News

Council and Hospital Spend Thousands On First-Class Travel

Tuesday January 22 2013

BARNSLEY Council and Barnsley Hospital have spent thousands on first-class rail tickets for staff despite the squeeze on public spending.

The council has had a 'no first-class rail tickets' policy for eight years but a Freedom of Information Act revealed the authority spent more than £1,700 on some 30 single first-class rail tickets in 2011/12.

All the tickets were advance-booked and were bought at a reduced price but one first-class journey by the chief executive and the executive officer cost £138 per head.

It was also revealed Barnsley Hospital had spent £4,067 on 46 first-class trips for staff in 2011/12 and almost half weren't booked in advance, so the highest prices were paid.

MP Dan Jarvis, said: "The reality is you can work more effectively in first class. A judgement needs to be made that the extra benefit of working more efficiently in first class is worth the extra cost of the ticket."

Reply Posted by Paul on Tuesday January 22 2013 at 13:12

It's not the use of First Class that bothers me. If I was to work during travel, I would go First Class also. What is frustrating is the downright lie with regards the eight year 'NO FIRST CLASS RAIL TICKETS' policy. They'll shout about it till they are blue in the face, but it simply isn't true.

Just another statement that cements the state of our local and national government - you can't take anything at face value, or rather, they are an untrustworthy bunch who it seems would spin a yarn, even when the truth would suffice.

Will we ever be set free?

Reply Posted by m jolly on Tuesday January 22 2013 at 13:25

It would be really incredible if the government stopped lying and cover ups. No one believes them when they come up with promises anymore I for one don't vote or believe a word especially if its something in favour of us. Always lies and money grabbing is the feeling I get and who listens or can stop it????

Reply Posted by Jayne on Tuesday January 22 2013 at 13:46

Yes mr Jarvis hang your head in Shame. All that money spent on travel and the NHS are cutting exercise for seriously poorly people at Bpl. Shame on the lot of ya

Reply Posted by Charles on Tuesday January 22 2013 at 15:32

This has nothing to do with the Government Mr or Mrs Jolly, these issues concern the management at Barnsley Council and Barnsley Hospital.
Our Labour councillors clearly have their 'snouts in the trough'

Reply Posted by les on Wednesday January 23 2013 at 11:09

I liken the barnsley council and all councils..barnsley hospital and all hospitals the whole of the government as a dish cloth left in a bowl of water...
You take it out squeeze it...then squeeze it some more until theres no water left.
sometimes i think everyone should give all there money to to th council and the hospitals and then at least wed know they couldnt bend us over and squeeze anymore

Reply Posted by les on Wednesday January 23 2013 at 11:31

Cont'......how many charities.and public do and give money for hospitals including nhs lottery....how many people donate money because loved ones have died in hospital how many councilers have fuel allowance that go way past the cost of fuel
how many councilers have claimed for security for there own homes as though they were more important than anyone in the street . how many tens of trillions have come from people in the street since victorian times for cancer research..... its never enough

Reply Posted by Steve L on Wednesday January 23 2013 at 15:26

I quite agree with Dan Jarvis. I travel alot for work, and do so by car, however, on the odd occasaion when I have had to travel in to central London, I use the train. Trying to use a laptop / read through paperwork in std / 2nd class is virtually impossible - there simply isn't enough room. That means, travelling by First Class allows me to get some work done and not lose 5 hours. There is a cost to that downtime. Tea / Coffee is also included in First Class pricing, if travelling 2nd class then this would be, and quite rightly so, an additional expense councillors would be claiming. Oh, and £1700 over a year?? The cost of the argument will be higher than that!!

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