Election Year or Fear!

[swaledale]

But hey, wait a minute - if the council outsources a function they dtill remain responsible for the actions of that outsourcer. You cant get away with that excuse, if the private company errs then (a) the council is still responsible via vicarious liability and (b) the council is further guilty of lack of oversight/management of a key function. Nice try but no cigar

But of course as with all these things, if as the Tories did in government, you cut 40% or more from Council budgets, how does proper oversight and enforcement happen? Plus yes indeed on outsourced services Council's ahve oversight, but as someone who has managed a number of construction and maintenance related contracts, the ultimate enforcement is by legal action, the costs of which can run into millions, not taking into account the time taken in such pursuing such cases which rather gets back to resource issues again.

In both public and private sector, I've experienced much pushback from pursuing legal cases which on the face of it are justified but which either the CEO of the company or the Council members wouldn't approve, due to the incurring of costs, which they either didn't have the budget to meet, or were concerned would not be recouped even if the action was successful.

[SithHappens]

At a time Reform are threatening to slash jobs in councils across the country Andrea Jenkyns has requested an extra 147k to employ someone to answer emails.

[swaledale]

I have, and I understand that he made an accusation, but he also, as MA said, made two jokes, one of which - do you want to be a dictator or just a dick - made me laugh.

RA, these are the full facts of what Kimmel said. Now sure some people might find it offensive, but its ironic that given the BS being spouted by Vance, Trump and others about "free speech" they used the broadcast regulator in the US to pressure the TV company to suspend Kimmel.
The comment that got Kimmel in hot water featured in Monday’s episode (14 September), when he said: “We had some new lows over the weekend with the Maga gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.”

Kimmel also used the subject to mock Donald Trump, showing a viral clip that showed the US president discussing White House renovations when asked how he was faring in the wake of Kirk’s death.

“On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this,” Kimmel said.

In the clip, Trump said he was doing “pretty good”, adding: “And by the way, right there where you see all the trucks, they just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House.”

When the camera cut back to Kimmel, the host said: “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction.

“This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, OK?”

[swaledale]

Agreed, ‘tit for tatting’ is futile, but surely the ultimate truth is, it is always those on the Right - Republicans, NRA etc - who seek to promote the carrying/ownership of arms as a ‘God given right’, while those further to the Left are invariably the ones seeking to restrict the availability of guns.

If loss of life is really your focus then you know who’s side you should be on.

Surely you are only ensuring that a certain (obviously biased and incorrect viewpoint) isn't responded to RA? Thats usually known as a debate, but Trump in particular and it seems our very own Mr Faber think distortions of the truth, lies and political bias should be permitted, provided of course its the RIGHT sort of bias!!

[ramAnag]

Nice evangelising rA but guns and knives know no political colour

Evangelising? Silly comment.
Of course guns and knives know no political colour but it is true that Democrats are much more likely to support the notion of stricter gun control in the U.S. than Republicans.
Take it up with your new fact checking toy if you don’t believe me.

Of course little will change. It is too ingrained in the U.S. way of life - and given some of the wildlife, too essential within certain rural/agricultural communities - but if your self proclaimed focus is really upon ‘loss of life’ then you are dodging the issue if you continue to support the Republicans on this issue.

Nice avoidance though.

[ramAnag]

So the principle areas where Khan has failed London then, doesn't have to be an exhaustive list just a few main points will do.

I'm happy to provide some examples of what he has done in exchange.

Evidence, Swale? Bit of a list? Heaven forfend!

[Andy_Faber]

Evangelising? Silly comment.

I thought you said we should be nice to each other?

[Andy_Faber]

Evidence, Swale? Bit of a list? Heaven forfend!

knife crime (offences recorded) has increased in the capital from under 10,000 per annum to 16,000 per annum in Khan's time as mayor. That's had a real impact on two of my family members who've recently moved to London for work and been advised of hotspots to avoid a) living in and b) travelling through on foot (they both walk to work, one does distance running).

[SithHappens]

knife crime (offences recorded) has increased in the capital from under 10,000 per annum to 16,000 per annum in Khan's time as mayor. That's had a real impact on two of my family members who've recently moved to London for work and been advised of hotspots to avoid a) living in and b) travelling through on foot (they both walk to work, one does distance running).

Yeah it's not great, but isn't the overall uk average 80% increase over a similar period? So while it's not great it's below the average?

[ramAnag]

I thought you said we should be nice to each other?

Lol. It was RS, although I do agree and I don’t think me saying that you accusing me of evangelising is ‘silly’ is particularly unkind.

I also honestly can’t think of a single city I’ve visited where there aren’t ‘hotspots’ to avoid.

[Andy_Faber]

Yeah it's not great, but isn't the overall uk average 80% increase over a similar period? So while it's not great it's below the average?

I was just offering the evidence Swale and rA sought Sith, not looking to widen the discussion

[SithHappens]

I was just offering the evidence Swale and rA sought Sith, not looking to widen the discussion

Oh ok, I'll shut up then.

[Andy_Faber]

Lol. It was RS, although I do agree and I don’t think me saying that you accusing me of evangelising is ‘silly’ is particularly unkind.

I also honestly can’t think of a single city I’ve visited where there aren’t ‘hotspots’ to avoid.

That?s a part of my country I want back. There?s a part of Derby like that

[Andy_Faber]

Oh ok, I'll shut up then.

Not sure I was expecting that, sorry if it offended

[ramAnag]

That?s a part of my country I want back. There?s a part of Derby like that

Just the one, Andy? Which are you thinking of because I can name at least five areas that fall into that category and most of them have been that way throughout the 50 plus years I’ve now been familiar with Derby for.
All cities I can think of across the UK, Europe and the U.S. have dodgy areas. How far back are you going to get this country of yours ‘back’ and again, from what/who?