Local taxpayers are facing a £150,000 bill to cover the cost of West Berkshire Council's traffic wardens not finding enough motorists to fine.
Just four months after hitting households with an inflation-busting 4.1% council tax rise, new figures indicate that public funds will have to be diverted from other services to subsidise the 'green meanies' to the tune of £2800 every week.
The council has now ordered a 'review' of the controversial wardens after their disastrous performance in collecting cash from motorists for parking infringements. The eagle-eyed wardens have been operating on Sundays and bank holidays to catch out visitors to Newbury, but have so far failed to justify the expense of hiring so many.
Meanwhile, district planners are also expected to go £150,000 in the red by the financial year due to a shortage of big planning applications. The 60-strong planning department says it is "actively managing" the headcount, and is 'reviewing workload'.
That's fine, but should we employ more people than is necessary to achieve the same level of enforcement?
No, hence the review I would guess. As usual I think that the "news" item is misleading as it doesn't point out that the £400 per day it is costing "us" is spread across the 145,000 people in West Berkshire I assume, which means if it's correct it is costing you and I, 0.3p a day each. Now that seems quite good value to me.
No, hence the review I would guess. As usual I think that the "news" item is misleading as it doesn't point out that the £400 per day it is costing "us" is spread across the 145,000 people in West Berkshire I assume, which means if it's correct it is costing you and I, 0.3p a day each. Now that seems quite good value to me.
No it is highlighting the fact that the silly feckers at WBC didn't use some common sense and think before implementing a waste of our money. Anyone worth their salt (ie not WBC) would have taken the following approach.
Problem: Parking infringements on both yellow lines and non payment at Car Praks. Cause: Exacerbated by lack of traffic warden (known by public and abused) Solution: employ 3 or so wardens to issue fines - if cases do not fall significantly after a few month consider increasing no of wardens.
Then we wouldn't have this waste of money and possible cost of redundancy!
No, hence the review I would guess. As usual I think that the "news" item is misleading as it doesn't point out that the £400 per day it is costing "us" is spread across the 145,000 people in West Berkshire I assume, which means if it's correct it is costing you and I, 0.3p a day each. Now that seems quite good value to me.
Are there 145,000 council tax payers in West Berks?
No, good point, it must be costing us taxpayers a least half a pence a day to keep the streets clear.
So what about replying to my comment on the waste of money (ie efficiency) thought not - you like to gloss over "Worst Burkes-hired Council's" constant failings don't you!
It means that a £150k shortfall in parking fines leaves a £150k to be found out of other projects so that WBC remains within budget. So £150k's worth of other WBC services do not get implemented.
I guess the reality is that WBC will simply overspend and try to get back to balance by increasing next year's tax.
It means that a £150k shortfall in parking fines leaves a £150k to be found out of other projects so that WBC remains within budget. So £150k's worth of other WBC services do not get implemented.
I guess the reality is that WBC will simply overspend and try to get back to balance by increasing next year's tax.
The phrase "shortfall in parking fines" suggests you think they should be fining more people in order to raise £150k of revenue.
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