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	<title>Councilbust &#187; Economy</title>
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		<title>Council budget: 178 council posts slashed as children’s services cut</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/council-budget-178-council-posts-slashed-and-children%e2%80%99s-services-cut/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/council-budget-178-council-posts-slashed-and-children%e2%80%99s-services-cut/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children and young people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coalition Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frontline workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Cuts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1885</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Southend Council will shed 178 jobs following spending cuts from central government. The council stated today it has attempted to reduce its spending via cutting waste but announced some job losses will be necessary. 178 posts have been identified as being at risk this year, of which 71 are currently vacant. “Big changes will have to be made across all departments now and in the future to ensure the council can deliver even better value for money,” said Conservative council leader Nigel Holdcroft, pictured. “The council has made every effort to protect frontline services and minimise the number of staff adversely affected, and we are looking at a number of ways to reduce the impact of redundancies; including early retirement and voluntary redundancy. “Employees working in the affected areas and the trade unions have been fully briefed, and a full package of support is being made available for staff at risk, including one-to-one advice, job search, interview help, training, and counselling. “This will naturally be a difficult time for staff and we will make sure that all the appropriate support is made available to help them through the process.” Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Graham Longley said: “We welcome the general [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Southend Council leader and deputy give conflicting views over expenses</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/21/southend-council-leader-and-deputy-give-conflicting-views-over-expenses/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/21/southend-council-leader-and-deputy-give-conflicting-views-over-expenses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:47:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Ian Gilbert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr John Lamb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Nigel Holdcroft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Expenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1855</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Southend Borough Council last week voted to provide members with a £100 increase on their basic expense allowances. This comes after the recommendation from the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel, which said that the Council should scrap travel and food allowances altogether and instead provide councillors with a flat-rate increase on their general allowance. Whilst the official statement from Deputy Leader of the Council John Lamb has welcomed the increase, Council Leader Nigel Holdcroft (left) has contradicted this view on his blog. Cllr Holdcroft writes: “[In-borough travel] claims for the 51 councillors amounted to about £7000 last year. It is now recommended that every member should receive £100 per year to reimburse in-borough travel expenses whether or not they incur them which it is argued will save officer time processing the claims. “I am not sure how a scheme involving a flat rate payment is just or equitable. “If in-borough expenses are going to be paid then surely payments should reflect the expenses actually incurred rather than a system which could cost £5,100 and where every councillor is likely to be either over reimbursed or under reimbursed. “I have said that I would support the recommendations of the Independent Panel which [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/21/southend-council-leader-and-deputy-give-conflicting-views-over-expenses/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Cuts Debate: Cllr Graham Longley&#8217;s View</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-graham-longleys-view/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-graham-longleys-view/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:23:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Graham Longley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coalition Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberal Democrats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Cuts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1835</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Thursday, the Council’s meeting was dominated by the recent cuts from central Government, which left Southend Borough Council with £1.4 million less funding than planned at the start of the financial year. Here, Leader of the Liberal Democrat  group Cllr Graham Longley gives Councilbust.com his view of what might be this year’s most important Council debate. Cllr Holdcroft may say that we are left with no choice when it comes to cuts of £1.4 million required by the Coalition Government but how and where those cuts or reductions come are within the council’s decision. Yes, the government is firm in directing local Councils towards certain budget items but there is still room for maneuver as the Council found last week when discussing the proposals put forward by Cllr Holdcroft and his portfolio holders at Thursday’s Council meeting. Working with officers during the day of the Council meeting and Conservative portfolio holders, I managed to persuade them to reduce budgets from areas better placed to take the cuts, and with that money to re-instate a youth project worker £11,750, provide some additional financial resources (£8,000) for two detached youth workers, re-instate some of the budget (£50,000) for the Youth Opportunities [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-graham-longleys-view/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Cuts Debate: Cllr Ian Gilbert’s View</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-ian-gilbert%e2%80%99s-view/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-ian-gilbert%e2%80%99s-view/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:17:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Ian Gilbert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coalition Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Cuts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1832</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Thursday, the Council’s meeting was dominated by the recent cuts from central Government, which left Southend Borough Council with £1.4 million less funding than planned at the start of the financial year. Here, Deputy Leader of the Labour group Cllr Ian Gilbert gives Councilbust.com his view of what might be this year’s most important Council debate. I&#8217;d expected this Full Council to be long, and it didn&#8217;t disappoint. Public speaking is not a side of politics that I enjoy, and I was rather more nervous and wound-up than usual before this council. As Deputy Group Leader with our Leader absent, I knew I&#8217;d have to make rather more contributions than normal. With the Conservative and the Lib Dems in coalition nationally, and several members of the independent group describing themselves as &#8216;conservative&#8217;, it&#8217;s almost as if the four Labour councillors are the only opposition. My first business of the evening was to present a petition on bus services on behalf of the Youth Council. Young people in Southend are angry about the policy of certain bus companies to have 14 as the cut-off age for the child discount in Southend, whilst it is 16 in other areas. I&#8217;m trying to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-ian-gilbert%e2%80%99s-view/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Cuts Debate: Cllr Mark Flewitt’s view</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-mark-flewitt%e2%80%99s-view/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-mark-flewitt%e2%80%99s-view/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:10:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Mark Flewitt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coalition Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Cuts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1829</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Thursday, the Council’s meeting was dominated by the recent cuts from central Government, which left Southend Borough Council with £1.4 million less funding than planned at the start of the financial year. Here, Executive Councillor for Transport and Planning Mark Flewitt (Con) gives Councilbust.com his view of what might be this year’s most important Council debate. The Coalition government has made clear that the reduction in the deficit is of paramount importance. The debate was not so much a debate as resigned acceptance, but not without some creativity in a distinct human touch, offered in the form of extending the free swimming for old and young to include the summer school holiday period. This was a Conservative offer made early on after a short but intense activity to make the first cuts of minimum-to-no impact upon frontline services within Southend. It means £43,000 being found from across the rest of the budget and that much of these first cuts have been derived from exactly the service areas that the government has reduced or stopped grants to. In effect we have followed the government grant reduction pathway &#8211; I suppose that is something to feel better about &#8211; except that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/19/the-cuts-debate-cllr-mark-flewitt%e2%80%99s-view/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Holdcroft says &#8220;we are left with no choice&#8221; as Southend Council hit by £1.4 million cuts</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/12/holdcroft-says-we-are-left-with-no-choice-as-southend-council-hit-by-1-4-million-cuts/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/12/holdcroft-says-we-are-left-with-no-choice-as-southend-council-hit-by-1-4-million-cuts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:24:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Ian Gilbert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Nigel Holdcroft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coalition Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Cuts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1826</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Funding from central government will force Southend Borough Council to make a series of harsh cuts, Council leader Nigel Holdcroft (left) announced today. The Coalition Government has withdrawn £1.4 million of capital and revenue grants to Southend Council, which will mean that a variety of grant-aided projects and services will face immediate funding cuts. Some of the cuts have been made by central Government already, such as funding for free swimming, which will be withdrawn by Southend Council from the end of this month. Over £1.27 million has been cut from the Council’s capital grants. This includes £660,000 already set out for an athletics track at Chase High School, which now cannot be built. There will be further spending reductions from the Government after the Comprehensive Spending Review. In the meantime, Southend Councillors will meet at full council on Thursday 15th July to set out where the cuts will be made. Cllr Nigel Holdcroft said: “We are fully aware that these cuts will have a real effect on people across Southend, but we have been left with no choice. “In-year cuts are always the most difficult to manage because plans have already been made against an expected level of income. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/07/12/holdcroft-says-we-are-left-with-no-choice-as-southend-council-hit-by-1-4-million-cuts/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Exclusive: Opposition budget reactions</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/24/exclusive-opposition-budget-reactions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/24/exclusive-opposition-budget-reactions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:54:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr David Norman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Graham Longley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Martin Terry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emergency Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1773</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The leaders of the opposing parties in Southend Council have spoken to Councilbust.com of their reaction to Tuesday’s budget. Cllr Graham Longley (left), leader of the Liberal Democrats, was positive in his approach. He told Councilbust.com: “Liberal Democrats, as part of a coalition government joined with the Tories today in a progressive alliance to produce the most difficult budget ever. “Working as a coalition meant that the budget would be a compromise not only for the LibDems but also for the Tories. “Many of us who may not be happy with the idea of working with the Tories feel that if we are able to prevent the extreme Tory policies then we will have achieved a level of success. “The Labour Party though, made it easy for us in leaving behind one of the largest budget deficits in Europe with our public finances in a catastrophic state; much worse than expected. “In the past, efforts to tackle a big deficit have always hit the poorest the most. “The coalition has ensured that – for the first time – this will not happen. “The richest will pay the most, while pensioners and children will be protected. “The LibDems have been instrumental [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/24/exclusive-opposition-budget-reactions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Exclusive: Southend Council leader reacts to emergency budget</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/22/exclusive-southend-council-leader-reacts-to-emergency-budget-announcement/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/22/exclusive-southend-council-leader-reacts-to-emergency-budget-announcement/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:24:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Nigel Holdcroft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emergency Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Sector Cuts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Cuts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1765</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Southend Council’s Conservative leader Cllr Nigel Holdcroft has told Councilbust.com of his initial reaction to today’s emergency budget. In his first ever budget, new Chancellor George Osborne will raise VAT to 20% from January 2011. The personal income tax allowance will raise by £1,000 per year next April. Mr Osborne has also reduced welfare spending drastically. Child benefit will be frozen for three years and cutting tax credit for families with incomes of over £40,000 per year. Housing benefit payments will be capped and disability living allowance claimants will face a new medical assessment. Mr Osborne claims that these changes and others to the welfare system will save the country £11 billion by 2015. The new Government has will raise the state pension age to 66 earlier than planned, whilst  re-establishing the link between the basic state pension and earnings next April. Public sector pay and spending has been a hot topic during discussions of this budget, and today Mr Osborne announced that the Government will help low-spending councils to freeze council tax for a year from April 2011. Public sector workers face a two-year pay freeze, apart from workers earning less than £21,000, who will have a flat pay [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/22/exclusive-southend-council-leader-reacts-to-emergency-budget-announcement/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Amess secures meeting with Business Minister over shop regulations</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/04/amess-secures-meeting-with-business-minister-over-shop-regulations/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/04/amess-secures-meeting-with-business-minister-over-shop-regulations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:38:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Amess MP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shops]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1652</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Conservative MP for Southend West David Amess has spoken on behalf of small shop owners over regulations. Mr Amess, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group, raised concerns in Parliament yesterday from constituents about the present levels of regulation on small shops. Mr Amess said that the additional regulatory costs to shop owners introduced by the Labour government have equated to £11 billion every year since 1998, according tot eh British Chambers of Commerce. Mr Amess told the House of Commons that he receives “many representations from shops in Southend West and across the country on the burden of such regulations.” He asked for a discussion between the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group and the Business, Innovation and Skills Minister, Conservative Mark Prisk, which was granted.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/06/04/amess-secures-meeting-with-business-minister-over-shop-regulations/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Council chief executive urges Southend residents to take part in census</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/04/08/council-chief-executive-urges-southend-residents-to-take-part-in-census/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/04/08/council-chief-executive-urges-southend-residents-to-take-part-in-census/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:07:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Amess MP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[James Duddridge MP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rob Tinlin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Borough Council]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1030</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Rachel Charman Southend Borough Council’s chief executive Rob Tinlin has stressed the importance of the 2011 census to funding for Southend. The National Census will take place on Sunday 27th March 2011. At the last census in 2001, it is believed that Southend’s population was undercounted by up to 17,000 people. The Council says that this kind of error is of particular concern to Southend Together, the local strategic partnership, which includes the Council, NHS South East Essex, Essex Police and Southend Association of Voluntary Services. Government funding is calculated using the population figures of an area’s census, and so mistakes can lead to a serious lack of funding. Mr Tinlin said: “It is in everyone’s interest for vital for full and correct information to be recorded. “Future decisions and funding allocations for education, health, transport and many more public services are made on the basis of the National Census. “We want to make sure that in future, Southend receives the funding and investment it is entitled to. “We urge everyone to fill in their census form when it arrives. There is nothing to fear about filling in the form and sending it back, and completing it will help [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/04/08/council-chief-executive-urges-southend-residents-to-take-part-in-census/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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