Kay Cutts defends county's spending on hospitality

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Friday, July 30, 2010
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This is Nottingham

THE leader of Notts County Council has defended the authority's spending on hospitality events.

The council was criticised after it emerged £12,000 had been set aside for a garden party to thank volunteers at a time when savage budget cuts are being made.

Emma Boon, from the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "No one is saying that those who volunteer in our community shouldn't be thanked. There's lots of ways of doing that without spending money.

"Should this be going on at a time when we are having such huge pressures on money?"

But council leader Kay Cutts defended the spending on the party and said: "We are just saying thank you to people who do things for nothing and I think that is right.

"It wasn't a lavish event and people thoroughly enjoyed it."

She said the actual cost of the garden party, which took place on July 17, was likely to come out at a total of £10,000 against the £12,000 set aside for it in the budget.

But councillor Cutts admitted the council had "huge problems to face" in terms of cutting spending and that they would be trying to save money wherever possible.

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  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Sneintonite, Sneinton

    Saturday, August 07 2010, 1:15PM

    “It is time to organise a broad movement of active resistance to the Con-Dem government's budget intentions. They plan the most savage spending cuts since the 1930s, which will wreck the lives of millions by devastating our jobs, pay, pensions, NHS, education, transport, postal and other services.

    The government claims the cuts are unavoidable because the welfare state has been too generous. This is nonsense. Ordinary people are being forced to pay for the bankers' profligacy.

    The £11bn welfare cuts, rise in VAT to 20%, and 25% reductions across government departments target the most vulnerable ¿ disabled people, single parents, those on housing benefit, black and other ethnic minority communities, students, migrant workers, LGBT people and pensioners.

    Women are expected to bear 75% of the burden. The poorest will be hit six times harder than the richest. Internal Treasury documents estimate 1.3 million job losses in public and private sectors.

    We reject this malicious vandalism and resolve to campaign for a radical alternative, with the level of determination shown by trade unionists and social movements in Greece and other European countries.

    This government of millionaires says "we're all in it together" and "there is no alternative". But, for the wealthy, corporation tax is being cut, the bank levy is a pittance, and top salaries and bonuses have already been restored to pre-crash levels.

    An alternative budget would place the banks under democratic control, and raise revenue by increasing tax for the rich, plugging tax loopholes, withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, abolishing the nuclear "deterrent" by cancelling the Trident replacement.

    An alternative strategy could use these resources to: support welfare; develop homes, schools, and hospitals; and foster a green approach to public spending ¿ investing in renewable energy and public transport, thereby creating a million jobs.

    We commit ourselves to:

    ¿ Oppose cuts and privatisation in our workplaces, community and welfare services.

    ¿ Fight rising unemployment and support organisations of unemployed people.

    ¿ Develop and support an alternative programme for economic and social recovery.

    ¿ Oppose all proposals to "solve" the crisis through racism and other forms of scapegoating.

    ¿ Liaise closely with similar opposition movements in other countries.

    ¿ Organise information, meetings, conferences, marches and demonstrations.

    ¿ Support the development of a national co-ordinating coalition of resistance.

    We urge those who support this statement to attend the Organising Conference on 27 November 2010 (10am-5pm), at Camden Centre, Town Hall, London, WC1H 9JE.”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Joan Kean, Beeston

    Sunday, August 01 2010, 1:50PM

    “I agree with the sentiment expressed below. Kay Cutts has it seems failed to understand that she is answerable to the people and it is the people¿s money that she is squandering on tea parties, redecorating her office etc.”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Read, ..feel free

    Friday, July 30 2010, 11:07PM

    “http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGlgTwp93E48%26feature%3Dgrec_index%26videos%3DgQtA1DZ6UB4&h=da322v2nQCjHJtX4YYJK-2Zcfmw”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Voice of the People, Everywhere!

    Friday, July 30 2010, 7:49PM

    “Typical disgraceful excuses from Overlord Cutts. Such hypocrisy pours from her mouth; cuts for the vulnerable, but not when she wants a party with champagne and canapes.”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Uncle Bulgaria, The Light Side

    Friday, July 30 2010, 6:37PM

    “Having a dedicated event to reward the hard work and effort many volunteers do is a good thing and we do them an injustice if we argue over the cost for something which patently is worthwile.”

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