The overspend reported in the NWN this week has grown by 250k in one month. How can people justify one department being almost £2m over budget half way through the financial year?

http://newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=14499

Quoted from richard.garvie

The overspend reported in the NWN this week has grown by 250k in one month. How can people justify one department being almost £2m over budget half way through the financial year?

http://newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=14499

No Company would be allowed to do it and survive...relatively speaking.
To justify this, you will be given a load of blubber and like it!
A Law unto themselves....

Is this a case of poor spending policies, or poor local settlements to support the local demographic, i.e. do we have more old people than could be expected to have, or government is prepared to 'pay for' ?

Anyone notice any similarities between these..?

End of year 2009

Joe Mooney (Con) "The measures that we have taken recently have brought about a control of the budget and I have every confidence that the action taken will reduce it further.”

Graham Jones (Con)" We shall continue to manage financial matters soundly.”

Graham Jones (Con) "This is very early on in the budget cycle and the figures we are dealing with are projections, often with services where expenditure and income are difficult to predict, as the year goes on we will be taking action to bring budgets into line."

From the N.W.N:   "West Berkshire Council will strive to make up to £9m of savings over the next three years, according to a council report."


Middle of 2010...

From the N.W.N: "West Berkshire Council’s current financial year overspend has grown by a quarter of a million pounds in one department in a single month.

The finance department may be in for further criticism as it will be announced at a resource management select committee meeting that the predicted overspend is in fact even higher than previously stated, at £1.9m.

Graham Jones (Con) has been unable to explain the discrepancy between the figures"


Threep.

The lack of affordable housing means people at the younger end of our population will end up moving away, leaving us with a population that is older than the national average. When we look at future developments, we need to ensure provision for employment in the area and affordable housing, to allow first time buyers to get on the ladder here in West Berks. If there is no growth in employment here in West Berks, and if we don't provide affordable housing, we are going to continue to move older demographically which will only increase the pressure on the authority as elderly care grows and grows. We need to plan better going forward, but the members leave all of that to the officers, and the officers have made a complete hash of it. Unfortunately, they are not accountable to the general population.

Quoted from dodgy

No Company would be allowed to do it and survive...relatively speaking.
To justify this, you will be given a load of blubber and like it!
A Law unto themselves....

But they're not a company are they. No company would take on an open ended stream of work such as caring for the elderly whilst receiving less and less recompense for doing so, in other words the cuts in funding from central government and the council tax freeze, would they?

The alternative is to close the doors to the elderly and those others that need social care once the budget for them is spent. I'm sure not anyone would support that idea, would they?

Quoted from user23.3

But they're not a company are they. No company would take on an open ended stream of work such as caring for the elderly whilst receiving less and less recompense for doing so, in other words the cuts in funding from central government and the council tax freeze, would they?

The alternative is to close the doors to the elderly and those others that need social care once the budget for them is spent. I'm sure not anyone would support that idea, would they?

Perhaps the time has come for the third sector to take over this role.  I am sure they would do a good job and charity giving would rise when we rid ourselves of more incompetents at WBC and the Council Tax is slashed by 50% or more!

I don't think anyone would suggest closing the door to the elderly, but a clear plan and competence is a must especially when budgeting. It's not like somebody has suddenly dumped a load of pensioners in West Berkshire, any increase in pensioners can be planned for by using data such as the census. This is why a deficit of almost £2m is a disaster and represents the total incompetance at West Berks. They can release press releases saying that they get however many stars and the like, but the truth is they fail on the big issues and nobody really has faith in the local authority, despite what their PR man may tell us.

What is the annual WBC gross budget?

For people or parties to be taken seriously, they need to propose where things went wrong and where they would have done it better.  Does anyone really think it would have been done better by anyone else?

Quoted from richard.garvie

I don't think anyone would suggest closing the door to the elderly, but a clear plan and competence is a must especially when budgeting. It's not like somebody has suddenly dumped a load of pensioners in West Berkshire, any increase in pensioners can be planned for by using data such as the census. This is why a deficit of almost £2m is a disaster and represents the total incompetance at West Berks. They can release press releases saying that they get however many stars and the like, but the truth is they fail on the big issues and nobody really has faith in the local authority, despite what their PR man may tell us.

The last census was 9 years ago, how could they possibly use this data to plan the budget for this year given the migration into and out of the district during the 9 year period?

Quoted from Greenham Common

For people or parties to be taken seriously, they need to propose where things went wrong and where they would have done it better.

Exactly. The above is a good example of someone proposing a worse way of "doing it better".

Quoted from user23.3

The last census was 9 years ago, how could they possibly use this data to plan the budget for this year given the migration into and out of the district during the 9 year period?Exactly. The above is a good example of someone proposing a worse way of "doing it better".

Is there any evidence to suggest there has been a vast influx of pensioners?? - I haven't seen one quoted anywhere.

or is it User23 using this as his usual smokescreen to protect the incompetent!

I'm not saying just use the census as there is lot's of data available to WBC to use, but nine years ago, you could account for 56 year old men becoming pensioners and 51 year old women becoming pensionable. The fact that we now have a £2m overspend, if it is to do with the raise in number of pensioners then this issue could of been forecasted and accounted for in the budget.

What you are really saying user23.3 is that you follow the same "let's take it as it comes" approach adopted by WBC. This is why there is poor control over finances, as there is zero planning for the future, and with WBC determined to allow people to build with no employment provision or affordable housing options, we will be unable to address this growing issue.

A little bit of research using government data (such as the census and others) could have prevented this budget deficit and allowed tWBC to have planned for it. Instead, WBC will wait until halfway through each year, and then slash elsewhere to bring finances back into line. Apparently things at WBC are not "AS BAD" as the past. I would hate to have seen what the deficits were before then!!!

Quoted from user23.3

The last census was 9 years ago, how could they possibly use this data to plan the budget for this year given the migration into and out of the district during the 9 year period?

Next year's census will be the last - it has been recognised that far more useful figures are generated almost daily through government and council databases etc. There are plenty already saying the 2011 census is a waste of time and money, one of the instant savings the government would make would be to scrap it now.

One reason for the current overspend is, of course, the Tories' desperate desire to keep council tax rises down.  So they haven't raised enough income to cover their budgetary needs - and it's coming back to haunt them.

I'd happily take a look at WBC's books and propose an alternative budget... whether they would let me is another issue. The Tories challenged David Rendel to do it knowing fine well that the Libs are as incompetent as they are. I would happily take up the challenge, in fact I may just challenge the Tories to let me do it!!!

(I'd have to issue the challenge through the media, otherwise I would never get a reply. That's how WBC work isn't it?

Quoted from richard.garvie

What you are really saying user23.3 is that you follow the same "let's take it as it comes" approach adopted by WBC. This is why there is poor control over finances, as there is zero planning for the future, and with WBC determined to allow people to build with no employment provision or affordable housing options, we will be unable to address this growing issue

How would you plan for the removal of funding by central government half way through a financial year, as has recently happened?

Quoted from user23.3

How would you plan for the removal of funding by central government half way through a financial year, as has recently happened?

I would know how much funding I got from Central Government (to enable Budget creation) and when mention of it removal was made report the overspend immediately.  

How do WBC do it? Has it become worse now so many have given up smoking and there are less f** packets to scrawl on the back of?

So now the Coalition Government cuts are to blame? I was under the impression that the Government Spending Review on things such as Elderly care etc. was still under way, so government cuts in this area at West Berks are unlikely to have taken place already. But lets give you the benefit of the doubt though, Government cuts are the reason this year. What about this time last year? Or the year before? Or the year before that??? The fact is, the financial planning at West Berks is non existent.

Quoted from richard.garvie

So now the Coalition Government cuts are to blame? I was under the impression that the Government Spending Review on things such as Elderly care etc. was still under way, so government cuts in this area at West Berks are unlikely to have taken place already. But lets give you the benefit of the doubt though, Government cuts are the reason this year. What about this time last year? Or the year before? Or the year before that??? The fact is, the financial planning at West Berks is non existent.

There hasn't been a withdrawal of funding such as this before that I know of, with one government promising X amount of money, local government allocating it and spending it then another government withdrawing that funding later that same financial year.

You must have missed the Emergency Budget, I believe it made the news though.

Quoted from user23.3

There hasn't been a withdrawal of funding such as this before that I know of, with one government promising X amount of money, local government allocating it and spending it then another government withdrawing that funding later that same financial year.

You must have missed the Emergency Budget, I believe it made the news though.

So are you saying the WBS accounts department missed it too and that is why this overspend is emerging - or had they not got a clue what the budget was made up of.

When the redundancies come I hear Billy Smarts are recruiting!

Yes, cuts were allocated in the emergency budget for spending in local government, but the money given to WBC for elderly care has not been altered yet, or that's what a former colleague tells me (he works for the Lib Dems in Whitehall!!!). But then again, what would he know. I don't think anyone really knows what is going on, most of all the people at West Berks.

That is why the next administration at West Berks must be transparent in all that they do.

Quoted from richard.garvie

Yes, cuts were allocated in the emergency budget for spending in local government, but the money given to WBC for elderly care has not been altered yet, or that's what a former colleague tells me (he works for the Lib Dems in Whitehall!!!). But then again, what would he know. I don't think anyone really knows what is going on, most of all the people at West Berks.

That is why the next administration at West Berks must be transparent in all that they do.

I could be wrong but I don't believe money is given to WBC from central government specifically for elderly care so indeed, what would he know.

Don't you think the current administration will be more transparent after January?

At least all spending over £500 will now be published. But I think everything needs to be more transparent - planning policy, who does what at the council, how much they are paid... There also needs to be clear direction moving forward and elected members must take a more active role in what happens at WBC!!!

Quoted from user23.3

I could be wrong but I don't believe money is given to WBC from central government specifically for elderly care so indeed, what would he know.

Don't you think the current administration will be more transparent after January?

In that case your argument that the budget had been changed mid-year was just a lie - and you knew it was.

Says a lot about the integrity of answers from WBC staff doesn't it!!

Quoted from richard.garvie

At least all spending over £500 will now be published. But I think everything needs to be more transparent - planning policy, who does what at the council, how much they are paid... There also needs to be clear direction moving forward and elected members must take a more active role in what happens at WBC!!!

So that's a yes then.

Isn't planning policy currently up for debate giving us the chance to have a say on all of it. In fact didn't you post a link to the website with details of how to take part in the review?

You seem be saying that you could do things a lot better, then listing stuff that's already happening and admitting you don't really know what is going on.

Well the budgeting is useless as you confirm with your contradictory answers!!

Hold on a second. User 23.3, the chance to conribute to the LDF has long gone and I was working away at the time. The current process is to determine the legality of changes to the LDF which has already been agreed. The current consultation is hidden away on the council website, and has yet to be picked up on by the media. Believe me though, I will fight every step of the way to prevent affordable housing quota's from being removed from the LDF, and I will be making calls to all of the local media outlets this week to bring it to their attention. I will fight any dodgy dealings that are brought to my attention from this day forward.

As for being more transparent, that only applies to spending on items over £500 and is only being brought in as it is to become the law. Most local authorities are already publishing this data, what does West Berks have to hide by dragging it out??? Possibly preparing the spin operation to deflect attention from certain areas??? As for the rest of the council, under the present regime it will not change. Cloak and dagger, smoke and mirrors... Doesn't matter what you call it, it's just downright dodgy!!!

And I see you buried your "I "may" be worong statement in there. I think you WILL find that the elderly care fundinghas yet to be decided, so my contact was right. Again, just a typical example of someone from West Berks being wrong and feeding utter BS to the rest of us. I have just been looking at bits freely available online, search it and you will see that you are wrong. To think I even considered giving you benefit of doubt without checking the facts for myself...

Quoted from richard.garvie

And I see you buried your "I "may" be worong statement in there. I think you WILL find that the elderly care fundinghas yet to be decided, so my contact was right. Again, just a typical example of someone from West Berks being wrong and feeding utter BS to the rest of us. I have just been looking at bits freely available online, search it and you will see that you are wrong. To think I even considered giving you benefit of doubt without checking the facts for myself...

No need to be like this just because you've been proved wrong over and over again in this thread alone. Any more of rudeness or obvious trolling and I'll put you on Ignore. You've basically come up with a load of ideas that are already in place, then become insulting when this has been pointed out to you. Based on this showing I won't be voting for you in next year's elections and I doubt anyone else here will either.

What have you "proved" me wrong on? From the way I read it, you have came on here to defend West Berks, and most of what you say has proven to be speculation. The one thing you have said that West Berks will do to become more transparent is by introducing a detailed report into all spending above £500. This is to become law, and the majority of local authorities are already doing it but WBC will drag it out for as long as possible. YOU were wrong on elderly care funding and YOU were also wrong about the LDF still being up for consultation. What is in fact up for consultation is the "legality" and "soundness" of proposed changes to the text within certain parts of the LDF, and comments are only invited on the "legality" and "soundness" not the actual content of the text that with regards to the racecourse development involves dropping the affordable housing quota.

I hardly consider pointing out the failings of West Berks or pulling apart the defence you give of them as "trolling". My last post may have been a little strong, but not overly rude I don't think.

PS. Just read through the entire thread, what policies within this thread do I propose that are already in place? Guarenteeing the inclusion of affordable housing within developments has been included in some parts of WBC policy, I will give you that. But removing the minimum quota at the racecourse hardly indicates the council following it's own policy, does it? As for using data to predict spending years in advance, how would that be a bad thing??? It would obviously prevent the sort of overspends we have now.

So come on User23.3, explain to me why you consider my behaviour trolling and tell me which of my "ideas" are already in place??? This is supposed to be a debate, right???

Quoted from richard.garvie

What have you "proved" me wrong on? From the way I read it, you have came on here to defend West Berks, and most of what you say has proven to be speculation. The one thing you have said that West Berks will do to become more transparent is by introducing a detailed report into all spending above £500. This is to become law, and the majority of local authorities are already doing it but WBC will drag it out for as long as possible. YOU were wrong on elderly care funding and YOU were also wrong about the LDF still being up for consultation. What is in fact up for consultation is the "legality" and "soundness" of proposed changes to the text within certain parts of the LDF, and comments are only invited on the "legality" and "soundness" not the actual content of the text that with regards to the racecourse development involves dropping the affordable housing quota.

I hardly consider pointing out the failings of West Berks or pulling apart the defence you give of them as "trolling". My last post may have been a little strong, but not overly rude I don't think.

You're read it wrong then. I'm just giving my opinion, it happens to differ from yours so you've been rude when I've pointed out that you were wrong about funding (I didn't mention funding for care of the elderly, you've added that), wrong about whether the LDF had been up for consultation (I didn't say it was still up for consultation you've added that). The only original idea you've had is to use 9 year old data from the last census to plan for the future.

Regarding the £500 spending report, what's the percentage of councils "already doing it"? It wouldn't look good for you to be wrong about this too.

Quoted from user23.3

You're read it wrong then. I'm just giving my opinion, it happens to differ from yours so you've been rude when I've pointed out that you were wrong about funding (I didn't mention funding for care of the elderly, you've added that), wrong about whether the LDF had been up for consultation (I didn't say it was still up for consultation you've added that). The only original idea you've had is to use 9 year old data from the last census to plan for the future.

Regarding the £500 spending report, what's the percentage of councils "already doing it"? It wouldn't look good for you to be wrong about this too.

You've based your entire argument on this thread around the cuts in central government already announced being the reason behind the current overspend.

Quoted from user23.3

But they're not a company are they. No company would take on an open ended stream of work such as caring for the elderly whilst receiving less and less recompense for doing so, in other words the cuts in funding from central government and the council tax freeze, would they?

The alternative is to close the doors to the elderly and those others that need social care once the budget for them is spent. I'm sure not anyone would support that idea, would they?

and

Quoted from user23.3

How would you plan for the removal of funding by central government half way through a financial year, as has recently happened?

and

Quoted from user23.3

There hasn't been a withdrawal of funding such as this before that I know of, with one government promising X amount of money, local government allocating it and spending it then another government withdrawing that funding later that same financial year.

You must have missed the Emergency Budget, I believe it made the news though.

before admitting:

Quoted from user23.3

I could be wrong but I don't believe money is given to WBC from central government specifically for elderly care so indeed, what would he know.

Don't you think the current administration will be more transparent after January?

As for who claimed that the consultaion was ongoing regarding the LFD and "Giving us a say on it all..."

Quoted from user23.3

So that's a yes then.

Isn't planning policy currently up for debate giving us the chance to have a say on all of it. In fact didn't you post a link to the website with details of how to take part in the review?

You seem be saying that you could do things a lot better, then listing stuff that's already happening and admitting you don't really know what is going on.

As for using the census for reasearch, I actually said "can be planned for by using data such as the census":

Quoted from richard.garvie

I don't think anyone would suggest closing the door to the elderly, but a clear plan and competence is a must especially when budgeting. It's not like somebody has suddenly dumped a load of pensioners in West Berkshire, any increase in pensioners can be planned for by using data such as the census. This is why a deficit of almost £2m is a disaster and represents the total incompetance at West Berks. They can release press releases saying that they get however many stars and the like, but the truth is they fail on the big issues and nobody really has faith in the local authority, despite what their PR man may tell us.

and "I'm not saying just use the census":

Quoted from richard.garvie

I'm not saying just use the census as there is lot's of data available to WBC to use, but nine years ago, you could account for 56 year old men becoming pensioners and 51 year old women becoming pensionable. The fact that we now have a £2m overspend, if it is to do with the raise in number of pensioners then this issue could of been forecasted and accounted for in the budget.

What you are really saying user23.3 is that you follow the same "let's take it as it comes" approach adopted by WBC. This is why there is poor control over finances, as there is zero planning for the future, and with WBC determined to allow people to build with no employment provision or affordable housing options, we will be unable to address this growing issue.

A little bit of research using government data (such as the census and others) could have prevented this budget deficit and allowed tWBC to have planned for it. Instead, WBC will wait until halfway through each year, and then slash elsewhere to bring finances back into line. Apparently things at WBC are not "AS BAD" as the past. I would hate to have seen what the deficits were before then!!!

Regarding percentages of local authorities using the new system of reporting, I will come back to you later tonight after I have researched it. Currently cooking a roast dinner!!!

Quoted from user23.3

No need to be like this just because you've been proved wrong over and over again in this thread alone. Any more of rudeness or obvious trolling and I'll put you on Ignore. You've basically come up with a load of ideas that are already in place, then become insulting when this has been pointed out to you. Based on this showing I won't be voting for you in next year's elections and I doubt anyone else here will either.

Richard whenever User23 is proved wrong he comes up with contortion that he is right and the perpetrator who has highlighted the fact is put on ignore.

I think it must be a WBC policy to ignore arguments against their policies. Which also may explain their calculations of those for! (ie the against are put in the recycle bin!)

User 23  works for WBC and is therefore well trained in this procedure!

Quoted from richard.garvie

Regarding percentages of local authorities using the new system of reporting, I will come back to you later tonight after I have researched it. Currently cooking a roast dinner!!!

It's here

http://openlylocal.com/councils/spending

26 of 434 isn't a majority. With that level of arithmetical skill I don't think you should be allowed anywhere near anyone's books.

Quoted from richard.garvie

The lack of affordable housing means people at the younger end of our population will end up moving away, leaving us with a population that is older than the national average. When we look at future .

Affordable Housing?????????????????????? What the hell is that.. When I bought a house 26years ago I was earning £5 a week and we borrowed the deposit(£200) which we paid back over  a period, and our mortguage was 5 Guineas a month..That was bloody hard..We had no Washing machine and ran 2 minor footy teams..we washed their kits in the bath..and it goes on . Nowadays credit(the scurge of the modern world) is so easily available people would not even consider my policy of 'if you can't afford it you can't bloody well have it'..what on earth has happened to....well need I say more?
We got no help..we did it on our own, by getting another job  in the evenings for example...Affordable Housing..Get rid of..

Quoted from user23.3

It's here

http://openlylocal.com/councils/spending

26 of 434 isn't a majority. With that level of arithmetical skill I don't think you should be allowed anywhere near anyone's books.

So WBC would probably appoint you chief accountant

Quoted from dodgy

Affordable Housing?????????????????????? What the hell is that.. When I bought a house 26years ago I was earning £5 a week and we borrowed the deposit(£200) which we paid back over  a period, and our mortguage was 5 Guineas a month..That was bloody hard..We had no Washing machine and ran 2 minor footy teams..we washed their kits in the bath..and it goes on . Nowadays credit(the scurge of the modern world) is so easily available people would not even consider my policy of 'if you can't afford it you can't bloody well have it'..what on earth has happened to....well need I say more?
We got no help..we did it on our own, by getting another job  in the evenings for example...Affordable Housing..Get rid of..

And now the whole world knows that you are brilliant!!  A few more rounds of this story and even aliens will be familiar with it !  

Well done, I really admire the hard work of you and other people who did the same. As for credit being freely available, REALLY??? It's not as available as you think. Somebody on minimum wage can't afford to buy a 200k house. This will result in them looking elsewhere or blocking council housing for long periods. Although I find myself in a similar position to you where I have built a life out of nothing, it was never easy and I have been very fortunate and lucky along the way. Not everybody has the same fortune in life.

Quoted from user23.3

It's here

http://openlylocal.com/councils/spending

26 of 434 isn't a majority. With that level of arithmetical skill I don't think you should be allowed anywhere near anyone's books.

That is the number of councils who publish through that site. I know of other councils who actively publish the information on their own website. Other councils like Corby in Northamptonshire and South Holland in Lincolnshire have the database in operation, but I don't know exactly where you can access it. As far as I know, West Berks are only just starting to compile the information.

Quoted from richard.garvie

That is the number of councils who publish through that site. I know of other councils who actively publish the information on their own website. Other councils like Corby in Northamptonshire and South Holland in Lincolnshire have the database in operation, but I don't know exactly where you can access it. As far as I know, West Berks are only just starting to compile the information.

WBC's IT department aren't that customer focused.  Their aim is to self satisfy rather than to look after the Public who pay their salaries!!

That could be seen to be overly harsh on that department of WBC, the bigger picture is that West Berks Council and the elected members who run in* prefer to keep the electorate in the dark.

*When I say "run it", that obviously isn't the case. More "talk about issues that are important to themselves (cycling) whilst unelected officers do what the hell they like".

Quoted from richard.garvie

*When I say "run it", that obviously isn't the case. More "talk about issues that are important to themselves (cycling) whilst unelected officers do what the hell they like".

I believe that the unelected officers who work full time at the council and who are qualified in their positions, and have expertise in the field they work, must run West Berks. The elected members I would be prepared to bet have no qualifications or expertise. How many of them have a degree in civil engineering, town planning or are qualified accountants, so how can they possibly be responsible for something they know little about other than to rely on the person with the know how to tell them how to or what to do. If the budget is under strain or the plans for something such as the Parkway development has gone nails up, then it is the professional staff who should be under the cosh although we can blame the councillors as they are the public figure. If they. the councillors, want to put their heads above the parapet, expect to get shot at. It is interesting in all of these threads that there has not been one mention of WBC senior employees other than Nick Carter and perhaps User who could be Nick in disguise of course.

But the officers technically work for the elected members, who are supposed to lead the council and control policy. Officers are there to advise and carry out work on behalf of the members. At West Berks, the officers dictate their own policy and railroad it through, and often the members are unaware of what is happen hence them appearing out of touch and misinformed.

Quoted from brian

I believe that the unelected officers who work full time at the council and who are qualified in their positions, and have expertise in the field they work, must run West Berks. The elected members I would be prepared to bet have no qualifications or expertise. How many of them have a degree in civil engineering, town planning or are qualified accountants, so how can they possibly be responsible for something they know little about other than to rely on the person with the know how to tell them how to or what to do. If the budget is under strain or the plans for something such as the Parkway development has gone nails up, then it is the professional staff who should be under the cosh although we can blame the councillors as they are the public figure. If they. the councillors, want to put their heads above the parapet, expect to get shot at. It is interesting in all of these threads that there has not been one mention of WBC senior employees other than Nick Carter and perhaps User who could be Nick in disguise of course.

That's true of every other field of endevour as well!  If we followed this we'd get rid of the elected councillors - perhaps an advantage.  However, lets be very careful of 'experts'  certain highly qualified experts seemed to be rather too free with their advice to a certain shipbuilder in the early part of the last century with regard to lifeboats...

Quoted from Old Goat

That's true of every other field of endevour as well!  If we followed this we'd get rid of the elected councillors - perhaps an advantage.  However, lets be very careful of 'experts'  certain highly qualified experts seemed to be rather too free with their advice to a certain shipbuilder in the early part of the last century with regard to lifeboats...

Well, that's not quite the case. The Board of Trade issued the safety regulations designating the number of lifeboats that should be carried. The shipping line worked within those guidelines and instructed the shipbuilder what they required and would pay for. The shipping line were at fault mainly because of their arrogance in deciding that the ship was unsinkable.

So we can use that analogy perhaps, the Board of Trade (HM Government) set the criteria, the shipping line (permanent staff) follow those guidelines and the shipbuilders (elected councillors) take the flack when it goes wrong. We could manage with far fewer councillors if they were more qualified and stopped the us and them bickering. I dread the thought of a third party joining the cabinet though, just another level of inter party bickering to put up with distracting the whole process.

Quoted from richard.garvie

That is the number of councils who publish through that site. I know of other councils who actively publish the information on their own website. Other councils like Corby in Northamptonshire and South Holland in Lincolnshire have the database in operation, but I don't know exactly where you can access it. As far as I know, West Berks are only just starting to compile the information.

Nope, that's all of them that publish it at the moment. 26 out of 434 is hardly a majority.

No one publishes it through that website, it's an independent monitor on council transparency.

Quoted from richard.garvie

But the officers technically work for the elected members, who are supposed to lead the council and control policy. Officers are there to advise and carry out work on behalf of the members. At West Berks, the officers dictate their own policy and railroad it through, and often the members are unaware of what is happen hence them appearing out of touch and misinformed.

And I thought they were there to work for the public who pay their wages - how wrong I was