tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-883513429081359737.post7314635499595369669..comments2019-10-03T10:48:30.328+01:00Comments on Peoples Republic of Hove: Cuts....don't vote for them. Don't implement them!Andy Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01441557191138845101noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-883513429081359737.post-43259782513724277482011-03-02T23:23:03.220+00:002011-03-02T23:23:03.220+00:00Dear Andy
These are tough issues and they weigh h...Dear Andy<br /><br />These are tough issues and they weigh heavy on us.<br /><br />If there was a clear, strong national movement of councils resisting cuts that would be one thing, however in recent weeks we have seen a raft of councils (including many Labour-led ones) approving cuts budgets.<br /><br />One council here or there is not going to overturn the constitutional power that Westminster has in imposing massive, unnecessary, ideologically driven cuts on our budgets.<br /><br />The other factor is the change in the law since the Thatcher years. If we just never set a budget then the finance officer will do it for us - which is hardly likely to be more accountable or fair than what councillors can achieve.<br /><br />So yes, the role of the councillor has been diminished, as has that of local government as a whole. Again this is what MPs in Westminster need to change.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.brightonhovegreens.org/localsites/bh/news/proposal-to-cut-high-paid-council-officers-blocked-as-alternative-budget-is-published.html" rel="nofollow">Our alternative budget does the best we can in the circumstances, which is surely better than doing nothing.</a><br /><br />Still who said we weren't going to vote the budget down on Thursday? We will decide tomorrow.<br /><br />All the best,<br />JasonCllr Jason Kitcathttp://www.jasonkitcat.comnoreply@blogger.com