Responses to Budget Development 2014/15-2017/18 Consultation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Responses to Budget Development 2014/15-2017/18 Consultation Disclaimer The Council is not responsible and accepts no liability for any comments that are contained within this document that are made by third parties as a result of the consultation exercise, nor for any actions taken on the basis of the information provided herein. Any views or opinions contained within this document are solely those of the third parties and do not represent those of the Council. Every effort has been made to ensure that any personal data contained within these responses has been redacted. Responses I don’t understand your thinking in increasing car park charges during a period when people have less money than ever, all you end up doing is pushing people to shop outside stoke as there parking charges are lower and have the same shops, it’s no wonder our city is dyeing with this type of thinking. It’s time the people at the top realised the days of large amounts of money available from big business has gone and a new plan needs to be formulated instead of chasing dreams that will never happen due to overcharging. We need to support the business that are here now by promoting a cost effective car parking system and then encourage small business to develop as these are the big business of the future and stop chasing business that don’t want to invest in us all we are doing is over charging for car parking and discouraging people for coming to our city. Scraping the second Civic Centre would prevent the “increase in the on-going revenue costs of operating its buildings (additional costs in 2015/16 are £7.9m falling to £2.8m by 2018/19 and to £2.2m by 2021/22)” recently reported and if the sites don't sell and car parking doesn't generate the income envisaged that could the on-going costs remain at £7.9m for foreseeable future. Look at bringing the Green Waste processing back into the City creating a green waste to energy centre, to create income from keeping the Green Spaces tidy, and planting up bio fule crops on the current vacant sites around the City. This would save on transport costs and generate sustainable income I cannot believe the budget cutting suggestions which appear in today's edition of the sentinel. I wholeheartedly agree with the statement made by Sue Brooke's - don't build another civic centre - all of the City's financial problems would be eased if this ridiculous proposal were shelved. Can the Council not see what these cuts would do - our City will be neglected and put into such a state of deprivation that no-one will want to invest in us! it would just be a vicious circle - and all so that we can spend money the city can I'll afford on an unwanted new civic centre. What is wrong with the almost new civic centre in Stoke which incorporates the wonderful Town Hall - a building to be proud of. To maintain and preserve these buildings would cost a pittance compared to the cost of a new build and at the same time preserve Stoke itself. Closing libraries and public toilets, removing the mobile library service, reducing grass cutting and litter clearance - all of these moves would degrade our City. The City struggles to keep face in difficult times anyway - are we just to slip further and further downhill until we have no worth! I sincerely hope the Council will rethink - Stoke-on-Trent should stay a City to be proud of, it should not be allowed to rot just because the council likes to keep building office blocks! Very upset that you will be restricting funding to Gladstone, resulting in its closure. Because what we need is another reason for people not to visit Stoke on Trent. Responses to Budget Development 2014/15-2017/18 Consultation If your budget proposals force the closure of a museums such as Gladstone then what have you done to the heritage of Stoke-on-Trent. It's called The Potteries for a reason but if the museum is closed then I can see the bottle kiln being knocked down and replaced by some faceless office. Preserve the heritage of our city for future generations please. These are the areas you should be investing in, not taking away from. I am aware that cuts are proposed for arts and cultural services in Stoke. I am concerned about these proposals and the impact they will have on an already culturally impoverished area. Stoke has a proud cultural heritage and despite the rampant deprivation creative people emerge from this area. Without feeding and sustaining the creative impulses within the city they will depart for more fertile environments. Without maintaining the rich cultural heritage it will die off and become a distant memory. With cuts of this nature Stoke-on-Trent loses out in attracting people to the area also, be that potential university students or creative people looking to develop business and cultural activity. Suggested staffing cuts at The Gladstone Pottery Museum will result in its closure. This is unthinkable as this venue serves as a genuine and authentic representation of the city's cultural history while also staging events that reflect contemporary arts and crafts. I cannot see how the city can stand to gain from cuts in these areas so please reconsider I am emailing to say please do not cut the funding for Gladstone Pottery Museum. it is a fantastic facility in our city, I live in Stoke on Trent and take my two children there and friends of mine that live all over Staffordshire also enjoy visiting there. I believe there is a real lack of cultural facilities in Stoke on Trent as it is and it would be a complete travesty to cut funding here which may lead to it closing I have just read about the forthcoming cuts in the Sentinel. I think most people appreciate that there has to cuts and there are lots of ways to do that. For example,why are,nt unemployed people used to do things like gardening,or even the bins. And i dont think public toilets should be closed. They just don,t need to be manned all day, every day. I recently worked via an agency,at public toilets in Leek. 10 hour days, waiting for an opportunity, to check the toilets. But to be honest, out of a 10hr shift,i probably worked for less than a couple of hours. Surely these premises can be serviced by a couple of 10min. checks from a council worker in the area. The job is a great big skive and people are getting paid to sit around all day, reading papers and watching tv-i know,ive done it myself. Its a joke and must cost the council a fortune. As for libaries, another job for the workshy. Even jobs like litter picking can be handed out to the unemployed. Infact,lots and lots of council positions can be done in exchange for benefit money. Not only does it save this city millions, it gives people some reason to get up and it also good experience and something to add to an otherwise empty CV. Whoever decides whats what need to have a good long talk to the job centres. It will save millions every year. Responses to Budget Development 2014/15-2017/18 Consultation I have visited Gladstone on numerous occasions with my family and with school groups, on hearing the news that as a council you plan to remove the demonstration and activity sections of this wonderful attraction, I feel I had to email you to express my utter disbelief at the shortsightedness of this decision. How will taking away the parts that children enjoy the most attract visitors? Please, please reconsider this decision, Stoke on Trent has so little going for it, the desolate wasteland expands, while any form of culture and hope of regeneration declines, along with the hope of the population to improve their own circumstances. Stoke on Trent was recently given the honour of the most miserable place to live, the loss of Gladstone (it will certainly happen if you continue) will not improve the already pitiful well being of the city, it will only add to the downward spiral. I hope you reconsider this avenue and that common sense prevails. Born in 1959, in Stoke-on-Trent, but having spent most of my life in Canada, and now Mexico, I am a published author, and the daughter of a former flower maker (from the forties/fifties), and niece of a former flower painter (same era). I never really thought about the community value of my family's work history until last year, when I travelled to England and Gladstone Museum swept me off my feet and transported me into the past. Gladstone showed me my roots and changed my life. As an extension of that personal journey, I wish to comment as a tourist and reveal sociological benefits. Thank you in advance for reading my take on the recent budget announcements. I currently live in an area where the contrasts, poverty and affluence, abound. Puerto Vallarta, the area in which I live, survives because of tourism. But the money paid to support culture which then increases tourism is not the only benefit. The money paid to support culture actually allows life to move along peacefully and happily. Here's how: When the Customs of the Maya, Aztec, Huichole, and other cultures are kept alive through the demonstration of 'what makes Mexico, Mexico'—beading, silver smithing, sculpture, basket making—then the pride of large communities are preserved, and a group of proud people equates to peace.