Forum Topic

Hounslow Headteachers express fears ove budget cuts

Like other councillors I have recently received the following communication on behalf of the Borough's headteachers:"Dear Councillor ConnellyCuts in Children's Services and Lifelong LearningI am writing as facilitator for primary, secondary and special school head teachers in Hounslow to express grave concerns regarding the proposed cuts package for education.We believe the package is the direct result of the policy of 0% increase in council tax instigated by the majority party and its supporters. This policy is resulting in year on year cuts in council services.The cuts that concern schools most are those relating to the increase in costs to schools of services provided by the council. Without the support of these services schools would not be able to function effectively. We note the proposals to reduce the central funding for the Education Psychology Service and the Teaching Support Service - cuts in these areas will affect the most vulnerable of our children.In addition in terms of Lifelong Learning we are saddened to see the cuts in Adult Education courses which are not directly funded by the LSC (Learning and Skills Council). Once again there would be a reduction in the work with vulnerable groups as well as cuts in non-vocational courses that give pleasure often to our more elderly citizens.We believe that Hounslow residents value the services that they receive and in particular the excellent work of schools and we are convinced that an increase in council tax in order to avoid these cuts would be acceptable to residents.Hounslow schools urge you to oppose these proposals.Roger ShorttEducation Improvement Facilitator - funded by head teachers."I personally share these concerns and fear that the long-term future of many of the borough's children could be put at risk as a result of the ruling Executive's council tax obsession.

John Connelly ● 6437d24 Comments

Vanessa wrote "If senior officers and members couldn't sort this out then they ought to be ashamed of themselves. After all the huge pay increases that members voted themselves were, we were told, to enable them to spend more time on council duties, and as I recall we have several 'full-time' Councillors now"Vanessa - You're absolutely right. Directors and the Chief Executive, unlike the vast majority of staff, are paid really big money these days. The Tory and ICG Excecutive pushed through huge increases for themselves claiming they needed to spend more time on the job, yet between them, they couldn't come up with ideas for saving money. If they are so incapable, will they be competent enough to understand KPMG's recommendations and make rational decisions on them?I still can't really understand how the cost of a few consultants can amount to £3,000,000. It's an horrendous fee!!

Sue Thornton ● 6426d

Very true its about the loss of education, loss of community services so we are getting something for nothing lots of costs and nothing else.

Dave Hughes ● 6433d

Noted Vanessa.  However the Hounslow project is about something much more fundamental than a new software system.

Phil Andrews ● 6434d

A cautionary tale in "Private Eye":Last year Sheffield council brought in consultants to 'overhaul their financial systems' - They recommended a major upgrade of the software system. After a year of employing up to 16 consultants at rates of between £750 - £2,000 A DAY EACH there has, according to one insider, "been no noticeable progress towards a configured software solution". This was called "an invest to save" project - it means "It may look expensive now, but, hey, it'll save you a packet in future" It is offically projected to cost Sheffield more than £1.5 million a year until 2010 - a toal of at least £4.9 million. It is claimed that by the end of that time it will have "saved" the council £6.2 million through "increased efficiency". Insiders believe that the project could actually end up costing up to £5 million more than it saves. But by then the £2000 per day consultants will have long since purred away in their BMWs.

Vanessa Smith ● 6434d

Yes we do fulltime Cllrs we have Thompson who has a full time Job, it a long way back to Chiswick with that wheelbarrow stuffed full of money from the old tax payers of Hounslow.

Dave Hughes ● 6434d

Fairy nuff...I would like to know how much is being spent and for what.

Keith Iddon ● 6435d

Yes it will be made public, and if the figure is less or even anything like similar I can assure you I will accept responsibility.  Believe me there is no gamble being taken here.You need to look beyond the rhetoric and the propaganda Keith.  Most of the people who are squealing about this have a political interest in not changing the culture of the local authority.  They would rather cut frontline services as they did when they were in office, hence John Aird House.

Phil Andrews ● 6435d

As I said before Phil I would have like to have known you were willing to gamble my money on a possible before voting.'Less than the sum total of their invoice..',this will be made public will it,with details of exactly how the money was spent,what rates people were paid and what they did for that money?I am still amazed at how much money we are talking about.If the sum total is less,who will be held accountable?

Keith Iddon ● 6435d

No problems Keith.  Could I just suggest then that we wait until we see how much KPMG manage to save the local taxpayer?  If it is less than the sum total of their invoice, I will concede the point.

Phil Andrews ● 6435d

If...but...might .Not at all convincing Phil.

Keith Iddon ● 6435d

And I believe in Father Christmas. If senior officers and members couldn't sort this out then they ought to be ashamed of themselves. After all the huge pay increases that members voted themselves were, we were told, to enable them to spend more time on council duties, and as I recall we have several 'full-time' Councillors now.

Vanessa Smith ● 6435d

"There will be a cost of sorts but it will be negligable and certainly nowhere remotely close to the sensationalist claims made by sections of the local press."The report to the Council Executive stated that the cost of doing this would be at least a six figure sum. This may be a negligible amount in the context of the overall Council budget and less than the figures that appeared in the press but it is still a lot of money. I think most people would say that the importance of 'pressing home the message that the old era of nepotism is finally over' can be overstated if it is being done in a way that is causing problems for funding of local schools.

Justin Harris ● 6435d

Keith/SueThe idea is that the consultants will actually save us money which will be reflected in savings to Council Tax, as well as providing an improved working environment for those who will be manning the new organisation.If the consultants fail to produce savings in excess of the cost of their services then of course the exercise will have been a waste of money, but the envisaged savings are many times the cost of KPMG's services.  With the best will in the world members and officers could not have resourced the detailed, root-and-branch analysis of our structures that the KPMG team have been able to carry out.

Phil Andrews ● 6436d

The new logo and design is being phased in piecemeal, as and when the old material needs to be replaced.  There will be a cost of sorts but it will be negligable and certainly nowhere remotely close to the sensationalist claims made by sections of the local press.For the record, and I'm happy to be quoted, I would have supported the rebranding regardless.  The importance of pressing home the message that the old era of nepotism is finally over and that a new culture of openness and honesty has arrived, for good, cannot be overstated.

Phil Andrews ● 6436d

I know no such thing - well how much is it costing?

Vanessa Smith ● 6436d

Keith - I totally agree. This an absurd amount of money. How many employees are KPMG using on this project? Must be an awful lot for £3million! How much does this represent for each Council tax payer? Perhaps John could tell us the size of the cuts that the headteachers are worried about?

Sue Thornton ● 6436d

Open question to any councillor who will reply. How can £3+M of public money be justifiably spent on consultants?It is a great deal of money and one that as a council tax payer I would have wanted to know something about before voting.I know parties of all political persuasions spent loads of consultants,so my point is not party political.Surely if the main reason is to cut staff and 'outsource',there are already well established models for this,or is there a gravy train,stopping at all stations?

Keith Iddon ● 6436d

"Their main plank seems to be to cut staff..."As opposed to her party's spokesperson, ex-councillor David Hughes, a frequent contributor to this forum, who seems to be the local New Labour Party's main plank.But just for the record, the £1m-on-a-new-logo allegation is actually a lie, as Vanessa well knows.  It seems that complete electoral annihilation has not yet convinced the local New Labour Party that telling the truth to those whom one seeks to represent is actually a better way.One day, just possibly, one of them will cotton on.  One day...

Phil Andrews ● 6436d

JLIf you type "unpaid tax" in the Forum Search box..and click on one of the appropriate messages, you'll arrive at the discussion we had some time back abote the £5 million Council Tax not collected each year.Subsequent to the posting, a senior Councillor sent me an e-mail containing the "unpaid tax" for the 4 previous years. I recall the grand total for the 4 years exceeding £15million!!No doubt scalleywag people (some needing compassion perhaps) are probably linked to the 15% who never pay gas or electicity bills. Unreported financial "wastage" is where to look for "extra" money..not trying to squeeze more out of old folk like me...who's been working for 49 years..unlike many people I know who are able to retire in their 50's with inflation proof pensions!Say "NO" to any further increase in Council Tax...or change the way it's calculated!  I'm all for helping worthy causes..and I do regularly... but slapping "wants" onto Council Tax payers is unfair.

Jim Lawes ● 6436d

The Tory-ICG coalition group have employed KPMG to show them how to manage the Council for this disgusting amount of money, having stood for election claiming they could run things. Their main plank seems to be to cut staff, which will lead to cuts in services - not rocket science as everyone knows that staff are always the most expensive asset. They have been roaming around the Civic Centre for some months now - expect news just into the New Year. All this so they can have zero Council Tax increases. This waste does not take into account the new logo farce at an estimated cost of a cool £1m.

Vanessa Smith ● 6436d

Vanessa - I'm new to this forum but not the area. What's the reference to £3,000,000 to consultants?

Sue Thornton ● 6436d

No surprise there then. It is true that some schools in the primary sector have got some reserves, however the Government is talking about clawing unspent money back in future, so they will be up against it. To even think of cutting the vital services mentioned is madness, just to look good by keeping the zero increase in Council Tax. Something tells me this is only the tip of a very large iceberg that is going to affect some very vital frontline services, it isn't going to be a Happy New Year for quite a few people. But - hey! What's £3m-odd on consultants compared to vital services for children?

Vanessa Smith ● 6436d

Who are "the scalleywags who avoid paying the Council Tax"? I think we should be told.JL

Jim Linwood ● 6436d

""and we are convinced that an increase in council tax in order to avoid these cuts would be acceptable to residents.""Not by me!  Paying £1800 as a single occupant already...I have to earn some £2200 (less Income Tax) to do that.  And to earn £2200 I have to do some £10,000 of business. So a big NO to rising Council Tax.  Someone make savings elsewhere!Get the lolly, perhaps, from the scalleywags who avoid paying the Council Tax...doesn't that sum add up to £4,000,000 each year!In addition, don't many Schools have hidden away Funds saved up over a period of time... money give to them but not spent.

Jim Lawes ● 6436d