Expenditure
by admin 10:51pm, 28 April 2008
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Council has a budget of $197.4 million to provide and manage our services. Are there any specific changes to expenditure you think Council should consider?
This discussion topic is closed. You can still review the discussion but it will no longer accept comments or votes.
admin Comment 1
10:07pm, 29 April 2008
2
6 
COMMENT BY BIGFELLER MADE IN WRONG TOPIC AREA
Is 14% extra best practice management?
Service unit Total Expenditure in 2007/08 was $173,714,783.
In this draft budget (2008/09) Total Expenditure has blown out to $197,705,689.
Do you think this 14% increase in expenditure is best practice management?
Bigfeller Comment 1.1
10:36pm, 29 April 2008
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This was not made in the wrong comment area.
My comment had nothing to do with changes to the expenditure as asked by this topic.
The site admin decided to manipulate this site by removing the topic not once but twice.
Its a pitty that admin is not as keen to fix up the wrong information on this site. You could start with the meetings.
blakey Comment 1.2
10:50am, 30 April 2008
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I dont think the objective should be to reduce expenditure Bigfeller rather to provide better services and infrastructure.
Bigfeller Comment 1.2.1
11:17am, 30 April 2008
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Thank you Blakey for helping to prove that my comment is not appropriate to this topic. My comment related to best practice and not ways of changing expenditure.
blakey Comment 2
10:52am, 30 April 2008
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I would like to see a costed and budgeted 5 year plan for a comprehensive cycleway network. It could be mostly paid for from developer contributions but to link the Honeysuckle area to tracks at Wallsend/Glendale and Fernleigh would start providing a really strong off road network so kids could cycle without safety fears.
Bigfeller Comment 2.1
11:24am, 30 April 2008
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Cycleways are certainly a good form of providing safe transport, physical exercise and keeping bikes and cars apart.
A properly costed plan and strategy is essential and in your example would need both Councils involved.
A Raymond Terrace cycleway would also be good.
Buses fitted with bike racks could also help.
I do not think it unreasonable for bike riders to contribute to the cost. Maybe a "Tollway cycleway" !!!! LOL
Ratepayers should certainly not be the major funding provider.
blakey Comment 2.1.1
1:15pm, 30 April 2008
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I agree a regional approach would be good but do not agree that rate payers should not be the major contributors.
Not wishing to be personal Bigfeller but the basis of your constant attacks on council seems to be that you hate paying for anything you dont directly use. Fortunately we live in a society where we all contribute for the greater good.
Many rate payers would benefit from cycle infrastructure including those who do not use it. We should all contribute for the greater good. Your attitde typifies the reasons that very little actually gets done.
Reformer Comment 2.1.1.1
4:08pm, 4 May 2008
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Blakey have you read and understood the budget papers, especially where the council wastes money at the moment.
You will get three cheers from the Bigfeller if you identify some cost cuts and lobby the Greens, especially Councillors Osborne and Arnold.
Ring them with your ideas, after you have posted them here!
pony Comment 2.1.1.2
3:33pm, 15 May 2008
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Do you pay NCC Rates Blakey?
dipsy Comment 3
8:40pm, 1 May 2008
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I dont think the amount is important as much as value.
I'd like to see more ways to increase revenue and agree with Blakeys cycle comments. I like seeing a budget to deliver the Civic development but would like to know more about it (could this be a revenue opportunity?).
The old bowling club at Newcastle East is also a shocking waste. What a great site. I would like to see that used for profit. Also the old buildings at the Wickham end of Honeysuckle.
Sorry I did not putting these ideas in the first time you asked Samantha. I hope I am not too late.
Drabble Comment 3.1
11:44am, 2 May 2008
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I agree we need value not less spending but do not want us selling assets to greedy developers. If they are valuable we should keep them.
It is wrong that the budget shows spending on Human services such as day care and elderly care cut. Spending on the gallery and the museum are increasing but services that are essential are being cut. This should not be.
Wy are we spending $88k on a gof course. Golfers can pay their own way. This money should be spent helping carers and the less well off.
Bigfeller Comment 3.1.1
12:01pm, 4 May 2008
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The funding on the Art Gallery is totally unfair.
I would like to see all forms of Art share the funds available not just the wine sippers club get the funds.
I would like to the the total art funds placed into an Arts Grant Fund with all groups encouraged to apply for funding just like the Community Assistance Program.
Bigfeller Comment 3.2
3:24pm, 8 May 2008
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I agree its value.
Exeessive overheads and funds wasted due to inefficiency may raise spending however certainly does not offer value.
The examples you give is adding to the community not adding to the system overheads.
Bigfeller Comment 4
12:04pm, 4 May 2008
3
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QUESTION TO ADMIN
When are you going to replace my comments (and the subsequent threads) into the correct area as placed by me?
Your censorship and manipulation of this site are not appreciated and totally against the spirit of the site.
admin Comment 4.1
4:04pm, 4 May 2008
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Bigfeller, our decision to delete your duplicate topic is final. None of the information has been lost - your words have been pasted into this thread for all to see.
If you feel there is anything missing please add it in another comment in the most relevant topic. We will continue to manage duplicate topics in this way to ensure a manageable discussion.
I understand that you disagree, however, please leave this page for discussion of the NCC management plan.
Bigfeller Comment 4.1.1
3:38pm, 8 May 2008
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Eliminating topics that are not duplications are censorship and site manipulation.
Most items in this topic do not address the question raised in the very pooly framed Topic header.
Bigfeller Comment 4.1.1.1
11:27pm, 13 May 2008
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Admin
You have still not responded or corrected this.
Maybe many more people would join in if their views and opinions were not censored or the site manipulated.
pony Comment 4.1.1.1.1
3:43pm, 15 May 2008
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Admin, Can you tell us:
1. Whether you are an employee of council
2. If not an employee of the Council, are you an employee of the Bang The Table organisation?
3. If neither 1 or 2 above, are you a contractor to the Council?
4. whether you have enough authority to gather information asked for in this web process, to enable a sensible debate and more searching questions to be communicated.
It seems to me that this whole process is a waste of time and effort if it is just a chance to say to a gullible Ombudsman's Office representative or the DLG that this is proper communication, in compliance with the Local Government Act.
admin Comment 4.1.1.1.1.1
9:06pm, 15 May 2008
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Pony
All the moderators are Bang the Table employees and we are independent of any of the clients using this site for consultations.
This consultation is an opportunity for people to tell council directly what they think about the management plan in an independent forum. Experience with other consultations in Newcastle tells us that when people are passionate about an issue we have hundreds of respondents.
This represents a new approach to consultation that makes processes more accessible to more people. It also opens up the opportunity for people to criticise but the clients of Bang the Table typically are happy to hear constructive criticism as part of understandng community views and ensuring that all views find a voice.
You are quite entitled to think this is a waste of time and to say so (that's testimony to the integrity of the site). I assume if you really believe this is wasting your time then we wont see any further contributions from you? Although you are of course very welcome.
dipsy Comment 4.1.1.1.1.1.1
10:14pm, 15 May 2008
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LOL! Something tells me Pony'll be back!
pony Comment 4.2
3:36pm, 15 May 2008
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This whole process is a farce, don't you agree?
dipsy Comment 4.2.1
10:15pm, 15 May 2008
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Then go away! You havent made a single relevant point. I think admin should delete all comments not related to the management plan and that's all of yours Pony.
Bigfeller Comment 4.2.1.1
10:52pm, 20 May 2008
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Well that would remove most of Admins original points because in this topic there is hardly any issues relating to the Man Plan.
I for one certainly do not appreciate the censorship and site manipulation.
There is also no consultation process as all comments are from "us"! "Them" has said absolutely nothing just like the first round.
At least pony has made us laugh but i think it was better before they manipulated his name. I rather liked "spank the pony".
In a week or so we will all have to find a new hobby as this play thing will be gone.
speedy Comment 4.2.1.1.1
3:57pm, 21 May 2008
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Bigfeller I have mobility problem and like the chance to take part in this way. You clearly do not know how to listen but like to talk on and on... I would have commented more but the plan is a bit hard for me and I am not a rate payer (I rent) so I dont think I should say how others money is spent. I hope that this web site carrys on to things I am more in to.
For what it is worth I agree with Dipsy's comments not Bogfeller.
Bigfeller Comment 4.2.1.1.1.1
9:07pm, 21 May 2008
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The Management plan is not just a plan for ratepayers. Its a plan for all residents of Newcastle and indeed for all visitors as well.
Some aspects of the Man Plan are part user pays such as the parking, pools and child care. So it is about spending your money.
If the management plan was more user pays then your input would be even more important.
Even for people without mobility issues this site concept is great and the way of the future.
One way to help you understand the man plan is to ask questions and raise issues.
I am sorry if you think I am going on and on but I have been trying to stimulate debate and use of this site.
Speedy what are the things that Council does for you that are good? and what is bad or not delivered?
If you have some good ideas I wll be happy to lobby the Council for them in the man plan. I would also be keen to encourage items that are wasting money to be cut or scaled back.
pony Comment 4.2.1.1.1.2
2:01pm, 28 May 2008
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Speedy, you are obviously a citizen of the city, a stakeholder in its future and connected to the internet, so can download the management Plan documents, analyse them and have an opinion. You will find that the Plan documents ignore fundamental things such as a simple chart showing major expenditure in categories such as
- Salaries and Wages,
- Subcontract labour,
- Consultancies
and
- major spending items such as infrastructure.
The document is designed to confuse the Councillors.
You could join the chorus of people asking Councillors to get the real information! They may listen to you. Give it a try!