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| "...Another few grand, we could have got Rent-a-Crowd!" |
A couple of payments caught my eye the other day as I
scanned Tameside council’s November & December 2013 payment archives.
The payments were to a company called New Image (Public Relations) Ltd; they were the company who were
engaged by the council to run Ashton’s ‘successful’ 2013 Christmas Market
event.
Item No. 5129366 for £56,752.50
and item No. 5132143 for £18,500 a
total of £75,252.50
Now if these payments were paid to New Image to run the free entertainment, the free helter-skelter, free children’s swings, and security etc,
then we must add this to the £69,500
the council put aside to buy the materials to build 30 pseudo ‘log-cabins’
– that would mean that Ashton’s first Christmas Market cost the taxpayers of Tameside well over £144,752.50.
– that would mean that Ashton’s first Christmas Market cost the taxpayers of Tameside well over £144,752.50.
If this is not the case, perhaps Cllr John Taylor, (the man
who has total responsibility for Markets) might like to explain why, in these cost-cutting times, just what the
council are paying £75,252.50 to a
Public Relations company anyway?
Given the timing of the rushed‘consultation’ where Cllr Taylor
only wanted to hear views from ‘positive’ voices, I wonder if asked now; after
all the hidden costs have been revealed; how many of those positive voices would vote to repeat this exorbitant exercise
next Christmas?
Einstein said, if you keep repeating the same experiment in
the same way and expect a different result, you must be mad.
Personally I prefer to quote José Maria de Eça de Queiroz,
who said, “Politicians are like nappies - they should be changed regularly, and
for the same reason.”
Later today, we will once again be treated to the Leaders ‘Key-note
speech’ where we will hear how much money has been cut from the council’s
budget and therefore, how many ‘front line services’ will suffer and community assets
sold off on the cheap, because of those inefficient politicians running central
government. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear how much the council will need to
increase the council tax again.
Just for once, wouldn’t it be nice if we heard that because
of radical efficiencies the council are reducing our bills and giving the money back to ‘hard working families’
Dream On!
Don't worry, the economic dunderheads responsible will get the money back by doubling parking charges.
ReplyDeleteOf course Taylor only wanted hear from people that agreed with this madness.
ReplyDeleteHe's anti free speech, hates being criticized in anyway at all.
I think the man's drunk on power.
At a recent Dukinfield District Assembly meeting someone raised a minor parking nuisance issue that the council had totally failed to resolve, for a year. The Labour councillors were bristling with indignation and irritation. They can't stand ANY criticism.
ReplyDeleteIn a decent run borough, Taylor would have never gotten away with using such vile methods against his political opponent in Dukinfield.
ReplyDeleteIncitement, smear leaflets, violent assault, even going to the lengths of trying to have the BNP candidate beaten using an EDL member to do the job for him.
This Labour Councillor has a lot to answer for.
The problem we have here in Tameside is that for 35 years or so, bad councillors have been elected by good people who do not vote.
ReplyDelete'Good people', apathetic and lazy is the reality.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the figures published Taylors three year Xmas market experiment will cost in excess of £300k, it was obviously a flop from day one, just ask the traders who took part if they will be back for Xmas 2014. Bite the bullet Mr Taylor accept that yet another of your big ideas has failed, pay off New Image and concentrate on litter picking!
ReplyDeleteIt now transpires that Droylsdens Easter Market will be run by New Image, wonder how much this will cost, still it doesn't matter does it, the Tameside Coffers are overflowing. It will make it look like Cllr Quinn has done something for the town and also help the turnover at the Masons !!!!
ReplyDeleteThey will be hard pressed to get Droylsdonians to the market. I live here and I rarely ever go to the town centre, I either go to Ashton or town. If I go to Droylsden I'm virtually guaranteed not to find most of what I'm looking for and I'm certainly guaranteed that I won't be sticking around for a browse.
ReplyDelete