boycott this stupid idea until it includes questions like those listed above, cut their expenses, give us back our pool.
Save Wycombe
says...
11:31am Wed 21 Oct 09
yog
says...
1:00pm Wed 21 Oct 09
Shame on BFP for not reporting it.
J B Blackett
says...
1:32pm Wed 21 Oct 09
sai-diva wrote:I fear you are correct , sai-diva. Fortunately I stopped myself completing it just in time for reasons as stated above.
Don't do it!!! this is just the council avoiding their responsibility, and job.
They will use the results of this 'survey' to pass the buck.
When they have to make cuts, they will just say 'we asked the electorate, and this is what they told us to do, it's not our fault'.
Selective hearing, 'cos most of the time they don't listen to what we want, or bother to ask.
The only people who will fill in this form will be people with personal agendas, rather that people who care about the welfare of the whole town.
So they want to draw a large salary, and then not take responsibility for their actions.
Boycott this stupid idea until it includes questions like those listed above, cut their expenses, give us back our pool.
.
Most members of this WDC can not be trusted (some of them live in Reading !). They are politicians , however stupid , uncaring or have hidden agenda , after all.
They are not there for our benefit at all.
Wycombe's history and recent events here prove that to be true.
.
Regards
J B Blackett
says...
1:32pm Wed 21 Oct 09
sai-diva wrote:I fear you are correct , sai-diva. Fortunately I stopped myself completing it just in time for reasons as stated above.
Don't do it!!! this is just the council avoiding their responsibility, and job.
They will use the results of this 'survey' to pass the buck.
When they have to make cuts, they will just say 'we asked the electorate, and this is what they told us to do, it's not our fault'.
Selective hearing, 'cos most of the time they don't listen to what we want, or bother to ask.
The only people who will fill in this form will be people with personal agendas, rather that people who care about the welfare of the whole town.
So they want to draw a large salary, and then not take responsibility for their actions.
Boycott this stupid idea until it includes questions like those listed above, cut their expenses, give us back our pool.
.
Most members of this WDC can not be trusted (some of them live in Reading !). They are politicians , however stupid , uncaring or have hidden agenda , after all.
They are not there for our benefit at all.
Wycombe's history and recent events here prove that to be true.
.
Regards
678
says...
2:57pm Wed 21 Oct 09
Voyeur
says...
4:08pm Sat 24 Oct 09
.
I think some of them get up to 56 pence per mile for offical use of their cars.
Voyeur
says...
1:51am Sun 25 Oct 09
imeldanash
says...
8:47am Fri 30 Oct 09
dobs
says...
11:36am Mon 2 Nov 09
What's the use of politicians if they don't listen?
Suffering a hotter world, our kids and future generations will look back in anger unless these politicians engage with community goodwill in a constructive way, certainly not in a destructive way.
miccles
says...
3:48pm Wed 11 Nov 09
WycombeSuxers wrote:Used to get The Star regularly then, a couple of years ago all of a sudden it stopped, does it still exist?? = haven't got a clue
We dont get the Bucks Times or The Star, does The Star still exists because i havent seen it for over 2 years
miccles
says...
3:57pm Wed 11 Nov 09
They won't take any notice of this, none whatsoever.
Councillors, Politcians, are as crooked as they come, i would rather trust a gnome in my great granny's garden
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am i the only one says...
4:57pm Tue 20 Oct 09