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Downloaded Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire joint vision for 2020. This document shows how councils are being encouraged by central governmnet to spend their time merging services across borders and greating new empires. All of this without, they say, affecting their local ratepayers. I recommend that people read this and take in the thinking behind making these changes all part of the Government's Transformation Programme. Here are some snippets: In other words you won't get your grass cut. The government will bribe the councils to change. The money no doubt disappearing into the pockets of a chosen few. Looks like our councillors will be tied up in knots trying to act for us. In other words leave the officers to run the show. The only way to screw more money out of us This one is worrying and supports my view that in 10 to 15 years local authorities as we know them will not exist and will be absorbed in the regional LEPs. There is plenty more in the document to realise that local ratepayers and council workforce don't count. A 2020 Vision for Joint Working.pdf

Sounds familiar.

See post 179 here:

I don't think Johnson is paid that sort of money. If he was we would all be standing for council. PUBLIC NOTICE LOCAL AUTHORITIES (MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2003 The following table is published in accordance with the above Regulations. Herefordshire Council have published Councillors’ allowances annually since 2003, when the above Regulations came into force. The published allowances have been advertised in the local press, publicly available to view on the website, or for inspection at the Council offices at Brockington, since 2003. The table shows the total sum paid by Herefordshire Council to each Member of the Council for the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 in respect of Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowance, Travel and Subsistence Expenses and ICT and Consumables Allowance. For example taking Cllr RJ Phillips the highest paid councillor over the last six years with the exception of 2012/2013 - he claimed: For the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 Cllr RJ Phillips was getting £46,246.98 For the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 Cllr RJ Phillips was getting £44,492.33 For the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 Cllr RJ Phillips was getting £52,675.23 For the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 Cllr RJ Phillips was getting £47.650.89 For the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 Cllr RJ Phillips was getting £30,088.95 For the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 Cllr RJ Phillips was getting £26,613.58 Total £200,117.07 Interesting to note that for the latest period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 while Cllr RJ Phillips was getting £26,613.58, their new leader Cllr A W Johnson is only getting £17,470.49. However tucked away is Cllr J G Jarvis claiming £45,605.27. So is Johnson only a puppet and Jarvis is again pulling the strings? Latest allowances:

Just heard on H&W radio that Hereford United get stay of execution and must pay outstanding monies, as directed by the Conference Board, by 10.00am tomorrow (Saturday)

Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire are considering combining their services. Of course all in the interests of their rate payers. Their 2020 vision looks blurred to me. I always thought the councils can't see the wood for the trees. A 2020 Vision for Joint Working.pdf

Missed the link above. Read the mantra here: A 2020 Vision for Joint Working.pdf

Note that Carillion are into PPP (PFI) in a big way. Another big corporate monster circling overhead to make a killing. In the same league as Balfour Beatty. What's the difference between PPP and PFI. Not much. You can still make lots of money from the taxpayer.

Hereford Times Friday 6th June 2014 in News By Bill Tanner Good reporting Bill. Looks a complete mess with a lot of fingers in the pie.

BBC H&W Radio News today So they have spent all our council tax.

List of planning public notices affecting the city It is a legal requirement for the council to give public notice of certain types of planning application and other planning matters by the display of an advert in a local newspaper. If you wish to comment, please follow the advice contained in the notice. The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Sections 67 & 73 Application Types: P - Planning permission L - Listed Building Consent AC - Conservation Area Consent SL - Affecting the setting of a Listed Building AC - Affecting a Conservation Area D - Not in accordance with the provisions of the Development Plan RW - Affecting a public right of way T - For a telecommunications mast 5th June 2014 P141345/A – AC P SL Erection of illuminated shop front fascia and two internal promotional 'fins'. Unit 23 - Vodafone, Garrick Lane, The Old Market, Hereford P141379/F P141380/L – AC L SL Taking down of lean-to store and existing single storey extension, internal alterations and new single storey extension. Change of use of ground floor to A1/A3 use. Repairs to windows and building fabric. Modification to existing fire escape. 14/15 High Town, Hereford P141164/F - AC Installation of a new chiller and freezer unit, extension to the van loading canopy within the service yard. Asda Supermarket, Belmont Road, Hereford P141411/A - AC P SL Installation of 4 new internally illuminated fascia signs, 1 new non-illuminated fascia sign and 1 new externally illuminated projecting sign. 5 Trinity Square, Hereford If you wish to make representations or comments you can during the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the publication of this notice quoting the relevant number: By the Website: Using the online comment form By e-mail to: planning_enquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk By post to: - Planning Services, PO Box 230, Hereford, HR1 2ZB ANDREW ASHCROFT (Assistant Director)

The Independent today: Academic warns of public-sector debt being held by investors on the other side of the world: Mr Clifford said: “We’re getting to a situation where a fire station in Stoke gets to be a debt somewhere in Singapore. That just feels instinctively not to be right. What was the real cause of the financial crisis? Banks lending without knowing where their debt really is. This [PFI flipping] stuff feels like part of that whole process again.†This should sound alarm bells down at Bath Street! Sorry about going off topic, but I couldn't work grass into this reply.

Hereford Times News Comment

Just found this in the council's 2012/13 Summary of Accounts: The council has two traditional PFI contracts, one in partnership with Worcestershire County Council for the provision of waste management services and the other for the provision of Whitecross secondary school. The council also has one contract that falls within the deinition of a similar contract to a PFI, which is the Shaw Healthcare contract for the provision of residential care services There is also the county hospital and the magistrates court all subject to financial controversy.

Flamboyant, here are some advanced maths for you to get your head round, and guess what, Balfour Beatty feature in the equation. The Independent: Wednesday 04 June 2014 How many of these financial scams are our Council involved with and it all starts with someone thinking this is a good idea and signing it off. Must be some loose change here to cut the grass!

Decant definition: Decanting is a legal definition used to explain the process where residents are required to move from their homes due to reasons Permanent Decant When a resident is moved out of their property and there is no intention to return them to it or the tenant has been moved on a temporary basis and it is agreed by all parties the new property is more suitable for them to remain in. Temporary Decant When a resident is moved out of their property, to enable work on the property to be carried out, with the intention of returning them to the property at the earliest opportunity. This term is used a lot by Housing Associations.

Had to put this here from little white bull in the Hereford Times today:

You may be able to get financial information through the Annual Audit. Notice published today in Hereford Times: I was going to post this under Opportunity to ask Council about its finances, but Colin appears to have closed this and put it in the Archives.

BBC H&W Radio News - 4 June 2014 That'll please the council. One less paper probing into their affairs.

He could be here.

In view that Bobby is taking a back seat in the fight against the establishment and its wickedness where do we look for truth and clarity in matters affecting us all. His learned tracts will no longer grace these pages and his ability to illuminate us in these dark days are indeed a set back. Where can one seek encouragement and explanations of the real motives that are driving this country into despair? A source I refer to is the Artist Taxi Driver, an eloquent individual who although partial to ranting, nevertheless hits the nail on the head every time, about issues affecting us everyday. Give it a try and see if you agree with me.

In the Queen's speech today: Not only happens locally, but nationally. This country is going down the drain. A governmnet with no morals or scruples.

Thanks for posting these photos. Looks a very good building to me - not out of place today. If the council don't give away our assets they knock them down.