Letter to the Leader of Derby City Council

[ramspride]

I hasten to add not by me but makes good reading.

Mr Ranjit Banwait

I am appalled by your personal agenda to bring Derby to its knees, call yourself a Labour councillor, you are more Tory than you realise. Bringing Derby down won’t achieve anything but praise from the Tory government.

The cuts you are carrying out in Derby beggars belief, you approve opulent spending to make Derby look good from the outside yet the essential services are cut back beyond recognition.

You are in office on OUR behalf, you should listen to the public, WE pay your wages and we think you need a pay cut as you are not doing the job we expect of you!

If you really want to make cuts, the salaries of many top managers need looking at, the existence of many posts in office are not necessary and the expenses of all councillors should be looked at, also STOPPING TRIPS TO CHINA!!

We don’t need impressive gates on Marketon park, it’s managed for years without it.

We need a CAB it’s unbelievable that you have axed this service!! The only city in the UK without one!!!

We need the public toilets around Derby to stay open!! What more of a basic human need can this be????

We NEED a decent swimming pool in Derby that is maintained, letting the roof of the queens street building fall into dangerous disrepair is complete negligence, even fraud, you have a duty as guardians of our city to carry out the duties needed!!

Then you shut Moorways as its non profitable??? Who on earth is advising all of this ridiculous planning, where is the Olympic pool that was promised YEARS ago, oh I remember the planning and designs all drawn up at great cost were a failure as they were not Olympic sized!! We have an Olympic swimmer in Derby, Adam Peaty, a world record holder, European champion AND NO WHERE TO TRAIN, what a fantastic advert for Derby don’t you think???

Faulting on the insurance over the Assembly rooms must account to fraud, surely? Ignoring maintenance requirements to meet the insurance conditions is so corrupt, and damaging to the people of Derby, AND NOW YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT!1 surprise surprise, THAT’S WHAT INSURANCE IS FOR!!

There was talk of an ice rink many years ago, that never materialised, oh but Nottingham built one, straight away.

Then you build the Velodrome, HOW MUCH WAS THAT £17 MILLION?, designed wrong, the wrong flooring put in so now no big competions can be held!! And how much did it cost when someone approved the wrong timing system that had to be redone!!! And now its up for sale at a loss? Is this true??

Don’t get me started on refuse collections, you cut all the bin lorries down to four days a week, I bet they welcomed the pay cut? And you now charge for brown bin collection! I thought it was law that all councils had to hit targets for recycling and reducing pollution and landfill, how can burying and burning all waste in black bins, that used to be in the brown bins, be hitting those targets, not to mention the brown bin lorry that drives all through the city emptying a couple of bins per street, how much is that cost effective. Don’t tell me the charges cover this, as that is not possible.

Putting cameras all over the city (making money on the sly) to catch the poor motorist trying to drop off in town or at the train station is getting like a dictatorship, where on earth can they stop, passengers jumping out of cars at traffic lights is downright dangerous!!!

And do you know it’s more expensive to use a parking meter in Derby than in Richmond upon Thames! let drivers park, reduce the parking wardens, and save money on wages, and bring shoppers back to Derby. My everyday shopping in Derby is now down to once a month!

The fireworks display in Derby has been a life long tradition, long before you were on the scene, how dare you cancel it, the same goes for the Christmas lights and the Darley park concert which you now want to charge for, many will not afford your ridiculous price for that, and it was their only chance of experiencing this, EVER.

We didn’t need £95 million to be spent on the council house, (£45million + £45 million interest interest) who needs glass panels that change colour!! Goodness knows what other wasted expense has gone into that place??

How petty to turn off the waterfall, really? Are we that broke??? Do you know that some design consultant travelled all over Europe at the council’s expense and came up with that monstrosity, which was accepted by the council, against the peoples wishes, and they paid over £250,000 just for the idea!! And now you shut it off, what a disgusting waste of money!

BUT THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS TO HIT CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATION!!! Hope you are very proud of yourself, CUTTING 25% pay of teaching assistants and support staff in schools, the schools CANNOT function without the support they give, especially SEN children who are already a target of your cuts. Something is very wrong, the whole system of fair pay is corrupt, and as you said yourself in the telegraph, I quote you “ if you could pay more you would”?? And what exactly do you mean, I thought it was all down to a pay review?????

Some staff are even having to sell their homes, you had meetings that dismissed them and failed to follow correct procedure, which SHOULD be investigated, you failed to turn up as arranged to speak with them, admin being blamed for catastrophic errors in the whole process, missing applications etc which was an obvious delay tactic. Then you sack them ALL to impose a controversial new contract with altered hours and job descriptions!!!! HOW DARE YOU !!!

SHAME ON YOU and your greedy colleagues, let’s see how much you have all contributed to this culling of pay, publish your tax returns and expenses and while you are at it, as YOUR employer, as a tax payer of Derby, I would suggest that the council be audited and the correct balance of the books published...

[swaledale]

I hasten to add not by me but makes good reading.

Mr Ranjit Banwait

I am appalled by your personal agenda to bring Derby to its knees, call yourself a Labour councillor, you are more Tory than you realise. Bringing Derby down won’t achieve anything but praise from the Tory government.

The cuts you are carrying out in Derby beggars belief, you approve opulent spending to make Derby look good from the outside yet the essential services are cut back beyond recognition.

You are in office on OUR behalf, you should listen to the public, WE pay your wages and we think you need a pay cut as you are not doing the job we expect of you!

If you really want to make cuts, the salaries of many top managers need looking at, the existence of many posts in office are not necessary and the expenses of all councillors should be looked at, also STOPPING TRIPS TO CHINA!!

We don’t need impressive gates on Marketon park, it’s managed for years without it.

We need a CAB it’s unbelievable that you have axed this service!! The only city in the UK without one!!!

We need the public toilets around Derby to stay open!! What more of a basic human need can this be????

We NEED a decent swimming pool in Derby that is maintained, letting the roof of the queens street building fall into dangerous disrepair is complete negligence, even fraud, you have a duty as guardians of our city to carry out the duties needed!!

Then you shut Moorways as its non profitable??? Who on earth is advising all of this ridiculous planning, where is the Olympic pool that was promised YEARS ago, oh I remember the planning and designs all drawn up at great cost were a failure as they were not Olympic sized!! We have an Olympic swimmer in Derby, Adam Peaty, a world record holder, European champion AND NO WHERE TO TRAIN, what a fantastic advert for Derby don’t you think???

Faulting on the insurance over the Assembly rooms must account to fraud, surely? Ignoring maintenance requirements to meet the insurance conditions is so corrupt, and damaging to the people of Derby, AND NOW YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT!1 surprise surprise, THAT’S WHAT INSURANCE IS FOR!!

There was talk of an ice rink many years ago, that never materialised, oh but Nottingham built one, straight away.

Then you build the Velodrome, HOW MUCH WAS THAT £17 MILLION?, designed wrong, the wrong flooring put in so now no big competions can be held!! And how much did it cost when someone approved the wrong timing system that had to be redone!!! And now its up for sale at a loss? Is this true??

Don’t get me started on refuse collections, you cut all the bin lorries down to four days a week, I bet they welcomed the pay cut? And you now charge for brown bin collection! I thought it was law that all councils had to hit targets for recycling and reducing pollution and landfill, how can burying and burning all waste in black bins, that used to be in the brown bins, be hitting those targets, not to mention the brown bin lorry that drives all through the city emptying a couple of bins per street, how much is that cost effective. Don’t tell me the charges cover this, as that is not possible.

Putting cameras all over the city (making money on the sly) to catch the poor motorist trying to drop off in town or at the train station is getting like a dictatorship, where on earth can they stop, passengers jumping out of cars at traffic lights is downright dangerous!!!

And do you know it’s more expensive to use a parking meter in Derby than in Richmond upon Thames! let drivers park, reduce the parking wardens, and save money on wages, and bring shoppers back to Derby. My everyday shopping in Derby is now down to once a month!

The fireworks display in Derby has been a life long tradition, long before you were on the scene, how dare you cancel it, the same goes for the Christmas lights and the Darley park concert which you now want to charge for, many will not afford your ridiculous price for that, and it was their only chance of experiencing this, EVER.

We didn’t need £95 million to be spent on the council house, (£45million + £45 million interest interest) who needs glass panels that change colour!! Goodness knows what other wasted expense has gone into that place??

How petty to turn off the waterfall, really? Are we that broke??? Do you know that some design consultant travelled all over Europe at the council’s expense and came up with that monstrosity, which was accepted by the council, against the peoples wishes, and they paid over £250,000 just for the idea!! And now you shut it off, what a disgusting waste of money!

BUT THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS TO HIT CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATION!!! Hope you are very proud of yourself, CUTTING 25% pay of teaching assistants and support staff in schools, the schools CANNOT function without the support they give, especially SEN children who are already a target of your cuts. Something is very wrong, the whole system of fair pay is corrupt, and as you said yourself in the telegraph, I quote you “ if you could pay more you would”?? And what exactly do you mean, I thought it was all down to a pay review?????

Some staff are even having to sell their homes, you had meetings that dismissed them and failed to follow correct procedure, which SHOULD be investigated, you failed to turn up as arranged to speak with them, admin being blamed for catastrophic errors in the whole process, missing applications etc which was an obvious delay tactic. Then you sack them ALL to impose a controversial new contract with altered hours and job descriptions!!!! HOW DARE YOU !!!

SHAME ON YOU and your greedy colleagues, let’s see how much you have all contributed to this culling of pay, publish your tax returns and expenses and while you are at it, as YOUR employer, as a tax payer of Derby, I would suggest that the council be audited and the correct balance of the books published...

Should have an OT in the title but very eloquently put and so bloody true, a shambles of an authority!

[trevor1946]

Nice read and informative ----Well done

[mistaram]

Bet the person who wrote that would struggle to run a bath At least 50% of their complaints happened before this council was formed

[KingCharlieGeorge]

Bet the person who wrote that would struggle to run a bath At least 50% of their complaints happened before this council was formed

Most councils have had to cut services because of vastly reduced funding from the Tory Government (since 2010). Then the Tories attack those councils saying how disgusting it is that the councils are cutting back!!

[ramAnag]

Most councils have had to cut services because of vastly reduced funding from the Tory Government (since 2010). Then the Tories attack those councils saying how disgusting it is that the councils are cutting back!!

Absolutely true...like.

[swaledale]

Most councils have had to cut services because of vastly reduced funding from the Tory Government (since 2010). Then the Tories attack those councils saying how disgusting it is that the councils are cutting back!!

Yes thats true, but its also true that the manner in which those cuts have been delivered is in many cases and Derby is one example shambolic, with front line staff having wage cuts or freezes and management trousering large pay increases (to manage the stress of a reduced budget!) - Councillors at various authorities often of labour persuasion have also no problem with increasing their allowances whilst cutting jobs and wages, it is all about choices and some of these poor choices or wilful mismanagement took place prior to the cuts being imposed.

I don't support the slash and burn approach to public services, the cuts often hit the poorest and most vulnerable in society, BUT there was and still are inefficiencies that could be resolved that would save thousands of pounds and often cuts are made to make a political point, rather than because thats the best way of saving money.

[FrenchTrimmed]

Yes thats true, but its also true that the manner in which those cuts have been delivered is in many cases and Derby is one example shambolic, with front line staff having wage cuts or freezes and management trousering large pay increases (to manage the stress of a reduced budget!) - Councillors at various authorities often of labour persuasion have also no problem with increasing their allowances whilst cutting jobs and wages, it is all about choices and some of these poor choices or wilful mismanagement took place prior to the cuts being imposed.

I don't support the slash and burn approach to public services, the cuts often hit the poorest and most vulnerable in society, BUT there was and still are inefficiencies that could be resolved that would save thousands of pounds and often cuts are made to make a political point, rather than because thats the best way of saving money.

Like very much - absolutely spot on. Those with their snouts in the trough very rarely vote to have the trough reduced in size. That's why people have a distrust and dislike for politicians, both local and national, as well as people in senior positions in local administration, the NHS, the civil service etc., who never seem to be called to account properly and seem to manage to escape from their incompetence with massive pay offs. For example we have a certain Colin Jones who has received £320,000 of taxpayers' money and has had his NHS pension safeguarded despite allegations of lewd conduct and questions about his work. He was able to demand compensation from his employers for the loss of two jobs! Then we have the Teflon Mr Vaz rescued from what you would have thought was an indefensible position by his fellow Labour MPs. One could go on and on and on but it is clear that when the pressure is on those in positions of power and authority in public life almost always ensure their interests are protected and that ordinary people have to foot the bill in increased taxes and cuts to services.

[Akwesasne]

Yes thats true, but its also true that the manner in which those cuts have been delivered is in many cases and Derby is one example shambolic, with front line staff having wage cuts or freezes and management trousering large pay increases (to manage the stress of a reduced budget!) - Councillors at various authorities often of labour persuasion have also no problem with increasing their allowances whilst cutting jobs and wages, it is all about choices and some of these poor choices or wilful mismanagement took place prior to the cuts being imposed.

I don't support the slash and burn approach to public services, the cuts often hit the poorest and most vulnerable in society, BUT there was and still are inefficiencies that could be resolved that would save thousands of pounds and often cuts are made to make a political point, rather than because thats the best way of saving money.

Have you not used the term "Slash & Burn" in the wrong context ? It is a very efficient ancient agricultural method where undergrowth is slashed and burned and the ashes used to fertilize the land. The people then move on after a few harvests and then at some future date return to repeat the process. The method has been used for over two million years so therefore is proven and sustainable. Hardly the end result of what's left after council has done their deadly deeds to compensate for the tax dodging exploits of individuals and corporations who refuse to pay for necessary infrastructure.

[ramspride]

Yes thats true, but its also true that the manner in which those cuts have been delivered is in many cases and Derby is one example shambolic, with front line staff having wage cuts or freezes and management trousering large pay increases (to manage the stress of a reduced budget!) - Councillors at various authorities often of labour persuasion have also no problem with increasing their allowances whilst cutting jobs and wages, it is all about choices and some of these poor choices or wilful mismanagement took place prior to the cuts being imposed.

I don't support the slash and burn approach to public services, the cuts often hit the poorest and most vulnerable in society, BUT there was and still are inefficiencies that could be resolved that would save thousands of pounds and often cuts are made to make a political point, rather than because thats the best way of saving money.

Swales - Like