How much will I be paid for this consultancy work?

[Rydra]

Just a small note, the guy who I want as my local rep, is not necessarily a member of the party I want to run to run the country

 

*Cue broken-record style discussion on alternative voting etc*

 

Sometimes I long for the Discworld style of management. At least that way we'd have a viable option when we have a madman on the driving seat...

[creese]

when we have a madman on the driving seat...

 

If Dave is in the driving seat, Nick was certainly the nodding dog, his head never stopped during the Budget.

[enjay]

So when do those people who pay taxes to its Government and have to live with whatever they decide, but don't happen to be publicly paid, get a chance to make suggestions on possible cuts to public spending? General Elections are disproportionate enough as it is, without now making decision on public spending - which affects EVERYONE - based the opinions of a small sub-set of people.

[Rydra]

So when do those people who pay taxes to its Government and have to live with whatever they decide, but don't happen to be publicly paid, get a chance to make suggestions on possible cuts to public spending? General Elections are disproportionate enough as it is, without now making decision on public spending - which affects EVERYONE - based the opinions of a small sub-set of people.

 

It's a little too sugar coated politics here. The budget doesn't affect the rich a lot, but affects those on below-average salaries more. Percentage wise it might affect everyone the same, but the couple barely earning 30-40k between the 2 of them with 2 kids is going to be hit a lot harder by these changes than someone earning 40-50k on their own.

And in the most cases, those who work in the public sector are paid less than their private counterparts, regardless of other 'perks' or differences there may be in pensions/benefits etc.

 

In other words, this smacks as a conservative attempt to win over those from the below-average side of the salary fence, in the hope of gaining favour should there be a new vote any time soon.

[enjay]

And in the most cases, those who work in the public sector are paid less than their private counterparts, regardless of other 'perks' or differences there may be in pensions/benefits etc.

 

Possibly true, but that wasn't my point. What I want to know is who I talk to about the money my local council is wasting, or the money which I believe state schools or the NHS are wasting. I don't see why the fact I'm not publicly-employed means I don't get to suggest such cost-savings, but you do; after all, these services are funded from taxation, and I'm paying that just like you are (in fact, since I'm apparently on a comfy private salary with perks, I'm actually contributing more to them than you are!).

[MbroTech]

But you wouldn't have the insight or working knowledge of how it all works (or doesn't). Isn't it best to get feedback from those in the system that can see the good practice and failures? You wouldn't get anything productive out of some bloke from down the street with no expertise in your business who marches in your office and tells you how to run things.

 

All of this should be fed back anyway via good practice forums. It doesn't need more public expenditure and setting up a team, who are likely to be paid far more than those suggesting the ideas in the first place. It's going to cost more money in the long run and more cushy jobs for the cronies Dave and Nick get to manage it.

[TechMonkey]

Speak to your MP then. That is what they are for. Or use the site in the OP, I don't know if it checks who you are I imagine this has gone to all public sector peeps as they can get their addresses and the cuts will be effecting them directly so have an incentive to find savings.

Also this is technically the same as if your employer sent out a letter to all employees asking if they had ideas to save money. You don't send them to customers as well even though the ideas may effect them.

[creese]

It's all a load of PR.... and I don't mean Proportional Representation.

[TechMonkey]

Possibly true, but that wasn't my point. What I want to know is who I talk to about the money my local council is wasting, or the money which I believe state schools or the NHS are wasting. I don't see why the fact I'm not publicly-employed means I don't get to suggest such cost-savings, but you do; after all, these services are funded from taxation, and I'm paying that just like you are (in fact, since I'm apparently on a comfy private salary with perks, I'm actually contributing more to them than you are!).

 

See your local councillors and MP. They should all have surgeries where you can drop in and see them. The council often have open meetings where you lodge what you want to talk about before hand and they will allow you to come and talk to the whole lot of them. Write a letter to the departments concerned. Make a facebook group. Start a campaign.

[creese]

See your local councillors and MP. They should all have surgeries where you can drop in and see them. The council often have open meetings where you lodge what you want to talk about before hand and they will allow you to come and talk to the whole lot of them. Write a letter to the departments concerned. Make a facebook group. Start a campaign.

 

You are right, all the mechanisms are already in place, this is just duplication. Oooh, I have a suggestion...... Stop Duplication. Stop Duplication.

[enjay]

But you wouldn't have the insight or working knowledge of how it all works (or doesn't). Isn't it best to get feedback from those in the system that can see the good practice and failures?

 

By and large, I would agree with that, but sometimes it is only the customers who see the failures, unnecessary levels of bureaucracy or duplication of work.

 

An example for you, albeit a very petty one. Due to some confusion in Royal Mail somewhere, the post box near my house is emptied at 2pm and 4pm, despite being scheduled for a 3pm collection. Now, I am sure that the 2pm postie has no idea of this and just thinks he's a bit early, and the 4pm one probably just thinks he's running late and it isn't used much; it is only those of us who live nearby and happen to see both collections who are aware of the error. Poor example (and not a public body!), I know, but it goes some way towards showing my point that where several people are involved in a process, they may not be aware of the duplication of work which is taking place elsewhere within the organisation.

[TechMonkey]

By and large, I would agree with that, but sometimes it is only the customers who see the failures, unnecessary levels of bureaucracy or duplication of work.

 

An example for you, albeit a very petty one. Due to some confusion in Royal Mail somewhere, the post box near my house is emptied at 2pm and 4pm, despite being scheduled for a 3pm collection. Now, I am sure that the 2pm postie has no idea of this and just thinks he's a bit early, and the 4pm one probably just thinks he's running late and it isn't used much; it is only those of us who live nearby and happen to see both collections who are aware of the error. Poor example (and not a public body!), I know, but it goes some way towards showing my point that where several people are involved in a process, they may not be aware of the duplication of work which is taking place elsewhere within the organisation.

 

Knowing the post office they are both aware, have reported it to their managers but it would cost too much to redo the routes so they carry on. Or are happy with the route they are doing and know if they report it their whole route will be changed so leave it to the status quo. They are also awaiting the time and motion study on post box signs to replace the current sign with one showing both collections.

[enjay]

They are also awaiting the time and motion study on post box signs to replace the current sign with one showing both collections.

 

Were they a public body, I would believe that all too easily - and would then suggest changing it if I were invited to do so!

[torledo]

some of the money spent on IT and web projects and on web projects as part of govt. communications seems quite silly.

 

Some senior public sector salaries are stupid. I don't as much mind the 70k a year headteachers if they're presence is improving schools.....but do we really need so many high salaried deputy heads and assistant heads or whatever the job titles are being described as.

 

Part of the problem as i see it is there's been a culture of 'this is how much we/you have to spend, how do we spend it'....instead of saying this is what we need to accomplish how much do we need to spend to deliver. Part of that is govt. setting it's priorities [and getting value for money from those priorities] and who better to advice than people who may know a thing or two about how much things cost and how much money is being wasted.

 

Yes, don't take money out of the economy. But that doesn't give you carte blanche to say all spending has it's merit so that's good enough reason to not cut. Sure lining some people's pockets very handsomely has merits, but it's a very narrow benefit and can in some cases attract the label of malinvestment. However much they want to cite reports that suggest they are making an x% improvment to whatever niche they are operating in. We have to have a debate about which niches really matter.

[GrumbleDook]

It is so funny to read some of the posts on here ... especially when people go on about democracy. We have petitions and focus groups to get our points over to politicians, we go and see our MPs in their surgeries to get them to take our cases up in the Commons (and many of them do), we go on rallies and marches to get the Govt to listen to us when we think they have bad ideas (poll tax, etc) and yet when they say, "c'mon ... give us your views and ideas!" you get people trooping up and having a whinge about "Why should we give them our ideas? Come up with your own!"

 

Is it just the they are not parties you would vote for? In which case is it that much different to the Number 10 petitions site?

 

Of course there is a massive element of PR and politics here ... and most people are savvy enough to know that ... the same way that people know that manifestos are there to give you a baseline of what the particular parties believe *at that point* ... it is just an MOT. Once you are past election it is only really usable as an indicator.

[PiqueABoo]

I think the topic is spot on.

 

Some LAs execs appear to have asked essentially the same free consultancy question - and these are people many of whom are paid over £200K per annum, presumably to be a genius who has brilliant ideas all day long. Well I say "execs" but I bet it was several folk at the top of a given pyramid put together, a combination of superior talent and mental power that should be able to move planets.

 

Sorry, but I really can't think of a more pertinent retort than "Why the [bleep] do you need my help?". These obscene public sector salaries matter, especially when the people on them are about to pee-off their staff and the public they serve in all sorts of interesting ways. Public sector fat-cat salaries should become embarrassing history... won't happen though will it?

[PEO]

I think this is an excellent opportunity. Im going to go away and think about this... Thank you for the link

[enjay]

Apparently it goes out to the rest of the masses on July 8th, I'll definitely fill it in when my time comes as I think it excellent that the Government is doing this. There is no doubt tonnes of wastage in place, so looking for ways to cut those specifics is infinitely better than a blanket x% reduction in all spending, whether valid or wasteful.

[GrumbleDook]

We had ours sent out via our Chief Exec on Thursday ... individually and collectively our team has a variety of suggestions. Since I am very happy to share ideas and makes suggestions, and mine will be under a Public Domain CC licence.

[Guest theeldergeek]

This is what I wrote...

 

Hear hear !!

[featured_spectre]

I also sent a lovely suggestion...

 

If you wish to save money in vital area's, how about scrapping all of the expenses that MPs can claim, with the exception of travel expenses which they use to get to Westminster ONLY. That way you would save around £30'000 per MP (averaged as i know some claim less, and some claim more, but overall all figures added up and divided by amount of MPs) which over 625 MPs works out to be £18.75 million alone. If MP's claim that this would put them on the bread line, how about they sell their 2nd and 3rd houses to recoup the losses?

 

Also if you look at local governments, in my area particularly, the people at the top are consultants on £500'000 PLUS bonuses of circa £20'000, in situations we do like this, trim the fat, as in get people who would be there on a more permanent basis, for less pay (which I know for a fact that MANY people have the skills for, and the willingness to work for!). If you advertised positions for £500'000, how about reducing it to maybe £100'000 which is in line with other civil servant and military top jobs (EG Chief of Police, Chief of Fire departments for counties, General Grade officers in the military). Then you would have a much better scheme of pay unilaterally.

 

Had to stop there as I ran out of space...and carried on in another one..

 

Also another area where revenue could be generated, is getting the bankers to pay a high rate of tax on bonuses. For example, the bankers who are on upto £249'999 pay 25% tax on all bonuses, those on £250'000 - £749'999 pay 30% tax on ALL bonuses, those on £750'000+ pay 40% on all bonuses. That alone would take in hundreds of millions for the government coffers. Also how about re-opening nationalised services such as a train service, gas and electric services which could undercut the current market leaders (whom are charging a ridiculous rate for gas and electric). Also how about pulling our soldiers out of these pointless wars? Iraq and Afghanistan pose no military threat to the UK, and never have done, so pulling them out would be the logical choice. If you did so soon, you would save a FORTUNE in overseas pay alone, along with ammunition that is saved (which also costs alot of money).

 

 

That is all I have for now, I am sure more will come soon.

 

Regards...

 

Wonder if they pay attention to it though to be fair!

[GrumbleDook]

Govt funded services undercutting commercial companies is anti-competitive and will not happen. Both UK and European courts would rip it to shred. Re-nationalising services is a different manner ... but the fact that Network Rail paid bonuses out means that we would struggle to get a grip of how national services operate.

 

Until we get back to ideals of 'serving your country' and 'duty to others' it will be hard ...

 

Iraq ... don't like that we were over there ... or rather I don't like the flimsy grounds ... but I disagree about what goes on over there doesn't affect us. Anyway ... Cameron has said he will do before the next election. We are in there now and if we pull out now, with no plan for something to fill the gap then it condemns so many ...

 

I know people say that charity begins at home and that we should look after our own needs first, but we also have duty to others ... including trying to put right problems we have helped make.

[featured_spectre]

Fair points tony, I didnt see that side of the coin!

[GrumbleDook]

Fair points tony, I didnt see that side of the coin!

 

It is good to raise them as points though, if nothing else to force the Govt to justify what they are doing, or not doing. Too often things are done to people without explanation.

[Mr.Ben]

I suggested a couple:

 

1) Bulk purchasing of desktops/laptops through the LEA forced upon us twice a year. If we are honest, all of our basic spec for Desktops and Laptops are about them same. Once budgets were in, the LEA could see how many PC's were to be bought and approach some suppliers (Local ones included if not preferential)

 

2)Bulk Purchasing of the Microsoft Taxthrough the LEA. I've spoken to Microsoft about this, and they are happy to hold a mater agreement over an LEA. Even if it's only 50p per machine we save that's a lot of money!