A HOTLINE for people to help decide how Manchester council should spend its £468m budget has received just one call.
Thousands of leaflets were distributed at an estimated cost of £1,300 urging the public to take part. They could give their call the hotline, use email or send a letter.
But the hotline rang only once and just six letters and 21 e-mails were received - all out of a population of 442,000.
And four of the respondents admitted they were actually members of the council's own staff. Council chiefs admit they are "disappointed" with the lack of response, but deny the exercise has been a waste of time.
But Simon Ashley, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, said it was an "embarrassment".
"This is just typical of the way the council fails to consult meaningfully," he said. "There is never a big effort to draw people in and that means they can just do whatever they want."
Disappointing
Bernard Priest, the council's executive member for finance, said: "It is always disappointing if there is a limited response to this type of consultation, but it is really important to give taxpayers a chance to let us know their views on how their money is spent.
"We are constantly looking for ways to make it easier for people to communicate with us and the views we receive are given careful consideration.
"I am sure that if people did not believe that the services they receive offer good value for money, they would be very quick to let us know."
Manchester council will receive £468m for the financial year 2008/9 - made up chiefly of government grants and council tax receipts.
The replies they did receive included:
*A request to spend "less than £110k" on Manchester People, the council's magazine for residents, by reducing its size
*A claim that Urbis and B of the Bang were "frivolous waste" and too much was being spent on "travelers" [sic]
*A suggestion the council should create a transport company rather than spending money on taxis for staff
Seven of the responses related solely to the issue of climate change and requested more money be spent in that area.
One respondent called for more police officers, while another criticised the fees being charged for adult education classes.
Last year the biggest slice of council spending (37 per cent) went to children's services, with 18 per cent to housing and environmental services and 13 per cent to adult services. Three per cent was allocated to cultural services and central costs.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Connor Barrett, Heywood (14/02/2008 at 07:28)
reppick, salford (14/02/2008 at 08:49)
Recently my father was in hospital and we would go to his house to check his post. He had a letter from Salford council saying his monthly payment was overdue. We went to the Town Hall,paid to park the car in their car park, went to the purpose built building for dealing with council tax to pay his bill. We were told we do not accept payments here you will have to go to the post office. My wife and me just stood there laughing it was so pathetic.
Trudy, Bolton (14/02/2008 at 08:57)
ace, manchester (14/02/2008 at 09:02)
Ms D, Manchester (14/02/2008 at 09:02)
The Bobelesque (14/02/2008 at 09:14)
Batfink, Manchester (14/02/2008 at 09:17)
dessie, manchester (14/02/2008 at 09:21)
Ms D, Manchester (14/02/2008 at 09:26)
ace, manchester (14/02/2008 at 09:38)
Octavius Tinsworth Ace (14/02/2008 at 09:38)
alvinlwh (14/02/2008 at 09:40)
Leo B (14/02/2008 at 10:34)
awbboyd, Manchester (14/02/2008 at 10:41)
Laura Norder, Didsbury (14/02/2008 at 11:46)
Priceless! Were you one of Morecambe and Wise's scriptwriters?
The initiative was surely an exercise in 'democracy', the so-called lack of which so many of the 'usual suspects' on here choose to moan about, daily.
PW, Manchester (14/02/2008 at 11:49)
The reason people have not responded to this scheme is that they feel it's a waste of time, and the Council will do whatever they want anyway. I sincerely hope they register their opinions at the ballot box, which is a damn sight more effective form of democratic vote.
ace, manchester (14/02/2008 at 11:55)
I for one didnt receive a so called leaflet, and it wasnt very well publicised i dont think many mancunians were aware of the system. most people ive talked to didnt know.but if it was something the council wanted us to know about we are bombarded with leaflets.like the other times when the council defends,its funny how everybody hears about those things.Like this government we can only vote on the things they want"Like the very important referendum we didnt get" and that was our future in europe..so dont get on your high horse about democracy in britain.WE DONT HAVE ANY.
Timberman, MANCHESTER (14/02/2008 at 12:29)
doesn't the MEN forward the comments that are made on here to MCC. That should give them a good idea what the general public wants and what they think of the council.
Ms D, Manchester (14/02/2008 at 12:39)
Laura Norder, Didsbury (14/02/2008 at 12:56)
Caroline Royal (14/02/2008 at 13:38)
Or is it simply convinient to blame the Manchester people for the cities downfalls?
I think the money should be spent improving enviromental issues, promoting recyling collections. Put more into community projects and what ever happened about extending the metro link.
I also think more money should be spent on conserving older buildings, like keeping Afflecks open. Please stop building horrible glass modern monstrosities, soon Manchester will look the same as every other city.
Ms D, Manchester (14/02/2008 at 15:09)
Kevin From Hulme (14/02/2008 at 16:10)
The amount of community letters I post in Hulme tells a story, when you see the resident next day, they swear blind they never got one, after me putting it through their letter box personally.
Wonder if I put Ten Pound notes through, would they see them.
ace, manchester (14/02/2008 at 18:45)
I can quite assure you that ive never received a leaflet from the council on this issue.And i dont think others on here tell lies.
Laura Norder, Didsbury (14/02/2008 at 19:22)
Smug - me?