Twinned
with Mars
Although "revised" from 14%, an 8½ % increase still means
that those on pensions may be forced into debt. How many more times must we hear of
pensioners frozen to death in 21st century super space age - twinned with Mars
- Leicester?More than 400 people died in Leicestershire from illnesses brought on by the
cold in 2002. In fact
the UK suffers 50,000 excess deaths every year in the winter months, worse than
Scandinavia and Siberia!
Global Change Very Cool
And the weather hasn't even got too bad yet. Just wait a few years until we loose the
warming effects of the Gulf Stream. Without it Europe (including the UK) will be plunged into
the sort of Arctic temperatures that most of the US and Canada have experienced during
January 2004...
Absolutely No
Justification
However, despite the current weather and future Siberian
conditions Councillor Coley says, "We haven't really got any choice".
Perhaps Tony Blair will give them a choice…Bliar said he would cap
"excessive" rises, that there was "absolutely no justification" and
would block budget proposals; hence the drop to a 9% tax rise. How low can they go? |
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Sparky
So what will come of the 100 voluntary groups affected to the tune of £2 million this
year, cuts rising to £3.5m in 2005? This includes groups that help to keep neighbourhoods
alive - offering a spark of hope that someone cares. Without that hope we will have
ghost-town areas.Going, Going, Going...
Over £200,000 will be cut from social care and health groups
this year. Groups helping rape victims, the old, ill and mentally disabled will be cut
back or closed.
LCC could raise some cash and clean up the streets.
More than 2 square miles of the city's public highways are lined with illegal wheelie bins. A walk around 5 streets we surveyed would
net LCC £209,000 at £1000 per bin. As yet, not one prosecution.
Warm Glow
Council "leader" Blackmore said that communities are not about money, they're
about our relationships with each other. Big Bro Blackmore also assures us we can be
"Reasonably confident that a tough budget round need not damage the ever growing
interest in living in harmony." Can you feel the warm glow?
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By No Account
If communities are not about money, perhaps LCC should stop taking ours and not even be
accountable. If you want to see LCC's accounts you can't… unless you arrange a visit
in early October. The accounts are available for only two weeks every year.Incidentally LCC have probably spent more than
£200,000 on their website over the past couple of years… so why not put that spending to good use and publish all LCC budget spending
online? Council Tax accounts could also be managed online.
LCC Raise Middle Finger
15,000 people in Leicester owe the council £9,000,000 between them (Mercury - 6 Jan 04).
Now let's see… the cuts were worth… ??? |
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