Council Tax 2008/9
Our inner Cabinet of councillors considered a report in July which took account of forecast spending and Government support and an initial projection was made of the possible financial position facing the Council in the years 2008/09 - 2010/11. Again, projections this far ahead had to be accompanied by some fairly substantial caveats but the best information available suggested a Council Tax increase of around 9% for 2008/09 followed by increases of between 8% and 9% for each of the next two years. All of these figures are before any use of reserves and make no allowance for any new service developments. If you add the GLA Council Tax we could be looking at some serious increases well in to double figures. Added to the increased interest charges being forecast wage increases from unions and employees will add to the governments worsening position.
Cash problems
When I read that Barclays Bank plc had to borrow money to cover its trades I wondered how safe is ones money these days. Then my business manager telephoned me from London to tell me that the branch in the depressed Sidcup High Street couldn’t honour a cheque because it didn’t have enough cash! He then made frantic calls to a branch in Bexleyheath where I had to travel specially taking my passport and driving licence to prove my identity. I hope not too many people in Sidcup need cash from Barclays because they might be disappointed!
The Bexleyheath branch was stacked out with people, many of whom were Woolwich Building Society customers. It is this additional workload that is putting local Barclays staff under pressure. This was before the Northern Rock problems came to the surface.
Farnborough hospital
A close friend was admitted to the new hospital at Farnborough to the intensive care ward where he was well looked after. Visiting, I was staggered by the cost of parking the car, £1-50 for an hour or £2 for two hours! Needless to say very few spaces were available so the NHS must be raking it in.
Let’s leave London!
Having seen the Mayors workload I cannot understand why anyone would want to be the Mayor of London. Ken Livingstone seems to have got the handle on the Capital even if he doesn’t always get it right. I just cannot see Boris in the Mayors shoes, they would cramp his style and we don’t need a joker, however academic, running the capital. The Chronicle would like to start a new campaign to remove Bromley and Bexley from Ken’s clutches. With your vote and in one move you could rid yourself of Ken, the dreaded Olympic Tax, Transport for London, London Councils and lower our annual Council Tax by at least 5% all in exchange for a small cross on the ballot paper. As a popular politician once said “You know it makes sense”! What do you think. And which political party would be brave enough to make it happen?