Summary of Proposals:
· Re-instate all roads to be free flowing, 30mph no ‘calming’ measures &
main town roundabout to be made back into 3 lanes, get rid of all bus &
cycle lanes. People should learn to cross the road at designated safe
points, if you choose not to you’re taking the risk & should accept
responsibility!
· Social Services should be financed only from those who want to help
others financially of their own free will – not forcibly taken from them.
We plan to scrap ALL communist ideal-based promotional activities
such as health promotion – everyone knows fast food, smoking &
heavy drinking are unhealthy yet some people continue to do things to
excess or take illegal drugs. This is supposed to be a free country &
no-one has the right to change your personality, especially using other
people’s money against their will as rehabilitation does not work, see
link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article778681.ece
· Get rid of all ‘children’s services’ & have parents pay for childminding –
decent people who plan parenthood do not require these services & if
you’re not at the stage where you can afford to reproduce contraception is
free!
· No transport funding – Darlington has received money from the Department
of Transport to reduce car use – in other words the taxes collected from car
owners is being used against them in an effort to limit where & how many
miles they travel!
· All council workers to have all benefits stopped (besides business
expenses e.g. travel & stay), including pension & are to be paid on a
contract basis (the pay will rise to include these benefits & the individual
behaves like a grown-up & organises & plans their own finances).
Below is a detailed list of all proposed revisions to the Darlington Council Budget, note that figures are from 2010 budget, the figures increase in 2011! Link: http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/documents/Corporate%20Services/Accounting%20Services/Budget%20Book%202009-10.pdf
All Figures are 2009-2010 Budget:
· Shut down the pupil support services – saving £541,000: Council states:
This budget covers the staffing, management and running costs of Pupil
Support Services and Contact Point. Pupils only need turn up to school,
any further problems are not the governments business & this form of
‘forced charity’ will be eradicated. If the people of the town want to help
people with welfare, behaviour problems etc then they are free to
contribute as much as they see fit through charities!
· Shut down children’s centres – saving £1.133 million: Council states:
Grantfunded budget which covers the staffing, management and running
costs associated with the Children’s Centres. Children's Centres bring
together early education, childcare, health and family support to children
under five years old and offer both a universal and targeted service.
Parents are the only ones who should look after their offspring, these
centres provide a range of services so you don’t have to look after your
kids, even babysitting up to 10 hours a day, five days a week! Link:
http://www.darlington.childrencentres.org/
· Shut down Youth Service & Connexions – saving 2.265 million: Council
states: This budget covers the staffing, management and running costs of
the youth service and Connexions service within Darlington. The youth
service works with young people aged 11-25, providing a wide
programme of personal development activities. Connexions is a statutory
service for 13-19 year olds that provides confidential advice, information
and support to young people on their decisions and choices. These are
not anyone who pays council taxes problems, personal development is
exactly that: PERSONAL, get up off your ass & do it yourself with your
own money – knowledge is free on the internet!
· Scrap the Pupil Referral Unit – saving unknown as it’s grouped with the
School Improvement & Development total of £6.42 million! This unit also
helps those with medical problems, who should keep receiving
assistance but teenage mothers, the pregnant & the anti-social will get
nothing!
· Scrap Children’s Commissioning – saving £3.083 million: Council
states: Children’s Commissioning: this budget covers the staffing and
running costs of Harewood Lodge, a short break centre for physically
disabled children, and Harewood House, a joint base with Barnardos for
family support. Also covered are the children and families teams including
leaving care, care planning, children with a disability & the duty team.
Should be all charity, disability is terrible but when does that mean that
your neighbours should be forced to give you their money!?
· Scrap Children’s Accommodation – saving £4.292 million: Council
States: The budget covers staffing, management and running costs of the
children’s residential service and the costs of the fostering, adoption and
intensive support teams. Also included is the provision of in-house foster
care and the cost of placing children in agency placements e.g.
residential, fostering, secure accommodation and special residential
schools. All charity.
· Shut down Special Educational Needs Inclusion Services & Educational
Psychology Service– saving 2.498 million: Council states: This budget
covers the staffing, management and running costs of the SEN and
Educational Psychology services. In addition to the costs associated with
running these services are costs of SEN placements, e.g. in other local
authorities and special residential schools. All kids should have the same
amount spent on them & certainly not more if they will not be able to even
get a job in the future!
· Shut down the Youth Offending Service – saving 1.014 million: Council
states: This budget covers the staffing, management and running costs of
the Youth Offending Service. Criminals deserve nothing & they should be
forced to pay compensation to their victims & all court costs!
Total savings: 14.826 million before the Pupil Referral Unit is removed! The government imposes rises of 4% on schools each year!
· Scrap Community Wardens – saving £478,000: Council states: The Wardens are actively engaged with other Partnership Agencies in providing support for the local community, including issuing fines and formal warnings for antisocial behaviour, i.e. littering, dog fouling, youth annoyance. This is a police issue & the option should be explored of diverting this money to the police.
· Scrap Housing Benefits Admin/Verification Framework – saving £297,000: Council states: Admin of Rent Rebates, Rent Allowances & Council Tax Benefit. Charity! Will probably not be able to scrap as a lot of losers will have nowhere to live, propose phasing out by not allowing any more onto the list.
· Some items are governed by UK law such as the Homelessness budget of £171,000 to place bums in bed & breakfasts for the night!
· Look into the Supporting People Programme – admin costs £51,000.
· Scrap the Rent Rebates & just give lower rates to war pensioners & war widows – why take it just to give back, this will save an unknown quantity due to admin!
· Purchase of External Care – Costs £16.632 million: Council states: Independent Sector provision of residential, domiciliary and day care services. Also included is the cost of direct payments covering payments made to individuals to purchase their own packages of home and personal care. Will probably have to be phased out.
· Older People – Costs £2.412 million: Council states: Commissioning, contracting and reviewing of services for older people with mental health difficulties along with the net cost of providing frozen meals. Add this to the phasing-out list.
· Scrap Learning Disability Team – saving £779,000: Council states: Learning Disability Commissioning Team and the costs associated with the staffing, management and maintenance of learning disability day centres, community houses and supported tenancies.Charity!
· Scrap Mental Health Commissioning Services – saving £801,000: Council states: Covers the commissioning of mental health services. Charity!
· Scrap Disability & Intermediate Care Services – saving £3.425 million: Council states: Intermediate Care, Occupational Therapy, Physical & Sensory Impairment and the provision of the in-house Home Care Service. Charity!
· Scrap Service Development & Integration – saving £2.824 million: Council states: Management and support services to the Adult Social Services provision, including management information, finance, ICT, workforce development and transport. These services will be scrapped, so no need for the management!
Total savings: 8.604 million before any phasing-out considerations!
· No changes.
Council’s net spending: £77,418,000 - £23,430,000 = £53,988,000
Deduct: Revenue Support Grant: £7,085,570
Business Rate Grant: £30,698,327
Est. Surplus on Collection Fund: £0
Demand on Collection Fund = £16,204,100 (less than half of current level!)
Everyone over 18 in employment should pay an equal share of the council tax! Estimate number of 18 to 65 years olds at 60,000 = £16,204,100 divide 60,000 = £270.07p.
Alternatively, page 160 states there are 48,000 properties to collect council tax from = £16,204,100 divide 48,000 = £337.59p.