a really good barbaque with stoke bnp

stoke bnp had a barbaque with about 25-30 stoke bnp members turned up it was a really good day good surrounding and everyone enjoyed the day good to see like minded people enjoying laughing playing games heres some photos from today events

remploy facing jobs cuts

it deeply saddens me that the disabled are getting hit by this uncaring untruthful goverment that's seems to think it can hit the poor the disabled and the elderly when really it should be hitting the rich and completely stopping immigration foreign aid in times when we are faced with mass unemployment they seem to think that its OK to take the disabled jobs away from them i was down at the remploy factory about 3 weeks ago and these people depend on there jobs it not only give them the freedom but its giving them independence and there are getting paid a wage as well   i was speaking to two employees down and they forewarned me this was going to happen and the conservative plus labour are saying that's they need to make these cuts but hitting the vulnerable now that's just beyond a joke but its OK for these party s and its mps they live a life of luxury at our expense

labour finally admitting

heres a article from the sentinel in stoke on Trent about liebour  now Ed milaband as admitted that is party through negligence and lies have spent to much money they have not served or will serve the people of this country  that's why we are now being ruled a by a labour run council here in stoke on Trent that is in denial and that why things will not improve they will only get worse heres the article for your viewing

More job loses in the city well Mr perves your mandates not working is it

yet more redundancies in the city this time its HR Johnstone tiles  when will this stop can labour not see that its not working there little mandate isn't working i wonder what Joan walley saying now i can remember being down there working on a agency when she visited the factory when they opened the new kiln this time its HR where next  i wonder

Johnson Tiles to reduce workforce

Friday, September 16, 2011

The Sentinel

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JOB losses are being proposed at Johnson Tiles.

The Tunstall manufacturer has confirmed that it is currently holding a 30-day consultation on potential redundancies.

It has refused to reveal the figure that is being considered, but by law a company is obliged to run a 30-day consultation period if it is proposing between 20 and 99 redundancies.

Johnson Tiles, which employs more than 400 people at its Haregate Street base, said the changes are necessary to combat the increasing cost of energy and raw materials.

Managing director Stephen Dixon, pictured, said: "Following a review the board has decided to reshape the company's structure and business focus.

"The resultant changes are required to mitigate recent rises in energy and raw materials costs and at the same time recognise market uncertainty and weak consumer confidence.

"The changes will involve simplification of business processes, delivering improved service to customers.

"Regrettably these will result in job losses and job restructuring."

One employee, who asked not to be named, said news of the potential cuts came as a shock to the workforce.

He said: "We were called into a meeting where we were told there were going to be redundancies, but they haven't told us how many.

"We were under the impression the company was doing well, but they said that because of the rising cost of energy they were having to change the running of the business.

"It is a shock because everything we read seems to suggest Norcros is doing well; we are all shareholders now and all the communications we get seem to say that."

Johnson Tiles is part of the Wilmslow-based Norcros Group, which also owns fellow Tunstall business Norcros Adhesives, Triton Showers in Nuneaton and a number of companies in South Africa. In its most recent trading update in July, Norcros said group revenue for the 13 weeks to July 3 rose by 10 per cent compared with the same period last year.

At Johnson Tiles, sales rose by 19.5 per cent. UK revenue was up 25.5 per cent, but export sales dropped by 10 per cent.

In June, Norcros posted a 60 per cent increase in trading profit for the year to the end of March, from £7.3 million to £11.7 million.

Sales reached £192.4 million, up 13.4 per cent from £169.6 million.

It did not reveal separate figures for Johnson Tiles, but said annual sales at the company rose by 12.4 per cent.

Garry Oakes, assistant general secretary at ceramics union Unity, said: "We're pretty well-recognised at Johnson Tiles and we've been told there are going to be some reductions, but we haven't been told a figure so we won't know the details until we've had some talks with the company.

"What we will try and do then is reduce the number of redundancies through various means.

Council trying claw back rent arrears from the deprived city of stoke on Trent

the local city council are trying to claw back rent arrears despite they being no jobs in the city but lead councillor mr clown perves does not understand this oh no he thinks money grows on trees its OK for him hes not short of any money oh no hes quite comfortably  financially secure its like the labour party in general and the conservatives they don't live where we live they have nice big posh houses out of the city away from areas that are deprive as soon as 5pm comes they are gone except we have councillors that think they no what happens on these estates but they haven't got a clue and to top it all off they are now leaving the gates open  to the local cemetery's to save money 1 this will create anti social behaviour 2 why don't they set a couple of people on that have being on jsa for a while to unlock and closed the gates at night give them there sia  licences ( security )  on a basic wage problem solved anyway enough said heres the article

Fury as arrears rise £115k in one month

Friday, September 09, 2011

The Sentinel

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UNPAID rent owed by tenants to Stoke-on-Trent City Council has soared by more than £115,000 in the last month.

The authority has formed an action group to tackle rising council tax and rent arrears as it implements budget cuts of £36 million.

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   ACTION: Mohammed Pervez says the council is trying to sort out the arrears.

But figures disclosed at a meeting of the full council yesterday show the amount owed in rent by current council tenants climbed to £1.7 million at the end of August.

Just four weeks earlier the total owed was £1.58 million.

Councillor Mohammed Pervez, council leader, said: "We're doing everything we can and are committed to addressing the issue."

The authority is also owed £1.75 million in rent by former tenants.

Details also revealed at yesterday's meeting show the council is owed £8.85 million in unpaid business rates – a total that has accumulated since 1995/96.

It is in addition to the total £36 million the council is owed in unpaid council tax, rent and sundry debts.

Mr Pervez said the council is already improving its efficiency in collecting taxes and business rates.

He said: "The issue of council tax arrears, business rate arrears and other debts is being looked at.

"A task and finish group is looking at how we can improve the situation and I have also asked council officers to look at this to make sure there is sufficient capacity to resolve it.

"We are 100 per cent behind trying to collect the council tax, rent and the other arrears owed to the council and we'll make sure we progress it as actively as possible."

The council is also to begin publishing the amount it is owed in rates, taxes and rent in every financial quarter.

The move follows criticism from opposition councillors that the authority is losing track of how much it is owed.

The move will allow officers' progress in clawing back the cash to be monitored.

Mr Pervez said: "The figures will be published so people can see our performance."

Councillor Dave Conway, leader of the opposition City Independents group, said: "It's a disgrace, every bit of it.

"People of the city paying their bills will want to know what is going on and why this money is not being collected.

"If things continue at the current rate, with an increase of £115,000 in one single month, we are going to end up in a far worse position at the end of last year than we were last year."

Last year, Stoke-on-Trent City Council had the worst record in the West Midlands for council tax collection.

Not good enough children centres should be left alone

not good enough children centres should be left alone labour should not be taking any funding from this areas they should be cutting back on the council officers wages not taking it from an area that is well needed these centres are well used and people from all back grounds use them for some of the mothers that use them they are a way of socialising whist there kids play its a  time out i only hope that the people that voted for these curupt councillors have now come to  there senses heres the article

Cuts deal was 'missed chance'

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Sentinel

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A SCRUTINY panel responsible for examining cuts to children's centres has recommended budget reductions go ahead.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is to cut the children's centre budget by 20 per cent, 10 per cent less than the £2.25 million it planned.

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   'TOO LATE': Dave Conway hit out over the cuts to children's centres.

It follows a citywide consultation with centre users and a series of high-profile protests by families.

The council's children and young people's scrutiny committee yesterday recommended cuts go ahead.

It also recommended that cuts to the centres in the budget for 2012/13 are capped at a maximum of a further 20 per cent.

And members also agreed to recommend the centres are rebranded as "Children and Family Centres."

But councillor Dave Conway, chairman of the children and young people's scrutiny committee, criticised the council for arriving at a compromise it could have chosen a year ago.

He said: "Protesters and staff have said from the very beginning that they could manage with 20 per cent but not 30 per cent.

"If we'd done this in the first place we'd have looked far better in the public eye."

Labour doing the dirty on stoke on Trent residents again

labour council do it again hit the vulnerable

 DO THE LABOUR COUNCIL NOT CARE THE DISTRESS CAUSED WHEN LOVED ONES GRAVES ARE DAMAGED OR DEFACED FOR GODS SAKE HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO LOCK A GATE.
I IMPLORE EVERYONE READING THIS TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR AND PROTEST
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO HURT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF STOKE ON TRENT



CEMETERIES across Stoke-on-Trent are being left open all night because of the rising cost of locking them.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has launched a month-long trial in which gates at eight of the nine cemeteries are not being secured in the evening.

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   GATES OPEN: Eight out of nine cemeteries, including Tunstall cemetery above, will remain open at night.

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They are usually closed shortly before sunset throughout the year to keep thieves and vandals from entering overnight.
But the council said the cost of securing them, handled by a private company, has increased and is not economical.
Only Carmountside cemetery will have its gates locked as several council environmental staff are based there.
Now residents are warning the cemeteries could become "villains' hideaways."
Retired Mavis Blurton, of Sneyd Hill, lives in a house which backs directly on to Burslem cemetery.
The 70-year-old is concerned she will be disturbed by youths entering the cemetery at night, and that the grave of her husband Terrence will be damaged.
She said: "I don't understand why we should have to put up with yobs being allowed in to drink around the graves.
"There are also going to be cars cutting through as it is a shortcut.
"The council changed the gates a few years ago and I don't understand why they have spent all that money if they are just going to leave them open.
"Already I have had to face litter and beer bottles when visiting my husband's grave and with the gates left open all night it can only get worse."
Jim Keogh, of Hanley Road, next to Burslem cemetery, said: "There have been many incidents there already, that's why they have already installed cameras.
"They will become villains' hideaways if people are allowed to come and go overnight.
"Part of me wants something to happen so the council can see the error of what they are doing, but on the other hand it is a beautiful place."
Councillor Gwen Hassall, cabinet member for housing and neighbourhoods, said last night: "We are, at this point, only trialling leaving the gates open at city cemeteries overnight.
"Increases in security costs have made it difficult to provide the service in its current form.
"This trial has been running since the start of September and, so far, there have been no reported incidents of anti-social behaviour.
We will continue to monitor the situation over the next month to see if it is appropriate to continue."