The mid-Beds Tory glossy distributed in my ward has had serious money thrown at it and not just for the printing.
No less a source than Pricewaterhouse Cooper's (PwC) has been quoted as saying that Central Beds gave better "Value for Money" service delivery in 2010/11 than Bedford, MK and Luton (while curiously calling only Luton "our geographical neighbours").
Anyone who has ever worked with PwC will know precisely what happened here. As business consultants, PwC would have been paid to devise a methodology that would spit out the desired answer first thought of. And they'll have charged through the nose for it.
Good luck to PwC, say I, for fleecing the Tories. But you don't fool me and I hope it won't fool most of the voters on 5 May.
The best indicator on value for money is how we each, as constituents, feel about the Council tax we pay. Mine is two-fifths, getting on for half, of my mortgage (which has less than 10 years to run), and is the third biggest outlay in our household budget.
Do take a look at my blog 10 April to see how Central Beds Council tax is dearer than that of our three neighbours, like for like (Band D charges).
The old adage, "All fur coat and no knickers" springs to mind for how the Tories have chosen to spend their money at this time on this PR spin-piece. It would be funny if I weren't a Central Beds tax payer.
Tuesday 19 April 2011
Sunday 10 April 2011
Central Beds Council tax 2010-11: no excuse
These are Band D Council Tax figures for 2010-11:
Central Bedfordshire (Tory) £1615
Bedford (Lib Dem) £1538*
Aylesbury Vale (Tory) £1492
South Northants (Tory) £1448
Northampton (Lib Dem Borough Council) £1445
Most Councils will be levying a zero percent increase for 2011-12, since they get 2.5% more from the government if they do.
*Lib Dem Bedford are reducing their Council Tax this year. Both Bedford and Central Bedfordshire took over from the expensive Tory-run County Council.
Message for Tory-run Central Bedfordshire Council: it needs to try harder to cut costs.
Central Bedfordshire (Tory) £1615
Bedford (Lib Dem) £1538*
Aylesbury Vale (Tory) £1492
South Northants (Tory) £1448
Northampton (Lib Dem Borough Council) £1445
Most Councils will be levying a zero percent increase for 2011-12, since they get 2.5% more from the government if they do.
*Lib Dem Bedford are reducing their Council Tax this year. Both Bedford and Central Bedfordshire took over from the expensive Tory-run County Council.
Message for Tory-run Central Bedfordshire Council: it needs to try harder to cut costs.
Can we please get an energyshare project going near me?
I love the idea of this project and just had to respond positively and share it with you. I've signed up as Janet.Nunn with post code here in Barton-le-Clay and hope to get a group going. I plan on doing the energy audit over one of the upcoming bank holiday weekends.
"Please could you help us let people in your area know about the energyshare grant fund which has just launched with up to £500,000 for community renewable energy projects? We’re calling for communities across the UK to register their interest . It would be great if you could you help us spread the word by forwarding this on to any contacts you have or putting us in touch with the most appropriate team in your local authority.
energyshare is a 100% renewable energy community giving everyone in the UK the opportunity to get involved in sourcing, using, and generating your own renewable energy.
This is just the beginning. energyshare’s founding partners, River Cottage and British Gas are committed to finding more funding. As a start British Gas are committed to distributing a further £3m to community renewable projects through the energyshare fund over the next 3 years. By getting involved in energyshare you can help decide which projects get funded.
We’ve got lots of other features on the site for households and communities, including case studies on the site of really successful community projects like Woolsery Community Hall who have cut their running costs by 90%, and MOZES where each household is saving an estimated 20% / year on their energy bills!
Please forward this on to anyone you think might be interested. We hope to see you on www.energyshare.com soon!"
For any more information please contact: Emily.oliver@keofilms.com / t: +44 (0) 20 7490 3580 / m: +44 (0) 7970 658 682
"Please could you help us let people in your area know about the energyshare grant fund which has just launched with up to £500,000 for community renewable energy projects? We’re calling for communities across the UK to register their interest . It would be great if you could you help us spread the word by forwarding this on to any contacts you have or putting us in touch with the most appropriate team in your local authority.
energyshare is a 100% renewable energy community giving everyone in the UK the opportunity to get involved in sourcing, using, and generating your own renewable energy.
This is just the beginning. energyshare’s founding partners, River Cottage and British Gas are committed to finding more funding. As a start British Gas are committed to distributing a further £3m to community renewable projects through the energyshare fund over the next 3 years. By getting involved in energyshare you can help decide which projects get funded.
We’ve got lots of other features on the site for households and communities, including case studies on the site of really successful community projects like Woolsery Community Hall who have cut their running costs by 90%, and MOZES where each household is saving an estimated 20% / year on their energy bills!
Please forward this on to anyone you think might be interested. We hope to see you on www.energyshare.com soon!"
For any more information please contact: Emily.oliver@keofilms.com / t: +44 (0) 20 7490 3580 / m: +44 (0) 7970 658 682
Highway repair plans in Barton ward 2011-14
Residents and frequent users of Manor Road in Barton-le-Clay will send a cheer up at the news that the road is due for re-surfacing this next year. Two years ago, I was told by an elderly neighbour that it hadn't been done in 20 years (I can corroborate the 17 years I've lived here), so run up the flag!
STREATLEY ROAD (RURAL) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Surface Dressing Barton Sundon 7 X £13,700 2011-12
COMMON LANE STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton Sundon 7 X £23,166 2011-12
HARLINGTON ROAD & CHURCH ROAD (URBAN AREA) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE B & C Roads Resurfacing Sundon £77,077 2011-12
SHARPENHOE ROAD (SERVICE ROAD) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £16,445 2011-12
MANOR ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing
Barton £121,550 2011-12
OLD ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £70,642 2013-14
Streatley Rd DRAINAGE Drainage Drainage
Barton £70,642 date t.b.c.
STREATLEY ROAD (RURAL) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Surface Dressing Barton Sundon 7 X £13,700 2011-12
COMMON LANE STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton Sundon 7 X £23,166 2011-12
HARLINGTON ROAD & CHURCH ROAD (URBAN AREA) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE B & C Roads Resurfacing Sundon £77,077 2011-12
SHARPENHOE ROAD (SERVICE ROAD) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £16,445 2011-12
MANOR ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing
Barton £121,550 2011-12
OLD ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £70,642 2013-14
Streatley Rd DRAINAGE Drainage Drainage
Barton £70,642 date t.b.c.
CBC bureaucrats also party poopers
With one hand, Central Beds Council (CBC) is giving: it has made a traffic order to cover the whole district, which means charges for road closures that would usually be paid by organisers will instead be "covered by the council" (meaning foregone, as to charge would have been seen as freeloading on the back of the royal wedding).
But with the other hand, it takes away: while all 'agreed' road closures will be free of charge, applications for road closures have to be made by Tuesday 12 April (this deadline was announced only on 1 April by CBC) and Public Liability insurance will cost £60 (£63.60 including insurance premium tax), and an 'All Risks' cover for public property and people being injured will be an optional addition of £25.00 (£26.50 including insurance premium tax).
Organisers should complete an application form available from: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/streetpartyguide
Can you club together with your neighbours and do something on private property instead? I'm lucky enough to have lovely neighbours with open frontage who are willing to set up tables and seating across their driveways and host the party like that without tapping us up for cash. We'll just bring food, drink and good cheer! No cash; no paperwork. Sorted.
But with the other hand, it takes away: while all 'agreed' road closures will be free of charge, applications for road closures have to be made by Tuesday 12 April (this deadline was announced only on 1 April by CBC) and Public Liability insurance will cost £60 (£63.60 including insurance premium tax), and an 'All Risks' cover for public property and people being injured will be an optional addition of £25.00 (£26.50 including insurance premium tax).
Organisers should complete an application form available from: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/streetpartyguide
Can you club together with your neighbours and do something on private property instead? I'm lucky enough to have lovely neighbours with open frontage who are willing to set up tables and seating across their driveways and host the party like that without tapping us up for cash. We'll just bring food, drink and good cheer! No cash; no paperwork. Sorted.
Election day 5 May: deadline 14 April for new registrations and postal vote requests
With both local elections and a UK-wide referendum taking place on Thursday 5 May, you need to make sure you are registered in time to vote. With several bank holidays coming up, residents who are going to be away on 5 May can also apply to vote by post or by proxy.
New voters and postal voters must be registered by Thursday 14 April. 197,000 poll cards have already been issued.To apply for a postal or proxy vote, either register online via www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk website or for more information, phone the Electoral Service Team on 0300 300 8008.
The elections will decide who sits on Central Bedfordshire Council for the next four years and also establish who will make up town and parish councils across the district.
The referendum is on the voting system used for elections to the UK Parliament. The question being put to voters on 5 May is, "At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?"
The Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, is sending a booklet to every household in the UK with information about how to have your say on 5 May.
New voters and postal voters must be registered by Thursday 14 April. 197,000 poll cards have already been issued.To apply for a postal or proxy vote, either register online via www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk website or for more information, phone the Electoral Service Team on 0300 300 8008.
The elections will decide who sits on Central Bedfordshire Council for the next four years and also establish who will make up town and parish councils across the district.
The referendum is on the voting system used for elections to the UK Parliament. The question being put to voters on 5 May is, "At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?"
The Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, is sending a booklet to every household in the UK with information about how to have your say on 5 May.
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