Why I wonder is it now "essential" that my wheelie bin be left empty and out on the street for four days after our routine rubbish collection.
Ah, its to enable our newly contracted "refuse disposal engineers" to fix "safety notices" to all the bins.
What do these "safety notices" actually say, well its to remind the very same contractor that the bins remain the property of the local authority and only approved machinery be used to empty them.
One wonders why that is necessary as the new company contracted to now undertake the work was formed by the former local authority refuse collection service managers, has employed all but 4 of the previous departments staff and leased all of the vehicles formally used b y the very same local authority!
Another one for Private Eye methinks.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Amazing!
According to our local authority Highways Manager it is "..always necessary to close roads when undertaking works of this kind.We have a duty to provide the workforce with a safe working environment and road closure is the only mechanism to achieve this."
Don't suppose the fact that for this particular contract the tendered price was 32% lower if the job was undertaken over four days with road closure rather then seven days with single lane working was anything to do with the decision was it!
Don't suppose the environmental impact assessment for the job had to take into account the closure would inflict those undertaking the diversion with a 28mile additional journey either. The fact that by his own estimates 43 HGV movements would have to undertake this each day of the works to serve a single business also seems to be unimportant.
Interesting then that when a certain council employee complained that should the road he lives on be closed for resurfacing the "numerous residents struggling to attend their workplaces, take their children to school and go about their normal activities" would be inflicted with a "wholly unjustified seven mile additional journey" to reach the local town it was enough to justify single lane working for that five day job.
Wasn't a surprise to me to read it was the very same person a year earlier!!
Yet again one rule for one and another one for the rest of us
Don't suppose the fact that for this particular contract the tendered price was 32% lower if the job was undertaken over four days with road closure rather then seven days with single lane working was anything to do with the decision was it!
Don't suppose the environmental impact assessment for the job had to take into account the closure would inflict those undertaking the diversion with a 28mile additional journey either. The fact that by his own estimates 43 HGV movements would have to undertake this each day of the works to serve a single business also seems to be unimportant.
Interesting then that when a certain council employee complained that should the road he lives on be closed for resurfacing the "numerous residents struggling to attend their workplaces, take their children to school and go about their normal activities" would be inflicted with a "wholly unjustified seven mile additional journey" to reach the local town it was enough to justify single lane working for that five day job.
Wasn't a surprise to me to read it was the very same person a year earlier!!
Yet again one rule for one and another one for the rest of us
Friday, 7 October 2011
Logic?
Its official, according to a finance director it's supposedly "better for the organisation" that something be purchased from the 'official source' at £11.03 per item than Amazon at £2.60!!
It's due, I'm told, to the fact there are 'additional costs' I don't understand!
Strange really as both prices are quoted VAT inclusive & free delivery I question.
But then he explains, its all to do with the fact that the 'official' supplier sends the organisation just one invoice each month no matter how many items are supplied to what department so the "back office" costs are lower.
Oh so that's it then, our back office costs are so high the additional workload of checking items from a company purchase card statement are so much greater than checking items on a single suppliers invoice!
Now there's logic for you.
Could only be an organisation funded by the public purse couldn't it.
An organisation that has to save another £4.5 million this year.
An organisation that is holding staff conferences on expensive hotel venues to tell staff they need to save money and be more efficient!
Ah, now its clear, of course its the NHS isn't it!
It's due, I'm told, to the fact there are 'additional costs' I don't understand!
Strange really as both prices are quoted VAT inclusive & free delivery I question.
But then he explains, its all to do with the fact that the 'official' supplier sends the organisation just one invoice each month no matter how many items are supplied to what department so the "back office" costs are lower.
Oh so that's it then, our back office costs are so high the additional workload of checking items from a company purchase card statement are so much greater than checking items on a single suppliers invoice!
Now there's logic for you.
Could only be an organisation funded by the public purse couldn't it.
An organisation that has to save another £4.5 million this year.
An organisation that is holding staff conferences on expensive hotel venues to tell staff they need to save money and be more efficient!
Ah, now its clear, of course its the NHS isn't it!
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Just the start!
This is where I'm going to rant about the things that start my blood boiling, those things that I think are just plain stupid or the things I get upset about.
Maybe I'm just too cynical but there are times I just cannot accept the way I'm told or 'recommended' to do things, purchase things or organise things aren't in someway or another due to an individuals or organisations interest or desire to do not what is best but easiest!
Possibly the "easiest" was/is being justified by the use of out of date or warped sensibilities or just plain inefficiency, sometimes by greed or malice.
Whatever the situation or occasion I will have my moan!
Please feel free to comment, deny or correct as appropriate.
Maybe I'm just too cynical but there are times I just cannot accept the way I'm told or 'recommended' to do things, purchase things or organise things aren't in someway or another due to an individuals or organisations interest or desire to do not what is best but easiest!
Possibly the "easiest" was/is being justified by the use of out of date or warped sensibilities or just plain inefficiency, sometimes by greed or malice.
Whatever the situation or occasion I will have my moan!
Please feel free to comment, deny or correct as appropriate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)