The onward march of the Jobsworths continues! Give a little Hitler with a clipboard a bit of power and you can bet your life he/she will do their utmost to abuse it. We are increasingly being controlled by these morons and automatons. These are ignorant people with very tiny and totally unimaginative minds who probably couldn't get a job anywhere else. I suspect some are failed coppers, failed prison officers and probably even failed traffic wardens who, nevertheless, feel the urge to demonstrate their power over others. So what do they do? Become the Rubbish Police! Roll on Nazi/Soviet Union Britain. The people who will enforce these fines are the kind who would have been first in line for the jackboots, had the Germans won WWII.
But there is a way of fighting back. When the fines start arriving, use Freedom of Information legislation to discover who these anonymous, faceless bureaucrats are, find their home addresses and harass them as they intend to harass innocent people. Make their lives a misery until they understand the error of their ways.

Re Roy Stockdill's reference to HITLER

Yesterday was VE day. from 1939 to 1942 the UK effectively stood alone against the horrors of Nazi Germany waiting three long years for our so-called allies across the pond to join the melee - lest we forget - if it wasn't for our selfessness most of European Jewry, Gypsies, Homosexuals, Trade unionists, Pastors and socialists, etc, etc would have wound up in the gas chambers. Why was there not the slightest mention of this anniversary in the media?

Igloo wrote:
Re Roy Stockdill's reference to HITLER

Yesterday was VE day. from 1939 to 1942 the UK effectively stood alone against the horrors of Nazi Germany waiting three long years for our so-called allies across the pond to join the melee - lest we forget - if it wasn't for our selfessness most of European Jewry, Gypsies, Homosexuals, Trade unionists, Pastors and socialists, etc, etc would have wound up in the gas chambers. Why was there not the slightest mention of this anniversary in the media?

Simple,we are no longer a proud nation and its little wonder after ten plus years of this government.

If Three Rivers go ahead with this scheme the responsibiilty will rest not with the officers and other empolyees required to enforce it but with the councillors who vote for it. So anyone who is unhappy with the decision has a remedy at the ballot box.

Roy Stockdill wrote:
The onward march of the Jobsworths continues! Give a little Hitler with a clipboard a bit of power and you can bet your life he/she will do their utmost to abuse it. We are increasingly being controlled by these morons and automatons. These are ignorant people with very tiny and totally unimaginative minds who probably couldn't get a job anywhere else. I suspect some are failed coppers, failed prison officers and probably even failed traffic wardens who, nevertheless, feel the urge to demonstrate their power over others. So what do they do? Become the Rubbish Police! Roll on Nazi/Soviet Union Britain. The people who will enforce these fines are the kind who would have been first in line for the jackboots, had the Germans won WWII.
But there is a way of fighting back. When the fines start arriving, use Freedom of Information legislation to discover who these anonymous, faceless bureaucrats are, find their home addresses and harass them as they intend to harass innocent people. Make their lives a misery until they understand the error of their ways.

I think you'll find that you cannot obtain personal details such as people's home addresses using the Freedom of Information Act, as the Data Protection Act quite rightly overrides it.

And if we're on the subject of Nazis and World War II, I'm sure that all those who fought for our freedom would be happy to know that you want to use it to harrass people who are simply doing the jobs for which they are paid, in their own homes. Because, of course, the objective of this scheme is to bully "innocent" people and not to minimise the amount of rubbish taking up landfill sites. Moron.

PineLodgeDweller wrote:

Roy Stockdill wrote:
The onward march of the Jobsworths continues! Give a little Hitler with a clipboard a bit of power and you can bet your life he/she will do their utmost to abuse it. We are increasingly being controlled by these morons and automatons. These are ignorant people with very tiny and totally unimaginative minds who probably couldn't get a job anywhere else. I suspect some are failed coppers, failed prison officers and probably even failed traffic wardens who, nevertheless, feel the urge to demonstrate their power over others. So what do they do? Become the Rubbish Police! Roll on Nazi/Soviet Union Britain. The people who will enforce these fines are the kind who would have been first in line for the jackboots, had the Germans won WWII.
But there is a way of fighting back. When the fines start arriving, use Freedom of Information legislation to discover who these anonymous, faceless bureaucrats are, find their home addresses and harass them as they intend to harass innocent people. Make their lives a misery until they understand the error of their ways.

I think you'll find that you cannot obtain personal details such as people's home addresses using the Freedom of Information Act, as the Data Protection Act quite rightly overrides it.

And if we're on the subject of Nazis and World War II, I'm sure that all those who fought for our freedom would be happy to know that you want to use it to harrass people who are simply doing the jobs for which they are paid, in their own homes. Because, of course, the objective of this scheme is to bully "innocent" people and not to minimise the amount of rubbish taking up landfill sites. Moron.

Look here doughnut,nobody goes into a shop and asks for a £10ers worth of rubbish.So what do the local authority want us to do?buy less goods to reduce rubbish.That wouldnt do the local business' much good.If you produce more rubbish,you pay more tax when purchasing the goods so why should we be fined for it?As for calling people a moron,where do you think most of our recycled rubbish goes?LANDFILL in Indonesia and China.....moron.The manufacturers are the ones to blame so they should fund refuse collection to cover the mess they produce,the answer is not criminalising innocent people.
Do you work for the council or local authority by any chance? because it seems you have all the attributes to join the council.......plum

>I think you'll find that you cannot obtain personal details such as people's home addresses using the Freedom of Information Act, as the Data Protection Act quite rightly overrides it.

And if we're on the subject of Nazis and World War II, I'm sure that all those who fought for our freedom would be happy to know that you want to use it to harrass people who are simply doing the jobs for which they are paid, in their own homes. Because, of course, the objective of this scheme is to bully "innocent" people and not to minimise the amount of rubbish taking up landfill sites. Moron.<

People who work for local councils do so, by and large, because they are incapable of getting a job in the real world. The vast majority wouldn't last beyond the first coffee break in a business, commercial or industrial office where people have to compete and be efficient. They are mostly useless and incompetent, which is why they go into local government in the first place, knowing that nobody else will have them. They resent this deeply, so use any excuse they can think of to appropriate to themselves a little bit of power that will permit them to go around bullying people and throwing their weight around. They are basically inept and incompetent fools with tiny brains. That goes for virtually all public servants, whether working for the government or local councils. It is time they realised that WE are their masters, not them, because we pay their wages to work for us.
As for the Data Protection Act, don't make me laugh! I have the expertise to discover the home address of virtually anybody. There is nothing sacrosanct about knowing where somebody lives - only in a fascist, totalitarian state where paranoia reigns supreme.

We often agree about issues Roy, but you've gone too far here.

I worked in the banking sector for several years and could do the job with one eye shut. I am now employed in what might be described as a 'caring' role in local government. Far more job satisfaction but inestimably more stress too! I work a **** sight harder than I was ever expected to in the private sector. Rarely have a proper lunch break, 10 minutes at my desk or a sandwich in the car if out on visits if I'm lucky, odd cup of coffee at my desk, frequently work many extra hours at home as well as in the office. No paid overtime for this, I can take time off in lieu but if I do the work piles up because there is no one to cover for me. A significant part of my role involves providing support, advice and reassurance to anxious, vulnerable or demanding people. Telephone conversations with such people can and often do last for well over an hour and can be very emotive. I'm not complaining, I chose to do this job and there is a great buzz associated with helping someone to achieve what they want or to get through what seems like an impossible situation, but it is without a doubt emotionally very draining and I'm a generally a pretty tough cookie! Unlike when I worked in a bank, I often lie awake at night worrying about the situations that some of my clients are in, trying desperately to think of ways to resolve them given the limited amount of resources that are available. There is often little recognition of all this stress from employers. I would not be capable of doing my job without being educated to degree level and having a great deal of specialist knowledge and training. The majority of my colleagues are similary dedicated and hard working and do their jobs because they care.

When I worked in a bank years ago, it went without saying that everyone took a one hour lunch break and nobody would dream of missing their fifteen minute tea break twice a day. I don't recall that anyone turned up at 7 in the morning either, unlike where I am now. Everyone went home as soon as possible after the doors were locked, by five at the latest, and on the rare occasion that overtime was necessary it was paid. There were no worries or stresses of the job to take home with you.

No doubt things have changed a bit in the financial world; after all it's now all about selling and targets and banks do have longer opening hours. Nevetheless, I can't imagine the demands on their employees in any way compare with those of my job and of others like me. No doubt there are those working for councils and in local government who are as you describe them, but you are making generalisations that are too sweeping and frankly insulting to many. What about school dinner ladies, crossing patrols, teaching assistants, library staff and care staff working in some residential homes to name but a few? They all work for local authorities too!

If it was possible, I'd offer to let you do my job for a day or two Roy but I really don't think you'd last ten minutes!

meridanny wrote:

PineLodgeDweller wrote:

Roy Stockdill wrote: The onward march of the Jobsworths continues! Give a little Hitler with a clipboard a bit of power and you can bet your life he/she will do their utmost to abuse it. We are increasingly being controlled by these morons and automatons. These are ignorant people with very tiny and totally unimaginative minds who probably couldn't get a job anywhere else. I suspect some are failed coppers, failed prison officers and probably even failed traffic wardens who, nevertheless, feel the urge to demonstrate their power over others. So what do they do? Become the Rubbish Police! Roll on Nazi/Soviet Union Britain. The people who will enforce these fines are the kind who would have been first in line for the jackboots, had the Germans won WWII. But there is a way of fighting back. When the fines start arriving, use Freedom of Information legislation to discover who these anonymous, faceless bureaucrats are, find their home addresses and harass them as they intend to harass innocent people. Make their lives a misery until they understand the error of their ways.

I think you'll find that you cannot obtain personal details such as people's home addresses using the Freedom of Information Act, as the Data Protection Act quite rightly overrides it. And if we're on the subject of Nazis and World War II, I'm sure that all those who fought for our freedom would be happy to know that you want to use it to harrass people who are simply doing the jobs for which they are paid, in their own homes. Because, of course, the objective of this scheme is to bully "innocent" people and not to minimise the amount of rubbish taking up landfill sites. Moron.

Look here doughnut,nobody goes into a shop and asks for a £10ers worth of rubbish.So what do the local authority want us to do?buy less goods to reduce rubbish.That wouldnt do the local business' much good.If you produce more rubbish,you pay more tax when purchasing the goods so why should we be fined for it?As for calling people a moron,where do you think most of our recycled rubbish goes?LANDFILL in Indonesia and China.....moron.The manufacturers are the ones to blame so they should fund refuse collection to cover the mess they produce,the answer is not criminalising innocent people. Do you work for the council or local authority by any chance? because it seems you have all the attributes to join the council.......plum

Well, seeing as both you and Roy Stockdill appear to be interested and have got yourselves a little worked up on the subject, I do not work for any local authority or public sector organisation. I do, in fact, have a very successful career in the private sector. However I do have many friends who work as public servants in a range of capacities, and I totally second the comments made by Auntie here about how dilligent, hardworking and compassionate - and relatively low paid - they can be. But far be it from me to keep you from your ignorant sweeping generalisations and need for some sort of bogeyman.

Roy, as for your "expertise for finding out where people live": Christ, haven't you got anything better to do?! No wonder "paranoia reigns supreme"!

It's a shame there aren't fines in place for the excess rubbish found in local government ...

"However I do have many friends who work as public servants in a range of capacities, and I totally second the comments made by Auntie here about how dilligent, hardworking and compassionate - and relatively low paid - they can be. But far be it from me to keep you from your ignorant sweeping generalisations and need for some sort of bogeyman."
Look mush if you go down the council works depot and say pick out a council plumber or a chippy,they will be the bottom of the barrel plumbers and chippies.They will be either very old,very young,cowboys or kids.The reason is that all decent tradesmen work for themselves but the lazy,bone idle,just out of training work for their council.You say council workers work hard....how do we know as there are not similar roles in the private sector..ie the private sector want grafters and money makers with ambition.Council workers might be low paid but they are overpaid for what they do.Value for money is not associated with the council as most of the employees work in an office,doing a job nobodies ever heard of

Why is it that left wing arsh0les like yourself scream ignorance everytime someone has different opinions to yourself?
I take back the plum bit as im sure you realise you really are a t0ssp0t of the highest order and are alone with your beliefs (apart from the thousands at the council,hospital etc who seem to do nothing all day apart from visit the subsidised canteen,followed by their only exercise all week,running for the sandwich van.
I honestly cannot think of a SINGLE position on the council that we need,not one.We should shut the council down and send all work out of house to the private sector.Why do you think the council lets a private firm do our refuse collection?Why do the council not bring it back under council control and knock the profits they earn off of our council tax?
Because it is cheaper to hire someone in to do the work than to have bone idle council employees doing it while taking 5 or 6 weeks holiday plus 5 or 6 weeks off sick.Just look at the statistics and government workers take off considerly more time off than their hard working cousins in the private sector.

meridanny wrote:
"However I do have many friends who work as public servants in a range of capacities, and I totally second the comments made by Auntie here about how dilligent, hardworking and compassionate - and relatively low paid - they can be. But far be it from me to keep you from your ignorant sweeping generalisations and need for some sort of bogeyman." Look mush if you go down the council works depot and say pick out a council plumber or a chippy,they will be the bottom of the barrel plumbers and chippies.They will be either very old,very young,cowboys or kids.The reason is that all decent tradesmen work for themselves but the lazy,bone idle,just out of training work for their council.You say council workers work hard....how do we know as there are not similar roles in the private sector..ie the private sector want grafters and money makers with ambition.Council workers might be low paid but they are overpaid for what they do.Value for money is not associated with the council as most of the employees work in an office,doing a job nobodies ever heard of Why is it that left wing arsh0les like yourself scream ignorance everytime someone has different opinions to yourself? I take back the plum bit as im sure you realise you really are a t0ssp0t of the highest order and are alone with your beliefs (apart from the thousands at the council,hospital etc who seem to do nothing all day apart from visit the subsidised canteen,followed by their only exercise all week,running for the sandwich van. I honestly cannot think of a SINGLE position on the council that we need,not one.We should shut the council down and send all work out of house to the private sector.Why do you think the council lets a private firm do our refuse collection?Why do the council not bring it back under council control and knock the profits they earn off of our council tax? Because it is cheaper to hire someone in to do the work than to have bone idle council employees doing it while taking 5 or 6 weeks holiday plus 5 or 6 weeks off sick.Just look at the statistics and government workers take off considerly more time off than their hard working cousins in the private sector.

Meridanny, you really do seem to have a bee in your bonnet about local authorites, don't you?

Firstly, I think you will see, if you read the previous post from Auntie, that I am not "alone with my beliefs".

Secondly, I simply stated that I knew a lot of people in the public sector who I can see for myself work hard and do a good job on relatively little pay, however I am also willing to accept that there are plenty of public sector workers to whom this will not apply, as with all professions in all spheres. But then you seem to like to genralise and see everything in black and white, so the idea that there could be both good and bad apples, excellence and mediocrity within the same area of work is no doubt beyond your imagination.

As I have said previously, I work in the private sector and indeed I see plenty of hard graft and skill under immense pressure. I also encounter plenty of slackers and shirkers who seem to get away with utter incompetence because of their connections or the fact that their "face fits." So it cuts both ways.

If you want to call me an arsehole or a tosspot because I disagree with you on certian points here, that's fair enough, we're all entitled to give as good as we get on here(and yes, feel free to spell it out properly too - I can take it!). But who are you to assume that I'm "left wing"?! Sorry to disappoint and not to fit into all those neat little stereotypes you have lined up, but my political allegiances are most definitely not "left-wing."

Oh, and a friendly word of advice - you might want to get someone to check your grammar before posting, as the lack of due capital letters, full stops and spaces undermines the gravitas of your argument somewhat. (Hey, is that pedantry another attribute that would stand me in good stead should I choose to work for a local authority? I do hope so!!!)

A further comment, if I may, about this nonsense of data protection and so-called privacy. Far too many people are simply unnecessarily paranoid about their privacy. The only ones who should be concerned about having their home addresses known are women living in fear of violent ex-spouses or partners and the relatively tiny number of people who are in what might be termed highly sensitive jobs. When I was in Fleet Street newspapers and an investigative journalist I received numerous threats from criminals and conmen I'd exposed, but I never took my address or phone number out of the book. Why so many people are ex-directory these days totally baffles me. If they want to avoid nuisance calls from double glazing salesmen, all they have to do is register with the TPS, which is what I have done. I am convinced the great majority of people who are ex-directory only do it as a form of snobbery!
The Data Protection Act is increasingly being used in an utterly stupid manner by bone-headed officials. For example, my wife and I have been married for over 40 years and have no secrets from one another. But recently she unwittingly missed a medical appointment and the stupid woman who telephoned about it wouldn't even speak to me, citing data protection. Sometimes I think the world has gone mad over so-called privacy and "data protection madness" is overtaking health and safety madness as the new enemy of common sense.

The issue here is simply

too much rubbish

.

Lets solve the problem by educating those few households who generate substantially above average rubbish. Maybe if they refuse the offer of guidance then its reasonable to say they have deliberately chosen to rely on the council for clearing up their wanton wastefulness. But maybe not call it a fine which seems a bit inflammatory. How about calling it an excess penalty?
By the way I think that Roy Stockdill is a bit more angry than usual so I wonder what's up? His arguments are usually intellectually sound rather than hobby horse rant !

Seems to me that this is all too much like Copeland Council and Gareth Corkhill

>By the way I think that Roy Stockdill is a bit more angry than usual so I wonder what's up? His arguments are usually intellectually sound rather than hobby horse rant !<

I often get quite cross when writing about the stupidity and boorish arrogance of local council bureaucrats, John! I have had dealings with too many of them to attribute to them much common sense. They all sound like robots with tape recorders up their backsides and are little more than box-tickers and quoters of nitpicking rules and regulations. Unfortunately, they seem to have forgotten that they are our SERVANTS, not our masters. We pay their wages! I suspect that deep inside they resent this, and so try and justify their existence by becoming bullies and jobsworths.

Roy Stockdill wrote:
>By the way I think that Roy Stockdill is a bit more angry than usual so I wonder what's up? His arguments are usually intellectually sound rather than hobby horse rant !< I often get quite cross when writing about the stupidity and boorish arrogance of local council bureaucrats, John! I have had dealings with too many of them to attribute to them much common sense. They all sound like robots with tape recorders up their backsides and are little more than box-tickers and quoters of nitpicking rules and regulations. Unfortunately, they seem to have forgotten that they are our SERVANTS, not our masters. We pay their wages! I suspect that deep inside they resent this, and so try and justify their existence by becoming bullies and jobsworths.

You haven't read my post then - or do you just not have an answer!

>You haven't read my post then - or do you just not have an answer!<

Actually, yes, I did read your lengthy post but I imagine you are in a quite different area of council work, or social services, to the officious little jobsworths that I object to who imagine themselves to be in charge of rubbish collection and parking enforcement etc. You probably do a worthwhile job; they, in my view, by and large do not. You are helping people, they are simply behaving as little neo-fascist jobsworths who probably get some kind of kick out of bullying people because they know nothing better. I am also trying not to be unsympathetic but wouldn't you be better off telling some of these "vulnerable" people you try to help to stop being such pathetic wimps and take responsibility for their own lives?

This news story - if indeed it is news as it is actually a guess at what may happen - has generated a terrific debate. It is really enjoyable seeing Roy Stockdill letting off steam with the points he makes so colourfully. But .... back to the item in the paper. It would be good if the public can influence our councils so that they educate to eliminate wanton wastefulness rather than simply levy fines. The idea of financial penalties conjures up images of council staff aiming for monthly targets of revenue. I would far rather any targets were of the reduced number of bin lorry loads.

PineLodgeDweller wrote:

meridanny wrote:
"However I do have many friends who work as public servants in a range of capacities, and I totally second the comments made by Auntie here about how dilligent, hardworking and compassionate - and relatively low paid - they can be. But far be it from me to keep you from your ignorant sweeping generalisations and need for some sort of bogeyman." Look mush if you go down the council works depot and say pick out a council plumber or a chippy,they will be the bottom of the barrel plumbers and chippies.They will be either very old,very young,cowboys or kids.The reason is that all decent tradesmen work for themselves but the lazy,bone idle,just out of training work for their council.You say council workers work hard....how do we know as there are not similar roles in the private sector..ie the private sector want grafters and money makers with ambition.Council workers might be low paid but they are overpaid for what they do.Value for money is not associated with the council as most of the employees work in an office,doing a job nobodies ever heard of Why is it that left wing arsh0les like yourself scream ignorance everytime someone has different opinions to yourself? I take back the plum bit as im sure you realise you really are a t0ssp0t of the highest order and are alone with your beliefs (apart from the thousands at the council,hospital etc who seem to do nothing all day apart from visit the subsidised canteen,followed by their only exercise all week,running for the sandwich van. I honestly cannot think of a SINGLE position on the council that we need,not one.We should shut the council down and send all work out of house to the private sector.Why do you think the council lets a private firm do our refuse collection?Why do the council not bring it back under council control and knock the profits they earn off of our council tax? Because it is cheaper to hire someone in to do the work than to have bone idle council employees doing it while taking 5 or 6 weeks holiday plus 5 or 6 weeks off sick.Just look at the statistics and government workers take off considerly more time off than their hard working cousins in the private sector.

Meridanny, you really do seem to have a bee in your bonnet about local authorites, don't you?

Firstly, I think you will see, if you read the previous post from Auntie, that I am not "alone with my beliefs".

Secondly, I simply stated that I knew a lot of people in the public sector who I can see for myself work hard and do a good job on relatively little pay, however I am also willing to accept that there are plenty of public sector workers to whom this will not apply, as with all professions in all spheres. But then you seem to like to genralise and see everything in black and white, so the idea that there could be both good and bad apples, excellence and mediocrity within the same area of work is no doubt beyond your imagination.

As I have said previously, I work in the private sector and indeed I see plenty of hard graft and skill under immense pressure. I also encounter plenty of slackers and shirkers who seem to get away with utter incompetence because of their connections or the fact that their "face fits." So it cuts both ways.

If you want to call me an arsehole or a tosspot because I disagree with you on certian points here, that's fair enough, we're all entitled to give as good as we get on here(and yes, feel free to spell it out properly too - I can take it!). But who are you to assume that I'm "left wing"?! Sorry to disappoint and not to fit into all those neat little stereotypes you have lined up, but my political allegiances are most definitely not "left-wing."

Oh, and a friendly word of advice - you might want to get someone to check your grammar before posting, as the lack of due capital letters, full stops and spaces undermines the gravitas of your argument somewhat. (Hey, is that pedantry another attribute that would stand me in good stead should I choose to work for a local authority? I do hope so!!!)

Well,you see your idea of hard work and mine will probably differ somewhat.If you mean sitting in an office ,surfing the internet,hard graft then fair enough.As for digging out my grammar,go for it mush but you only come across as a smug little man....

Roy Stockdill wrote:
>You haven't read my post then - or do you just not have an answer!< Actually, yes, I did read your lengthy post but I imagine you are in a quite different area of council work, or social services, to the officious little jobsworths that I object to who imagine themselves to be in charge of rubbish collection and parking enforcement etc. You probably do a worthwhile job; they, in my view, by and large do not. You are helping people, they are simply behaving as little neo-fascist jobsworths who probably get some kind of kick out of bullying people because they know nothing better. I am also trying not to be unsympathetic but wouldn't you be better off telling some of these "vulnerable" people you try to help to stop being such pathetic wimps and take responsibility for their own lives?

That's precisely why you couldn't do my job. I would be likely to be out of a job if I made a habit of what you suggest! As you point out in a previous post, I have to remember that the people I deal with pay my wages and I am therefore their servant as you put it. I am always mindful of this. The people I deal with have children who are disabled and they come from all walks of life. They have enough to deal with wihout me insulting them.

meridanny wrote:

PineLodgeDweller wrote:

meridanny wrote: "However I do have many friends who work as public servants in a range of capacities, and I totally second the comments made by Auntie here about how dilligent, hardworking and compassionate - and relatively low paid - they can be. But far be it from me to keep you from your ignorant sweeping generalisations and need for some sort of bogeyman." Look mush if you go down the council works depot and say pick out a council plumber or a chippy,they will be the bottom of the barrel plumbers and chippies.They will be either very old,very young,cowboys or kids.The reason is that all decent tradesmen work for themselves but the lazy,bone idle,just out of training work for their council.You say council workers work hard....how do we know as there are not similar roles in the private sector..ie the private sector want grafters and money makers with ambition.Council workers might be low paid but they are overpaid for what they do.Value for money is not associated with the council as most of the employees work in an office,doing a job nobodies ever heard of Why is it that left wing arsh0les like yourself scream ignorance everytime someone has different opinions to yourself? I take back the plum bit as im sure you realise you really are a t0ssp0t of the highest order and are alone with your beliefs (apart from the thousands at the council,hospital etc who seem to do nothing all day apart from visit the subsidised canteen,followed by their only exercise all week,running for the sandwich van. I honestly cannot think of a SINGLE position on the council that we need,not one.We should shut the council down and send all work out of house to the private sector.Why do you think the council lets a private firm do our refuse collection?Why do the council not bring it back under council control and knock the profits they earn off of our council tax? Because it is cheaper to hire someone in to do the work than to have bone idle council employees doing it while taking 5 or 6 weeks holiday plus 5 or 6 weeks off sick.Just look at the statistics and government workers take off considerly more time off than their hard working cousins in the private sector.

Meridanny, you really do seem to have a bee in your bonnet about local authorites, don't you? Firstly, I think you will see, if you read the previous post from Auntie, that I am not "alone with my beliefs". Secondly, I simply stated that I knew a lot of people in the public sector who I can see for myself work hard and do a good job on relatively little pay, however I am also willing to accept that there are plenty of public sector workers to whom this will not apply, as with all professions in all spheres. But then you seem to like to genralise and see everything in black and white, so the idea that there could be both good and bad apples, excellence and mediocrity within the same area of work is no doubt beyond your imagination. As I have said previously, I work in the private sector and indeed I see plenty of hard graft and skill under immense pressure. I also encounter plenty of slackers and shirkers who seem to get away with utter incompetence because of their connections or the fact that their "face fits." So it cuts both ways. If you want to call me an arsehole or a tosspot because I disagree with you on certian points here, that's fair enough, we're all entitled to give as good as we get on here(and yes, feel free to spell it out properly too - I can take it!). But who are you to assume that I'm "left wing"?! Sorry to disappoint and not to fit into all those neat little stereotypes you have lined up, but my political allegiances are most definitely not "left-wing." Oh, and a friendly word of advice - you might want to get someone to check your grammar before posting, as the lack of due capital letters, full stops and spaces undermines the gravitas of your argument somewhat. (Hey, is that pedantry another attribute that would stand me in good stead should I choose to work for a local authority? I do hope so!!!)

Well,you see your idea of hard work and mine will probably differ somewhat.If you mean sitting in an office ,surfing the internet,hard graft then fair enough.As for digging out my grammar,go for it mush but you only come across as a smug little man....

Here you go, yet more incorrect assumptions! I'm hardly "sitting in an office, surfing the internet", as I'm on maternity leave, which leads me neatly onto my next point: I am most certainly, therefore, NOT a man (although the fact that I have a better command of grammar than you DOES make me smug, I have to admit)!!!

Out of interest, what made you assume that I was a man?!

I don't know, us women of child-bearing age are such a liability to the cut-and-thrust of commerce, eh?

Right, after this internet-surfing session I'm off to paint my toenails and watch Jeremy Kyle...

Your on maternity leave,as i said,sitting on your ar5e doing nothing.
As for my mistake at assuming you were a man,its a simple mistake in your case love,go and shave your warts.
As for your command of grammar being superior,i adjust my grammar to suit the intellect of the person im corresponding with.Simple really,just like.....

meridanny wrote:
Your on maternity leave,as i said,sitting on your ar5e doing nothing. As for my mistake at assuming you were a man,its a simple mistake in your case love,go and shave your warts. As for your command of grammar being superior,i adjust my grammar to suit the intellect of the person im corresponding with.Simple really,just like.....

Well, my friend, if you believe that being on maternity leave is synonomous with "sitting on your arse and doing nothing" (and I've got the guts to spell out the word "arse" properly, unlike some) then you are every bit as thick as I had previously supposed. I can perhaps excuse your ignorance if you don't have kids yourself, but if you do...all I can say Heaven help them!

OK, I take that back about your grammar, silly me for not realising all along that your pretending to be stupid was just an elaborate ploy for my benefit. I'm touched that you care that much!

Hey, this is better than Crossroads!

Amy Turtle rules! :)

We learn from the papers today that Norwich Council has bullied and harassed a man of 95, a war veteran who is almost blind, for putting a bottle in the wrong box. He was confused by the rules but binmen refused to empty the box and shoved a note through his door warning him not to do it again.
And down in Poole - where the council spied on a couple for 3 weeks to see if they were breaking the schools admissions procedure - the same council are using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, designed to combat terrorism and serious crime, to catch fishermen gathering shellfish from prohibited parts of Poole Harbour.
Does anyone seriously doubt that council jobsworths are the new Hitlers and Stalins?

Does anyone seriously doubt that council jobsworths are the new Hitlers and Stalins?

Roy, once you've found out where these council jobsworths live and march on over to their homes to give them what for, don't forget to take your ice-pick!

(Oops, that was Trotsky wasn't it?)