Northampton residents labelled apathetic following poor turn out for second budget debate
RESIDENTS of Northampton have been labelled apathetic for the second time in a week after only 18 members of the public turned out to a meeting to discuss cuts to council services.
On Tuesday, only 14 people attended a meeting to discuss Northamptonshire County Council’s plans to cut £28 million from their budget and last night the turnout at a meeting of Northampton Borough Council to discuss their savings plans was also lower than expected.
The leader of the borough council, Councillor David Mackintosh (Con, Rectory Farm) said: “It’s disappointing that more people didn’t turn out to express their views. It’s important people make the effort to take part in the consultation.”
Issued raised during the meeting, which only lasted an hour, included the council’s plans to cut funding from both Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and the funding for CCTV services in the town.
On the issue of PCSOs, Councillor Mackintosh repeated calls he has made for the past few months for the police to fund the officers with money he says they have in the bank.
But he also admitted that talks were being held with the police and the county council to tackle the issue.
He said: “All options are on the table and I’ve had conversations with both the leader of the county council and the chief constable.”
Outside the budget, residents also raised issues about allotments, council tax, rubbish collections, council housing and the town’s planned skate park.
One resident also asked why the council was pushing ahead with the demolition of the Greyfriars bus station and the construction of an extension to the Grosvenor Centre when there were already empty shops in the town.
The council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Tim Hadland (Con, Old Duston) said: “To bring Northampton into the 21st century we need to increase the size of the Grosvenor Centre with shops that are the size and style businesses want now.
“To do that, we need to knock down Greyfriars and replace it with a new facility.”
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Comments
There are 26 comments to this article
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Loki
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:53 PMWeCAN have it all. Just don't accept the 30 pieces of silver offered by the Government in return for a Council Tax freeze.
kefalloniacobbler
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 05:01 PMIt is easy to brand the public apathetic, but from the reports I see all they talk about is building houses in a town that already has far too many of them, irrespective of the level of objection. Not to mention discussion of commercial development, unless it is Sixfields, in which case they just say no.
lady muck
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 01:50 PMpaulvarnsferry #16...Where would you implement the cuts ?
TeddyMcnabb
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:21 PMFor the period september 2010 to september 2011, the civillian employees had a reduction of 11.3% [8,820 ] I cant wait until i hear utterances about the vulnerable & disabled from the three nasty parties, you will find out [ if you dont already know] how millions are being sentence to the very very very of very "unnatural" deaths, tormented and taunted along the way.. Best wishes to all REMPLOY workers on the picket lines today ~#Spartacus report [ reasonable reform]
TeddyMcnabb
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 09:25 PMI never cease to have a laughing revulsion when i hear, see, and read the hypocrisy of the three nasty parties. In this instance its the P.C.S.O., & police. Since september 2010 to september 2011, there has been the following in England & Wales.: 4.2% [6012] reduction of officers, the lowest since 2002. 5.5% [907] reduction of P.C.S.O,s Now not unless im on planet torylibdem, i do believe the TORY & LIBDEMS were in "power". Seems they dont know their accident from their emergency, [A&E] or should that be their Damacles from Damocles.??
KevSmith
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 05:07 PMCan someone please tell me how expanding the grosvenor centre will bring more people in the town, Regenerate and motivate the main street shop owners and current arcades, make it a place to come to. years ago i was brought to northampton to come to gems such as brierleys, the Market etc and of course the grosvenor and i thought it was big then.... what will be in this new extention - ohh yes more phone shops, more shoe & clothes shops, i wonder perhaps even a toy shop, nothing exciting same old shops .... and extention wont make it , Northampton had the chance of an IKEA and blew that much to manys disgust, Bletchley got it and it was milton keynes gain yet again.. I recall a time when the town used to be heaving with people, but then that was when northamptons market was massive with a long waiting list, as for going to one these meetings what is the point, they have made their minds up what the money is spent not spent on. The meeting was only opened as they have to do this. simple as.... I didnt even know it was on.....perhaps for more town involvement they should include TELL US.. Once again i ask how many behind the negotiations are benefitting from another massive shopping centre with "backhanders" for this and that abortionate excuse OF A NEW BUS STATION. this is why people dont bother turning up - different controlling party - same old drivel and rice pudding !!
HOS
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 04:40 PMBecoming an MP is the UK's most effective "get rich quick" scheme. People are waking up to the 3 party state idea. Well 2 and half parties in reality. Its the old good cop, bad cop game isnt it? But nothing changes in the government either at a local or national level. That is why people do not bother voting, because whichever party you vote for, nothing ever changes. 60 years of stagnation.
HOS
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 04:34 PMIt is exactly the same reason why only 35% of the electorate vote in the general election: No one trusts MPs or government. Its not apathy, but its not a democracy either.
willi eckaslyke
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 02:00 PMlady m...A regular display of outrage (usually synthetic) is the princpal function of all opposition parties...it's part of the so-called democratic process.
epstrobes
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 01:53 PMSteve Riches last sentence is spot on. Public know its not worth turning out on a cold wet night into streets that are not lit andor underpoliced to make comments on what is already a done deal Were any opposition, i.e. Labour, politicians there to give them a hard time, probably not. When the public don't care and the opposition is non-existent you get the kind of government, local or national, that you deserve
SteveRiches
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 01:15 PMI ssume this is a re-write of the original story. My point at that time was that whenever I have responded to local political "consultations" they have been convoluted and mired in poorly delivered language, then someone often moves the goalposts to negate all the work you did in the first submission, thus leading to the need for a second, and then at the end of it all not a jot of what you want actually happens. I agree that there are a lot of politically apathetic people and it will probably take some massive event to get them off their backsides, (either that or they will unite behind a dictator because it is easier than thinking) - but in overall terms our local politicians are a laughing stock of party allegiances and vested interests, The public feel disenfranchised and powerless.
Finker
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12:18 PMWhat happened to the article about NCC that was similar and with similar comments?
forgetnot
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12:09 PMi have never heard of the sword of damacles, it must be a liberal democrat fake for the genuine sword of damocles?
PaulVarnsverry
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:46 AMTony: There was also the Sword of Damacles held over Lings Forum in the 2007 budget, to add to your list. The Conservatives have form for false threats. Maureen: Norhamptonshire has recently entered into shared back office services with Cheshire. "Manufactured synthetic outrage?" No. Mine is the genuine article!
Common sense
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:37 AMCould WayneB clarify who has labelled the people of the town apathetic--The Chron or a Councillor and if so can he attribute a quote?
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