Public sector monster needs to be tamed

bigheadxx

Two none jobs on one page, Member Development Officer and Member Support Services Manager.

chewmylegoff

macaque wrote: »

The example of the 'environmental manager' you tracked down is actually a janitor.

takes one to know one, eh?

beingjdc

bigheadxx wrote: »

Two none jobs on one page, Member Development Officer and Member Support Services Manager.

Ah, we're back to the old-fashioned definition of a non-job are we, the one that goes "I don't understand it so it can't be necessary". Ace. I can't imagine why elected councillors would need someone to co-ordinate their support in running a council, it obviously would happen by magic.

I look forward to the oil industry sacking all its Reservoir Technologists, Petrophysical Engineers, QC Seismology Processors and Completion Engineers, I have no idea why they would need them, or even what any of them are.

MyLastFiver

bigheadxx wrote: »

Two none jobs on one page, Member Development Officer and Member Support Services Manager.

Who are you to say they are non-jobs? One is someone who trains councillors, and the other is the person who oversees facilities for councillors. Just because you don't understand the job titles, you can't just say "Huh. Non-jobs."

You know what Bighead? You may have a point about oversized and inefficient local governments, but you argue so poorly that your points are lost.

MrFonzerelli

beingjdc wrote: »

everything the public sector does is unprofitable on a pure P&L basis. If it were profitable, it would have been privatised over the last three decades.

This is not 100% true. e.g. Public Sector car parks are profitable.

beingjdc wrote: »

In the public sector, you have to issue a press notice if you're thinking about sneezing,

Nice sentiment. When may we see the minutes behind the decision to go to war in Iraq?

beingjdc

MrFonzerelli wrote: »

Not 100% true. e.g. Public Sector car parks are profitable.

Sure, there are some profit centres - although I was shot down just two days ago by a certain person challenging me to show any public sector worker who generated a profit. I shall add parking wardens to the list

Nice sentiment. When may we see the minutes behind the decision to go to war in Iraq?

2033 on current rules, obviously the Government's rules for the rest of the public sector don't apply to the Government itself!

Old_Slaphead

beingjdc wrote: »

I hate to cheat and use facts yet again, but Glasgow's council tax collection rate in 2007-8 was 88%
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2A4CEC91-568B-4467-8C01-15DBBA127763/0/FSAnnPerfReport200708.pdf

That's absolutely staggering - to congratulate themselves on a significant improvement by hitting a target of only 88% collection. What were they like last year???

If any company had 12% bad debts or even that level of deferred payment they'd be out of business.

Only an average absence of two weeks per employee too....things are on the up.

thriftyminx13

In northern ireland new employees must stay till 65 and not 60 anymore. also, i have been in civil service 4 years and people joining earn same amount as i do. no rewards in civil service for experience. rant over.

hate people talking nonsense, really makes me angry. maybe "back in the day" this happened but not now. catch yourself on.

beingjdc

Old_Slaphead wrote: »

That's absolutely staggering - to congratulate themselves on a significant improvement by hitting a target of only 88% collection. What were they like last year???

The previous year was 86%, although they carry on chasing after the end of the year obviously, so it doesn't necessarily mean 14% write-offs. As far as my council are concerned I'd failed to pay half my council tax last year. In fact [snip long saga of the VOA's failure to band my property, their misbanding when they did get around to it, and my council's funny idea that I would clear the backlog by paying £400 a month council tax].

If any company had 12% bad debts or even that level of deferred payment they'd be out of business.

They would. On the other hand if a customer of a private company consistently failed to pay, they'd be told they were no longer welcome to do business with them. That's not an option for Councils, it's not legally in their power to say things like "You haven't paid your council tax, so your kids can't come to school, you can't walk on our pavement, and your gran can't have her meals on wheels any more".

One of the differences I was talking about earlier between the challenges of the public and private sector.

MrFonzerelli

beingjdc wrote: »

Sure, there are some profit centres - although I was shot down just two days ago by a certain person challenging me to show any public sector worker who generated a profit. I shall add parking wardens to the list

I definitely think you should add teachers to the list you're putting together.
Education is more profitable to society than individuals who simply transfer money.