Local Authority Madness

[Johnboy]

The Local Authority in the Ludlow area propose to build a new Eco Primary School in an village where there are no children. The reason for there being no children is because the properties is not within the budget of young parents.
In the village where there are many children and the land would be gifted and therefore free they refuse to build.
Their reason is that they are trying to get young families to move to the childless village. I would hazard a guess that any couple with children who moved into the village would probably send their children for private education.
It means that all the children must be bussed into the school instead of being in walking distance.
I live in a different county and therefore have no say but I have a grandson who goes to a New Eco School and last year they could not maintain sufficient heat so the children were forever being sent home.
To me there is something intrinsically wrong with this country because we are being ruled by people who have not been elected and cannot be got rid of, who appear to be totally stupid! The Councillors that we elect have very little say as to what goes any longer.
Do you think my moan is justified?
JB.

[Nature's Babe]

Yes I do, government policy is public having more say,and to save money write a few letters to the right department in high places, I found that works better than writing to your MP who fob us off without actually answering specific question

[glallotments]

You are well justified in having a moan - We are supposed to be cutting back on spending but every cut of 'in some cases' valuable services seem to be balanced by spending on 'in some cases' unnecessary projects.

It would appear that rather than saving money we are just changing the balance of where things are spent! Maybe the problem is that councils and governments want to be seen to be 'innovative' and do things 'their way' when elected just to show they are different and make headlines.

[alan refail]

Hi Johnboy

Sounds to me like a return to the days of the (in)famous Dr Muffett

[richard p]

the fundamental problem with councils is that the elected councilors can say what they like but they are advised/ignored by employed officers who have their own agendas and little empires . they arnt spending their own money and measure their sucess by how much they can spend , the more they spend this year the more they can ask for in next years budgets. the same thing happens in national government civil servants run the show in spite of who is actually elected . we all laughed at "yes minister" but i think we should have cried. i suppose the next question is why do we need bother with any elected politicians at all

[peter]

It varies according to the structure of the council, with the Yes Minister / Officials ignoring Councillors model largely swept away and replaced by "Executive Members", i.e. Cllrs who act as Chief Officers and call all the shots.

[richard p]

were still on the old model in this neck of the woods, the elected councilors talk a lot but cant actually control anything or anyone.

[Mike Vogel]

Despite all that others have said, I still believe that a letter to your MP, the relevant ministry and the council - and why not the preee as well, will be worth the effort. It may not achieve what you aim for but it will name and shame.