Forum Topic

HOW I WISH I VOTED DIFFERENTLY FOR OUR LOCAL GOV OFFICI

I AM A VERY ELDERLY RESIDENT WHO BEGAN LIFE IN THE BOROUGH OF EALING " THE GARDEN SUBURB OF WEST LONDON " 64 YEARS AGO.LOOKING BACK I REMEMBER MANY HAPPIER TIMES AND GOOD FRIENDS. HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED NOW.....MOST SERVICE OFFICERS HAVE PHONES BUT YOU WOULD BE LUCKY IF ANY OF THEM MADE USE OF THE PHONE TO ACCEPT A CALL.One is kept waiting in the queue to hear options and the annoying words that mean nothing in the end after the repeated recording " We know you are waiting and your Call is very Important to us"..........and you are suddenly CUT OFF.......and you have waited in vain to try another failure to make your query.

Oswald Whittle ● 2049d16 Comments

Keep well Oswald.

Philippa Bond ● 2042d

The lady I spoke to was working from home and was very good. Ealing has a lot of pressure and a denser population. My council is conservative so probably gets a better grant. The highly paid management of Ealing probably have bigger egos and so want to develop fancier solutions such as outsourcing. I know they have decided to bring some things in house but of course outsourcing means that you lose control.

Peter Chadburn ● 2042d

and paying pensions.  My FIL had a work pension for almost as long as he worked.  That would not have been envisaged.  I think there were a lot of people who survive/d WW2 who with their army training ended up much fitter than they would have otherwise - definitely than our more sedentary lives today.  Although the UK's life expectancy has started to decrease in recent years there is an increase in older people presumably because of the post war baby boom.

Philippa Bond ● 2042d

I believe there are also some call centres have had to close because of Covid-19.

Philippa Bond ● 2042d

Peter  I wonder also if perhaps people stay longer where you are or maybe people are just friendlier out of London?  I just know that there is a lot of pressure on LAs and utilities in fact on most companies to reduce costs.  Employing people and paying salaries is more expensive than trying to do more online.  Personally I too prefer to talk to someone although sometimes when I was rushing out to work in Central London I was really pleased to be able to order replacement bins or something like that in the middle of the night when I remembered.  Day after day would pass in the office and I still wouldn't have got round to phoning the Council.  Perhaps the low paid workers that we rely on will be appreciated more now.

Philippa Bond ● 2042d

I assume more retired especially near me. but a lot of those are IT literate people. Our Council here has been in phone calls about council tax and garden bins very helpful. you get through to a human quickly who is pleasant and helpful. in my 41 years in ealing is saw this decline as the residents became just an annoyance. the lovely lady is spoke to last week obviously does not receive much abuse. Of course City living is annoying but Ealing really didn't want to help. I see disabled and other people frustrated by so much. we see park cafes run by locals passed to bigger chains. There is much to recommend Ealing but the Council and it's secretive unhelpful nature is something that doesn't. not so much about the party but the core management of it and how policies are developed.

Peter Chadburn ● 2045d

To a respected  Co- member P.B++dReading through contributions dear Friend  I agree  wholeheartedly in what you say. I am would not be surprisedif there will be reports of some unfortunate people who will go MAD being unable to cope with the present way of life and living. May GOD help us all if there is one.Stay safe dear Friend.

Oswald Whittle ● 2045d

What percentage of the population in Worthing is made up of retired or if not retired those over 60?  Businesses all over the world are putting more communication online.  They need to direct those who can use those methods to do that so that any person to person telephone calls can be reserved for those who can't use the internet provision,It's much nicer to talk to a person but if it is something simple why not do it online - but don't do it instead of keeping in touch with your friends!

Philippa Bond ● 2047d

I phoned up the council about garden bins and got answered quickly by a pleasant person, she was working at home and was so helpful. Ah but I moved from Ealing 11 months ago and Worthing council might have it's own stupidity but at least you can always speak to a knowledgeable human.

Peter Chadburn ● 2048d

Back to the Topic.YES, I wish you had voted differently too.  😉

Rosco White ● 2048d

Life has changed.  I think it is ideology and our governmental system that has caused this.  Nobody wants to pay more tax yet they all seem to want services.  People are much more selfish as proved by the emptying of the shelves to stockpile by those who can when there are many who choose to buy food/meals in a just-in-time way and many who just can't afford to.  We waste masses of food in this country which is disgraceful  - is this because of pure ignorance or arrogance or plain laziness?A lot of money can be saved by reducing the number of people employed by the Council.  New technology is being used all the time  - some of it works and some of it doesn't.  Changes to IT cause difficulties particularly to those of us who are older and not so quick to learn how to use it.  That is why there are fewer Council Officers - many jobs are now shared between Councils.  Your Ward Councillors should be able to contact the correct people at the Council for you.  Please email them if you need help.

Philippa Bond ● 2048d

Philippa ,I have known a lot of people during my lifetime. The GOOD,THE BAD & the indifferent. The first Category TRY-- The second concentrate on anything BUT; what they are relied upon to do----The indifferent are only in the chair for a ride.You can't turn back the hands of time even if you tried,and you can't stop PROGRESS(that's what it is called today) that nobody can deny.Do you really think this borough is a better place today? or do you sometimes think just like me and remember the good  old days.

Oswald Whittle ● 2048d

https://ealingtogether.org/help-for-residents/

Philippa Bond ● 2049d

https://ealingnewsextra.co.uk/latest-news/emergency-fund/

Philippa Bond ● 2049d

A lot of chickens coming home to roost now...Oswald you I think you should communicate with your local Councillors so that they can help you.  Do you know which ward you live in?  Do you know who they are?  Can you email them?https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201044/councillors

Philippa Bond ● 2049d

It's the Tory cuts!    🤣

Rosco White ● 2049d