City of York Council spends £5,700 to fly stranded Lord Mayor and aide back from China (From York Press)

Doesn't the sin lay with the airline (KLM) who used the volcanic emergency as a chance to rob customers by overcharging? There's plenty of hire car companies, coach operators and transport pirates all over Europe who acted shamefully.
.
European friendly partners? Rubbish!

We don't need a mayor - what purpose does he/she serve? Thousands are spent on the Mansion house, the chauffeur driven limo, the expense account and for what exactly?
And this current incumbent is the guy who suggests mayoral expenses should be 'ring fenced', protected from the cuts the rest of us are going to have to face. Incredible.
Lets have some facilities for residents and stop this council gravy train.

Yet more waste on a grand scale from profligate councillors.

Just how much council tax/taxpayers cash do they throw down the drain? It appears the £44 million for the Palace of York (the mini-me palace twinned with the Palace of Westminster) may be just the tip of a rather extravegant iceberg.

An iceberg that could sink york financially if they are not careful.

Not only that - but why was his majesty the Mayor in China. He is Lord Mayor of York, not Beijing.

should have left him there

T. Scaife wrote:
Yet more waste on a grand scale from profligate councillors. Just how much council tax/taxpayers cash do they throw down the drain? It appears the £44 million for the Palace of York (the mini-me palace twinned with the Palace of Westminster) may be just the tip of a rather extravegant iceberg. An iceberg that could sink york financially if they are not careful. Not only that - but why was his majesty the Mayor in China. He is Lord Mayor of York, not Beijing.

Had it been Galloway they would have chartered a private jet.

Councillors' expenses listed on the CYC website show most covering their costs for less than 10K.
The Galloways 23081 and 22561 respectively coming to a total of just under a grand a week for a married couple to cover their work-related costs. So yes, paula, you're probably right.
Waller by the way tops them all with a whopping 30150. Would love to see a telegraph style investigation into this and whether it's all receipted. Come on York Press - get digging!
Verify Code: boot-fill

Galvin by the way comes in at just over 14K but I'd guess he's going to beat that this year.

They went to China to drum up tourism and new business.

Surely another 20 days there would have been profitable - especially if he had walked around in the panto outfit that accompanies the Lord Mayors position.

The Chinese love a good show!

Perhaps they could have cheered them up with a nice Indian takeaway delivered from Riccall rather than flying them home.

I'm confused. I thought the onus was with the airlines to pay for accommodation and food while flights were cancelled - I recall the RyanAir bloke whinging about an £800 bill when someone had booked a £8 ticket...
`
If that's the case, surely all costs associated with this would be recovered from KLM. The council, in their infinite wisdom, have destroyed all hope of recouping anything by flying him home themselves!
`
Oh, I'm noticed a typo. They don't have infinite wisdom, they have infinite finance. A fool and his money...and as T Scaife says, £44million...

T. Scaife wrote:
Yet more waste on a grand scale from profligate councillors. Just how much council tax/taxpayers cash do they throw down the drain? It appears the £44 million for the Palace of York (the mini-me palace twinned with the Palace of Westminster) may be just the tip of a rather extravegant iceberg. An iceberg that could sink york financially if they are not careful. Not only that - but why was his majesty the Mayor in China. He is Lord Mayor of York, not Beijing.

Well said! I particularly liked your reference to the Palace of York - methinks you may have coined a phrase for us posters when commenting on that particular story!!

Lets look on the bright side tho' - at least our esteemed Lord Mayor, pantomime outfits and all, didn't have to sully himself by sitting next to the proles of this world in cattle class!!!

When everyone else had to dig in their pockets during the ash cloud the lord mayor instead of being a man of the people got the council to pay for his way home. Isn't that just rich? Everyone else had to sort out their way home but Galvin was too good to do that hang your head head in shame

Perhaps to pay for the trip they could knock one layer of bricks off the height of their Palace of York, or make it just a little lower if bricks are not used.

Or use imitation slate for roofing the palace - if they intend to use the best quality slate that is (I wouldn't put it past 'em).

Or maybe even charge an entrance fee to the palace - because everything else seems chargeable these days.

My god! You mean the city didn't grind to a halt without him here?

what exactly was meant by 'the wives were at home'...thousands and thousands of people go off on business and the partners stay home...frequently for much longer periods than this episode. And I'm sorry but this looks as though someone wanted a trip...5 days is not exactly a long period to promote tourism not least by someone who probably cannot talk the talk. Why was a tourism executive not tasked with this. And in all honesty with the huge numbers of Chinese students present here at the Uni, I'm sure all these young people will be perfect ambassadors to promote our city.
How this can be justified is beyond the logic of the majority. When and how is this money drain from the council going to be stopped. I am reminded of George Orwells novel...... some are more equal than others. I wonder if I still have a copy to see how Snowball Napoleon and co sorted it all out. Perhaps there may be some inspiration there because as things are you couldn't make it up.

He was barmy, why didn't he stay an extra fortnight on the Council and enjoy the extra holiday, I am sure he could have had a great time on the Council. As it is he has come home and faced all the c**p as above from envious and silly people.

I wouldn't mind but how many of you people actually know the Lord Mayor? He is not at all how some of depict him.

Silly me should have put the word "you" before depict in the last line, ah well can't be perfect all the time!!!

Bishlad wrote:
He was barmy, why didn't he stay an extra fortnight on the Council and enjoy the extra holiday, I am sure he could have had a great time on the Council. As it is he has come home and faced all the c**p as above from envious and silly people.

I wouldn't mind but how many of you people actually know the Lord Mayor? He is not at all how some of depict him.

Are you the Mayor's valet or sumfing?

I am certainly not envious of the Mayor - and as for silly, why is he sressed up in pantomime kit?

I don't know the mayor but I recognise when our money is being wasted.

I wish I was the Mayor's valet then I would have a trip to China. I suppose money spent on tradition can always be thought to be wasted, but thank god for tradition it is what helps to sell the City to tourists along with preserved heritage which again one might argue is a waste of money if one is so inclined. No T.Scaife I don't want to live in the kind of society you seem to espouse.

Bishlad wrote:
I wish I was the Mayor's valet then I would have a trip to China. I suppose money spent on tradition can always be thought to be wasted, but thank god for tradition it is what helps to sell the City to tourists along with preserved heritage which again one might argue is a waste of money if one is so inclined. No T.Scaife I don't want to live in the kind of society you seem to espouse.

And what society would that be?

You seem to believe it ok that York Council spends £6k rescuing the Mayor - that just happens to be about one year at the minimum wage for a part-time worker that York Council will get rid of next year.

Nice to see that councillors have their priorities right!

Tourists would still come with or without the Mayor and his fancy dress.

Why the excessive expense?
If he was due to miss a civic occasion, surely there's a deputy on stand-by in York to fill his shoes.

I'm sure there would be many of your readers that would love to show dignitaries around historic York for a very low fee in comparison to this expense.

Mark-In-Acomb wrote:
Why the excessive expense?
If he was due to miss a civic occasion, surely there's a deputy on stand-by in York to fill his shoes.

I'm sure there would be many of your readers that would love to show dignitaries around historic York for a very low fee in comparison to this expense.

What about Hugh Bayley?

Archbishop Sentamu?

The lolipop lady - sorry couldn't resist that.

How much for a one-way ticket to send him back??

In this day and age these sort of jaunts need to be scrapped. People come to York regardless of whether they have a visit from the Lord Mayor.

It'd be far more profitable for the city to send out Berwick Kaler, as he's someone whose put York on the map due to talent and hard work. Plus his outfits are better than the Mayors :¬)

Trough snufflers don't contribute anything to the city's image and now York has pubilicity for all the wrong reasons.

moneyforwhat wrote:
what exactly was meant by 'the wives were at home'...thousands and thousands of people go off on business and the partners stay home...frequently for much longer periods than this episode. And I'm sorry but this looks as though someone wanted a trip...5 days is not exactly a long period to promote tourism not least by someone who probably cannot talk the talk. Why was a tourism executive not tasked with this. And in all honesty with the huge numbers of Chinese students present here at the Uni, I'm sure all these young people will be perfect ambassadors to promote our city. How this can be justified is beyond the logic of the majority. When and how is this money drain from the council going to be stopped. I am reminded of George Orwells novel...... some are more equal than others. I wonder if I still have a copy to see how Snowball Napoleon and co sorted it all out. Perhaps there may be some inspiration there because as things are you couldn't make it up.

Its right the Professionals should represent a City in this sort of promotion they know how to make the most of this sort of thing and Work effectively when they are there. Not the Mayor, his job should be in the City not going off on Jollies (unless he is trained in tourism of course). It sounds as if this guy is milking the job for all its worth.
Dont suppose he impressed the Chinese

Why Am I not surprised? If he was a morally decent man, he would have been appalled at the suggestion that we pay and have footed the bill himself if he felt it that important for him to be back in York! Apalling - I can barely afford a bus ticket! And reconciling with your wife is not a good enough reason to spend our council tax on leisure and tourism. I can't believe he even thinks it is acceptable - shows how out of touch the man is. He'd do better networking with the residents of York rather than swanning off abroad - he can do with the wake up call.

The one thing the Lord Mayor is responsible for is the elections in his absence it falls upon CYC's Chief Exec. But to have to see nearly £6k of our money on flying him back when the rest of the public, celebrities included paid out of their own pockets. Especially with the announcement that by law the airlines must cover reasonable claims for accomodation and food. So he had a back up for the one important thing he was supposed to do this week but instead had our money wasted on his chauffeur driven expense greed motivated buffoon so he could be seen in the spotlight

Can't say I'm a particular fan of the mayor, but at the end of the day if you are abroad on business and you are stranded I don't think its particularly unfair for your employers to pay for you to get back if the insurance won't get cover a timely return. I'd be mightily piddled off if I was stuck abroad for work and I was then expected to sub myself home. On a more practical level, this is surely a case of cost-benefit - is it cheaper to fly him home or keep him in a hotel in Beijing for an extra two or three weeks? There is no cost free answer. Whether you think we need a mayor or not, at the end of the day, both he and the council officer (who certainly should not be expected to pay himself home) are likely to have had other meetings and responsibilities which would need to be cancelled or re-organised if they stayed, which would itself have a financial on-cost. Whilst I'm always happy to demonise a tory, I'm not sure they have psychic powers and can predict ash clouds. Lets not sweat the small stuff- if you really hate conservative politicians you know what to do tomorrow!

'The original return flights were paid for by outside organisations, and cost £607.50 each. '
Shouldn't we be told who these outside organisations are?

sukh wrote:
'The original return flights were paid for by outside organisations, and cost £607.50 each. ' Shouldn't we be told who these outside organisations are?

didnt someone say it was the University?

I was stuck in the US for four days in similar circumstances to those of the mayor. I was there as a member of the Board of Directors of a professional body. They paid for my ticket, not my 'day job' employers. Because I had a flight only ticket bought in the US and from a non-EU airline, the airline did not put me up in a hotel for the delay. My travel insurer agreed to pay the cost at the outset (which I paid up front and have now claimed for), but my main employer washed their hands of it. They'd given me permission to go on their time, but made it clear that this was the limit of their involvement. If my travel insurance hadn't agreed to cough up, I'd have had to ask the professional body whose business my visit was for to help me out (which I'm sure they would have done).

I can't see any reason why the council should have spent this money, unless the election rules are such that the identity of the returning officer cannot be changed at this late stage and that the election in this constituency can't go ahead without him. If the story is correct, then unlike me his airline was putting him up in a hotel. I was able to take care of most of my work commitments by phone and laptop while I was stuck in Portland, and I'm sure he could have done likewise. It will have caused him some personal inconvenience being stuck abroad, as it did for me. But no-one is forced to have a job that involves long-haul travel, and if you do, that's a risk you take with your eyes open.

I understand that the York Labour Council Group have just sacked Scott as their Leader. Not surprising as he managed to achieve nothing, on a Council that has been hung for the last 3 years, because of his confrontational attitude
Incredibly they have elected Alexander to replace him although it is unclear whether he will now try to withdraw his candidature from tomorrow parliamentary election in Outer York. This is the man who couldn't decide whether he was in favour of the Derwenthorpe development or not and who manages to be both in favour and against improved children’s play facilities in the same edition of The Press.
So Labour have replaced someone who could never change his mind with someone who can never make his mind up.
Final nail in their coffin for tomorrow I think

metsa wrote:
Can't say I'm a particular fan of the mayor, but at the end of the day if you are abroad on business and you are stranded I don't think its particularly unfair for your employers to pay for you to get back if the insurance won't get cover a timely return. I'd be mightily piddled off if I was stuck abroad for work and I was then expected to sub myself home. On a more practical level, this is surely a case of cost-benefit - is it cheaper to fly him home or keep him in a hotel in Beijing for an extra two or three weeks? There is no cost free answer. Whether you think we need a mayor or not, at the end of the day, both he and the council officer (who certainly should not be expected to pay himself home) are likely to have had other meetings and responsibilities which would need to be cancelled or re-organised if they stayed, which would itself have a financial on-cost. Whilst I'm always happy to demonise a tory, I'm not sure they have psychic powers and can predict ash clouds. Lets not sweat the small stuff- if you really hate conservative politicians you know what to do tomorrow!

Not true.
`
The 'cost-free' solution would be to stay in China. It has been widely reported that airlines are to pay reasonable expenses while stuck, therefore shove him in a 2 star and feed him McDonalds for a fortnight. Job done.

What a total waste of our money.
Galvin, you are pathetic.
What a waste!

mystic_genius wrote:

metsa wrote: Can't say I'm a particular fan of the mayor, but at the end of the day if you are abroad on business and you are stranded I don't think its particularly unfair for your employers to pay for you to get back if the insurance won't get cover a timely return. I'd be mightily piddled off if I was stuck abroad for work and I was then expected to sub myself home. On a more practical level, this is surely a case of cost-benefit - is it cheaper to fly him home or keep him in a hotel in Beijing for an extra two or three weeks? There is no cost free answer. Whether you think we need a mayor or not, at the end of the day, both he and the council officer (who certainly should not be expected to pay himself home) are likely to have had other meetings and responsibilities which would need to be cancelled or re-organised if they stayed, which would itself have a financial on-cost. Whilst I'm always happy to demonise a tory, I'm not sure they have psychic powers and can predict ash clouds. Lets not sweat the small stuff- if you really hate conservative politicians you know what to do tomorrow!

Not true. ` The 'cost-free' solution would be to stay in China. It has been widely reported that airlines are to pay reasonable expenses while stuck, therefore shove him in a 2 star and feed him McDonalds for a fortnight. Job done.

I believe it is only within Europe that the airlines have to pay. One of those terrible things EU law has forced upon us.

Guy Fawkes wrote:
I was stuck in the US for four days in similar circumstances to those of the mayor. I was there as a member of the Board of Directors of a professional body. They paid for my ticket, not my 'day job' employers. Because I had a flight only ticket bought in the US and from a non-EU airline, the airline did not put me up in a hotel for the delay. My travel insurer agreed to pay the cost at the outset (which I paid up front and have now claimed for), but my main employer washed their hands of it. They'd given me permission to go on their time, but made it clear that this was the limit of their involvement. If my travel insurance hadn't agreed to cough up, I'd have had to ask the professional body whose business my visit was for to help me out (which I'm sure they would have done). I can't see any reason why the council should have spent this money, unless the election rules are such that the identity of the returning officer cannot be changed at this late stage and that the election in this constituency can't go ahead without him. If the story is correct, then unlike me his airline was putting him up in a hotel. I was able to take care of most of my work commitments by phone and laptop while I was stuck in Portland, and I'm sure he could have done likewise. It will have caused him some personal inconvenience being stuck abroad, as it did for me. But no-one is forced to have a job that involves long-haul travel, and if you do, that's a risk you take with your eyes open.

Well said and fully agree with you

Minsterview wrote:
I understand that the York Labour Council Group have just sacked Scott as their Leader. Not surprising as he managed to achieve nothing, on a Council that has been hung for the last 3 years, because of his confrontational attitude Incredibly they have elected Alexander to replace him although it is unclear whether he will now try to withdraw his candidature from tomorrow parliamentary election in Outer York. This is the man who couldn't decide whether he was in favour of the Derwenthorpe development or not and who manages to be both in favour and against improved children’s play facilities in the same edition of The Press. So Labour have replaced someone who could never change his mind with someone who can never make his mind up. Final nail in their coffin for tomorrow I think

Clearly they dont expect him to win tomorrow then....

Minsterview wrote:
I understand that the York Labour Council Group have just sacked Scott as their Leader. Not surprising as he managed to achieve nothing, on a Council that has been hung for the last 3 years, because of his confrontational attitude Incredibly they have elected Alexander to replace him although it is unclear whether he will now try to withdraw his candidature from tomorrow parliamentary election in Outer York. This is the man who couldn't decide whether he was in favour of the Derwenthorpe development or not and who manages to be both in favour and against improved children’s play facilities in the same edition of The Press. So Labour have replaced someone who could never change his mind with someone who can never make his mind up. Final nail in their coffin for tomorrow I think

Clearly they dont expect him to win tomorrow then....

The mayors role in the Election process is mearly as a figurehead to announce the result (and if they announce the wrong name then that name stands until corrected in a Court of Law). The Chief Executive for York can stand in and perform this role in the Mayors absence so no case to answer for flying him back - I believe that he has been back in York for the past week or more anyway so it'wasn't a last minute choice to bring him back.

I believe it is only within Europe that the airlines have to pay. One of those terrible things EU law has forced upon us.

You have to be travelling on a ticket from an airline based in the EU, and travelling from, to or within the EU. This even means watching out for codeshares. Even though my scheduled return flight was physically on a KLM aeroplane, the ticket was bought from Delta and had a DL flight number: therefore they were not obliged to put me up during the delay.

However, if you bought your flight as part of a package deal, the provider of the overall package is obliged to look after you for the duration, even if the T & Cs of the air ticket component do not include this cover.

But if you buy a 'flight only' ticket, it's up to you to make sure that you have some measure of protection if something like this happens (or at least, are taking the risk with your eyes open).

pedalo paula wrote:

T. Scaife wrote: Yet more waste on a grand scale from profligate councillors. Just how much council tax/taxpayers cash do they throw down the drain? It appears the £44 million for the Palace of York (the mini-me palace twinned with the Palace of Westminster) may be just the tip of a rather extravegant iceberg. An iceberg that could sink york financially if they are not careful. Not only that - but why was his majesty the Mayor in China. He is Lord Mayor of York, not Beijing.

Had it been Galloway they would have chartered a private jet.

.......it is rather a long way to pedal back!

Dammed both ways..if he was needed here we would complain if he was not we complain about the cost anyway.
Ok he's a figurehead but an important one and has official duties to perform
Someone had to make a decision one way or another an its chickenfeed compared to the waste going on at present in YCC
I am more interested in the new leader of Labour group. obviously they have given up any chance of him winning the seat in York Outer . Is this labour at their cynical best. I was considering voting for them until brown made his 'bigot' gaff and then they start urging us all to vote tactically to save their own skin. I dislike being told what to do by politicians of any colour and will vote as my heart/head tells me and dont need yellow bellied politics in my life.
So Mr B you lost my vote because you have treated me and others as a fool

There's enough hot air here to fly him back in a balloon .......

Disgracefull.
The mayor should be ashamed.
What a waste of money, in times like this, it's shamefull.

Conservative Party - we must cut public spending and waste to the bare minimum.

Conservative Councillor - ooh, a Business Class return flight at the tax payer's expense, lovely!

No - can't see any problem with that at all.

We should be more concerned that Business /1st class is the way PLC senior executives usually get around, especially as we are all consumers and the cost of their perks ends up with us. But hidden of course from public scrutiny. There is all the more reason to be concerned as more public services -funded by our taxes- are being undertaken by largely unaccountable multi national Corporate private sector organisations, who do not have the transparency as the public sector.

He had to get back to officiate in the election? What does he have a deputy for, then?
It cannot be beyond the wit of these imbeciles to say "I, the returning officer for York central....etc"
I'd have happily offered, for a very nominal sum...

Perfect reason to get rid of the Mayor- There was no need for this visit just a nice free holiday for a Councillor who may think he is special but is not special to the residents of York nor to any foreign dignitaries. Time to sell his car and use the Mansion House as an Hotel or a hospitality venue - that at least would put money back into the economy of York and not take it out of the taxpayers purse. Lord Mayor your comments prove just what a pompous parasite you are.

Minsterview wrote:
I understand that the York Labour Council Group have just sacked Scott as their Leader. Not surprising as he managed to achieve nothing, on a Council that has been hung for the last 3 years, because of his confrontational attitude Incredibly they have elected Alexander to replace him although it is unclear whether he will now try to withdraw his candidature from tomorrow parliamentary election in Outer York. This is the man who couldn't decide whether he was in favour of the Derwenthorpe development or not and who manages to be both in favour and against improved children’s play facilities in the same edition of The Press. So Labour have replaced someone who could never change his mind with someone who can never make his mind up. Final nail in their coffin for tomorrow I think

If this is true should the voters not be made aware of this ? Otherwise what is the point of voting for him. Thanks for being committed to Outer York. Alexander you dont deserve a single vote or any respect.

Just shows what wasters we have in politics! I'd have put them on a cargo ship and hoped the pirates got them, as not even Galloway and Waller would waste pie money on a ransom. If they're trying to tactically give votes to the BNP, UKIP and Monster Raving Loony, they're succeeding.

I fully support the Lord Mayorality. This office brings tremendous hidden benefits to York. The present Civic Party has worked as hard for York, as all its predecessors.
The public spotlight that they bring to bear on York, brings useful exposure to prospective employers, investors and visitors.
If some commentators took the time to sit in on the Council's full monthly meeting, they would see the Lord Mayor earning his/her keep by Chairing the proceedings. Not an easy path to tread, while remaining politically neutral.

meme wrote:
Dammed both ways..if he was needed here we would complain if he was not we complain about the cost anyway.
Ok he's a figurehead but an important one and has official duties to perform
Someone had to make a decision one way or another an its chickenfeed compared to the waste going on at present in YCC
I am more interested in the new leader of Labour group. obviously they have given up any chance of him winning the seat in York Outer . Is this labour at their cynical best. I was considering voting for them until brown made his 'bigot' gaff and then they start urging us all to vote tactically to save their own skin. I dislike being told what to do by politicians of any colour and will vote as my heart/head tells me and dont need yellow bellied politics in my life.
So Mr B you lost my vote because you have treated me and others as a fool

OK so we don`t need the politicians to tell us how to vote tactically but if everyone was as stubborn as you we will definitely have a Tory MP on Friday in outer York.

pedalling paul wrote:
I fully support the Lord Mayorality. This office brings tremendous hidden benefits to York. The present Civic Party has worked as hard for York, as all its predecessors. The public spotlight that they bring to bear on York, brings useful exposure to prospective employers, investors and visitors. If some commentators took the time to sit in on the Council's full monthly meeting, they would see the Lord Mayor earning his/her keep by Chairing the proceedings. Not an easy path to tread, while remaining politically neutral.

Paul. On this one, give it a rest. You know as well as me that the biggest thing that keeps airlines going is management travelling on 'junkets'. This IS a junket. If you ever get to the EPCOT centre at Disneyland, Florida and then wonder why there are so many 'suits' wandering around, then make your way to the 'Buckie-Ball'. Underneath the huge globe is ATT's conference centre. They invite the executive's of their customers for 'business purposes'. Yeah, right!

pedalling paul wrote:
I fully support the Lord Mayorality. This office brings tremendous hidden benefits to York. The present Civic Party has worked as hard for York, as all its predecessors. The public spotlight that they bring to bear on York, brings useful exposure to prospective employers, investors and visitors. If some commentators took the time to sit in on the Council's full monthly meeting, they would see the Lord Mayor earning his/her keep by Chairing the proceedings. Not an easy path to tread, while remaining politically neutral.

Fair enough Paul, but is it worth the £100,000 yearly cost to the city?

If he went dressed like that I'm surprised he didn't come back by stagecoach.

Mullarkian wrote:
If he went dressed like that I'm surprised he didn't come back by stagecoach.

Pulled by Pedalling Paul and his chums...

pedalling paul wrote:
I fully support the Lord Mayorality. This office brings tremendous hidden benefits to York. The present Civic Party has worked as hard for York, as all its predecessors.
The public spotlight that they bring to bear on York, brings useful exposure to prospective employers, investors and visitors.
If some commentators took the time to sit in on the Council's full monthly meeting, they would see the Lord Mayor earning his/her keep by Chairing the proceedings. Not an easy path to tread, while remaining politically neutral.

Hidden benefits? That's the problem with our political system - everything is "hidden".

I wonder what the true benefits are from the Mayoral office?

Any interested employer, investor and visitors come to York because of York's central position in England and it's place in history and is part of the tourist trail throughout the UK.

What is important is to reduce costs for York and prioritise the quality of lives of York citizens.

The whole issue of councils and councillors should be included in any reforming government of the future.

The system is not democratic, does not represent people's views and wastes collossal amounts of cash.

Absloute Disgrace...! Should have booked with Quartz Travel , We did and got home from Sydney promptly and a new Vehicle waiting for us on the Thursday and cost us absloultey nothing all paid for by Quartz Travel. Mr Lordmayor book with a decent company and save our tax money please

T. Scaife wrote:

pedalling paul wrote: I fully support the Lord Mayorality. This office brings tremendous hidden benefits to York. The present Civic Party has worked as hard for York, as all its predecessors. The public spotlight that they bring to bear on York, brings useful exposure to prospective employers, investors and visitors. If some commentators took the time to sit in on the Council's full monthly meeting, they would see the Lord Mayor earning his/her keep by Chairing the proceedings. Not an easy path to tread, while remaining politically neutral.

Hidden benefits? That's the problem with our political system - everything is "hidden". I wonder what the true benefits are from the Mayoral office? Any interested employer, investor and visitors come to York because of York's central position in England and it's place in history and is part of the tourist trail throughout the UK. What is important is to reduce costs for York and prioritise the quality of lives of York citizens. The whole issue of councils and councillors should be included in any reforming government of the future. The system is not democratic, does not represent people's views and wastes collossal amounts of cash.

****ing well said!!

mystic_genius,

Thank you for your comment. And I truly wish you and your family good luck in finding secure employment (your wife losing her job at Jarvis).

The people of York and the UK deserve better than the politicans and councils have to offer.

Uhnfortunately, T Scaife, the system in the UK is absolutely fantastic at what it does - those who know how to use it profit from it and those who don't, don't. We're in the latter category, unfortunately, and we come under the people who work **** hard but never seem to get anywhere.
`
Whilst I disagree with your methodology, I think we fundamentally want the same thing - a fairer society.
`
I also think we're both realistic enough to know that it will never happen, regardless of political parties, so for me and my family it is very much a case of getting the necessary skills and documentation before disappearing off to somewhere better. I know I'm not the only one of my generation wanting to do this, and wish everyone who stays good luck - it will only get worse. I just hope we can sort it out very quickly, cos living in this country is whole-heartedly depressing.

T. Scaife wrote:
mystic_genius, Thank you for your comment. And I truly wish you and your family good luck in finding secure employment (your wife losing her job at Jarvis). The people of York and the UK deserve better than the politicans and councils have to offer.

and thank the Lord there are some wonderful people who are respectful of each other and who may comment appropriately.'The people of York and the UK do deserve better than politicians and councils have to offer'...most especially those who work and do not take out of the pot (now becoming close to if not already empty) without ever having contributed to it. When people pontfiicate on some matters and have a tendancy to go off on rants or become involved in verbose yet limited 'intellectual exchanges' I wonder why they don't use the friends on Facebook facility. There are some real problems going on in our city, the country and Europe. In France they would already have made their protest by now, rightly or wrongly, but they don't sit back and take all this bad decision making. There are near riots occurring in Greece...let's not pretend that it isn't impossible here. There must surely be some sort of wake-up call before we do dissolve into disorder.

this spend 'approved by the chief exec' is an absolute disgrace. I was also stranded in china with KLM from the 17th to the 31st of april, when my flight was rescheduled for me by KLM. yes there were flights available at that time & not as Ms England states after 20 days. even if that was the case, from all the decent 3 star hotels I used & saw in China during my trip to say that £5700 in costs would have been incurred is also incorrect unless the lord mayor & his aide were staying in 5 star hotels, running up restaurant & drinks bills all day every day. I also was away from my husband, stranded abroad, with my young son & elderley mother & knowone was available to assist me with hotel bookings etc. unlike the lord mayor I do not have an office of assitants & the cheif exec to plan my travel arrangements. I also agree with the earlier comment that the chinese students of york are our best ambassadors so why was he there in the first place in beijing. i will be writing to both the lord mayor & the cheif exec on this matter as I would like to know precisely what benefit they hoped to gain & what their tangible measures of success are. The lord mayor, his aide & Ms England should hang their heads in shame. coming so soon on the back of MPs expenses scandals this only highlights how people in public office should be held accountable for their actions to those who put them in power & not to a round robin of committes & bodies made up of each other all agreeing what they can do & spend. I hope they feel such shame, when the money could easily be spent on the elderly or youth services of york, that they pay the costs back. I will also be asking what travel policy the council has for such visits as my travel company has agreed to pay for some of my delay expenses without question. i hope the lord mayor will be claiming that after & paying over to the city coffers after we have paid his air fair for him to lounge around in business class. I shall also be asking what the urgent business was that Ms England felt prioritised this spend. I must say that these are questions I feel the press should also be asking & publishing the replies. As we have seen with the MPs scandal the tenacity of journalists can be an enlightening story. please keep asking them for accountability

councilsconscience wrote:
this spend 'approved by the chief exec' is an absolute disgrace. I was also stranded in china with KLM from the 17th to the 31st of april, when my flight was rescheduled for me by KLM. yes there were flights available at that time & not as Ms England states after 20 days. even if that was the case, from all the decent 3 star hotels I used & saw in China during my trip to say that £5700 in costs would have been incurred is also incorrect unless the lord mayor & his aide were staying in 5 star hotels, running up restaurant & drinks bills all day every day. I also was away from my husband, stranded abroad, with my young son & elderley mother & knowone was available to assist me with hotel bookings etc. unlike the lord mayor I do not have an office of assitants & the cheif exec to plan my travel arrangements. I also agree with the earlier comment that the chinese students of york are our best ambassadors so why was he there in the first place in beijing. i will be writing to both the lord mayor & the cheif exec on this matter as I would like to know precisely what benefit they hoped to gain & what their tangible measures of success are. The lord mayor, his aide & Ms England should hang their heads in shame. coming so soon on the back of MPs expenses scandals this only highlights how people in public office should be held accountable for their actions to those who put them in power & not to a round robin of committes & bodies made up of each other all agreeing what they can do & spend. I hope they feel such shame, when the money could easily be spent on the elderly or youth services of york, that they pay the costs back. I will also be asking what travel policy the council has for such visits as my travel company has agreed to pay for some of my delay expenses without question. i hope the lord mayor will be claiming that after & paying over to the city coffers after we have paid his air fair for him to lounge around in business class. I shall also be asking what the urgent business was that Ms England felt prioritised this spend. I must say that these are questions I feel the press should also be asking & publishing the replies. As we have seen with the MPs scandal the tenacity of journalists can be an enlightening story. please keep asking them for accountability

so there we have it...someone who was there, experienced the problem and therefore is very well qualified to make a statement which is not speculative. I totally echo the final words 'please keep asking them for accountability'.....
.these should be the watchwords of adults in the UK in every regard.