To think we can't expect the council to be responsible for everything?!

[AMAcarer]

In the run-up to Bonfire night, I noticed a lot of complaints on social media about the decision of my local council NOT to hold a fireworks display, to save costs. People complained that it was a disgrace, as with the cost of living crisis children need something to look forward to, and that the council was "forcing" people to spend money to travel to other areas for displays.

This was followed up by many comments blaming the council for the rise in foodbank use, for the rise in anti-social behavior, for the rise in fuel poverty, poverty in general and how the council spending money on the annual Christmas market rather than the fireworks display was a slap in the face to parents on a low-income as their children would "have their noses rubbed in it" by their friends who had parents on a higher income and could afford to pay for some of the rides etc at the Christmas market. Yet they wanted the council to literally blow up money for a "free event" on Bonfire night which would also have had paid for rides and would be or 1 night only, whereas the Christmas event is a month-long and has many free activities and events

I have many gripes with our local council, but am I wrong to think it's utterly ridiculous to think they should be held responsible for absolutely everything, and for people to expect them to provide so many things for free? I'ts just not possible is it? They have opened up a fuel poverty scheme with ££££ of pounds put aside to help people yet some of the same people claiming from this scheme still want the money spent on bloody fireworks?! The same people who are complaining they dont get enough help to feed their kids over the holidays still want money blown up in smoke for entertainment? There has been major anti-social issues recently and of course, it's the councils fault for "not providing" for children and teenagers. My area is absolutely chock full of fantastic, cheap or even free things for children and young families to do, and for teenagers too! Many of it council provided already.

I have no children, and I have lived in EXTREME poverty in the past, I'm no stranger to food or fuel poverty, being on benefits, being on a low income, and feeling utterly helpless...but even at my lowest I still didn't expect the council to sort out every single aspect of my life. Has some of society become so expectant on others that we don't want to take any personal responsibility at all?!

Sorry for the rambling!

I don't think a lot of people realise how fucked councils are for money.

And how little of their expenditure is raised from council tax. And how much of it comes from central government grant, that has been slashed time and time and time again.

And how councils still have to discharge their core statutory functions no matter what, and so of course it's discretionary services that are going to get the hatchet.

And how most schools are now part of independent-from-councils academcy chains.

People should complain to central government, especially if their MP is a member of that political party. There's fuck all Labour and Lib Dem councils can do about it, except cut budgets.

People have no concept of the devastating cuts to local authority budgets over the last decade in the name of austerity, and now the further crippling that continues to be inflicted on them. And that council tax doesn't cover the services people need or would aspire to. So yes it would be great if councils could do these things, but it isn't their fault they can't.

If my council actually followed through on the promises that they personally made to me, then maybe I'd have sympathy for the stick they get. But when it's run in such a shoddy, non-consumer friendly and inefficient way , then I don't care what they stick get. It can't be harsh enough for my council.

@AutumnCrow

Yes absolutely agree with this. I'm not great the political side of things but do understand the basics of how it works. I feel there should be a "laymans terms" guide distributed sometimes to really explain the situation councils are in and where money goes.

@Sciurus83 Yes, I think people are aware some cuts have been made but don't realise the full impact and that is why they can't have the services they want, or need. I've noticed many want the council to almost provide "luxury" in some cases rather then the essential. Which of course isn't possible!

@MarshaMelrose I do understand, my council are not saintly in the slightest, but regardless of what they actually do, people want more, or the money spent elsewhere, or in the case of the recently active travel route, scream about how it was a waste of "council money" despite the fact it was funded by someone else entirely and the money could only be spent on the route.

I notice that the people who always moan about the Council never moan about central government who, after all, have slashed their funding.
It is a particular type of stupid person

I didn’t realise anyone expected councils to pay for fireworks, all the displays round here run by various charity organisations as fundraisers.

Councils should be held accountable for their decisions on spending money, and they should consult the public to see what the public wants. I can see why people would prefer their council tax spent on a council run bonfire night rather than a Christmas market. If there is no free local event, fireworks for home are really expensive! And as all schools are talking about Guy Fawkes and firework safety, not to mention fireworks going off for the last 3 nights, it would be really tricky to 'hide' bonfire night from children if you can't afford to get your own fireworks or pay to travel to a private display.

Earlier this year, one of the local government associations reckoned that there could be a couple of dozen councils facing "bankruptcy" (ie a Section 114 notice that effectively limits them to spending on statutory services only) in the SE alone.

It's really grim.

Yanbu. People need to except that THEY are the only ones responsible for providing for their children, not the world and its wife.

Accept.

I 100% agree that people don’t know how much trouble local government is in financially, and it is primarily the fault of central government.

But is does piss me off when I see how much they pay their executive teams - even district council senior leadership roles are six figures plus pension etc. Many of them are lifers and policy wonks with limited actual use, and many of their jobs don’t need to exist. They aren’t frontline, and if they were scrapped they could actually afford some more frontline people.

Just seen a job advert for Leeds City Council (note, not even the wider region) for a Resources Director at at 160,000. Tell me why you couldn’t find someone to do that job at 80k FFS. That’s still a good salary, particularly out of London! Moreover, why can’t their department - also like all rather well paid - just get on with the job without someone who will primarily just sit in SLT meetings at great cost to the Leeds taxpayer.

All I expect my local council to do is empty my bins on time, keeps the streets semi clean. Deal with noise complaints and other issues when you contact them and stop wasting money on vanity projects none of the locals want.

Unfortunately they can't even do that, my local labour held council are a shower of shit. The last thing I care about are bonfires and fireworks there bloody useless as it is

A national retailer has decided to close their shop in my town. Apparently this is the council’s fault. Not sure why.

Councils aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I do wonder how many of those who are the most critical of their local council are willing to put their money where their mouth is and stand for election so they can try and change things.

The biggest bonfire night in the country, in Lewes, is funded entirely by the individual "bonfire societies" that run it. They raise money throughout the year, but the bulk of it comes from members' subscriptions.

I do understand this, the council often put social media questionnaires etc out for people to fill in BUT given there is a high level of poverty in part of this area, and the fact they have had to find money to fund schemes to help those who need it with energy bills...they can't also expect them to literally blow up £££ for the sake of 20 minutes of entertainment.

The traders at the Christmas market pay rent to the council, but the council host various things alongside it too which are free or low -cost.

With regards to fireworks though, I think education on safety and of course the history of the night is important for children, but it's shouldn't be a given right for people to buy and let off fireworks. I would back a council-run event again pending the ban of fireworks from public sale, and their use restricted to events (weddings, sporting events, bonfire night etc) through proper pyrotechnic companies.

It sounds similar to my area. A few years ago, there were loads of cycle lanes built on an already very congested interchange. You don’t see any extra cyclists, it’s just a PITA for car drivers. Transport here isn’t brilliant so most people need a car for work/shopping/clubs. The money was apparently from an EU scheme and if it wasn’t used for building extra cycling facilities, then it was withdrawn, couldn’t be used for any other purpose.

Most people (me included) would rather it have been withdrawn, as it has just made car drivers lives more difficult and has had no discernible benefit. People blame the council….they do have a point.

This has happened in my home town, which is smaller than where I live now, and they blamed of course the council and the high rents of the privately owned mall...but in the same breath said that they prefer to shop out of town...the mind boggles.

I completely understand your point of view - but please bear in mind that after years of underfunding, council staff are overworked and greatly underpaid. Mainly good people leave and those that remain who are committed to public service are now weary and increasingly stressed and pissed off. The pandemic took a heavy toll on council services and somehow they now need to accommodate heavy budget cuts.

All I expect my local council to do is empty my bins on time, keeps the streets semi clean. Deal with noise complaints and other issues when you contact them and stop wasting money on vanity projects none of the locals want.

But they also have a statutory duty to provide schools, children's social services, adult social care, libraries, environmental health services, trading standards and probably loads of other things I haven't thought of.

@SecretVictoria There has been heavy investment here in active travel routes, funding coming from elsewhere, and they have absolutely made a huge difference to the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, whilst it may not have increased numbers (yet it's fairly new so numbers may increase) the added safety was worth it. I say that as a driver. It hasn't taken away from drivers at all. People just can't be bothered to look into where the money came from and instead blame the council as usual.

Local authorities have in excess of 1200 statutory duties the vast majority of which the public are not aware of. It’s quite clearly insane to expect them to be able to comply with them before we even get to the ‘powers” ie things they could do but don’t have to.

the “graph of doom” created when austerity was brought in showed exactly what would happen to local authority finance

Our local council have two directors; both on a salary of over 90k, and others have retired on enormous pensions and pay offs.

Councils are often corrupt with expenses scandals just like the government so I don’t totally buy into the “poor councils struggling but doing their best” narrative.

90k salary for looking after thousands of staff is way below market rate.

Of course I don't agree with ridiculous salaries and pay-offs, I don't doubt for a second that there isn't corruption in my local council BUT people surely cannot complain the council don't give them enough help to feed and clothe their children, but in the same sentence be angry they won't pay for a fireworks display costing ££££