Let’s show what we think at election time…
Posted by Peter in Opinion under Council Watch | Elections | Local Government & Democracy | on Aug 30 2007
Dear Editor,
I have for long tried to draw some comment from the Tories on our council on the matter of the introduction of a joint staff for Adur and Worthing:
Councillor Julie Searle has now taking the opportunity to reply to me through these columns and drags some false herrings in doing so.
I do not hide the fact that I have been a Labour supporter for many years, and rejoice in the democratic way in which Labour allows me to differ from policy, this is part of our British way of life we do not luckily live in a dictatorship
Her claim that there will be savings of Fifty Thousand pounds a year as the outcome of the changes, which are now finalised, will if correct brings some saving to each household across the two towns of some Ten Pounds a year. Is that worth the changes to our way of life and the consequential loss of jobs it will entail? This will cost the public benefit payments for those dismissed.
It is suggested that I asked the question ‘ Who gave permission? Not guilty it was J Martin who raised the question.
My comments on the waste services supported the wheelie bins on the grounds that Health and Safety is the issue that causes these to be introduced: There is a very high incidence of injury among Refuse Operatives, such that they rank high against other workers, possibly due to the fact that we now have little heavy industry.
Cllr Searle refers a shared Chief Executive that is not true we now have a joint staff with an overall top man, not as hitherto someone carrying the title Chief Executive Adur and Interim Chief Executive Worthing. Unless proved otherwise, I still maintain that the senior posts will have up-rated salaries in relation to the gross population of the two districts.
Those who are not comfortable with the way, almost clandestine way in which these changes have come about will have the opportunity in 2008 to question their councillors during election time and the opportunity to make changes should they be dissatisfied. It should be a lively time:
Yours faithfully
Peter Berry
Stoney Lane
