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Buying what we already bought
CAN someone please explain why £20,000 of public money is being spent on a vehicle which the public bought in the first place?
Burngreave New Deal for Commun-ities was given more than 50 million to spend on the run-down Sheffield neighbourhood. Right or wrong, they splashed out 130,000 on a flash lorry kitted out as a mobile stage and information vehicle. That is the official name. Locally it is known as the bling-mobile, not least because of the plasma screen tv, deafening sound system and ultra-sharp wheel trims.
As a further sign of the organisation's extravagance another 30,000 a year was set aside for running costs. Now, whatever aspirations were harboured for the bling-mobile, it has come to the end of the road as far as Burngreave New Deal for Commun-ities is concerned and they are on the verge of selling it at a knockdown price to Sheffield Council.
The local community assembly has offered 20,000. But it begs the question, why is public money being used to pay for what appears to be a failed experiment which was funded in the first place - by public money?
MPs should know the public are angry
NORTH East Derbyshire MP Natascha Engel acted with good intentions. But she came unstuck after displaying that she's out of touch with constituents.
She had planned a series of meet-the-voters sessions to allow them to question her about her expenses and allowance claims, after she published full details on her website. However, she was surprised at the hostility from those who turned up - and the apathy at those who couldn't be bothered.
Anybody, particularly MPs, who have followed the disclosures of extravagant spending by MPs should have known that there is an almost unprecedented backlash against our representatives.
Ms Engel was hoping for a civilised debate. She was denied it. And we doubt it will be any less fraught at a coffee morning she plans to hold instead - even if she woos those present with a sip of something tasty from her taxpayer-funded champagne flutes.
What do you think? Add your comment below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
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Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
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Wind direction: South east
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