tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post8287882556665192962..comments2024-03-28T05:11:45.745+00:00Comments on Ambush Predator: “Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!”JuliaMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-56328622841287136542008-07-12T08:32:00.000+01:002008-07-12T08:32:00.000+01:00JuliaM wrote, in reply to me: "I get the feeling B...<I>JuliaM wrote, in reply to me: "I get the feeling Blears hasn't thought this one through..."</I><BR/><BR/>The Labour Government rarely do, as I saw time after time with incomplete or inconsistent, and sometimes unworkable, legislation being rushed out of the Bill factory that is today's Civil Service.<BR/><BR/>Virtually everything that bombarded Local Authoities was of that nature, of which one glaring example was the shift of licensing functions but without having decided what fees we were required to charge, just when the application forms were originally going to be sent out. This was one of the reasons the implementation date was put back (I think that happened three times in the end).<BR/><BR/>I could cite numerous other such incompetencies, and shall no doubt detail them all in my memoirs...John M Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06251285057595626917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-56356177439628652882008-07-11T18:51:00.000+01:002008-07-11T18:51:00.000+01:00"if these requests are prioritised, simply because...<I>"if these requests are prioritised, simply because they are petitions and not on merit, then other (perhaps more worthwhile) projects will be delayed or shelved, depending on budgets."</I><BR/><BR/>Oh, yes, absolutely. I get the feeling Blears hasn't thought this one through...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-54754516587711470572008-07-11T17:47:00.000+01:002008-07-11T17:47:00.000+01:00Although I am not against this idea in principle, ...Although I am not against this idea in principle, there are a couple of warnings that need to be aired:<BR/><BR/>1. Opposition party groups on councils often conjure-up petitions left, right and centre for their own ends. Not only does this tend to clog up the works with the extra admin, it does mean that if these requests are prioritised, simply because they are petitions and not on merit, then other (perhaps more worthwhile) projects will be delayed or shelved, depending on budgets.<BR/><BR/>2. Inspections take senior staff away from their real jobs and are also charged to the body being inspected. Up to a point this is okey, but in a Socialist/Communist State this tends to escalate out of all proportion.<BR/><BR/><I>This has already happened in Britain during the past decade.</I> I cite the official year-by-year costs of just the audit and inspection fees to my own local council, as given <A HREF="http://www.john-ward.org.uk/horsted/jottings/2005/12.html" REL="nofollow">HERE</A>.<BR/><BR/>As can be seen, costs have rocketed to over a third of a million pounds a year -- half a percent of Council Tax absorbed on just this one side activity. Schools have to pay their fees as well, so the true figure for a council area (such as mine) is quite a lot higher than these figures.<BR/><BR/>I don't like the idea of opening the doors to a further escalation of inspections. Or are people prepared to divert huge sums away from providing the services themselves, just to give the impression that something is being done? It's a difficult balance to strike; but I feel it should be in the direction of less inspection, not more.John M Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06251285057595626917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-58409904555600592722008-07-11T10:45:00.000+01:002008-07-11T10:45:00.000+01:00Yes, it's not fair when the rules of the game have...Yes, it's not fair when the rules of the game have to apply to <B>both</B> sides equally... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-64189414339509176772008-07-11T10:36:00.000+01:002008-07-11T10:36:00.000+01:00"will it prove a tool for interest groups or even ..."will it prove a tool for interest groups or even individuals with determination and an axe to grind…"<BR/><BR/>The horror, instead said interest groups are forced to capture institutions through entryism etc And of course certain groups are barred from that too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com