Making the news today....

[skyhuck]

I bet there will be riots in the next few days....

 

Do you have WiFi in the cell

[eggsarascal]

Hammer & Tickle seems OK:

 

 

As does Hezbollah:

 

Hezbollah supporters call for Israel?s annihilation at London rally | Jewish News

 

all darlings of the Corbinistas...

 

 

Of course. All of us Lefties are like that!

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Mock as much as you like Kevin. You don't get much worse bed fellows than the The House of Saud.

 

The Torie's days are numbered. Would you prefer May or Johnson? The difference between having your clems smashed with two claw hammers or being castrated with a spork.

 

Not mocking at all Mark! Just presenting an alternative reality...

 

You going Wednesday?

 

Grenfell Tower fire: Hundreds plan to attend 'Day of Rage' outside Parliament on day of Queen's Speech - Get West London

 

"...Writing on the event, Movement for Justice By Any Means Necessary said: "Bring Down the Government - Shut Down London..."

 

They sound like a sensible, law abiding bunch of good citizens :lol:

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Of course. All of us Lefties are like that!

 

I know Comrade! :biggrin:

[eggsarascal]

Eggs, RBK&C council has not suffered as a result of central government "austerity."

 

Possibly, quite the opposite might be seen from their latest signed-off balance sheet:

 

https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/pdf/2013-14%20Statement%20of%20Accounts%20Master%20FINAL_.pdf

 

Here is an example not of the adverse effect of centrally imposed "austerity" but rather of a council that actually had more than ample financial where-with-all to both (a) avoid this catastrophe having occurred AND (b) deal with the aftermath quickly and efficiently after the event.

 

It did neither - but i don't think that is a consequence of austerity which has become the golden, go-to opportunity to excuse incompetence so often trotted out by councils.

 

Heaven only knows how much money this (and other?) council was squandering BEFORE budget restrictions were implemented.

 

They were so flush as to be able to rebate council tax in 2014!

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/16/my-council-tax-rebate-from-kensington-and-chelsea-is-blood-money

 

 

 

Didn't quite expect it to be THAT interesting!

 

This is NOT a council that was in any way struggling for cash!

 

Mr Johnson!

 

If there is so much money available why is it not being spent PROPERLY on run-down Tower blocks in the richest bourough of one of the richest countries in the world?

[scotspine1]

Muslim Council of Britain is demanding more police should be stationed at Mosques.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

 

.

[Mull]

Mr Johnson!

 

 

 

If there is so much money available why is it not being spent PROPERLY on run-down Tower blocks in the richest bourough of one of the richest countries in the world?

 

 

Bear in mind eggs, there are hanging baskets etc to think of.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Matthew Storrs]

Oh I see. You mean arrh a bit nod a lot, spout some crap and scoot back to parliaments pub for a well deserved pint and cig

 

Damned if he does damned if he doesn't is the impression I'm getting from most on here. Look at the reaction May got when she didn't visit the victims o Grenfell.

Most MPs, and royals for that matter just go through the motions in general with visits, nodding and expressing concern, what else can they do?

[RichieR]

Damned if he does damned if he doesn't is the impression I'm getting from most on here. Look at the reaction May got when she didn't visit the victims o Grenfell.

Most MPs, and royals for that matter just go through the motions in general with visits, nodding and expressing concern, what else can they do?

 

With al, the terrorist threats and public outrage regarding the fire. Do you think the security services had the final say on who where and when high ranking public figures can attend anything in a hard to protect area. We are living in a powder keg at the minute.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Mr Johnson!

 

 

 

If there is so much money available why is it not being spent PROPERLY on run-down Tower blocks in the richest bourough of one of the richest countries in the world?

 

 

That, Sir, is the key question! And it may well be that we would find considerable common ground if we looked at that question 👍🏻

 

I wasn't looking to answer that question though - the exam question was, do councils have sufficient funds to deal effectively with contingency planning and if "no", is it a consequence of centrally imposed austerity.

 

Answer, in the case, ample funds and not limited by austerity.

 

That moves us on to a series of subsequent questions:

 

Why are some councils unable to live within their means?

 

Why are others so flush but possibly not spending appropriately?

 

Why is central government spending contingency funds to assist a council with such a healthy balance sheet?

 

The list goes on.....