Land of milk and honey
Andrew Sparke, chief executive of Dudley Council, wrote recently about the advantages the borough provides for its residents, including himself, his fellow directors, assistant directors, senior staff et al.
Andrew Sparke, chief executive of Dudley Council, wrote recently about the advantages the borough provides for its residents, including himself, his fellow directors, assistant directors, senior staff et al.
This borough has clearly been the land of milk and honey to him and his colleagues after being awarded salary increases in the order of 10 to 20 per cent in 2003/4. Since then they have continued to enjoy inflation-busting increases and bomb-proof pension plans at other residents' expense - why would anyone want to leave all that behind?
In case you had forgotten, in 2003/4 that generous inexcusable increase was awarded by David Caunt and the rest of the Conservative administration in the council.
Mr Caunt is now wringing his hands and shedding his crocodile tears for the ordinary folk because he has to impose a 5 per cent increase in council tax, the maximum allowed by the Government.
The council appetite for spending is as insatiable as the increases are relentless. Last year it was £800,000 on a grand patio outside the town hall, this year it is a £750,000 overspend on the duplication of services in the Council Plus scheme. They just keep on coming.
Mr Sparke's statement about "value for the council tax", to quote his letter, is, I feel, more to do with his personal circumstances and is at odds with the views of most ordinary taxpayers. For them the council tax now represents a very significant proportion of their income and is completely out of control, with no end in sight.
Colin Taylor, Dudley Road, Sedgley.
