40% cuts

[hans kraay fan club]

Presumably the school's governors are asking hard questions of the school's recruitment process such that they've found themselves in what seems to be such a shocking position with regard to the provision a skilled PE teacher? Sounds appalling, quite frankly, particularly now their get out clause has been taken away.

I'm talking about a school that my youngest left three years ago, so the stafffing demographic might (it won't have) changed.

But yes, I agree - if it hasn't been addressed, then the parents / governors should be asking questions.

 

[Seagull58]

You will be pleased to hear your good friend Mr Cameron wants to reduce the number MP's by 50.

Get rid of 50 of the SNP's?

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Get rid of 50 of the SNP's?

We can only hope for a Tory surge in Scotland.

 

[Hastings gull]

But what difference does it make? Do I have to stand next to the school when my friend is telling me about something? Of course not. So being 1 or 700 miles away doesn't make any difference. If anything witnessing schooling across Europe surely makes me a better judge? And yes my wife is one example. But I have friends and acquaintances from many schooling angles both as parents of students and employees.

So, by the way, was Big Gully's wife, but you chose not to appreciate her opinions as an accurate pointer, preferring to talk to a parent, who could not possibly have the same degree of intimate knowledge as to the school's strengths and weaknesses, so quite why should I believe that your wife would be a better judge. Come on, you can't have it both ways, as you well know! I taught for 24 years at an Army school in Germany with extensive links to German schools, and local sports clubs, and could not in the slightest say that I "witness schooling across Europe" - whom are you trying to kid?
No, you do not have to stand next to a school, and if I may so, that was a silly statement. But I genuinely do not see that anyone 700 miles away is as able to give a definitive comment about present-day education in the UK as someone who is experiencing it on the front line. That is not to say that your views are worthless or not valued - just that you wouldn't know about SIP,SDP. PP. FGB, Target Tracker etc etc, and nor would you be expected to know.

 

[BLOCK F]

I suppose all the hell in a handcart, civil unrest, society falling apart and other doomladen scenarios being put forward by the usuals do, at least, serve the purpose of raising their spirits and providing a distraction, whilst watching the dear old Labour Party tear themselves apart and possibly take giant steps towards making themselves even more unelectable than they were under Ed.
Get a grip and into the real world, decimation is not going to happen.
Time to stop the hysteria, aka bedwetting in NSC parlance.

 

[DIFFBROOK]

Utter rubbish. I work in Govt, i know the scale of changes last time and know whats around the corner this time. Look up the Govts own paper (A country that lives within its means) and you will see reductions of 40% on Admin since 2010.

Of course things can be done differently, but cuts of this kind are of the mad ideoligical right wing brigade.

Government Department's were asked to model 25% and 40% cuts for the last spending review and the actual cuts were nowhere near that level. Many Government Department's will just ignore that instruction anyway and model much lower cuts, and then get into detailed discussions with HMT on the actual level of spending they will be provided with.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

Utter rubbish. I work in Govt, i know the scale of changes last time and know whats around the corner this time. Look up the Govts own paper (A country that lives within its means) and you will see reductions of 40% on Admin since 2010.

Of course things can be done differently, but cuts of this kind are of the mad ideoligical right wing brigade.

Did u get a nice pay rise?

 

[yxee]

Taxes on the ordinary working person are huge
The government deficit is 10bn/month

What else is there to give?

Maybe we can plant more of those money trees, they seem to have died out since Gordon Brown left number 10.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Budgets for schools, international aid, defence and the NHS have been ring fenced. Don't agree with International Aid when the oil rich nations contribute fvck all.

 

[El Presidente]

So I'm going to get a massive cut in tax?

If you're about to inherit a million pound house or are a large company then yes you are!

 

[DIFFBROOK]

Erm no. Have you had one over the past 5 years?

Did u get a nice pay rise?

 

[Bodian]

Real examples that I know of from a relatively well-off part of up north (they do exist..). This is all on the current cuts beginning to bite and be noticeable. Even if we look on the bright side and reckon on, say, 20% more cuts rather than the 40% - it will make these things worse / harder.

Two libraries closed in the area - no service for quite a lot of people, unless they can drive or catch the bus to the next one (but see later).

My local library now only staffed by two people. There is no cover available anymore because there are no spare staff, so if they are on holiday/sick - the library simply doesn't open in the morning because no-one turns up. So even if people do catch the bus (but see later) there's no guarantee the library will be open.

Highways budget already cut by 30% - staff losses mainly dealt with through voluntary redundancies. Highways currently being restructured again, 45% of staff left are to lose their jobs. Meaning that roads are not being repaired, and there has been a noticeable deterioration in potholes and so on in the last few years.

Budgets for non-road highways (footpaths and bridleways) cut by around 30% already - another 15% going this year, with a reduction in staff taking both staff and money levels back to around what they were in 1998. An entire county now has around £20,000 to spend on repairing or replacing footbridges. Given that one simple bridge of around 10m long costs about £4k, and there are approximately 4,000 in the county - that's now a replacement rate of around every 800 years. 'Outsourcing' this task simply puts overall costs up (as the private company has to make profits from council money, whereas the council itself doesn't have to) - it was tried here, and failed.

District Council soon to change the bin collections to less frequent ones.

Bus subsidies removed completely. Buses to the main town from where I live now stop at 6.30pm - so no more nights out. Popular well-used local bus stopped completely - so, you can't actually catch it anymore to find out if the now nearest library is actually open. The bus was well-used, but mainly by older folk with bus passes, so it didn't take in much money from passengers - so when the subsidy was stopped the commercial company said 'not interested now then'.

No local bobby in our town anymore either, he was taken away last year - 2-3 of the more rural police stations shut, nearest to us is now 30 minutes away. Noticeable increase in anti-social incidents occurring. Spate of thefts seen this year - never had so many in the 15 years I have been living here.

Council car parks - no free ones left, those that already charged all increased the amounts considerably. On-street parking fees introduced.

No free toilets left in the south of the county that I am aware of - in some places you have to pay (an increased amount) to park, then pay to pee. Fine if you've money, not great if you have little. And of course, because there's fewer buses, you generally have to have a car to do anything.

Another round of cuts won't actually improve any of the above.....

 

[Beach Hut]

Jeremy will sort all of this and guarantee wilderness for a decade for the labour party

 

[DIFFBROOK]

Yep, and Gideon will achieve his ideological dream of destroying public services.

Jeremy will sort all of this and guarantee wilderness for a decade for the labour party

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

It's all a bit of a mess isn't it?

 

[Biscuit]

If you're about to inherit a million pound house or are a large company then yes you are!

Unfortunately not. But it's reassuring to know the best off in society are being looked after.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Unfortunately not. But it's reassuring to know the best off in society are being looked after.

Gives you something to aspire to I guess.

 

[BigGully]

Real examples that I know of from a relatively well-off part of up north (they do exist..). This is all on the current cuts beginning to bite and be noticeable. Even if we look on the bright side and reckon on, say, 20% more cuts rather than the 40% - it will make these things worse / harder.

Two libraries closed in the area - no service for quite a lot of people, unless they can drive or catch the bus to the next one (but see later).

My local library now only staffed by two people. There is no cover available anymore because there are no spare staff, so if they are on holiday/sick - the library simply doesn't open in the morning because no-one turns up. So even if people do catch the bus (but see later) there's no guarantee the library will be open.

Highways budget already cut by 30% - staff losses mainly dealt with through voluntary redundancies. Highways currently being restructured again, 45% of staff left are to lose their jobs. Meaning that roads are not being repaired, and there has been a noticeable deterioration in potholes and so on in the last few years.

Budgets for non-road highways (footpaths and bridleways) cut by around 30% already - another 15% going this year, with a reduction in staff taking both staff and money levels back to around what they were in 1998. An entire county now has around £20,000 to spend on repairing or replacing footbridges. Given that one simple bridge of around 10m long costs about £4k, and there are approximately 4,000 in the county - that's now a replacement rate of around every 800 years. 'Outsourcing' this task simply puts overall costs up (as the private company has to make profits from council money, whereas the council itself doesn't have to) - it was tried here, and failed.

District Council soon to change the bin collections to less frequent ones.

Bus subsidies removed completely. Buses to the main town from where I live now stop at 6.30pm - so no more nights out. Popular well-used local bus stopped completely - so, you can't actually catch it anymore to find out if the now nearest library is actually open. The bus was well-used, but mainly by older folk with bus passes, so it didn't take in much money from passengers - so when the subsidy was stopped the commercial company said 'not interested now then'.

No local bobby in our town anymore either, he was taken away last year - 2-3 of the more rural police stations shut, nearest to us is now 30 minutes away. Noticeable increase in anti-social incidents occurring. Spate of thefts seen this year - never had so many in the 15 years I have been living here.

Council car parks - no free ones left, those that already charged all increased the amounts considerably. On-street parking fees introduced.

No free toilets left in the south of the county that I am aware of - in some places you have to pay (an increased amount) to park, then pay to pee. Fine if you've money, not great if you have little. And of course, because there's fewer buses, you generally have to have a car to do anything.

Another round of cuts won't actually improve any of the above.....

I have to say, that doesnt seem particularly earth shattering and if you accept that savings MUST be made, then it seems quite reasonable set of savings.

Although I too have an illogical empathy with libraries, post offices and bobbies on the beat, I cannot recall using either in recent history.

I drive for a living, local roads do have some pot holes but the current state of roads are absolutely fine and never effect my route or driving experience, your footbridges have a potential cost of £16m, always likely to be targeted for savings, night bus, get a cab.

No free toilets or parking, well welcome to the world I live in frustrating but hardly hardship making.

 

[synavm]

I think they should just look to corporate welfare at £90 Billion a year and corporate tax avoidance at £120 Billion as a decent means to raise the £30 Billion they wish to raise.

 

[glasfryn]

Erm no. Have you had one over the past 5 years?

dave got one