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Lancashire authorities' merger talks lead to row (From Lancaster And Morecambe Citizen)
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Lancashire authorities' merger talks lead to row
2:20pm Wednesday 28th July 2010
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- By Sam Chadderton » Crime reporter
A FURIOUS row broke out at Lancashire Police Authority over a decision not to merge executive support services with Lancashire County Council.
The authority is looking to make 10% savings this year and a further 10% next year and had received a ‘business plan’ from Graham Burgess on behalf of council leaders to merge back office functions such as policy, administration, research and finance.
However, the offer to save around £450,000 a year was rejected by most members, who felt it was ‘the worst point in time’ to be making the move.
Authority chairman Malcolm Doherty said: “The business case put forward was very, very poor.
"We would receive a lesser service at a time we need it to be at its best.”
County Coun William Cropper described any office move and staffing change as ‘fatal’ and independent member David Edmundson said it would be like ‘committing suicide’.
County Coun Anthony Jones said the force already faced two major changes, financially and with directly elected individuals, and that using county officers ‘not experienced in police authority matters’ would be a ‘risk’.
He said: “This seriously worries me. It is the wrong time to tackle another issue involving redundancies. I just don’t think it’s feasible.
But County Coun George Wilkins felt members were being ‘forced into making decisions’ and accused Coun Jones of being ‘naughty’.
This prompted an angry reaction from other members and Coun Jones replied: “He has used words I’ve never heard in an LPA meeting.
"I will not put up with that type of criticism unless it is founded on fact.”
He was backed by Coun Doherty, while independent member Frances Hendrix said Coun Wilkins had ‘insulted all of us’.
Coun Jones said: “I’ve been in local government for 30 years and have never ever been in this situation.
"Either George withdraws his remarks or puts in writing why I’ve been ‘naughty’ on two occasions, or I’ll have discussions with the monitoring officer.”
Coun Wilkins relented, saying: “I withdraw my comments and apologise for any distress or hurt.”
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Your Say YourCitizen
Graham Hartley, Clogmarch says...
10:22pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Graham Hartley, Clogmarch says...
10:22pm Wed 28 Jul 10
GrahamJ, Peel Ward says...
10:23pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Treasury tax take is 38% of GDP, down from 42% in 1997. One of the lowest of the G7.
We have the 5th biggest economy in the world. The economy grew 1.1% in the last quarter and has grown for the 3 successive quartiles.
The structural debt is one of the highest due to over reliance on gas and the city, but debt (as proportion of GDP) is still lower than all other G7 countries.
Gaius Grossus, Accrington says...
1:11pm Fri 30 Jul 10
GrahamJ wrote:Your govt spent it faster than tax income brought it in, it's quite simple really. To be fair though they did not have a lot of options in spite of what the ConDems say.
Could you explain how the money has run out? Treasury tax take is 38% of GDP, down from 42% in 1997. One of the lowest of the G7. We have the 5th biggest economy in the world. The economy grew 1.1% in the last quarter and has grown for the 3 successive quartiles. The structural debt is one of the highest due to over reliance on gas and the city, but debt (as proportion of GDP) is still lower than all other G7 countries.
Gaius Grossus, Accrington says...
1:11pm Fri 30 Jul 10
GrahamJ wrote:Your govt spent it faster than tax income brought it in, it's quite simple really. To be fair though they did not have a lot of options in spite of what the ConDems say.
Could you explain how the money has run out? Treasury tax take is 38% of GDP, down from 42% in 1997. One of the lowest of the G7. We have the 5th biggest economy in the world. The economy grew 1.1% in the last quarter and has grown for the 3 successive quartiles. The structural debt is one of the highest due to over reliance on gas and the city, but debt (as proportion of GDP) is still lower than all other G7 countries.
CHAIRMAN: Malcolm Doherty
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DEO VOLENTE, BLACKBURN says...
2:48pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Deus Vobiscum