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What Does The Latest Council Shake-Up Mean To You? A WAB guide!

Monday October 15 2012

BARNSLEY Council has announced a massive shake up of its structure - with new 'mini authorities' running services across the borough.

Huge budget cuts have led senior officers and councillors to create a new shape for the way the council is run.

Te plan is to create six Area Councils with their own budgets with a total of £2.1m being shared out.

Two ward areas - Dearne North/Dearne South and Penistone East/Penistone West - will receive £200,000 each.

There will be three, four ward areas: North East, Cudworth, Monk Bretton, Royston; Darton East, Darton West, St Helen's, Old Town; Wombwell, Darfield, Hoyland Milton and Rockingham which will receive £400,000 apiece.

Finally, a five ward area - Central, Kingstone, Dodworth, Worsbrough and Stairfoot will get £500,000.

The idea is the 'mini-councils' will commission services from community groups and small businesses in the borough.

Council leader Steve Houghton said: ''We have to create a more self-reliant community. The days when you could provide services for everyone are coming to an end.

"In future it is going to be local solutions to local problems.''

A senior council manager will be allocated to each Area Council and they will be given discretion as to how they spend their allowances. For example, there may be particular problems with potholes in some areas and the Area Councils will have the option of spending on filling them.

The structures will be set up next year and commissioning will begin before spending starts in 2014.

In addition 21 Ward Alliances will be created - a partnership between councillors in each ward and six community representatives - which will have a budget of £30,000 per ward.

What do you think to the proposal? Join the debate by commenting in the box below.

Reply Posted by andy on Monday October 15 2012 at 12:15

hahaha. SHAMBLES.

Reply Posted by Robert on Monday October 15 2012 at 12:21

Actually, I think that it might work. However, the accounts will need to be shaken up and a "no-expenses" rule. Does this money mean that the councillor wages will come out of it? What about roads? We could employ youngsters to clean up the areas. So many questions, let us hope they have the answers!

Reply Posted by Rob Sykes on Monday October 15 2012 at 12:33

See my post on the facebook page their covering their own backs that's all!

Reply Posted by Mick on Monday October 15 2012 at 14:40

Bureaucracy gone mad. Let's start saving by getting rid of 1 Councillor in each ward.

Reply Posted by jim on Monday October 15 2012 at 15:21

This looks as it will cost more run, is open to abuse by back handers.Micks idea of one councillor less per ward is far better. It will no doubt happen & be the usual council cock up.

Reply Posted by boston on Monday October 15 2012 at 22:18

dont we pay for road repairs out of our road tax ?

Reply Posted by Mick on Monday October 15 2012 at 23:04

Only on motorways & major link roads maintained by the Highways Agency. Anyway the idea that specific taxes pay for specific things is outdated. All taxes go into the general pot of govt revenues. It's like the myth that money spent by council comes from council tax. Only about 20-25%% of the money the council spends comes from c. tax, the rest comes from central govt & business rates.

Reply Posted by greenginger on Tuesday October 16 2012 at 10:00

This will not work as it is too complex and too easy to corrupt. Certain areas will be better off than others as per usual. Please rethink this.

Reply Posted by Adele on Tuesday October 16 2012 at 11:49

I agree, will be very corrupt and will end up poverty by postcode

Reply Posted by king louis on Tuesday October 16 2012 at 14:42

It seems like the brown envelope market is the one to invest in. Some people will get richer from having their snouts deeper into the feeding trough. I cannot imagine any of them getting poorer. Just look at Africa when funds are given local it's said they just create another "MerBenzy" tribe where more of the of ruling family and friends buy Mercedes Benz cars

Reply Posted by trev on Wednesday October 17 2012 at 10:48

it stinks barnsley council have already made pensioners and disabled suffer with there rise from paying for half hours care per day going up from £25 per week to £90 i myself that is disabled relied on that 1 cooked meal a day now its toast then wait till take away opens at night no way i will pay that price nor will most wise old pensioners out of there own pocket just to pay top council leaders £100.000.oo per year fact

Reply Posted by dave on Wednesday October 17 2012 at 21:08

Let's go back to urban councils like pre early 70's, at least local people will be running their own community

Reply Posted by jacko on Saturday October 20 2012 at 10:21

It looks like £100K per Ward, but wards vary in size, population and needs. Must also be extra administration costs. Could do same from central budget and admin.

Reply Posted by Gaynor Goodman on Saturday October 20 2012 at 12:00

This is stepping back in time to procedures that have proven to be costly in money, time and staff costs. At a time when national government are getting rid of this type of management and financial structure by centralising shared services across all government departments, our local council comes up with this ridiculous plan. A basic economist will tell you there's savings in 'buying in bulk', it's called economies of scale. It smacks of disaster, an expensive one at that and some ineptitude at senior management level. A serious rethink is required or in a couple of years we'll be looking at another change and having to cover the cost of this ridiculous situation. I thought I lived in Barnsley but obviously not according to the council. It will create division amongst residents and split communities. Back to the village mentally. Oh happy days!

Reply Posted by karen on Wednesday October 24 2012 at 15:32

People on community service could do so much more and if the voluntary organisations were re-established, that would help. And people on the dole could muck-in so many hrs a week.
BUT, non of the above is so the councilors etc can have more experiences and posh dinners.

Reply Posted by boston on Wednesday October 24 2012 at 16:44

i live in royston and the council is spending thousands on new drives too homes that dont have cars !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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