Forum Topic

Still too many fat cats at Hounslow IMO. And the redudancy payments are indicative of how much it costs us to get rid of civil servants. Standard redundancy in the private sector is 1 week for every year of employment to max 12 weeks!!From leader page: "Hounslow Council have significantly increased the number of staff paid over £100,000 according to their latest set of accounts.The report for the financial year 2013 shows that the number of people in this bracket was 16 compared to 11 in 2012 an increase of 45%. A spokesperson for the Council said that the number has risen due to redundancy payments and the number of staff currently employed by the Council paid more than six figures is only six.A former Director of the Environment received total payments of over £200,000 during the year but the current director’s salary is £134,000. The highest paid person at the Council is believed to be Mary Harpley who received £167,045 in financial year 2013. This increases to over £200,000 if pension contributions are included.The Council paid £1,339,000 in redundancy costs for 46 people. This is down on last year when £1,918,000 was paid out to 90 people for voluntary and involuntary redundancy.The Council made employer’s contributions of £28,704,000 into the staff scheme but it still has a deficit of £281 million. The salary figures given by the Council do not include employer’s contributions to pensions, with this included the number of staff on over £100,000 would be higher.."

Steve Taylor ● 4182d

Recycle is at the end you will notice.The packaging companies naturally are very keen to stay at the top of the Rich List.It is only because of vocal campaigns by a minority of people that packaging is gradually changing. Most just accepted the increased packaging used to promote and stack purchases.  The amount of packaging increased and the Council (or those of us who pay Council Tax) were landed with the bill to dispose of it all.  Luckily (I hope) the days of the cauliflower in its own private globe of plastic have gone.  The Minister at the time told us to leave our packaging at the till.  Government also has a gentleman's agreement with companies that they reduce their packaging.  Every so often when it appears not to be reducing there is some sort of outburst and threats about legislation are reported in the press.  The plastics lobby are particularly strong though and we don't naturally hear about much of that.At last a lot of packaging seems to have reduced in size and  be made of fewer different components.  It is now supposed to be designed to be recycled and there have been some great innovations.  I particularly like the bags that Sainsbury's now use for potatoes that are woven on one side so that the potatoes can breathe in them and don't rot.  I also love the way that many of the unrecyclable film lids just pull off the top of the rigid recyclable containers.  That is great progress.  Amazon's cardboard packaging is very neat unlike a stationery company who when I last used them sent small items out rolling around in a huge box.We still need to complain to the stores and Trading Standards if we feel that any item has been excessively packaged.If you avoid shopping in a supermarket then you will avoid a lot of this packaging.  If you are shopping in a supermarket  then take it back to THEIR recycling bins! Or do as the Minister at the time suggested - leave it at the till. We've already lost services to the most needy because they are the service users who are least able to protest.  Landfill charges are set by law to increase year after year so by making less overall you will save yourself a lot of hassle.  Rubbish in = Rubbish out.http://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/nov/14/supermarkets.ethicalliving

Philippa Bond ● 4297d