Survey for Bracknell Forest Results

10.14.29am GMT Wed 9th Dec 2009

The results of the recent Government-initiated 2008 Place Survey for Bracknell Forest only served to confirm what most residents already knew.

Bracknell Forest is a good place to live but the council is something else!

After twelve years of uninterrupted control, only 35% thought the Conservative-dominated council was providing good value for money and only half were satisfied with its performance.

Only one in six electors actually voted for the Conservatives in 2007 but this was enough to ensure their control remained complete and their decisions went largely unchallenged. In the absence of greater public involvement (and proportional representation), the situation could easily be repeated.

Three-quarters of those surveyed thought older people in the area were not receiving the help and support they required and yet the changes which the council is now making in social care funding and the use of community transport will still not produce the improvements that are needed.

Most of the council's income, which includes the £30 million received in council tax every year, is spent on wages, pensions and administration. Each new member of staff costs about £30.000 a year on average, which suggests that wage costs are either out of control or the organisation is top heavy.

The imminent public consultation exercise on the budget for 2010-11 is unlikely to mark any significant change. What is certain, however, is that the council will continue to set the highest possible council tax increase and councillors will claim their full allowances, as usual!