Bright idea saves authority £68k (From York Press)

It hasn't saved anything!

Cllr Crisp is having a whale of a time spending ten of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money on, what one web site has described, as "beer and skittles" events.

Yet they can't find £17,000 to fill our salt bins in icy weather.

Was it someones relative who got a job at Blackpool Council ?

The York authority said the collaboration has allowed it to use equipment which could not have been borrowed from elsewhere and would have cost at least £68,000 to be made specially for the city.

Well I'd agree with one thing here, it would have been pretty stupid to spend £68k on four kilometres of festoon lighting for one event.

When we in the building trade need specialist equipment for a short duration we use a process called hire, the cost of which in this case would in all probability been similar to transporting this stuff to York and back from Blackpool.

Links like the one below might help, they can be obtained from a sevice called google and no all expenses trips to five star hotels ending in unseemly spats between council representives creating negative publicity in famous seaside resorts are neccessary to facilitate its use.

Lighting Hire for Events - DIY parties to major stage shows
www.draxlighting.com
/
Quality equipment and expert advice

Coun Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “Sharing ideas and experience should be at the heart of local authority ambitions.” - Meh! Teepee for your bunghole Sonja.

And while I am at it being as we are unable to comment on Councillor's having a pay rise. £2600 is nothing compared with the enormous bomb-proof salaries that Chief Execs and Directors receive. How about pay-stripping?

Senior people should lead more modest lives.

Pete the Brickie wrote:

The York authority said the collaboration has allowed it to use equipment which could not have been borrowed from elsewhere and would have cost at least £68,000 to be made specially for the city.

Well I'd agree with one thing here, it would have been pretty stupid to spend £68k on four kilometres of festoon lighting for one event.

When we in the building trade need specialist equipment for a short duration we use a process called hire, the cost of which in this case would in all probability been similar to transporting this stuff to York and back from Blackpool.

Links like the one below might help, they can be obtained from a sevice called google and no all expenses trips to five star hotels ending in unseemly spats between council representives creating negative publicity in famous seaside resorts are neccessary to facilitate its use.

Lighting Hire for Events - DIY parties to major stage shows
www.draxlighting.com

/
Quality equipment and expert advice

not only that, but for a large, well advertised and popular event such as this any company involved may even have offered a substantial discount in return for it's details being included free in the event advertising.

If it has 'saved' so much money why are they still charging us for admission?

To help offset travelling expenses?

Also as the 'famous' Blackpool Illuminations are running at the same time one can only conclude that we have been loaned some of Blackpools 'cast-offs'. If so let's hope that they work for 4 nights!!!

btw is Museum Gardens actually going to be ready for the Illuminating York festival? The last time I walked through there, last week, there was still a large area roped off where the damage caused the Mystery Play 'theatre' is still being repaired.

ReginaldBiscuit wrote:
Coun Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “Sharing ideas and experience should be at the heart of local authority ambitions.” - Meh! Teepee for your bunghole Sonja.

And while I am at it being as we are unable to comment on Councillor's having a pay rise. £2600 is nothing compared with the enormous bomb-proof salaries that Chief Execs and Directors receive. How about pay-stripping?

Senior people should lead more modest lives.

You didn't read the other article, did you....

'Senior people should lead more modest lives' is a great statement, but consider this - you need to pay people enough to attract the right people to do the job.

No point paying a Chief Exec £60,000 if no-one capable of doing the job gives it a second look.

BigJon wrote:
btw is Museum Gardens actually going to be ready for the Illuminating York festival? The last time I walked through there, last week, there was still a large area roped off where the damage caused the Mystery Play 'theatre' is still being repaired.

Yes, I can confirm that it will be ready

Blackpool lights illuminate Museum park?

Brilliant, love it! More please.

oldgoat wrote:

ReginaldBiscuit wrote:
Coun Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “Sharing ideas and experience should be at the heart of local authority ambitions.” - Meh! Teepee for your bunghole Sonja.

And while I am at it being as we are unable to comment on Councillor's having a pay rise. £2600 is nothing compared with the enormous bomb-proof salaries that Chief Execs and Directors receive. How about pay-stripping?

Senior people should lead more modest lives.

You didn't read the other article, did you....

'Senior people should lead more modest lives' is a great statement, but consider this - you need to pay people enough to attract the right people to do the job.

No point paying a Chief Exec £60,000 if no-one capable of doing the job gives it a second look.

No point having a chief executive. It's almost a ceremonial duty these days. Councils are given their budgets by government. Why have a CEO at all? £150k to give one person a very privileged life while others in the York area suffer because cuts are made to front-line services just isn't on.

I wouldn't mind paying if councils did outstanding work but time and time again, senior managers in councils preside over failed projects and ****-ups. The lack of accountability means that these people get promoted and moved around to the point where it becomes a gravy train for the not so useful. I'm not saying all council managers are useless because there are some very good ones as well.

I can't choose to go elsewhere either, I am stuck with York Council. The option of another better council isn't available. So I am stuck with rising council tax paying the wages of people who I do not think should be in the job.

LOLcano

Sounds like some folk are a little bit jealous of Blackpool

dogcapp wrote:
Sounds like some folk are a little bit jealous of Blackpool

I`m sure they are not. I`ve been once and wouldn`t ever go back even if you paid for it for me.

Where is the justification in not allowing comments on the councillors pay story? I can understand if it`s a piece about someone who has died or been hurt or if it is a legal requirement such as a case considered sub judice.
Councillors are elected representatives who are in place to serve those who vote them in. THAT`S US!
In my opinion and probably many others there is no excuse for censorship on this story. Is this not the free country called England or is it North Korea? And what is more, who is pulling strings with The Press to prevent freedom of speech?

And what is more, who is pulling strings with The Press to prevent freedom of speech?”

erm!!! let me think about that one

amike wrote:
If it has 'saved' so much money why are they still charging us for admission?

To help offset travelling expenses?

Also as the 'famous' Blackpool Illuminations are running at the same time one can only conclude that we have been loaned some of Blackpools 'cast-offs'. If so let's hope that they work for 4 nights!!!

I was thinking the same thing... surely it would have been better to wait until Blackpool's season has finished and then use their lights over the christmas period. Given the current theme at blackpool that probably would mean we'd have images of Spongebob Squarepants down Coney Street though!