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SALFORD COUNCIL SPENDS OVER £65,000 ON FIREWORKS, TENTS, CRUISES AND SHOWS
 

Star date: 3rd June 2014

WHILE SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS SERVICES, SPENDING ON `CIRCUSES' HITS OVER £65,000

Last week, Salford Council closed its consultation on huge cuts to vulnerable adults that will see many in the city suffer. Meanwhile over the last six months – and before the Spirit of Salford festival – the Council spent over £65,000 on fireworks, cruises, marquees and shows.

In ancient Rome the phrase `bread and circuses' was coined to describe such antics of politicians and autocratic emperors.

Full details here…

Salford Council last week closed its consultation on cuts to some of the most vulnerable adults in the city – cuts to Care On Call, cuts to transport, cuts in support for deaf and blind people and lots more (for full details see previous Salford Star article – click here).

Salford Council is also currently consulting on cuts to the city's Sure Start Children's Centres, while campaigners are desperately trying to raise £50,000 to keep Salford Children's `Jam Butty' Camp open after another Council cut.

Meanwhile, recently revealed Salford Council payments over £500 for the six months October 2013 until March 2014 show that over £65,000 has been spent on what many would regard as less important projects…

During the period, £23,700 was spent by Salford City Council on fireworks, while £25,527.60 was paid to companies providing marquees.

A further £3,270 was spent on `city centre cruises' (£1,935 of which was `resaleable'), with another £14,021.60 on shows, festivals and sponsorship…

The Sounds From The Other City Festival received £5,000
Manchester Food and Drink Festival received £1,200
Entertainment agency, Fools Paradise, received £3,351.60
The Salford Triathlon received £1,500 sponsorship
And another secret organisation received £2,970 sponsorship, with all information `redacted'.

This gives the total spent by Salford Council on `entertainment' £66,519.20 during the six month period in the run up to the cuts. This does not include any money spent on the Spirit of Salford weekend, which also included fireworks, staging and, we understand, bottles of champagne given out as gifts.

Salford Mayor, Ian Stewart, said publicly that the Spirit of Salford festival wouldn't cost local council tax payers `one penny' – the Salford Star is currently trying to get hold of the accounts for the weekend to see if this was true.

Meanwhile, those fighting the cuts or facing the cuts will be gladdened to hear that the Council and Mayor have been funding far more `sexier' projects than care for vulnerable adults or less well off children in the city.

It was an ancient Roman poet who coined the phrase `bread and circuses' to describe the actions of politicians and autocratic emperors who made sure their citizens had just enough to eat, and an over indulgence of circuses to divert their attention from what was really happening…
wrote
at 07:06:50 on 10 June 2014
Is this Council Thick or what...all that money gone onto something we never bloody wanted...Spirit of Salford My backside...what right has this council to spend " Our Money"- but that's nothing new with this disgrace of a Clowncil we have, they'll spend whatever they want when they want...selfish gets they are...no consideration about the BORN & BRED True SALFORD people who lived here all there lives.
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Ex Liebour Voter wrote
at 12:51:41 on 06 June 2014
These career bullshitting politicians really make me puke . Just who do they think they are as they waste and squander taxpayers extorted funds ? The only security for mayor greedy should be provided by GMP TAU thugs . Perhaps Lloyd and Fahey could instruct their thugs not to rough Greedy up , as he's not a protester . After all , a protester has much more worth than any grubby, greedy , self-serving politician- parasite .
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M7 wrote
at 06:27:15 on 06 June 2014
How come lately Mr Money- Bags, I don't care Stewart-has started to have security around him at all times,Just seen a salix picture and police are around him, like security were at this NOT wanted Spirit of Salford event... Your nothing Special Stewart Your Nothing important And your most certainly NOT From Salford So I wonder how much these extra measures your taking Mr Stewart for your Protection from our Council Tax... What a Pillock you are Stewpot Ian....
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Not surprised wrote
at 08:56:47 on 05 June 2014
How could Ian stewart say the weekender event would cost the people of Salford anything?? It was a large event filling the whole lawn! That money could have been spent on saving some of the vulnerable services being cut! I was embarrassed earlier this year when I saw Ian Stewart being interviewed on BBC Northwest tonight!! He very sternly told the interviewer that people should turn to Cameron re: these cuts and took no responsibility for his own power to cut elsewhere! Did Cameron ask Ian Stewart to blow all this money on a weekend event??? What on earth is going on?? If I were a Manager or Senior Elected member I would be doing all I could to juggle money & save what services I could! I wouldnt be paying thousands for fireworks! The Prom in the Park event was stopped due to cuts was it not?? How is this different?
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David cameron wrote
at 08:56:17 on 05 June 2014
And the worst part about it all is their going to roll out the old chestnut, it's all the con/dems governments fault for all the cut backs and as usual the people of salford will vote labour, sorry but there should be IQ tests before people are allowed to vote, this would exclude 90% of labour supporters from voting
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waynebee wrote
at 08:56:05 on 05 June 2014
Nice one Steve for keeping us aware of what the council parasites are up to.... living it up while others struggle to make do. Most government workers think they actually work and pay taxes when in reality, the government takes money from genuine hard workers and gives it to government employee parasites to oppress people. A government worker does not work, he/she simply enforces the governments oppressive acts against ordinary people for money. A government worker does not pay tax, they simply give some of the tax, which is forcibly taken from others, back. We all pay the government to pay others to continuously have us over again and again. People must wake up, have you ever heard of a struggling government worker who cannot make ends meet? you wont because these tax parasites are well looked after while they spend your hard earned dosh. Most Government workers/agents live off the backs of ordinary hard working people and if your not working you are not contributing to their wages and so you are treated like shite. Peace & Love.
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M7 wrote
at 20:15:09 on 04 June 2014
Just Typical of Stewart...Did He Consult the people of Salford if we really need "The Spirit of Salford" event..in my Eyes as A full paying council tax payer is NO.. Puzzles me how these consultations have gone on, how were they advertised..wasn't advertised like last weeks Spirit of Salford was...in my eyes and this corrupt council as it is..have already decided what's going & what's staying... This Clowncil have over the years created Jobs for the Boys..been Greedy and wasted money on things that are NOT needed..so in theory it's their own Fault. This Clowncil will make huge cutbacks that effect us Salford people..but Stewart &'Co will up their Allowence's year in year out without a thought for the vunerable of this City
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Pissed off Peter wrote
at 20:14:24 on 04 June 2014
Sorry I mis-read the article, when I read Circuses, tents, fireworks and shows I thought you were referring to the Clown hall in Swinton. I should have realised when I read that the expenditure was a measley £66K. I mean 66k! That really would mean real hardship cuts down at the clown hall wouldn't it! NOT
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morbius wrote
at 20:14:20 on 04 June 2014
Just so typical of mayor Greedy Sewerat and his Parasites. The taxpayers must stop these Professional Wasters pissing OUR money away like this.
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David cameron wrote
at 20:13:20 on 04 June 2014
This would have been worth every penny, if only Ian Stewart and his deputy dogs would have been sitting on them at the time they went off.
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Mrs Irene crumb wrote
at 13:41:03 on 04 June 2014
After trying to raise money to keep the Salford Camp open I was not surprised to hear that once again money from the council was being wasted on things that try to make them look good but bad idea all it did was to make people realize what they do with people's money. I know there has to be cuts but common sense should tell them you don't spend money on things you don't need when other things that are more important don't get the money they need.
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Not surprised wrote
at 13:40:59 on 04 June 2014
If the state of Salfords Councils finances were not in the shocking state they are then I wouldnt be bothered about these figures as the event did seem to be busy and was either free or relatively cheap!! Salfords residents are all suffering under these central goverment cuts and a free event on a Sunday day does lift spirits, However when 12 services for vulnerable people are up for the chop and the fate of the Sure Start Centres is under threat then I do not feel spending this much money can be justified. I am sure even if a request under the freedom of information went in to ask for these figures you wouldnt get the exact amount. If the Salford Star do ask then I would suggest that you word this requesting info about ALL costs/expenses relating to the whole weekend incl money spent before, during & after the event. I doubt this info will be forthcoming though. The Rally on the Lawn (which Ian Stewart tried to stop) held the Saturday before the recent local elections cost nothing!!!!
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noreen wrote
at 13:40:45 on 04 June 2014
well well well Steve I put a post up last week when we saw the fireworks asking how could we get to know how much had been spent for spirit of Salford I am so glad you may be able to help because I will not rest till we sort this lot out I was so upset when I read you article above in fact I cried it made me so frustrated to know this lot of ignorant disgusting men and women running this council and the government cannot see what they are doing to the good people of Salford not only the vulnerable but the hard working people of saford having to use food centres without jobs must I go on ,we really do need a breakdown of everything this council is spending the money on how come also if the people of Salford would not incur any costs to spirit of Salford why did they have to pay for music festival I thank god for people like you Steve that will go all out to help us thank you so much and I can honestly say I will not give up this fight till we get to the truth xxx
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