The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I am posting this in the main forum as I wish to get some feedback from the HPCers. Looks like the 2008 crisis and 'austerity' is finally coming to Swansea. But surely all this means is that anyone being fired or given redundancy will also get a pay off - the higher paid people could result in sizeable pay-offs and pension paid up surely? SIGNIFICANT job losses are expected at Swansea Council as part of a major cost-cutting plan.Council chiefs stressed they would explore "every avenue possible" ahead of making any compulsory redundancies. The authority needs to save £45 million over the next three years, as previously reported in the Post. No figure has been put on how many jobs might go, and the Labour administration said it wanted its workforce to shrink via early retirements and voluntary redundancies. Read more: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Significant-job-losses-expected-Swansea-Council/story-19920647-detail/story.html?afterReg=Y#ixzz2hPEuakxm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahBell Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Loads of payoffs and then people being reemployed as contractors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 Loads of payoffs and then people being reemployed as contractors. Sounds about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Loads of payoffs and then people being reemployed as contractors. Will that save them money over the longer-term?.......news that dyson and jaeger are bringing production back to the UK because labour is now so much cheaper/competitive and we can do it so much better..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 Will that save them money over the longer-term?.......news that dyson and jaeger are bringing production back to the UK because labour is now so much cheaper/competitive and we can do it so much better..... The raspberry computer is now being built in the Sony Bridgend plant because it is cheaper than China. I know of one major IT outsourcer who located in Wales because the bosses worked out that it was cheaper than hiring staff in Bangalore. Actually, you make a good point about Swansea Council - will they have the money to re-hire people as contractors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer466 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 So with the wage costs falling how much are they going to reduce your council tax by? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timak Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 It isn't just Swansea council. The government have basically killed local authorities. They've shifted a lot of extra cost onto them, reduced their income (the vast majority of local government money comes from central gov not council tax), and changed the rules so that any income they do generate gets creamed off by central gov. I've seen breakdowns of council funding and they are completely screwed. I've seen figures where even eliminating 100% of staffing costs would still see them unsustainable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eight Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I've seen breakdowns of council funding and they are completely screwed. I've seen figures where even eliminating 100% of staffing costs would still see them unsustainable. Pensions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19 year mortgage 8itch Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 It isn't just Swansea council. The government have basically killed local authorities. They've shifted a lot of extra cost onto them, reduced their income (the vast majority of local government money comes from central gov not council tax), and changed the rules so that any income they do generate gets creamed off by central gov. I've seen breakdowns of council funding and they are completely screwed. I've seen figures where even eliminating 100% of staffing costs would still see them unsustainable. They should have just bought RM shares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 It isn't just Swansea council. The government have basically killed local authorities. They've shifted a lot of extra cost onto them, reduced their income (the vast majority of local government money comes from central gov not council tax), and changed the rules so that any income they do generate gets creamed off by central gov. I've seen breakdowns of council funding and they are completely screwed. I've seen figures where even eliminating 100% of staffing costs would still see them unsustainable. I personally think that Swansea Council has been the prime mover in running down the local eonomy for many years now - digging up and changing the road layout of Swansea seems to be one massive job creation scheme for the Highways Department. There have been times when entire areas of shops have been almost impossible to get to - almost crucifying the shops financially. At the same time the parking charges just go out of control - parking being seen as a cash cow which then jsut reduced people going to the city centre which, in turn, has helped to kill off loads of small shops IMPO. I can't see them squeezing any more out of the above but no doubt they will try. I think they are close to being in the situation where they keep the jobs but cut the services so that the Council runs like some form of state-legalised mafiosa - you pay council tax to keep the workers in jobs but not doing anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timak Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Pensions? Not really although it will be an issue in the future for some authorities. Main problem they face is the income is going down (huge cuts, like 30%-40% of income from central government) and the costs sky rocketing. We have an ageing population, councils have to pay for care costs when people get below the savings threshold (roughly £23k). You are talking £1k a week for a dementia patient who might live 3 or 4 years. One district council I know of has a £60m income. £35m goes on Housing Benefit (and they get £34m of this paid by central gov) £20m on staffing £5m on materials/equipment Their share of the council tax brings in about £15m and central gov grant is about £12m so they were breaking even. Then central gov cuts grant to £8m (after initially saying it would be cut to £10m) So they suddenly have to find £4m. Got rid of 10% of staff and cut wage bill by £2m Still £2m short and Gov says "well you've already proven you can save money so that new homes bonus money we promised you (and that you are relying on) can come to central gov instead" So more and more savings are required. Councils will go bust within the next couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 Councils will go bust within the next couple of years. Surely that only happens in America? We're British and above that kind of thing. Joking aside, you make valid points. I suspect Swansea is also already suffering from the amount of social care it has to provide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 It isn't just Swansea council. The government have basically killed local authorities. They've shifted a lot of extra cost onto them, reduced their income (the vast majority of local government money comes from central gov not council tax), and changed the rules so that any income they do generate gets creamed off by central gov. I've seen breakdowns of council funding and they are completely screwed. I've seen figures where even eliminating 100% of staffing costs would still see them unsustainable. perhaps they could be shut-down ala US. then see who really needs their help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 (edited) Not really although it will be an issue in the future for some authorities. Main problem they face is the income is going down (huge cuts, like 30%-40% of income from central government) and the costs sky rocketing. We have an ageing population, councils have to pay for care costs when people get below the savings threshold (roughly £23k). You are talking £1k a week for a dementia patient who might live 3 or 4 years. One district council I know of has a £60m income. £35m goes on Housing Benefit (and they get £34m of this paid by central gov) £20m on staffing £5m on materials/equipment Their share of the council tax brings in about £15m and central gov grant is about £12m so they were breaking even. Then central gov cuts grant to £8m (after initially saying it would be cut to £10m) So they suddenly have to find £4m. Got rid of 10% of staff and cut wage bill by £2m Still £2m short and Gov says "well you've already proven you can save money so that new homes bonus money we promised you (and that you are relying on) can come to central gov instead" So more and more savings are required. Councils will go bust within the next couple of years. Councils have tight budgets and they have been forced to start to think about how to save money instead of spending and wasting it as in the past...council taxes are already too high imo. Instead of saying will be paying £1k per week for care costs or £35 million on housing benefit....have they asked themselves why a week in a care home is costing £1k how can that be justified, and they have shot themselves in the foot by forever saying yes to paying increasing housing benefits to landlords.....two areas where they could save money if they did things differently. . Edited October 11, 2013 by winkie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer466 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Councils can't go bust they will simply raise local taxation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@contradevian Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 (edited) They should have just bought RM shares. ..or bought property Kirklees will be alright though. Its a bit like Bannatynes gym empire. with sports centres, pools, personal trainers, and the 'day to day' Council stuff run as a sideline. Edited October 11, 2013 by aSecureTenant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperChimp Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 So more and more savings are required. Councils will go bust within the next couple of years. +1 Similar story here in Liverpool. I estimate that around 1/5 - 1/4 of the population of Liverpool work for the national government and with job cuts and wage freezes that will mean less council tax being raised over the coming years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia O'Keeffe Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Councils can't go bust they will simply raise local taxation. why didnt Detroit think of that, ohhh they did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 why didnt Detroit think of that, ohhh they did An ex mayor of Detroit just got 28 years in jail yesterday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24485162 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 Looks like Carmarthen Council is having similar problems. 'Hundreds' of posts likely to go, warns county authority HUNDREDS more jobs will be lost at Carmarthenshire Council, its leaders have warned.The authority is bracing itself for cuts in the region of £25 to £30 million next week. Welsh Government Finance Minister Jane Hutt has revealed cuts for councils in her draft budget which will see local government spending fall from £4.648 billion this year to £4.466 billion next year. "Again, it is not possible yet to say exactly how many jobs will have to go to balance the budget," he said. "It is inevitable however that many hundreds of jobs will be lost, as we make these huge reductions to our budget.Letters have been sent out offering redundancy and early retirement and of course this would impact on any decisions on numbers of jobs that might have to be lost." Read more: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Hundreds-posts-likely-warns-county-authority/story-19920664-detail/story.html#ixzz2hPhTEjf0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dances with sheeple Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Councils can't go bust they will simply raise local taxation. And if the locals can`t/won`t pay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 And if the locals can`t/won`t pay? I think this is what we are seeing already bearing in mind the news story today about councils taking people to court for not paying the council tax. Bringing this firmly back to HPC, I can see Councils only looking to screw home owners even more in the years ahead with council tax increases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quicken Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I think this is what we are seeing already bearing in mind the news story today about councils taking people to court for not paying the council tax. Bringing this firmly back to HPC, I can see Councils only looking to screw home owners even more in the years ahead with council tax increases. It's the occupant, not the owner who pays council tax. Wrong but true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 It's the occupant, not the owner who pays council tax. Wrong but true. You know what I meant. You never know, we might even see them begin to charge more to BTLs - doubt it though, as I suspect many who work in councils at middle to senior level are into BTLs themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Miyagi Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 22 unitary authorities in Wales are and always have been unsustainable. I would not be surprised to find a commitment in Labours next assembly manifesto to local government reorganisation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.