Forum Topic

Shame on you, Council Leader Julian Bell

The only thing that I can think of as a response to your apology in the Ealing Gazette for the cuts is: "Shame on you"!The cuts in Ealing are being handled in a shameful way with no concept of fairness or proportionality in the way they are being implemented. Cavalier and partisan are the least impolite words that I can think of for the actions of a self-processed committed Christian who cuts Ealing's disabled centres and mental health support centres deeming them "not fit for purpose" and services while:a)Proceeding to spend £500,000 on a skateboard park.b) Continuing to plan to spend £500,000 on a dance studio in Ealing Town Hall.c) Proceeding to spend £5 million on restoring victorian folly structures in Gunnersbury Park.d) Planning and proceeding to spend tens of millions of pounds in building new facilities in two locations in Ealing for new council offices.e) Trying to cut the Taxi Cab scheme.Shame on you, sir. How much does it cost to build a couple of new day centres that we badly need that are "fit for purpose", not the £25 to £26 million that you are planning in the above actions. Are there other such hidden projects that we do not know about.How can you as a committed caring Christian axe these essential day centres and other services for the mentally ill and the disabled?I also ask why the cuts in Ealing Council are not proportionate all the way up to the top of the council? Of the top six executives there has not even been dicussion of removing one of these posts (that would easily pay for the staffing of a day centre with the disproportionate rates that care workers are paid compared with Ealing Council's top directors. For that matter, why have there been no cuts in the top thirty posts (by pay) in the Council? Is this fair?

Luther Brown ● 5548d2 Comments

We certainly don't need our Council offices to be scattered about the borough and probably where transport will be so poor compared to that in central Ealing that many residents will be very inconvenienced.To undertake a move to new offices not only will require a huge capital spend, but much more importantly at the moment will require a lot of people and so a lot of salaries to plan the change. That salary bill could and should as priority be channellled into spending on the vulnerable. This revenue cost will be much more than the revenue cost needed for an Arts centre and a skate park.To build alternative Council Offices I imagine means that the Council will have to increase its borrowing. So how will we pay for the bank interest? It is about time that that Bell stops listening to some unelected twerps of Council Officers and listened to the electorate instead.

George Knox ● 5547d

All good points Luther. Can I add the continuing subsidy of the Ealing Festival by the Council to the tune of millions in terms of staff resources. Why is it that we have a Council Events Department to provide mass popular entertainent, but no disabled and mental health facilities left?

Maggie Tomlinson ● 5548d