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Posted by Tony Flynn on 24th January 2012 at 03:04 PM Finance chief hits out at Council Tax ‘bogus claim’
Salford’s finance chief Cllr Bill Hinds has described a promise that Council Tax will be halved if people vote ‘Yes’ in Thursday’s referendum for a directly-elected Mayor as “a bogus claim”.
He said: “The referendum is about how Salford should be run. The level of Council Tax has nothing to do with the constitution of the Council which is the only thing affected by the referendum.
“The promise that a Yes vote will mean Council Tax being halved is a completely bogus claim which most people will take with a pinch of salt.
“This referendum is about whether we vote ‘Yes’ so the city is run by a £100,000 a year dictator or we vote ‘No’ to that and save our traditional impartial Mayor.”
Cllr Hinds said that people did not believe the tax could be halved because many of the cuts promised by the ‘Yes’ campaign were impossible or unacceptable.
The Yes campaign had promised to illegally cut
Care for children at risk irrespective of need
Statutory planning duties
Even minimum highways repairs to keep roads safe
They had also promised to
Cut care for 6,000 vulnerable elderly people
Remove all school crossing patrols
End road safety schemes
Cllr Hinds added: “These proposals from a Bury businessman go against the grain of the values of our city.”
'No' campaigners argue that a 'yes' vote would
· mean paying for yet another political official to run the city
· abolish the traditional, impartial mayor and replace the position with a party political post
· put all the decisions in one person's hands
· be a distraction from the real tasks of tackling unemployment and making tough budget decisions
· increase the costs to the taxpayer
· end the ability of voters to change control of the Council in elections for councillors (whom the mayor can ignore)
· be dangerous because elected mayors have been a disaster elsewhere in places like Doncaster and Stoke
The No campaign is backed by the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, the Co-operative Party and moderate Conservatives.
The Yes campaign is backed by the BNP, English Democrats, Community Action Party and right-wing Conservatives.
Source: Derek Antrobus.
Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member ) 27th January 2012
I will be making no further comment. |
Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member ) 26th January 2012
The Chief Executive of Salford Council earns around £200,000 PA. The post would not be required in the event we had a directly-elected mayor. This would be a saving. A Mayors salary could be less than £100,000. A good mayor would volunteer a reduction in their salary as public service would be a good mayor's priority not his or her remuneration. Salford & proud - You made a prediction. I merely said I would return on Friday because I am looking forward to us continuing our conversation once the result is known. |
Comment by Salford and Proud ( member ) 25th January 2012
Mr Moulding please do not assume to know me or that I have the remotest interest in "chatting" with you. I am merely stating that your Mayoral referendum campaign has been badly run from day one, by using people like David Berg, who has a personal vendetta, I asssume with Salford Council, and yourself who can seee no further than the boundaries of Swinton, between the pair of you you have badly damaged what could have been a legitimate and possibly worthy cause. This contest is no place for personal egos and yours is far beyond anyone else, believe me. |
Comment by Alfa99 ( member ) 25th January 2012
PS. Its incredible that this council managed to write off 5 million in unpaid debts in 2009.
Just like the bankers Eh? |
Comment by Alfa99 ( member ) 25th January 2012
I really am amazed that we are 450 million in debt. I wonder how much interest we all pay on this amount?
If I were a CEO
N. PLC with no realistic opportunity to grow my business other than cutting back |
Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member ) 25th January 2012
The Doncaster reference is of no concern as far as my question went, what is the CE's pay for comparison? Thanks for the response, as an interested neutral in this matter I appreciate all assistance. |
Comment by John Merry ( member ) 25th January 2012
I am sorry if it seemed confrontational but you asked for a straight answer. There is in most cases including Doncaster a Chief Executive so a comparision is not possible. Even when the Chief Executive does not technically exist there is annother officer dischargeing their responsibilities. |
Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member ) 25th January 2012
A tad confrontational once again Mr merry, a trait I have noted in your exchanges with those pro an independant mayor. However, thanks for the pay response, albeit before expenses of course. I obviously haven't picked up on the position of Chief Executive, as in fairness, it hasn't been part of any exchanges on by the principle protagonists on here. Would the appointment of this new style of Mayor subsume the role of Chief Executive as I think it might, and if so what is that position currently paid? If the mayoral pay quoted at 100K in the article is correct, where did that figure come from and is it any more or less than the CE is paid now? Thank you... |
Comment by John Merry ( member ) 25th January 2012
Is that straight enough for you Hiram I might also add that the debt " almost 600" is likely to be 450 m in the near future similar to many urban authorities that have had to engage in significant urban regeneration. |
Comment by John Merry ( member ) 25th January 2012
You are wrong I currently get paid £38 k a year for a full time job and the leaflet distributed across the city makes it clear the yes supporters would abolish the ceremonial mayor. |
Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member ) 25th January 2012
PS. £100K a year may be a saving against what we currently pay our non elected leader? Am I right or wrong in this thought Mr Merry? |
Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member ) 25th January 2012
SHAMEFUL! Shame on you Derek Antrobus, Bill Hinds and John Merry by association. You shatter the glass house world you inhabit by taking others to task over factuality and then scaremongering yourselves by throwing this at us “This referendum is about whether we vote ‘Yes’ so the city is run by a £100,000 a year dictator or we vote ‘No’ to that and save our traditional impartial Mayor.” When has this been about replacing a ceremonial, fete opening Mayor? In all that I have read it is about an alternative to the party controlled Council Leader so please do not treat us readers, your electorate, in the same dismissive manner you treat the YES campaigners. Will we ever get some straight, spin free talking from anyone in local or national political life? Of course we won't, but hey I thought it worth asking.... |
Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member ) 24th January 2012
Councillor Merry - I have never said that Salford Labour councillors have behaved in a corrupt way. To make it clear on public record - there is NO evidence of any corruption within the Salford Labour Party councillors however I still believe they are lining their pockets with allowances and expenses that they do not deserve !. The Council is nearly £600 million in debt ! |
Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member ) 24th January 2012
Salford & proud ! Chat Friday ! I look forward to it !!! |
Comment by John Merry ( member ) 24th January 2012
Can we make it clear that the council is not 600m in debt this is a fabrication from the yes campaign . If you have evidence Mr Moulding that councillors are "lining their own pockets" provide it . If you do not have evidence of unlawful conduct you should withdraw. |
Comment by Salford and Proud ( member ) 24th January 2012
You talk some twaddle Mr Moulding, can you prove that Salford councillors are indeed lining their own pockets? libellous words I would have thought? and if I hear for one more time "what I have been doing in Swinton"... give it a rest, you are not a saint or even a legitamate political activist, as much as you think you are, sad but true as the ballot box will show on Friday. |
Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member ) 24th January 2012
Alfa99 - All the Labour councillors are lining their pockets one way or the other and many of them do very little to earn these allowances. However, a Finance Chief trying to preach to us about his wild allegations which are completely false when he is responsible for putting our Council £600 million pounds in debt, one of the highest Council Taxes in greater manchester. The man is incompetent and is everything wrong about Salford Labour today. They are outdated group of people who look after themselves and their perks and allowances and "avoid" where possible real work in the community, for example what I have been doing in Swinton for no reward whatsoever other than the satisfaction of knowing those that have needed my help know that I have done my best to help them. They are useless am afraid and cant put my hand on my heart and say any different. If I could I would. |
Comment by Salford and Proud ( member ) 24th January 2012
I totally agree with Bill Hinds comments, a vote for the Yes campaign people is a step backwards. These johnny come latelys are promising things that they can't possibly achive, just say NO and vote NO! you know it makes sense. |
Comment by Alfa99 ( member ) 24th January 2012
How much do we pay all these councillors in salary and perks?
Surely there should be moves for salary capping as most of the general public are finding it hard to make ends meet.
Do we really get value out of any of them? |
Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member ) 24th January 2012
And anyone who believes this complete and utter diatribe deserves to live in a city that is mis-managed. I dont believe it, do not to live in a city that is mis-managed and want to help bring a sense of civic pride to our city. The above is utter rubbish. Not going to waste my time on it. Michael Moulding, The Community Action Party. |
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