Council tax to rise 1.9 per cent as city leaders reveal budget plans (From York Press)
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York council tax to rise 1.9 per cent as city leaders reveal budget plans
8:10am Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News
By Mark Stead, Political Reporter
City of York Council leader James Alexander, left, chairs a budget meeting with the council’s chief executive, Kirsten England, and Ian Floyd, the council’s director of customer and business support
COUNCIL tax will rise by 1.9 per cent, parks will be left unlocked and parking charges will increase under budget plans unveiled by York’s city leaders.
City of York Council yesterday revealed proposals to save £20 million over the next two years, including 242 jobs facing the axe and funding for streetlights and road-sweeping being cut.
The Labour cabinet plans to reject a Government grant to freeze council tax next year, saying it would mean the council having to save a further £1.3 million by 2015. It said the rise - the second in a row for York, following last year's 2.9 per cent increase - would equate to 38p a week for the average York resident and provide an extra £1.5 million in 2013/14 towards adult social care, which will receive an extra £6 million over two years.
If the proposals are passed at a full council meeting this month, fees for car parks will rise by 20p for residents and 10p for non-residents in April. Parks will not be locked and weekend working will stop to save £122,000.
One street-cleaning machine will be axed in a £48,000 cost-cutting move and the streetlighting budget will be cut by £60,000.
The council has pledged extra investment of £48.4 million over five years for 18 schemes, including helping elderly and disabled people to continue to live at home, an additional £500,000 for telecare health systems, £6 million for new council houses and £1.28 million to reduce overcrowding in council properties through loft conversions and extensions.
More alleygates will be installed, funding will be provided for repairs to roads, riverbanks and the Bar Walls and £1 million over five years devoted to highway drainage.
Council leader James Alexander said library, swimming pool and children’s centre closures had been avoided, but these and other options had been considered.
Coun Alexander said: “Every year, it becomes more and more difficult to save services put in jeopardy by the Government’s cuts programme.
“Local government has been targeted more than other parts of the public sector, so we need to be responsive to public priorities at a time when some services simply cannot continue. Our proposals show we are being responsive and will protect the most vulnerable, through the planned council tax increase being dedicated solely to investment in adult social care, while continuing to bring jobs and investment from the private sector to York.”
Conservative leader Ian Gillies said rising council tax would “hit hardworking families”, while increased parking charges showed Labour had made “empty promises” of supporting city-centre businesses.
Coun Gillies said: “Good local government is all about choices, and rather than channel what discretionary funding is available into schemes for a small minority, we believe the large majority deserve support in the form of decent services. Which would residents rather have – universal 20mph speed limits or potholes filled?”
Liberal Democrat leader Carol Runciman said the council tax rise was “hugely disappointing” and Labour had sacrificed frontline services for “wasteful spending”. Green leader Andy D’Agorne said he feared Government cuts would “bite further into core services for the most vulnerable”.
Comments(67)
yorkborn66
says...
2:06pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Council leader James Alexander are you not sure you are not related to that idiot David Cameron.
If you get clowns to run a show you end up with a circus .
dodgydavereturns
says...
2:11pm Mon 4 Feb 13
James Alexander has also decoded to have all locks on toilet doors removed in order for it to be easier for him and his staff to continue to take the P**s!
Micklegate
says...
2:19pm Mon 4 Feb 13
dodgydavereturns wrote:Please don't give them ideas
And in other news, the council have decided not to lock the doors on any of its buildings, in order to save cost on wearing out keys!
James Alexander has also decoded to have all locks on toilet doors removed in order for it to be easier for him and his staff to continue to take the P**s!
only human
says...
2:22pm Mon 4 Feb 13
i am pleased to hear the voice of reason over the children and adult services but this is just taking back from a service which suffered cuts in past budgets so its just a bit like robbing peter to pay back peter later on.
Allowing more disabled people to remain in their own homes is fine so long as the support and equipment is there to facilitate this venture.
I would air on the side of caution with the provision of these services and ensure that the most vulnerable of these groups receive the services from dedicated LA staff with robust policies and procedures in place and a guarantee that continuity of care and standards can be made.
only human
says...
2:23pm Mon 4 Feb 13
i am pleased to hear the voice of reason over the children and adult services but this is just taking back from a service which suffered cuts in past budgets so its just a bit like robbing peter to pay back peter later on.
Allowing more disabled people to remain in their own homes is fine so long as the support and equipment is there to facilitate this venture.
I would air on the side of caution with the provision of these services and ensure that the most vulnerable of these groups receive the services from dedicated LA staff with robust policies and procedures in place and a guarantee that continuity of care and standards can be made.
Dr Brian
says...
2:46pm Mon 4 Feb 13
JC42
says...
2:58pm Mon 4 Feb 13
when is this nightmare going to end.
johnabostock
says...
3:13pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Dr Brian wrote:Excuse me Dr Brian! My wife and myself are both York City supporters, holding Season Tickets AND we both live in the City of York and pay CoYC Council Tax. On top of that my own father was born and brought up in York, as I was.
Is it too late to pull out of the community stadium and use the money for something the majority of York rate payers want and not just the 2500 (many of whom do not pay council tax to CoY Council) who support York City and 700 who support York City Knights?
timcore
says...
3:14pm Mon 4 Feb 13
thecairnman
says...
3:22pm Mon 4 Feb 13
JHardacre
says...
3:24pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Garden Giant
says...
3:52pm Mon 4 Feb 13
leont
says...
3:58pm Mon 4 Feb 13
.
It's not CYC's fault. Our local services are being cut because the Tory Etonians are giving tax breaks to themselves and their rich friends ... and because the likes of Starbucks and other corporate fatcats don't pay anything like their fair share ... and because the banksters have no moral compunction in stealing from the rest of us ordinary people and lining their own pockets. We all know this, but it's easy to forget what's causing local government austerity.
.
I'm happy to pay my fair share to live in a civilised city in a civilised country. And I want people richer than me also to pay their share. That's not happening at present. But CYC don't have the power to change things - central government just make it look as if it's their fault.
.
Remember this at next election time!
.
(And no, I'm not a member of any political party.)
Guy Fawkes
says...
4:09pm Mon 4 Feb 13
The cost of repairing damage caused by vandals in unlocked parks will more than account for any savings made in not locking them in the first place.
And lawsuits from rape/assault victims.
Madasanibbotson
says...
4:18pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Cancel your direct debit. Set up a standing order with your bank for the council tax sum less 1.9%. If JA and his gang take legal action explain to the Judge that JA turned down the Government Grant, if he hadn't the monthly amount paid would be correct.
If enough of us do it JA will have to take notice.
JA- I know bank accounts aren't your strong point, so to help you out- A Direct Debits lets a council take what they want from your account-a standing order is you telling your bank how much you wish them to pay.
When you get lots of people paying amount due less 1.9% your computer sends lots of letters to us via leeds then wakefield then Leeman Road, and we ignore them. After you have sent 3 to each of us you have spent around £3 on each of us and caused a lot of pollution and trees to be turned into paper. Then you face the prospect of lots of legal fees and trying to defend why you want us to pay instead of the Government-can't see that one being easy.
meme
says...
4:35pm Mon 4 Feb 13
HARDLY ANY TURN UP NOW SO ITS NOT GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE!
JC42
says...
4:41pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Madasanibbotson wrote:Thanks for that information I will do that when the new bill drops on the mat. We should be paying far less as well as the majority of the services are of have been cut. They certainly dont keep the streets tidy if the bin men spill or drop anything its just left to blow away.
Easy Answer Cancel your direct debit. Set up a standing order with your bank for the council tax sum less 1.9%. If JA and his gang take legal action explain to the Judge that JA turned down the Government Grant, if he hadn't the monthly amount paid would be correct. If enough of us do it JA will have to take notice. JA- I know bank accounts aren't your strong point, so to help you out- A Direct Debits lets a council take what they want from your account-a standing order is you telling your bank how much you wish them to pay. When you get lots of people paying amount due less 1.9% your computer sends lots of letters to us via leeds then wakefield then Leeman Road, and we ignore them. After you have sent 3 to each of us you have spent around £3 on each of us and caused a lot of pollution and trees to be turned into paper. Then you face the prospect of lots of legal fees and trying to defend why you want us to pay instead of the Government-can't see that one being easy.
Dukeofpork
says...
4:49pm Mon 4 Feb 13
NO, Only Human! One errs on the side of caution, not "airs"!!!!!
meme
says...
4:58pm Mon 4 Feb 13
arts barge £300K plus
putting in a 20 MPH limit
Over £1 million on new furnituure for the new £43 million council offices
Huge salaries for chief exec etc
when we are in the c..p?
It does not take a genius to work out the UK is bust due to Labours policies in the past so we have to spend money on essentials not luxuries. Or does this administration intend to take us on the same route as the last labour Government to prove a political point?
It canot be difficult to decide what is crucial and essential and what is laudable but not essential
Ignatius Lumpopo
says...
5:13pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Ignatius Lumpopo
says...
5:15pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Ignatius Lumpopo
says...
5:16pm Mon 4 Feb 13
BertieBrompton
says...
5:51pm Mon 4 Feb 13
johnabostock wrote:That makes 2503 supporters then I guess!
Dr Brian wrote:Excuse me Dr Brian! My wife and myself are both York City supporters, holding Season Tickets AND we both live in the City of York and pay CoYC Council Tax. On top of that my own father was born and brought up in York, as I was.
Is it too late to pull out of the community stadium and use the money for something the majority of York rate payers want and not just the 2500 (many of whom do not pay council tax to CoY Council) who support York City and 700 who support York City Knights?
bob the builder
says...
6:02pm Mon 4 Feb 13
fear your government
says...
6:34pm Mon 4 Feb 13
i know the lad who walks round locking them and he is far from on a good wage.
what will it save 500 pound a month?(its a part time job).
rises every year, thats what we have all got to look forward to and you know WE DESERVE IT thats right every one of us deserve all the sh.t they throw and we will still roll over and ask for more...
Guy Fawkes
says...
6:42pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Anyway, nice to see a below-inflation rise. Effectively, it's a cut.
From the taxpayer's perspective, whether it's a cut or not depends on how much of a pay rise you got last year. I don't know what the official wage inflation figure is for the last complete financial year, but I'd be surprised if it's as much as 1.9%. My last pay rise was 0.5.
This reflects the bigger picture: only state pensioners, benefit claimants, some relatively low-paid public sector workers and a tiny proportion of the elite on mega-salaries have seen pay rises that keep up with inflation over the last 3-4 years. I would guess that almost everyone making roughly £20-70k have seen big, real terms falls in their standard of living, caused by a perfect storm of real terms pay cuts, tax hikes (not least the year-on-year lowering of the higher rate income tax threshold) and above inflation rises in non-discretionary bills (food, fuel etc.).
keepitshut
says...
7:20pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Ignatius Lumpopo wrote:Dont think it means the Bar Walls, think it means the Parks.
After all the expense of putting barriers on the bar Walls by Lendal bridge, the morons who installed them will now leave them unlocked. A stupid idea in the first place, installed by idiots - with our money.
I also think none of the proposals are "set in stone" as such.
I really cannot see CYC leaving, for example, Rowntrees Park or West Bank Park open 24/7, too much damage, vandalism etc will occur etc.
These are all proposals only, the debate by cllrs is 3 weeks away, some will be thrown out.
Lunatic
says...
7:53pm Mon 4 Feb 13
timcore wrote:Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
£500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?
Lunatic
says...
7:57pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Guy Fawkes wrote:Well, i can't speak for everybody, but I know one of the major supermarkets gave a 2% pay rise to its staff last year, in line with union input and other businesses in the sector. So, you know... It's a mixed bag for everyone.
Anyway, nice to see a below-inflation rise. Effectively, it's a cut.
From the taxpayer's perspective, whether it's a cut or not depends on how much of a pay rise you got last year. I don't know what the official wage inflation figure is for the last complete financial year, but I'd be surprised if it's as much as 1.9%. My last pay rise was 0.5.
This reflects the bigger picture: only state pensioners, benefit claimants, some relatively low-paid public sector workers and a tiny proportion of the elite on mega-salaries have seen pay rises that keep up with inflation over the last 3-4 years. I would guess that almost everyone making roughly £20-70k have seen big, real terms falls in their standard of living, caused by a perfect storm of real terms pay cuts, tax hikes (not least the year-on-year lowering of the higher rate income tax threshold) and above inflation rises in non-discretionary bills (food, fuel etc.).
Below inflation is still an effective cut. Whether it represents value for money is yet to be seen.
SaywhatIthink
says...
8:02pm Mon 4 Feb 13
??
Whistlejacket
says...
8:03pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Obviously all this comes at a price,
difficult decisions have to be made.
A rise in council tax and a cut in services is only to be expected.
JHardacre
says...
10:14pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Lunatic wrote:So the council should pay out so that others can make a profit. That can't be right.
timcore wrote:Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
£500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?
Tesco's makes a profit in York but I don't see the council subsidising them!
pedalling paul
says...
10:57pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Whistlejacket wrote:I went one better and called in during Residents First weekend. Once the unsatisfactory mix of premises around the City are relinquished, there will be an overall financial gain. And I was very impressed with the staff cycle parking under the relocated victorian section of the old station roof........
I walked past the new council HQ at the weekend. The bar on the ground floor looks very pleasant: comfy sofas, Boddingtons, Becks and Stella on draught and a selection of wine and champagne.
Obviously all this comes at a price,
difficult decisions have to be made.
A rise in council tax and a cut in services is only to be expected.
MouseHouse
says...
11:02pm Mon 4 Feb 13
As for subsidising capitalists - we always have done, that's the beast that is capitalism. They sponge up money from any source, some argue directors are legally obliged too as they must put the interests of the shareholders first. I agree with that argument.
jgycfc
says...
11:24pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Don't mention either the shocking accounting the "Savings" the new offices will give. clearly written on a damp beer mat after much of it was consumed.
As with most of the comments above, the money "saved" (actual) in direct costs of leaving parks unlocked is going to have much greater costs to the tax-payer, yet to be realised. A very short-sighted move.
Guy Fawkes
says...
11:33pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Now consider York's local economy. With the exception of the market and two or three pound shops, almost every retail outlet inside the city walls sells discretionary goods and services - all those restaurants, posh clothes shops, pubs, cinemas, theatres, places that sell tourist gifts and so on. A good proportion of that £1.95m that Alexander has just sucked out of the local economy would have been spent in those places, and now won't be. That will eventually trickle through into reduced business rate income, empty retail units, jobs lost (and so fewer council taxpayers) and cascading economic effects that will probably cost a lot more than the £1.9m that will be raised through this hike.
Pursuing Denis Healey economics - squeezing the middle class until the pips squeak - only works until you've squeezed as much as you can and the pips are already squeaking.
Magicman!
says...
1:34am Tue 5 Feb 13
JC42 wrote:It'll probably ease in 2 and a half years once voters go to the polls to get the Eaton Ar$ewipe Cameron out of Number 10 and get somebody else there instead.
looks like the courts are going to be very busy next year then as people are struggling now god help us all next year.
when is this nightmare going to end.
--
Which would residents rather have - universal 20mph speed limits and an arts barge, or potholes filled and salt bins?
And this is from a Tory councillor... quite possibly the only Tory in the country who actually makes any sense!!
Magicman!
says...
1:39am Tue 5 Feb 13
leont wrote:Indeed. But the Etonians all keep stating that if they increased tax on the wealthiest and big corporations then they'd just shift papers round to make it look like they ahd less money - such as Starbucks working out their finances to state that they made zero profit. The answer there is to audit the finances of such companies by a government organisation, and anything which looks dodgy send out an ultimatum to either tell the truth or face a huge fine of something like £10million. Any company which is international would be kept under the "guilty unless proven innocent" mantra so that very accurate records have to be kept....
Cuts to local services made worse by central government diktat (such as moving Council Tax Benefit to local councils). We should not let them get away with it.
.
It's not CYC's fault. Our local services are being cut because the Tory Etonians are giving tax breaks to themselves and their rich friends ... and because the likes of Starbucks and other corporate fatcats don't pay anything like their fair share ... and because the banksters have no moral compunction in stealing from the rest of us ordinary people and lining their own pockets. We all know this, but it's easy to forget what's causing local government austerity.
.
I'm happy to pay my fair share to live in a civilised city in a civilised country. And I want people richer than me also to pay their share. That's not happening at present. But CYC don't have the power to change things - central government just make it look as if it's their fault.
.
Remember this at next election time!
.
(And no, I'm not a member of any political party.)
Buzz Light-year
says...
7:41am Tue 5 Feb 13
A rise is not a cut. Not effectively. Not ever.
Stop it!
capt spaulding
says...
8:44am Tue 5 Feb 13
Reminds me of something a scottish friend said to me some time ago.
The old adage goes,
You can work out whats happening when you find out ~
"Whos up who ? and whos paying"
roskoboskovic
says...
9:22am Tue 5 Feb 13
,hull etc all have reasonable parking charges and then there are the likes of white rose.saw ms england on tv last night and she even got her facts about richard 3rd wrong.we are governed by idiots.
elliehick
says...
9:24am Tue 5 Feb 13
Car parking is already over inflated and you wonder why city centre shops are suffering?!?!?! Take a trip to Doncaster where parking is cheap and city centre retail is flourishing....
Council tax going up?!?!?! We seem to be getting shafted every day by our lovely government.
You should be ashamed of yourselves!
ReginaldBiscuit
says...
10:04am Tue 5 Feb 13
We're at the stage with global austerity now where the poverty division in western nations is become more apparent and wider. The politicians, those puppets of business, those mortgage-flippers and false expense-claimers, whores of the financial corporates, seem incapable of sorting it out. In this context, a 1.9% council tax rise on those who are earning above the poverty wage isn't that bad. However, York has many workers who are poorly paid and certainly receive pay well below the national average. Throw in the pensioners who have seen their savings decimated by quantitive easing and low interest rates and you have a potentially explosive melting pot. This rise will be seen as a big kick in the teeth with a size 10 DM for many York citizens.
We're 5 years on now from the start of this financial chaos and a solution is no nearer. Our contemptible and spineless leaders lurch from one crisis meeting to the next. Nobody has really penalised the banks. They the institutions who have wrecked it for all of us. While people can still just about afford to eat, things will grind on. However, there are tipping-points. When you have food-kitchens supplying food for people to live on, he writing is on the wall (not on Chris Steward's wall mind). Rather than choosing aggression as an option and for some in the coming years, it may well be the only option, a well-organised campaign of civil disobedience may be a good choice of making local authorities and central government listen which they so obviously do not. Pensioners could withdraw child-support for a couple of days a week, people could start driving to work at 10mph, mass-numbers of us could withdraw our savings and simply refuse to pay council tax. Things like this would make them sit up and take notice. Everything is going up in price but it doesn't need to yet our 'masters' seem incapable of grasping this fact.
Caveat: 'None of the above' on voting slips at elections please which is ironic given that it would appear that 'none of the above' in the picture are worth more than a menial position in any organisation. Self-aggrandising brown-nosing apes sucking vast tracts of your hard-earned council tax payments into their current accounts and pensions.
Rant over. Kirk out.
Candy Cupcake
says...
10:11am Tue 5 Feb 13
Candy Cupcake
says...
10:15am Tue 5 Feb 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
11:05am Tue 5 Feb 13
Lunatic wrote:The £11m came from the government, not out of our pockets !
timcore wrote: £500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
The millions it brings in will benefit tourism operators, not residents. Why should WE subsidise tourism ?
peter123456
says...
11:06am Tue 5 Feb 13
invisibleman
says...
1:00pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Lunatic
says...
1:04pm Tue 5 Feb 13
JHardacre wrote:Now that's just asinine.
Lunatic wrote:So the council should pay out so that others can make a profit. That can't be right.
timcore wrote:Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
£500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?
Tesco's makes a profit in York but I don't see the council subsidising them!
The Tour de France will bring tourists to York, who will stay in locally-run hotels and shop in locally-run shops in the city centre. Those businesses will make more profit, just as they did during Ascot, and the council will take more than the £500k it invested in return.
Jeeze, I can't believe I have to explain simple economics to an adult...
invisibleman
says...
1:08pm Tue 5 Feb 13
kenyona
says...
1:12pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Whistlejacket wrote:Errr that is a hotel not the council offices.
I walked past the new council HQ at the weekend. The bar on the ground floor looks very pleasant: comfy sofas, Boddingtons, Becks and Stella on draught and a selection of wine and champagne. Obviously all this comes at a price, difficult decisions have to be made. A rise in council tax and a cut in services is only to be expected.
Lunatic
says...
1:13pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:You do know the government gets its revenues from taxes, right? If that's not our pockets, I don't know what is...
Lunatic wrote:The £11m came from the government, not out of our pockets !
timcore wrote: £500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
The millions it brings in will benefit tourism operators, not residents. Why should WE subsidise tourism ?
So your argument would be that the local economy of York in no way benefits from the millions of tourists we get each and every year, staying in local hotels and using local businesses? Did you even think before you wrote that?
JHardacre
says...
2:05pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Lunatic wrote:Exactly where and how does the council get back it's £500K (and lets hope it's more otherwise it's a pointless investment).
JHardacre wrote:Now that's just asinine.
Lunatic wrote:So the council should pay out so that others can make a profit. That can't be right.
timcore wrote:Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
£500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?
Tesco's makes a profit in York but I don't see the council subsidising them!
The Tour de France will bring tourists to York, who will stay in locally-run hotels and shop in locally-run shops in the city centre. Those businesses will make more profit, just as they did during Ascot, and the council will take more than the £500k it invested in return.
Jeeze, I can't believe I have to explain simple economics to an adult...
From what you say it's the local hotels and local shops that will benefit. Since they will be paying the same council taxes with or without the race (and THAT money goes to Government anyway) I repeat - How exactly does the council get a return?
BTW my degree was in Economics -was yours?
Mork
says...
2:06pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Thats right further clobber the poor resident
Whistlejacket
says...
3:01pm Tue 5 Feb 13
kenyona wrote:Err, I'm afraid not, Kenyona.
Whistlejacket wrote:Errr that is a hotel not the council offices.
I walked past the new council HQ at the weekend. The bar on the ground floor looks very pleasant: comfy sofas, Boddingtons, Becks and Stella on draught and a selection of wine and champagne. Obviously all this comes at a price, difficult decisions have to be made. A rise in council tax and a cut in services is only to be expected.
I'm aware that there is a new hotel next door to the council's pleasure palace, but go and take a look if you don't believe me.
Make it fast, I'm sure the curtains will be going up soon to protect those in the gilded circle from the gaze of the plebians outside.
kenyona
says...
3:19pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Whistlejacket wrote:Well if that is the case i stand corrected.
kenyona wrote:Err, I'm afraid not, Kenyona. I'm aware that there is a new hotel next door to the council's pleasure palace, but go and take a look if you don't believe me. Make it fast, I'm sure the curtains will be going up soon to protect those in the gilded circle from the gaze of the plebians outside.Whistlejacket wrote: I walked past the new council HQ at the weekend. The bar on the ground floor looks very pleasant: comfy sofas, Boddingtons, Becks and Stella on draught and a selection of wine and champagne. Obviously all this comes at a price, difficult decisions have to be made. A rise in council tax and a cut in services is only to be expected.Errr that is a hotel not the council offices.
TheTruthHurts
says...
4:39pm Tue 5 Feb 13
bob the builder
says...
5:00pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
6:45pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Lunatic wrote:Explain how the Council 'will take more than the £500k' (of our money) 'it invested in return' ?
JHardacre wrote:Now that's just asinine. The Tour de France will bring tourists to York, who will stay in locally-run hotels and shop in locally-run shops in the city centre. Those businesses will make more profit, just as they did during Ascot, and the council will take more than the £500k it invested in return. Jeeze, I can't believe I have to explain simple economics to an adult...Lunatic wrote:So the council should pay out so that others can make a profit. That can't be right. Tesco's makes a profit in York but I don't see the council subsidising them!timcore wrote: £500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
Detail precisely how they will recover this money, and where from ?
I don't think you understand the simple economics, actually !
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
6:51pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Lunatic wrote:The government takes tax from the whole of the UK. COYC takes council tax from York residents.
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:You do know the government gets its revenues from taxes, right? If that's not our pockets, I don't know what is... So your argument would be that the local economy of York in no way benefits from the millions of tourists we get each and every year, staying in local hotels and using local businesses? Did you even think before you wrote that?Lunatic wrote:The £11m came from the government, not out of our pockets ! The millions it brings in will benefit tourism operators, not residents. Why should WE subsidise tourism ?timcore wrote: £500,000 for the Tour de France? Regardless of what it does for the region, why should we pay for that?Well, how about the fact it will bring millions of pounds to the local economy in tourism alone? I don't recall people complaining as much when Ascot came to York, and they spent £11m on one of the A64's junctions alone! £500k is nothing.
The £11m costs all UK taxpayers.
The £500k costs York residents !!!!
Yes, I thought about it, but, you clearly didn't !
You should get a job at the council or become a councillor with your towering intellect and understanding of government funding.
oi oi savaloy
says...
7:52pm Tue 5 Feb 13
week 1 kersten england
week 2 king james of alexandria
week 3 red sonja
week 4 simpson-laing
and then back to the start of the rosta..
about time they did something usefull
Magicman!
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2:43am Wed 6 Feb 13
peter123456 wrote:Well if you took your head out of the Daily Mail you might find out that York ARE doing this... as the government has washed it's hands of the council tax benefit scheme and handed it down to local councils, effectively making a massive cut to the money it is paying councils, local authorites have had a choice as to whether to continue to subsidise those who do not have enough income to pay council tax... York has decided that just because you have no money coming in doesn't mean you should not pay council tax - so now jobseekers, in addition to having a cap on benefit rise to just 1% over the next 3 years (a below inflation rise that essentially in real terms is a benefit cut, compared to, for example, rail fares rising at Inflation +3%), will now be forced to pay council tax, so what little money they have will now be pulled away by even more people.
Instead of York City council putting up council tax at 1.5% for all council tax payers who also pay for those who dont pay council tax what so ever. Why dont the council just take from those who dont pay at all. This would more than cover the 1.5% increase on all good paying citizens of York. Maybe then would the none payers start looking for a job and make them feel part of society. Hey this would be part of the big society program would it not. Bring bit on.
keepitshut
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9:47am Wed 6 Feb 13
Whistlejacket wrote:I have been for a look, the bar is the hotel next door.
kenyona wrote:Err, I'm afraid not, Kenyona. I'm aware that there is a new hotel next door to the council's pleasure palace, but go and take a look if you don't believe me. Make it fast, I'm sure the curtains will be going up soon to protect those in the gilded circle from the gaze of the plebians outside.Whistlejacket wrote: I walked past the new council HQ at the weekend. The bar on the ground floor looks very pleasant: comfy sofas, Boddingtons, Becks and Stella on draught and a selection of wine and champagne. Obviously all this comes at a price, difficult decisions have to be made. A rise in council tax and a cut in services is only to be expected.Errr that is a hotel not the council offices.
anistasia
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1:58pm Thu 7 Feb 13
chelk
says...
7:43pm Thu 7 Feb 13
jgycfc
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8:07pm Thu 7 Feb 13
No one wanted the last lot (Lib Dem) in York... Even their main guys lost their seats;
the Out of Touch, or probably now better known "you're in it. we're together" Party thankfully only got a couple in;
The Greens know little about anything other than being green
So it was a vote of attrition.
You have a choice: Career politicians who are clueless to the real world, or people with baggage.
We've gone from a baggage carrier to a career politician. And no one was to know how this one would act. This lot will be judged on their actions at local level next time around. (When is that?)
MouseHouse says...
2:03pm Mon 4 Feb 13