Posts Tagged ‘highland’
Labour addicted to union cash while Libdems get bought off by Labour UK
Secret papers reveal Labour’s dependency on union cash
Tuesday, March 30 2010
Previously unpublished papers reveal the true scope of Labour’s dependency on union cash.
Following Conservative pressure, the Government will publish the previously confidential minutes and papers of the Inter-Party Talks on the Funding of Political Parties.
Francis Maude, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, led the Conservative delegation in the Talks. “Gordon Brown wrecked the opportunity to clean up politics because he wanted the unions’ votes to become Labour Party leader”, he said. “These documents expose the Labour Party’s addiction to union cash”.
The Talks were chaired by Sir Hayden Phillips and were suspended without substantive agreement in October 2007.
Peter Watt, then Labour General Secretary and a delegate on the Talks, has subsequently written how the Talks failed since “the Labour Party could not resolve its internal issues”, “my own party was the biggest block to reform” and Gordon Brown “repeatedly warned the Prime Minister [Tony Blair] that he would block any attempt to reduce the unions’ power.”
Peter Watt also notes how the Liberal Democrats were bought off by Labour: “[Labour] managed to clinch a deal with the LibDems by promising that Menzies (Ming) Campbell would get a taxpayer-funded car and driver if the reforms went through.”
The newly published papers today reveal the true extent of the union funding of the Labour Party:
- Many union members would not pay a political levy to the Labour Party if given a choice.
- Some trade unions affiliate more individuals to the Labour Party than they have union members paying a political levy (only money from the political levy can be used for political purposes).
- From 2001 to 2006, the unions gave the Labour Party £45 million in cash.
- Trade unions pay £1 million a year to the Labour Party at a local and regional level, tying in local Labour Party branches through binding “Constituency Development Plans”.
Sir Hayden Phillips drew up detailed option papers on how the political levy could be reformed to give union members genuine choice. The Labour Party objected to these proposals. This was the key stumbling block that led to the Talks failing.
It’s wrong that union barons, not rank-and-file union members, decide how much to give to Labour”, Maude added.
“A Conservative Government will seek an agreed long-term settlement that would introduce an across-the-board cap on donations to end the big donor culture. As part of that reform, union members must have real choice on whether they want to pay a political levy and where it goes.”
Interesting to see how easy it was to buy off the Libdems. I suppose some things never change.
Jim Ferguson
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Highland Council cutbacks will take away front line services Scotland UK
The national percentage for those who are over 60 in scotland is 19%. That percentage increases to 34% for the Highlands and Islands. This percentage for the Highlands will increase by 10% every 5 years so its imperative that proper planning and a full strategic review is carried out in order to ensure adequate health care provision accross the Highlands and islands.
I am disapointed to see that the Highland Council who now have to make £12 million pounds of savings are cutting front line services in areas such as care workers who are a lifeline to many families across this region.
The SNP, Labour and LibDems have all had an opportunity at running the Highland Council but have failed to achieve the outcomes that the people need. Their in-fighting and petty politics have caused inaction and a failure to properly provide for the elderly community which is growing at an incredible rate.
There really does have to be some common sense introduced so that we don’t end up with a situation where we simply dont have the resources to cope.
Add to this the fact that we have had huge numbers of Eastern Europeans migrating to the Highlands who have not being paying contributions to the country but who quickly claim all their entitlements and we see a recipe for disaster due to not having the care provision and infrastructure to cope. The Labour Government were warned that this would happen but neither they nor the LibDems were prepared to listen and simply used political correctness as a weapon to silence their critics.
The SNP are faring no better and despite thousands of Scottish jobs being lost on a weekly basis they still adopt an insane policy of trying to bring huge numbers of immigrants to Scotland when there is simply no jobs for them.
An already overburdoned NHS is now creaking at the seams and the recent case of having 54 beds at Raigmore hospital blocked is tragic. Almost an entire floor is now taken up with people who have no other place to go because the Highland Council did not make the proper provision when they had the opportunity to do so. The bed blocking situation at Raigmore hospital has seen a 50% increase in just one year and may increase further next year unless a soloution can be found.
Local people who require hospital treatment will likely find that waiting lists will grow and with cutbacks in funding this will conspire to bring greater pressure to bear on local people.
Our elderly deserve better and after a lifetime of paying contributions into the NHS and their taxes they should not be worrying about healthcare provision at a time of life when they should be able to relax and take life at a slower pace.
I hope that people across the Highlands quickly wake up to the failures of those we trusted to lead and prepare this region for the future.
Immediate action must now be taken before it really is too late.
Jim Ferguson
Thought you should see (if you have not already seen), the areas that Highland Council are looking to achieve budget cuts and reduce level of service delivery at front end.
Looks to me as if everything possible is being done to protect the non-performing layers of management earning salaries in excess of £40,000 per annum.
One example detailed below demonstrates how management level salaries have got completely out of control:
“Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2″ – Saving 0.140 = £140,000 simply staggering, given the average level of earnings across the Highlands of those employed outside of the Public Sector
The areas that appear to be under the knife are the very areas community leaders feel should be strengthened. particularly in relation to Education and Care of the Elderly!
Please click the link to download the Highland Council document concerned:
http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/FD04B6BA-B0E6-4CC5-B3D6-A10FCA5CE352/0/Item9HC4809.pdf
This is the document listing the potential cutbacks for the next two or three financial years within Highland Council and highlights the years of gross mis-management of public finances by successive political parties and elected councillors
Large sums of money have been wasted on flights of fancy, such as the Kessock Bridge fireworks display, with no thought as to how the mooey could have been better utilised for public benefit.
The huge external debt running into hundreds of £Millions, run up by successive administrations has never rung any alarm bells, whilst job protectionism has always been exhibited at the highest level of management – this simply cannot be allowed to continue.
Best wishes
Barrie Haycock
Chair Planning Watch UK
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Documentation extract (NOT Edited):
Highland Council Agenda
Item – 4 March 2010 Report
Budget Consultation
Report by Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance
Summary
Highland Council, on 11 February, noted that budget consultation proposals would be considered by the Council in March. This report sets out the proposed approach to the
budget consultation exercise.
1. Introduction
1.1 The revenue budget for 2010/11 was agreed by the Council on 11 February. While that report set out a range of savings now agreed for 2011/12 and 2012/13, it
highlighted a considerable budget gap remained across those two years, estimated at £36m.
1.2 Recent comments by the Accounts Commission on the 2009 Audit Overview Report, sets in context the challenges faced by Council’s in the wake of the
economic downturn.
“…the scale of the budget challenge they face means councils need to take urgent
action. It is essential that they continue to develop and implement plans to cope
with the tough times ahead, including thinking radically about service design and
delivery.”
1.3 Given the difficult financial prospects for local government over the next few years, and the level of savings the Council is likely to be faced with, the Council agreed to
consult on budget proposals for 2011/12 and 2012/13, prior to the proposals being considered by the Council in the Autumn of 2010.
1.4 This report sets out the proposed approach to the budget consultation exercise.
1.5 This report is produced in support of the Council’s corporate governance process, which in turn is designed to support/augment the Council’s overall/corporate
delivery of all of its obligations in terms of the Single Outcome Agreement.
2. Purpose of Consultation
2.1 The purpose of the budget consultation exercise will be to:-
? Seeks views from the public and other stakeholders, on a range of specific budget proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.
? Seek views on the more strategic matters the Council is considering in relation to the budget, for example the education provision/school estate review and the
waste collection strategy.
? Ask the consultees for any areas where they feel budget savings could or should be made.
? Raise awareness of the financial challenges facing the Council and actions that may be necessary to address that.
3. Format of Consultation
3.1 A consultation document will be produced to support the exercise. This document will set out:-
? The financial context facing the Council, including the level of savings the Council thinks will have to be made over the next two years.
? Information on what the Council currently spends its budget on.
? The types of strategic review the Council is conducting or considering in major service areas e.g.
? Corporate Improvement Programme to improve efficiency and effectiveness (including procurement, asset management and business support along with other projects).
? Review of management costs.
? Reduction in travel and subsistence costs.
? Business case review for 5 new care homes.
? Review of education provision/school estate.
? Review of waste collection strategy.
? A range of specific saving proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.
? Any other relevant supporting information.
? The format of response sought, including questions to be asked of consultees.
3.2 As a working draft, the enclosed annex 1 sets out a list of saving proposals that may feature in the consultation document. This list represents those savings identified by Services as part of the 2010/11 budget exercise, over and above those agreed by the Council to date. Some further refinement to proposals, and incorporate of further information where appropriate, will take place before finalised.
3.3 The consultation document will be hosted on the Council website, with consideration given to availability/distribution through other mediums where appropriate. It is not intended to print mass copies of the document, or utilise newspaper advertising or supplements, to minimise the costs of the consultation.
3.4 Consultees will be asked to provide comments via email, or in writing. Consideration will be given to a dedicated email address for responses. Ward
Forum meetings will also be used to discuss the consultation and receive feedback.
3.5 The Council has agreed that a Citizen Panel be established to support consultation on a range of matters, including the budget. Given the time necessary to recruit
and establish the panel, it will not be possible to use the panel for this initial budget consultation. It is expected that once up and running, the panel will be used for
future budget consultations.
4. Questions to be asked
4.1 While the Council could use a ‘blank sheet’ approach, i.e. leave the consultees to determine the format and content of their response, there are benefits in providing
a structure to the expected response, to aid analysis and collation.
4.2 A range of questions could be considered, to provide a structure to the response, while still leaving the consultee as much freedom as possible to give their views.
The questions could also provide a useful structure for discussion at Ward Forum meetings.
4.3 Some example questions that could be included are set out below.
(1) Are there any other areas of the Council, not reflected in the enclosed proposals, where you feel the Council could or should make savings? If so please provide details.
(2) Are there any comments you wish to make about the strategic reviews the Council is conducting.
4.4 The final structure of the document and questions will be prepared over the coming weeks, prior to formal launch of the consultation.
5. Next Steps and Timetable
5.1 Following the Council meeting, the consultation document will be prepared and incorporated on the Council website. The target date for this task is mid to end March.
5.2 The Council will then arrange for a press release, media coverage, posters in Service Points, etc as a means of promoting the consultation.
5.3 The first Ward Forum to be asked for views on the consultation will be the North West and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on 27th March.
5.4 Discussion at further Ward Forum meetings during April and May will also take place, with the consultation exercise estimated to conclude June 2010.
Recommendation
Members are asked to consider this report and agree the budget consultation approach and timetable.
Signature:
Designation: Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance
Date: 24 February 2010
Ref:
Background Papers
Author: Brian Porter, Finance Manager
Author’s Telephone No.: 01463 702424
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
Education, Culture & Sport
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
1 & 3 Devolved budgets – schools Review Secondary timetabling methods, curriculum delivery methods and review teacher entitlement formulae 1.791
8 Schools General Review delivery of music tuition and region-wide music support 0.559
9 Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2 – 0.140
12 Schools General Reduction in teaching absence cover funding 0.047
13 Schools General Discontinue the peripatetic janitorial function 0.287
14 Schools General Clothing Grant Allowance – Reduce level of award and change to “voucher” system 0.080
19 Additional Support Needs 20% reduction across Psychological Services, a 5% reduction across other specialist ASL budgets held centrally, at area level and in schools, including some reorganisation of management and administrative structures. 1.000
20 School Residences Income generation opportunities in School Residences 0.060
22 Grants to Voluntary Organisations
Further review of support for Voluntary Organisations 0.312
23 Youth Work Reduction in Youth Work 0.573
24 Community Learning Further reduction in Adult Education 0.050
25 Community Facilities,
Inverness and Nairn
Reduce number of Community Centres in Inverness 0.133
26 Archives Focus provision on new Highland Archive Centre 0.183
27 Culture Removal of the Out of Eden drama provision including the Highland wide Higher Drama course 0.195
29 Museums Reduce museum provision by two thirds through closures or alternative provision 0.400
30 Highland Culture Fund Removal of Highland Culture Fund and Lochaber Events budget 0.509
31 Integrated Library Service Reduction in library provision, including ceasing the Bookstart service 0.394
32 Integrated Library Service Library Support Unit – Reduce logistical support for libraries 0.100
33 Integrated Library Service Cease all development of the Am Baile gaelic heritage web resources, and seek alternative resources 0.172
34 Leisure, recreation and sports development
Reduce number of swimming pools 0.380
35 Sports Development and Play
Reduce support for sports development and play through review of Council and Partner provision 0.138
36 Floral Hall, Inverness Floral Hall – Close or find a social enterprise model to continue the operation 0.115
Total 7.618
ECS
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
JCCYP
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
9 Review of Teacher input to nurseries
Reduce in line with service rationalisation 0.100
11 Workforce Qualification Standard
Reduction in expenditure to support early years staff qualification standard, as this will largely have been met. 0.050
Total 0.150
JCCYP
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
Social Work
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
15 Establish Community Health & Social Care Partnerships with NHS Highland
Move towards integrated management of health and care 0.250
16 Community Care Learning
Disability Support Work provision
Review in – house support services for learning disabilities at Cradlehall, Inverness 0.035
18 Learning Disability Day Care Review of day care facility at Beachview, Brora. 0.069
19 Learning Disability Day Care Review learning disability day care service provision at Tigh na Drochaidh 0.020
20 Community Care Establishments
Review Raasay Day Centre 0.014
22 Care at Home Consider tender for all home care (public sector process involving comparator – phased approach) 1.000
23 Orchard Cease providing residential care at Orchard and downsize provision. Restrict the service to short breaks. 0.150
24 Top slice of fostering & adoption budget
Top slice of fostering & adoption budget 0.100
28 Children & Families Overnight provision in Children’s Units 0.100
31 Care Homes Review of all LA care home provision, to ensure best value tbc
35 Day Care Review Older People’s Day Care at Tigh na Drochaid, Portree 0.065
36 Childrens Services Review Staffin respite unit 0.130
Total 1.933
SW
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
16 Service Review of overall staffing structure 0.075
18 Service Review all income streams. 0.300
20 Roads & Community Works Review standards of cyclic road maintenance. 0.400
21 Roads & Community Works Review standards of grounds maintenance. 0.500
22 Roads & Community Works Use contractors to replace seasonal staff employed on grounds maintenance. 0.050
23 Roads & Community Works Bught Nursery – examine option to procure plant material from external providers. 0.100
24 Roads & Community Works Review standards of street cleaning. 0.500
25 Roads & Community Works Review provision (numbers) of public toilets. 0.200
26 Roads & Community Works Review Pest Control function 0.095
27 Roads & Community Works Remove budget for unadopted roads. 0.050
28 Roads & Community Works
Business Support
Review the burial administration function for Inverness,
Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Area. 0.020
32 Waste Management Review level of grant to Social Enterprise Groups. 0.050
33 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of service for street lighting. 0.500
34 Transport & Infrastructure Replace external contractors with internal staff (internal transfer from Roads and Community Works to Street Lighting). 0.050
35 Transport & Infrastructure Review levels of subsidies for public transport. 0.500
36 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of grants to Community Transport Schemes 0.050
37 Transport & Infrastructure Review long term arrangements for the Corran Ferry. 0.150
38 Transport & Infrastructure Review Materials Testing Laboratory. 0.050
39 Transport & Infrastructure Review airstrips. 0.026
40A Environmental Health Review staffing level for Environmental Health. 0.060
40B Trading Standards Review staffing level for Trading Standards. 0.060
42 Business Support Review provision of vehicle workshops including options for amalgamation. 0.050
43 Business Support Review provision of materials stores including options for external provision. 0.075
44 Business Support Review business processes. 0.040
TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
45 Roads & Community Works Review temporary mortuary facilities at Glen Nevis, Fort William. 0.005
Total 3.956
TECS
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Labour protecting Bulger killer – time to reveal his identity -UK-
I am really sick and tired of reading about the rights of despicable monsters like Jon Venables who are allowed to hide behind a wall of secrecy created by this Labour Government to protect such vile people. Labour have totally failed to protect members of the public and their shielding of this monster only prove how out of touch with public opinion they are. Their liberal soft touch justice that sees children murdered and then the killers treated to holidays and the best of treatment is sickening.
Its quite clear that they treated the two Bulger killers with kid gloves all these years no doubt with the sympathy of the LibDems who help make a mockery of British justice and who pander to evil people and gloat about their ” Rights ” but its time that the ” Rights ” of ordinary people were put first.
With rights comes responsibilities !
Jim Ferguson
Child porn claims over Bulger killer
venables recalled over suspicions, report alleges
Published: 08/03/2010
ANGRY: Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger
James Bulger killer Jon Venables was recalled to prison on suspicion of child pornography offences, using drugs and fears he had revealed his new identity, it was alleged yesterday.
The claims about the 27-year-old convicted murderer, made in a Sunday newspaper, came after Justice Secretary Jack Straw refused to disclose the reasons for last week’s recall, saying only they related to “extremely serious allegations”.
Senior politicians yesterday lined up to support the government’s stance. The decision was backed by David Blunkett, who as then home secretary informed MPs of the Parole Board’s decision that Venables should be released in 2001.
Writing in a Sunday newspaper, he said: “The separation between judges and politicians is critical. The idea that we should abandon it in this case is understandable coming from James’ immediate family. Even with a general election pending, the Government cannot and must not bend on this – not least because if Venables has committed a further crime, then that victim and their family deserve their day in court.”
Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman declined to comment on the reason why Venables was returned to custody. She said: “If there is a question of an offence having been committed then it needs to be properly investigated and anybody who has committed an offence needs to be brought to trial.
“We don’t want anything to happen whereby they can’t be brought to a trial because it is said they can’t get a fair trial because all the media reporting has been prejudiced.”
James’s mother Denise Fergus, 42, said yesterday Venables should lose his anonymity if he was charged with a new offence.
Her spokesman, Chris Johnson, said: “If after that, depending on the outcome of the court case, the powers that be decide that he should have some new identity yet again, then we’ll deal with that when we come to it.
“But she can’t understand why he doesn’t appear in a dock under his own name, if that’s going to be where he ends up.
“She’s appalled. She doesn’t think that he should be at liberty anyway. He should really have served a sentence of something in the order of 15 years and should be coming up for parole now. In her mind, if there has been an offence committed, it means that that could have been avoided.”
Mrs Fergus has demanded to know why Venables was put back in jail, and is meeting Mr Straw to discuss the matter.
The killer and his accomplice Robert Thompson were aged 10 when they battered two-year-old James to death in Liverpool 17 years ago.
They were both released on lifelong licence in 2001 with new identities, requiring them to obey strict conditions such as not contacting each other or returning to the city where James was killed.
Venables reportedly faces a looming return to court over the “extremely serious” allegations, causing a potential security nightmare for the authorities trying to preserve his lifelong anonymity order.
Justifying his decision not to disclose details of Venables’ recall, Mr Straw said: “I said on Wednesday that I was unable to give further details of the reasons for Jon Venables’ return to custody, because it was not in the public interest to do so.
“That view was shared by the police and the director of public prosecutions. We all feared that a premature disclosure of information would undermine the integrity of the criminal justice process, including the investigation and potential prosecution of individual(s).”
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Shocking state of people admitted to Accident and Emergency – Inverness, Scotland
Drunk 12-year-old girl rushed to hospital
Published: 04 March, 2010
“Raigmore Hospital’s A&E department was not a pleasant place to be on Saturday night, according to Jim Ferguson.”
A 12-YEAR-old drunk, two men who had been assaulted in booze-fuelled bust-ups and a drug user who had overdosed…
These were just some of the many patients who ended their Saturday night at Raigmore Hospital’s accident and emergency department.
And it wasn’t a pretty sight, according to crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers’ Highland chairman Jim Ferguson, who shadowed A&E staff for six hours to see first-hand their dealings with the fall-out of drink and drugs.
For, during his visit, he saw only one patient whose admission was not down to booze or substance abuse.
Mr Ferguson, who is also Scottish depute chairman of Crimestoppers, told the Highland News: “While it wasn’t pleasant to see all the blood, gore and trauma, it did highlight a number of issues that are screaming out for action to be taken on.
“I would appeal for other people like Highland councillors and government officials to see for themselves what is happening.”
Shortly after his arrival at 10pm, the first patient rushed to the ward was a 12-year-old girl.
He recalled: “She had consumed a fairly large quantity of alcohol. I am not sure what the circumstances were, but she was taken in with serious alcohol poisoning and was kept in for several hours under observation.”
He continued: “I saw a number of people who were in as a result of alcohol. I saw one chap under the influence of alcohol who was covered in blood, with his clothes ripped and he was being helped to walk by two police officers. He had been severely beaten and he was taken into one of the observation units.
“Another chap came in with serious facial injuries so severe he would have been unrecognisable to anyone who knew him. He was badly cut round the face and there was blood coming out of gaping head wounds. His lips were torn and bleeding. Again, he had been assaulted while under the influence of alcohol.
“I also saw a man who had been involved in a road traffic accident and he had crashed his vehicle while being under the influence of alcohol.
“There was another man, probably in his 20s, who was suffering from a drugs overdose.
“There was only one admission to A&E I saw that was not drink or drugs-induced and that was an elderly gentleman with breathing difficulties.”
Speaking to reception staff, nurses and doctors, Mr Ferguson found that this was not a particularly busy night for A&E – and was perhaps even on the quiet side for a typical Saturday night following pay day.
He took the opportunity to speak to staff about the sort of problems they come up against while dealing with people who are the worst for wear due to drink or drugs.
He explained: “I was aware that in A&Es across Scotland there are incidents of very serious verbal and physical violence and that was confirmed on Saturday by staff I spoke to.
“Reception staff who deal with people when they first come in told me about incidents of verbal abuse where people threatened to find out where they lived and told graphically, in ways I can’t repeat, what they would do.
“They also told me of incidents of physical violence where people under the influence of drink or drugs have lashed out, often without warning. They said they really have to have their wits about them.
“I’m shocked and appalled to hear people who are genuinely doing their best to help people are subjected to such violence and disrespect.”
He also asked staff their thoughts on the impending closure of the city’s drying-out centre at Beechwood House. The unit, which will close at the end of March if funding is not found, provides 24-hour emergency rehab care for those suffering the affects of drink or drugs.
He said: “They told me this is a nightmare waiting to happen. Beechwood House has incredibly patient staff and provides a unique facility.”
Mr Ferguson, who hopes to foster greater links between Crimestoppers and NHS Highland, said he was impressed by “the sheer level of professionalism of A&E staff”.
He added: “Not only are they proficient, they are incredibly knowledgeable. They are dedicated, hard working and don’t judge, however frustrating they find things.
“We are fortunate to have a such dedicated people working in Inverness.”
Another point in all of this is the fact that people should simply not have to run the gauntlet of drunks and drug addicts often fighting while in Accident and Emergency. Its bad enough being there trying to deal with whatever has happened without this going on which adds to the stress and suffering of people there especially children.
Jim Ferguson
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