council accused of being wasteful following a Freedom of Information request by James Barber

[dbboy]

So can we focus back on the topic and hold the council to account for this abominable waste of council tax payers money.

I think as Cllr Barber has highlighted this he could work with other councillors to hold the Officers in the council to account for wasting council tax money, especially when the council are so happy and keen to cut services on the basis of austerity. Perhaps Cllr. Barber may want to start by raising the points made so eloquently by Penguin 68 and reporting back to this forum on the answers he has got from those in control of the council.

Just think what alternatives the ?722,659 could have been used to pay for, the mind boggles at where this money could have been more efficiently used.

[Jules-and-Boo]

accountability? don't make me laugh.

[Jules-and-Boo]

accountability? don't make me laugh.

The boroughs are notorious for wasting money.

[Blah Blah]

Just one point dbboy. The council have been forced to makes cuts because of huge cuts in central government funding. To pretend that is not a factor would be unfair. The council has been using it's surplus to offset those cuts, built up when times were better, but that surplus has finally run out. So in the current climate, it is reasonable to ask if this communications expediture really was necessary, and if the most cost effective decision was taken. Any cuts however, are a direct consequence of central government policy.

[JohnL]

Asked my telecom guy why we have apple phones - that's what the business wanted - can't really argue with that.

One thing - A couple of directors in different companies over the years have suggested giving people a budget to choose their own phone/laptop etc. - supplement it if they want a better phone/laptop -or take a bonus if they want a cheaper one.

After all a plumber chooses his own tools (and maybe he does want the best tools or maybe he's okay with cheaper tools) - this comes from the perspective of me being an IT professional.

[Angelina]

Blah Blah - the unfortunate thing about cuts is that a business will have to prioritise the money they do have.

It would appear in a time of such financial restriction, that choosing the premium devices is not the best use of funds.

The second market brand would suffice and would leave money for something else. SO MANY THINGS.

It demonstrates either a lack of ...well... giving a *hoot* really.

[dbboy]

This is about the best use if funds or in this case the council wasting money when cheaper alternatives are available. ?722,659 is a sizeable amount that they have wasted and a councillor has had guts to challenge and highlight this wastage.

These councillors were elected by the residents in the borough, they need to be accountable for the decisions and actions they take, this includes wasting funds that could have been better used elsewhere.

Agreed central govt have cut finding, but this is local politicians making decisions about income from council tax payers. All I'm saying is that it is an inappropriate use if funds.

[Loz]

dbboy Wrote:

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> These councillors were elected by the residents in the borough, they need to be accountable for the

> decisions and actions they take, this includes wasting funds that could have been better used

> elsewhere.

Which is also why I am very surprised a councillor has to do an FOI request to get this information.

[Angelina]

They don't publish details. It has to be FOI. All such info has to be requested. Why on Earth would they ever so for transparency?

Another question - how much do they spend supporting systems?

[JohnL]

Angelina Wrote:

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> Blah Blah - the unfortunate thing about cuts is

> that a business will have to prioritise the money

> they do have.

>

> It would appear in a time of such financial

> restriction, that choosing the premium devices is

> not the best use of funds.

> -

> The second market brand would suffice and would

> leave money for something else. SO MANY THINGS.

> It demonstrates either a lack of ...well... giving

> a *hoot* really.

what if part of the business says they can generate more income with premium devices

I'm sorry to say I do judge people by their laptops, phones etc. (edit and I'm sorry for being so shallow :) )

Edit again: Anyway ignore my IT perspective - I have such a bee in my bonnet about technology.

[Angelina]

There is a potential for efficiencies to be made, but I would expect that would be in terms of more being done - and getting it right first time and quickly (I can hardly believe I am saying this - it's so 'text-book'), rather than reduction in cost. Iphones are hardly likely to allow another system to be replaced or to have reduction in staff, so are unlikely to actually reduce costs.

That is different from income though. Unless they're given to the traffic wardens, in which case - park carefully!

[JohnL]

It used to be the case that company policies were that laptops were x spec and phones were y spec (disclaimer: not talking about any current employer) - then you'd see the top guys with their top of the range iphones/laptops. You'd ask so why do they need them ?

My opinion: Make technology purchase part of an individuals remuneration - then let them choose what they buy - means BYOD though - and non standard support.

[Angelina]

BYOD is a good idea - there is still support costs but cheaper.

[Siduhe]

BYOD is a good deal for the business, can work out less well for the employee. We have an option to go BYOD, and I've swapped back to a company supplied device, because of the difficulty in claiming expenses back for the data and calls that I have used. The long calls to a specific number were easy to claim back but the lots of short calls which don't get itemised weren't - same for data. It was mainly overseas travel where I was getting hammered so may not work that way for everyone.

[uncleglen]

(I have mentioned this several times)- when the local council is of a different political persuasion than the government, then money will be diverted from the front line at every opportunity...you voted for them

[rendelharris]

uncleglen Wrote:

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> (I have mentioned this several times)- when the

> local council is of a different political

> persuasion than the government, then money will be

> diverted from the front line at every

> opportunity...you voted for them

Yes yes, the loony lefties are deliberately wasting government money out of spite, there are reds under the bed, the Eastern Europeans are stealing our benefits, blah blah blah. You don't half talk some utter cobblers. Mentioning something several times does not make it any less nonsense.

[Blah Blah]

uncleglen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> (I have mentioned this several times)- when the

> local council is of a different political

> persuasion than the government, then money will be

> diverted from the front line at every

> opportunity...you voted for them

That would be why the leader of Tory led Oxford council complained personally to Cameron about central government funding cuts then. Ditto Rendel - you don't half write some cobblers.