What to spend our money on!

Post by **cnosni** » Sat 15 Aug, 2009 9:35 pm

chameleon wrote: cnosni wrote: Well,perhaps i shouldnt pass comment on this issue as i dont live in Cross Gates,but i do live in Leeds and there is an extra spin on all this.when the original idea was mooted the price was £50,000 and was to be funded from local regeneration schemes that were set up to allow locals and ward councillors in particular areas to do with what they wish (withstanding a dirty weekend in Amsterdam).Its now blown out of proportion and is a city wide political debate,or should i say argument.It would appear that the changes to the original idea were altered at ward councillor level,not city level.So it seems that the local councillors (who obviously do sit on the city council as well) were behind the changes that escalated the price of the art work to £70.000 then £143,000.Christ knows how it could almost triple in price,especially as its just a few farm gates in a roundabout.But one of the ward councillors is a Peter Gruen,and he appears to be involved in all this.This is the same guy who stood against the use of the £20m windfall from the sale of the airport for an arena (yes,i know im a big supporter of the arena) and was ready to try and block this allocation of funds for such an important project.I wrote an email to Mr Gruen expressing my opinions about how an arena would benefit the city,his reply was that the £20m would be better spent on,and i quote:-"Seating and public paved areas across the city,so everyone can benefit"Well,god help us.If he can take a £50,000 project and make it cost £143,000 then what could he have done with £20m?Mr Gruen is a Labour man,and so am i.But clearly this chap is out of his depth,and it may be of benefit for the labour ward of Cross Gates to have another candidate. My perception from the YEP article cnosni is that the Councillors were attmpting to put the blame for the increases upon the 'City Planners' for thier insistance upon changes - we should remeber though that our elected few always had, but did not take, the option to abandon the project thus they must be held accountable for this ludicrously unjustifyable waste of money. Was there any public consultation I wonder - particularly regarding the cost? Check the letters page from last nights yep,letter from Andrew Carter.He and Mr Gruen have crossed swords in the past

Post by **chameleon** » Sat 15 Aug, 2009 10:31 pm

I take it there is some discontent within on this?

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Mon 17 Aug, 2009 9:31 pm

chameleon wrote: I take it there is some discontent within on this? As an observation, the ward councillors have form for blaming nameless council officials for things going wrong in the past.Clearly we don't know the full facts (and are never likely to) but I would imagine that there are times when a nameless scapegoat can seem like an attractive option, especially when they don't have the right to reply.I'm suprised the officials union representative hasn't had something to say on the matter.

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 17 Aug, 2009 10:26 pm

raveydavey wrote: chameleon wrote: I take it there is some discontent within on this? As an observation, the ward councillors have form for blaming nameless council officials for things going wrong in the past.Clearly we don't know the full facts (and are never likely to) but I would imagine that there are times when a nameless scapegoat can seem like an attractive option, especially when they don't have the right to reply.I'm suprised the officials union representative hasn't had something to say on the matter. Bottom line is they always had the option of saying NO - but they didn't! That's what people should remember when road repairs leave the surface worse than when it strated or Day Centres close thotough lack of demand - whilst onw person needs such a facility, there surely is a demand - several closing around us for that reason.I rant rather off-topic terhaps - but it's still rate payers money

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 18 Aug, 2009 9:00 pm

This is the story that just won't go away.Tonights YEP has a great story of how some local wag has stuck half a dozen cardboard cut out sheep on the roundabout!And Councillor Graeme has blamed the YEP for all the bad publicity surrounding the gates, claiming they've stirred the story up - and then refused to comment on the sheep!!!!

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 18 Aug, 2009 9:10 pm

raveydavey wrote: This is the story that just won't go away.Tonights YEP has a great story of how some local wag has stuck half a dozen cardboard cut out sheep on the roundabout!And Councillor Graeme has blamed the YEP for all the bad publicity surrounding the gates, claiming they've stirred the story up - and then refused to comment on the sheep!!!! What ever the YEP might or might not have contributed, they did at least give factual information. It is that information which is a matter for the Public Domain which has 'stirred people up' and those responsible for bringing the facts into being are I believe Carter's associates are they not? Hiding and apron strings comes to mind more and more often.Perhaps if our elected lot heard rather than simply listened to people, their lives may be less stressfull!

Si · Post by Si » Wed 19 Aug, 2009 11:02 am

The councillor's attitude reminds me of finding a "good day to bury bad news." They canvass for votes (sometimes via the press) and then blame them for "stirring up" this kind of disastrous waste of money.

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 21 Aug, 2009 7:41 pm

I wonder if we might have helped this along? Bit late in the day when the money is spent though, perhaps trying to save a little political face saving ploy. Let's hope it doesn't involve several expensive working-luncheshttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Cou ... 5576247.jp

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 21 Aug, 2009 9:08 pm

chameleon wrote: I wonder if we might have helped this along? Bit late in the day when the money is spent though, perhaps trying to save a little political face saving ploy. Let's hope it doesn't involve several expensive working-luncheshttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Cou ... 5576247.jp I'm struggling to see what this enquiry will achieve, except possibly blowing another £143k on finding a scapegoat. Regardless of who is to blame, they won't be made to refund the £143k, will they?And if the Labour ward councillors are responsible, I'll wager you a shiny £1 coin right now that they claim it's political posturing from the Lib-Con administration. And then demand an inquiry into the inquiry, possibly.The best possible solution, from my point of view, is that we find a farmer who needs some gates and ask him to come and collect the ones off the roundabout.The Roundhay ward councillors spent their "regeneration fund" money on - additional parking outside the shops on Roundhay Road, improving and resurfacing the car park at Oakwood Clock and installing benches, etc which have the benefits of helping boost local businesses and provide amenities for local residents. Whilst we get the most expensive farmyard gates in the Western hemisphere....

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 21 Aug, 2009 9:49 pm

raveydavey wrote: chameleon wrote: I wonder if we might have helped this along? Bit late in the day when the money is spent though, perhaps trying to save a little political face saving ploy. Let's hope it doesn't involve several expensive working-luncheshttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Cou ... 5576247.jp I'm struggling to see what this enquiry will achieve, except possibly blowing another £143k on finding a scapegoat. Regardless of who is to blame, they won't be made to refund the £143k, will they?And if the Labour ward councillors are responsible, I'll wager you a shiny £1 coin right now that they claim it's political posturing from the Lib-Con administration. And then demand an inquiry into the inquiry, possibly.The best possible solution, from my point of view, is that we find a farmer who needs some gates and ask him to come and collect the ones off the roundabout.The Roundhay ward councillors spent their "regeneration fund" money on - additional parking outside the shops on Roundhay Road, improving and resurfacing the car park at Oakwood Clock and installing benches, etc which have the benefits of helping boost local businesses and provide amenities for local residents. Whilst we get the most expensive farmyard gates in the Western hemisphere.... But only if the farmer has room for six cardboard sheep