Council takes money from schools to fill black hole in its own budget
Anyone who watches the news may have heard about the plans for the claw-back of funds from schools that don't spend all their money. The theory, called "control balance mechanism" goes like this. If a school is given £100,000 to spend and it manages it finances well and still has money left in the bank at the end of the year the Government, or more correctly Council, can take the money back.
In Greenwich there are 56 such prudent and fiscally sound schools, four of which it has been decided simply cannot justify being allowed to keep the money they have failed to pour down the drain. As such our fiscally unsound, budget cutting, redundancy making, maladminstered and overall financially incompetent Council will be clawing back £36,000, which covered just over 33% of the money they wisely spent on a corporate box at the O2.
In Greenwich there are 56 such prudent and fiscally sound schools, four of which it has been decided simply cannot justify being allowed to keep the money they have failed to pour down the drain. As such our fiscally unsound, budget cutting, redundancy making, maladminstered and overall financially incompetent Council will be clawing back £36,000, which covered just over 33% of the money they wisely spent on a corporate box at the O2.
posted by greenwich.watch at 12:46 pm
17 Comments:
The government said it wouldn't be going ahead with this...there was a Ministerial Statement on it last week if I recall correctly. I don't think (I may be wrong) the council can do this unilaterally.
It's not just Greenwich - despite the Government's apparent climbdown on clawing back funds, local authorities are still being pressured to do it. I am looking at this issue in my day job, and was unsurprised that our own authority should be amongst those doing Gordon's bidding.
The Council said that they were taking this money back 24 hours after the Government was said to have "U-turned" on the matter. You may be right anonymous that the Council cannot take the money back unilaterally, but the question we have is are they competent enough to actually know that?
More bumbling administration by our council - surely not? It really is quite amazing how Greenwich Council get away with it.
The council should keep it's fingers off the school's monies and start cutting back on their own hospitality perks. The children need all the help they can get today - so any spare money should be only spent on educationally related items only - not on the frivilous o2 supporting council.
Since April 2006 (and before)the Nursery Nurses of Greenwich have been in dispute with their employer over their refusal to pay the NN's the true value of an independent re-evaluation of their jobs. They claim that there is not enough money in the coffers!
Robin Hood in reverse?
It amazes me just how much bollocks the people of greenwich will put up with. Are we all too comfortable with our apathy or are we kept distracted or maybe we're too stupid?
As for hospitality perks, apparently plumstead common environment group were in a draw to go to the corporate box at the O2 - though greenwich refer to it as 'the leaders VIP box' (sounds very north korean to me). Their name didn't get drawn out though.
http://www.pceg.org.uk/news/07/News_17_5.pdf
Seems to me they've got a jolly if theres an event they like or for when they want to suck up to someone, but if the people who pay for the box want to use it, its a lottery.
It amazes me just how much bollocks the people of greenwich will put up with. Are we all too comfortable with our apathy or are we kept distracted or maybe we're too stupid?
As for hospitality perks, apparently plumstead common environment group were in a draw to go to the corporate box at the O2 - though greenwich refer to it as 'the leaders VIP box' (sounds very north korean to me). Their name didn't get drawn out though.
http://www.pceg.org.uk/news/07/News_17_5.pdf
Seems to me they've got a jolly if theres an event they like or for when they want to suck up to someone, but if the people who pay for the box want to use it, its a lottery.
I dont get your point...are you saying Plumstead Common Environment Group "pay" any more for the box than the other area environment groups the tickets went to in a lottery?
Seems like everyone is attacking the council for using the box for themselves (based upon rumour)...when there are lots of people who are openly only interested in getting tickets for themselves.
Pot calling kettle?
There's plenty of reasons to attack the council, no rumours required.
I was just trying to shed some light on how access to this very expensive 'leaders VIP box', paid for by greenwich residents (i didn't say pceg paid as an organisation), is distributed among community groups.
Tip on how to get tickets to the Greenwich Council VIP box: - say yes to everything, never challange any council official and smile and soothe the egos. Even when they have failed miserably declare your undying commitment to them.
Well that just about makes it reality for a day in the council chambers - now anyone for tickets?
;)
My last post highlighting how any Greenwich resident can enter a Greenwich Council competition to win Led Zeppelin tickets for free was not posted by Greenwich Watch.
Is that because you would rather with hold the information so that you can claim that Greenwich council is not allowing all residents to have a chance to go and see some of the big names for free?
How can we prove we didn't do something?
Oh I'm sure you probably applied for tickets yourself and with held the information to increase your chances.
Your stance over the 02 box is after all - like that of t's - all about self interest...
I used to think this site was all about public information. Not I realise its all about public MISinformation.
Yes we are so desperate to deliver misinformation and not publish your comments that we published the comment where you accused of not publishing your comment.
Our stance over the O2 box is simple. We think it's a massive waste of money at a time when the Council are making millions of pounds of cuts to services. We suggest you read the papers too see that Councillor.
As for the site being about public information when did we ever say that? This site exists because we think the Council are rubbish, plain and simple.
and STILL you fail to publish the comments that give you the facts, rather than the story that you choose to make up. You may well think that the Council is "rubbish,plain and simple" but coming to the wrong conclusions and failing to print truth does your cause no favours!
Your site truly is....
So much so that you keep coming back and posting that your comments are not being published accept for the ones where you say that comments are not being published. How stupid we must be to actively suppress you whilst actively allowing you to shout about the suppression.
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