greenknight

Balfour Beatty doesn't appear to be in the limelight lately. Looking at the latest Council expenditure and contracts information

 

Balfour Beatty Living Places

01/09/2013 to 31/08/2023 - Contract length

£200,000,000.00 - Estimated whole contract value

 

10 year contract at £20,000,000 a year

 

The only expenses I can find are for the last 4 months below

 

Expenses for

£3,575,856.86 December 2014 

£4,316,424.45 November 2014

£4,453,926.25 October 2014

£4,520,091.03 September 2014

 

£16,866,298.59 in 4 months

 

So it looks as if they are going to spend the yearly allowance within 5 months at this rate. I know the government gave the council some extra money for the roads, but should this not be shown as a separate figure. How much was given to Balfour Beatty prior to the dates above considering their contract started on 1st September 1998 - nothing is shown? Can any councillor elucidate or have I completely missed the point?[/quote

 

 

Apologies Megilleland just remind me..the contract for roads covers what classifications exactly? Am I right in thinking that the Highways Agency cover the major 'A' roads?

 

Somebody has seriously messed up on the budget here particularly as our weather has not been that dramatic so far.

Another organisation merely using religion as a vehicle to acquire wealth and power seeking disaffected members of society for their own gain.....something that crosses the religious divide don't you think!

Curse you Bobby47 for this is the one...a topic which stimulates a rage deep within. The sort that makes my colour turn green the old armour flex and creek where I will wake up later on some rubbish heap always with no gear on other than obligatory boxers and absolutely no recollection of what I've done.Even as I type the brain has triggered the adrenaline and the heart is screaming at the control room 'cause she can't take anymore Captain!

Our current big three parties spite each other over this subject yet they are all responsible for being in charge when this service started going down the swanny.

When Labour were in charge they basically gave GP,s a blank cheque literally..huge salary increases,reduction in hours and opportunities to even earn extra cash.....followed on by the Conservatives who carried on the good work by giving them almost total control over healthcare budgets and we all know how well that's going.

They can earn possibly £100k and more if they wish and for some well they can serve a basic level of hours and then set up private companies like Taurus and then 're charge the NHS for products and services at inflammatory prices.

In Herefordshire there is basically one Clinical Commissioning Group that controls the budgets,running a back up private organisation so if there are problems who is to blame?

So where are we now..Well we have doc's who don't have to work full time, are highly paid, and don't have to provide any form of emergency cover yet still they can't find GP,s.

Herefordshire is a great place to bring up a family or see out a career after all it is still possible to retire in the NHS when your mid-fifties and take a nice sum with you get we still have problems.

Many years ago there was a great plan where surgeries would provide lots of services like diagnostics,preventative healthcare even treatment and small surgery centres. All this could have eased the pressure on acute hospitals however it's just not happened.

I still work and rarely go to the surgery but if I need to I just know I won't be able to get through to the practice let alone make an appointment. I could not tell you who my GP is because we've never met even though a 50 something should at least have some form of medical assessment when joining a new practice.

I have to stop now because the rant will go on...however the big plan of continuity of care has failed ..at the start with general practices and the end with care in the community where someone forgot to budget for such a grand plan.

Backdoor privatisation of the NHS continues and no more so with General Practice.

I think this outfit bought a pub near Leominster with an eye on developing the land. The locals and council stood firm and eventually they sold it on. The pub is open again which is great news.

Doug is a good bloke Dippy. An old fashioned area manager up from the ranks in the days before graduate paramedics.This guy has had huge support after all there were no lies told and I'm just staggered at the over reaction by the CEO. The NHS is an emotive topical subject and gets reaction so whistleblowers here can now guarantee attention. Sadly the same reaction cannot be replicated for those standing up against wrongs in local government which is a sad reality and actually I admire these people more.

I would also like to add that I am sure that both the Care Quality Commission and Patients Association will be made aware of the statement made by the Trust outlining the reasons why they felt it necessary to request a ban on this paramedic attending its Emergency Departments.

He also told his line manager and the suggestion is that he was encouraged to do so. I just hope he is not going to be made a scapegoat. West Midlands Ambulance Service response times can suffer if their vehicles are held up at the Emergency Department though they can't publicly be seen to take issue with hospitals so why not use a maverick paramedic.

I feel sure that the relationship between frontline ambulance crews and ED staff is solid because they are both under the same pressures. The argument and frustration lies with upstairs.

At the very least there needs to be a third coach added to the Arriva Wales service and an occasional limited stopper on said route.Unlike Roger the bulk of my rail trips head towards Southampton though I did enjoy a recent visit to Manchester Piccadilly!

Well Roger if it was Japanese Knotweed they would probably knock the structure down and take several tonnes of soil away to boot. A friend of mine had it creep into his garden from a railway embankment and landed up with a £20K underpinning repair bill!

Thanks Glenda..let's hope it has a better lifespan.

Have had a good chuckle about this as a relative newby to site. It looks like Maple or perhaps Ash and it needs the stump treated as the roots are under that concrete. Heh at least it's not Japanese Knotweed.

As a matter of interest how old is this the Belmont development?

Yes agreed Colin...great work Megilleland and what patience with one and all!!

I saw this today on my road...however that's because it was a recycling day and because we have a number of disabled wheelchair bound neighbours the guys were graciously preserving pavement access because a few residents have not got into the new routine just yet.

Brilliant Roger.Colin

Welcome to the Voice Gabm1956...spread the word.

However they are worded I have had to deal with these for most of my career. Sometimes presented at job offer (do I take it) or sometimes at the end (take the money...or have peace of mind). This is why I live in a small bungalow and not a 5 bedder on Aylestone Hill. I also think Dacia make great cars!

Yes WirralPC you are correct about building 7 and the conspiracy theories set around it not helped by the fact that it did house certain government organizations. An old mate of mine worked at ConEd utilities who had a small suite there. I believe it's now thought that the steel structure melted. Everybody did get out though.

Even this post has highlighted how easy we can divide over such emotive events.....fortunately I still have faith in our democratic process ....at least as it currently stands. Besides where would we be without Private Eye or old copies of Punch! Now I'm off to the "Commercial" to find Bobby47 and see if he will share my copy of Harper's bazaar!!

This is so sad - particularly when you see on TV the murderers walk up to a wounded Police Office lying on the pavement and shooting him in the head.

What " they "are trying to do is stir up racial disorder - think that in the near future ( sadly ) this wil happen in this wonderful country of ours .

The UK has always been a very tolerant Country for others who are seeking to escape from their Country of residence / birth for whatever reason -

Will it come back to bit us - sadly yes.

( I just get so cheesed off by the violence in this World. - don't they know anything about history - violence achieves nothing )

Must add that only yesterday I was remising with a friend about the time that after WW2 we could recall sweets coming off Sweet Rationing c1952 , we didn't know much about about the war although i didn't see my Fathet for 6 years so life went on.

Hi Ubique

My sentiments exactly. They provide the excuse for revenge and a big brother state which of course is then abused by those in power. Should we worry here in Blighty ....yes we should....Should we worry in this County ...yes we should and for lots of reasons some of them not so obvious.

2015 will be notable for events as yet unknown rather than a general election which could easily be decided by such mindless cowardice.

My neighbours cat gets right to me when he drops me a present destroying the wildflower meadow I have lovingly protected. I respond with occasional water and the screaming habdabs by my response is proportional. I don't intend to string him up and then set fire to him!

The world now faces its biggest challenge since the second world war and eventually we will all wake up to the fact that we cannot hide from such butchery performed in the name of religion not even in Herefordshire where there are many who feel it is wrapped in a protective bubble....after all we do have a very special regiment based here.

I wonder how long it will be before people fear the larger cities and run to rural counties hoping to escape. What sort of impact will that have on local resources. I think the next three years will show us....Sadly.

Massacre at French magazine office

This my friends is where freedom of speech is under threat, which breeds resentment and gives the state the power to control.

Irrespective of whoever becomes the government in May we must campaign for democracy over cries of nationalism,extremism and revenge. These actions by a few offend the Islamic faith which generally like Christians are a peaceful people. They must not win and we must not replicate their cowardly ways citing ill conceived religious beliefs.

An interesting policy document from UKIP and like megilleland there are lot's of agreeable points it's just a shame that so many have previous Conservative traits. Need to digest before responding however I'm keen to see the parties out on the street because through the last two elections the door bell never rang! So it will be good to see if they are active in town at weekends and where they pitch their stalls....New retail or Old Town though they may have to think about the exact location.

RIVER ISLAND SITE: The 215 notice requires some remedial work to be completed by Feb 20th 2015. The council is having an on-going debate with the owners about their ability to complete the required work within the timescale. The agent acting for the owners is also pursuing the wider development of the premises ( and in accordance with the extant planning permission) this is the bigger prize the council are hoping to achieve at this stage there are no details on that timescale. The agent has been asked to keep the council advised in the run up to the 20th Feb.

A poker game is in play. HC needs this sorted because it makes any proposition of filling up the empty shops in old town more difficult whilst this site remains as is. The owners know this and will want a lot more flexibility on development potential so perhaps a little bending on listed building restrictions is required.

A reduction in business rates would also help HC.

OK there are other forums on HV which have discussed this road however I'm struggling to think of anyone who supports it at least without another bridge crossing. ( 2 if we want a complete ring road). I can see it now 2018.. probably 2019! An HGV driver joins the back of the queue near Callow Marsh heading into Hereford on A49. So he finally gets to the roundabout and opts for the new first left offering which takes him to another huge queue which in five years time and thousands of homes later will be stacked up on the A465 tailing back as far as Kilpeck ....what a Killjoy.

Seriously though if this road goes ahead without any kind of supported river crossing it will make this County a laughing stock.

Roger is right.The Council is responsible for issuing licenses and I'm sure it comes with do,s and don'ts. Acquiring a cabbies plate used to be very difficult many years ago so losing it was painfull. Lack of resources and the will to enforce during this period of prolonged Council budget cuts means that it does not sit high up on the priority list until sadly one day the actions of one rogue driver prompts a review. The Police can take action over taxi drivers who drive defective vehicles and of course show an interest in the types of individuals who drive said motors but the manner to which these guys ply their trade is a matter for HC.

Sadly guys I disagree. Yes it's true that some of the team do go up to Birmingham but there are many reasons for that. Having previously worked as a voluntary responder for WMAS and full-time with another the changes made a few years ago had to be made. We have had a hidden crisis in the NHS for many years but this was the right thing to do for the ambulance service. The job has changed and there WILL always be moaners as seen on Hereford Voice but trust me that in order to create an effective service this had to happen otherwise the traditional county service would have been left behind. I have mentioned before the fine service that is put in by the voluntary teams that operate within Herefordshire including the docs from MARS & BASICS some of which cut their teeth in the military. If people are worried about levels of care then please make a personal contribution and not just from the armchair. THIS COUNTY WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTARY GROUPS OPERATING WITHIN IT.

I have spent thirty five years in and around the NHS and a lot of that was in operating theatres. In 1979 a consent form for an operation was one side of an A4 piece of paper whereas today it's a story because that's the way things are! Everyone has a perspective which is just fine but for me someone who has been associated with public service (NHS/Military)private service(medical companies (pre hospital emergency care) and finally voluntary service I feel I'm pretty wise to how things are basically stacking up. The WMAS service employs more people than ever with most coming in as graduates. This is not to everyone's liking but again that's just how things are. Not all paramedics like voluntary responders because they see them as job takers and a method of dealing with response times...Well that's just how things are. For me the WMAS and the front ranks do a great job and I think the other two emergency services could learn something.

In reply to your specific comment megilleland regarding the current structure of UK policing. It is generally considered that a merger and reduction of the number of forces is well overdue and the same can be said for the fire service. It's been done within the ambulance service who are by far the busiest of all three emergency services.