Forum Topic

Around Ealing and its pointless existence

The latest issue of the Council propaganda sheet thudded onto my doormat today. Lots of guff about the new Commissar and his loyal minions, all pledging to be inclusive. So inclusive that they removed the pages with all the councillor contact details from the back of the magazine.Maybe that was because they don’t want Bell’s smug mug in there, or it might be because all that information is ‘available online’ (which it is, of course). But then all the other information in Around Ealing is available online, which begs the question why keep the print edition? I was told by the former Commissar that it was for people who can’t access online information, yet there’s nothing in its glossy pages that indicates it’s £100,000 of our cash spent wisely every year.

Simon Hayes ● 1547d18 Comments

agreed , its Propaganda , far too much globalist content , I concede that Ealing council do some things well , I am happy with the parks and bin service and my local roads are well kept , even so far too many issues are not relevant like 'climate change' peoples sexual preferences , inclusivity etc . also Ealing make it almost imposible not to go online ( try calling them ) basically their magazine is just recycling and party political Propaganda for the ruling Labour party

Paul Taylor ● 1521d

The paper it is printed on is of such poor quality it is no use in even lighting my wood-burning stove.

Waldemar Baran ● 1529d

Philippa, you really are addressing the wrong audience.Ealing has never implemented the Community Infrastructure Levy, despite considering it for about six years. That would bring in considerably more than the supposed s106 payments and it would have to be spent on the infrastructure required. Ealing doesn’t even collect a fair proportion of s106 money, let alone spending it where needed. Too inconvenient for the developers.

Simon Hayes ● 1538d

Developers should not be able to wriggle out of paying whatever the latest of the building taxes is - by claiming that they will not make enough profit or to severely reduce the standards of building.  Thousands of people now have problems with the safety of the flats that they are living in.

Philippa Bond ● 1538d

The Council has myriad functions it is legally obliged to carry out. While central government funding has been reduced (wrongly in my view) it is clear that the current administration is very wasteful, despite boasts over the years of savings. Around Ealing is simply a symptom of needless spending when budgets are tight.Of course, if Bell - and now Mason - weren’t so deeply in hock to the developers ruining our leafy borough they might have actually got some decent contributions towards services from those companies.

Simon Hayes ● 1538d

If you pay Council Tax you damn well expect some semblance of "Service" in return for your hard earned.The homeless is a completely different issue.

Rosco White ● 1538d

It's important for all those who don't use computers and smartphones and many don't.  I've seen people in the bank trying to pay Council Tax - only there is no counterfoil - as presumably the Council is trying to make people pay by direct debit.Otherwise how many responsibilities do people think that the Council have?  Most people it seems think the most important  is the collection of bins.  Tell that to the homeless.

Philippa Bond ● 1539d

  🤣        👍

Rosco White ● 1542d

Really surprised that "it's the Tory cuts" hasn't been blamed for Labour councillors seeking anonymity.

N V Brooks ● 1542d

Don’t be foolish, Philippa.Bell told me the print version of Around Ealing was important because it was an opportunity to communicate his ‘ideas’ to people without internet access. I don’t see any change in that thinking with the new regime under Mason. So you either ensure the print version mirrors the information online, or you simply scrap it and save some taxpayers money.They took the councillor details out before and there was a big outcry, resulting in them being reinstated.What may have passed you by is how difficult some of these councillors are to contact. Many Labour ones stopped holding surgeries, even before the pandemic. A great number don’t respond to emails. Their job is to represent the residents, even the ones who didn’t vote got them and may disagree with their political stance. A sizeable proportion of the current Labour mob aren’t doing that. And without public meetings such as ward forums accountability is zero (not that they bothered much before). I guess keeping one’s mugshot and contact details out of a free council magazine is one way of avoiding recognition for such failings.

Simon Hayes ● 1542d

Haven't you used a telephone in the last 15 months?

Philippa Bond ● 1542d

That’s hilarious. As if most of what’s in Around Ealing is worth including! As a publication it spectacularly fails to provide important information to Ealing residents. Never any proper mention of major planning schemes (apart from bigging up ridiculous ventures such as Broadway Living).It’s been suggested to the editor numerous times to actually use it to inform rather than lecture, to take the politics of Bell’s warped agenda out, and to properly give residents the he information they are entitled to.Don’t forget we subsidise this rag to the tune of £100,000 a year.And your suggestion about ‘later asking someone with the internet’ is nonsense. What’s been stopping people doing a lot of things this past 15 months?

Simon Hayes ● 1542d

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/age_uk_digital_inclusion_evidence_review_2018.pdfAll the Councillors names in Around Ealing takes up a lot of space.  Many people without that info will have torn out the pages for safekeeping and later reference. What is to stop them asking someone else with the internet?

Philippa Bond ● 1543d

I'M brainwashed?      🤣

Rosco White ● 1543d

You're brainwashing yourself Rosco.  Mind the Gap.

Philippa Bond ● 1543d

'I was told by the former Commissar that it was for people who can’t access online information'- YET -'they removed the pages with all the councillor contact details from the back of the magazine'Doesn't make any sense at all Simon does it? It's almost as if they don't want those who cannot go on line to have their councillor contact details!

Debbie Paradin ● 1544d

                            Remember.      TRASH YOUR COMMUNITY, VOTE LOCAL LABOUR!

Rosco White ● 1546d

>>RH asks>> If a tiny sole trader business can manage to do things in various ways and take a range of payment options, why can't a huge Local Authority?>>TH replies>>  Because local councils are profligate and corrupt, some councils being more so than others.

Tony Heath ● 1546d

Try paying Council tax if you are not online or ringing the number with the legal threat demand.I've spent 4 hours this week helming an elderly neighbour frightened out her wits by a legal demand - even though she pays in full each year.The wording bears no relevance to her 67 year history of rates payments.The telephone number simply refers to going online - which she cannot.When you do get to speak to a human - they simply repeat " You have to do it online' She should use her Smartphone'What planet are these people in councils on?If a tiny sole trader business can manage to do things in various ways and take a range of payment options, why can't a huge Local Authority?

Raymond Havelock ● 1546d