The way in which local Parents have been treated (Lydgate School etc -
see other thread), and the near local elections make it a good time to exercise our democratic rights, and hold our leaders accountable for what they do. I personally feel these parents have been treated very badly indeed, and I hope they win in court if is goes this far.

I don't personally think there is universal happiness about the administration of Local Government in Sheffield. Has anyone got any other amazing examples of very just or unjust decisions made by our local leaders over the past two years. It would take some way for me to vote Labour again, at least in the local elections. I'm starting this thread with an obvious bias, so I'll sit back a bit and listen to what you tell me.

A change is as good as a holiday :D

I never really took much interest in local politics, most young people (maybe untill now) had the attitude of 'letting them get on with it, it's nothing to do with me.' This thankfully is not an opinion I have held for the last few years. Also living in one of the only houses in Fulwood to display a Labour poster there has allways been a strong political view curtousy of an ex Labour councillor (not in Sheffield), my Dad.
Over the last year I have found that I am in great need of help from the council and have learnt a great deal in how things seem to be handled in the city. From my point of view I have been ignored, and then when more persistant, fobbed off. The council will stick to their agenda no matter how worthwhile a new opinion or idea may be. They seem to me to be incredibly shortsighted and uninterested in the opinions of the people they represent.
I have experience what I felt to be dishonesty first hand, in a meeting with a councillor and other staff members. If they didn't know what they were saying was untrue then I am shocked that it was so easy for me, a mere resident to find out that it was. There is also clearly a lack of communication within the Town Hall walls.
There is no denying that with the great burdon of debt upon the city, the council have a far from easy job. But talk to anyone in Sheffield and read through many of the postings on this sight and you will gind a great deal of negative views regarding them.
I have been told by numerous people and organisations, including one of the Universities, not to bother with them, the council that is. They wont listen and they wont help. I refuse to give up though when other councils such as Nottingham have listened and have helped someone in a similar situation to myself. What makes our council so different?

It comes as no surprise to find politicians lying through their teeth.
Whether the disenchantment with our Labour councillors shown on by other posters is due to this or a perception of plain old fashioned incompetence is hard to tell.

I agree that the recent scandalous political games being played with parents at Lydgate school is as good an example as you could find of dodgy political wranglings in our City.

As a middle class Labour voter I feel let down. I hope they get the kicking they deserve at the local elections so that they get their ideas sorted.

From reading all the views on the forum I'd be stunned if Labour do at all well in the elections.
Good luck to whoever takes over running this council. Lets hope we'll soon be able to put a little more trust in them. (holding breath)

Originally posted by "Malaika"

From reading all the views on the forum I'd be stunned if Labour do at all well in the elections.
Good luck to whoever takes over running this council. Lets hope we'll soon be able to put a little more trust in them. (holding breath)

I agree Malaika. Trusing a politician is hard, but we can only keep voting for those who haven't yet demonstrated their incompetence, and hope that things shift eventually. Labour have done so many bad things that have really not helped to make Sheffield great. The Lydgate school story really worries me a lot as well. Does anyone really care about real people any more (as opposed to idealised mythical "well off people in Fulwood", "valliant working class people of Manor", "Asian immigrants" etc etc.....). I'll put myself down as not be voting Labour for a while (that's the Local election). For the General one I think other things come into play (tax on poor little not so well off me!, versus other possible good things).

Corr

Originally posted by "SheffieldLady3"

The way in which local Parents have been treated (Lydgate School etc -
see other thread), and the near local elections make it a good time to exercise our democratic rights .... ... I hope they win in court if is goes this far.

It seems that this probably will go to court? I saw money being collected for this. What a waste of money all round - would have been better spent making sure this problem didn't happen in the beginning.

The self serving dishonesty of the Labour administration in Doncaster not so far away or long ago which ended with the jailing of Councillors for fraud looms large in my memory. I would imagine several more used ther influence to escape a prison sentence.

A Councillor sits in his office and out of boredom, decides to see what's in his old filing cabinet. He pokes through the contents and comes across an
old brass lamp.

"This will look nice on my mantelpiece," he decides, and takes it home with him.

While polishing the lamp, a genie appears and grants him three wishes. "I wish for an ice cold beer right now!" He gets his beer and drinks it.

Now that he can think more clearly, he states his second wish. "I wish to be on an island where beautiful nymphomaniacs reside." Suddenly he is on an island with gorgeous females eyeing him lustfully.

He tells the genie his third and last wish. "I wish I'd never have to work ever again."

POOF! He's back in his council office.

Liked the joke.

Elections time - lets get rid of these scroundrels!

The widespread disaffection of people for Labour that is evident on Sheffieldforum.com is fascinating. Local Labour has lost the active support of broad masses of working people. This has nothing to do with the War in Iraq (I think most people secretly agree that what was done was right), or the fact that it has at least in theory has junked the old creaky idiotic left fringe (Tony Ben et al). I suspect it has more to do with good old fashioned incompetence, high taxes, poor education, and stupid actions (at a local level, the execrable midleading of parents at Lydgate school has brought home to many the attitudes of local Labour towards its lower middle-class supporters). The local elections will be fasvinating. I hope they get trounced.

Originally posted by "Amazed14"

The widespread disaffection of people for Labour that is evident on Sheffieldforum.com is fascinating. Local Labour has lost the active support of broad masses of working people. This has nothing to do with the War in Iraq (I think most people secretly agree that what was done was right), or the fact that it has at least in theory has junked the old creaky idiotic left fringe (Tony Ben et al). I suspect it has more to do with good old fashioned incompetence, high taxes, poor education, and stupid actions (at a local level, the execrable midleading of parents at Lydgate school has brought home to many the attitudes of local Labour towards its lower middle-class supporters). The local elections will be fasvinating. I hope they get trounced.

I hope Labour get hammered today.

Originally posted by "Carynne"


I hope Labour get hammered today.

Oops, bad luck.

Originally posted by "maxt"


I hope Labour get hammered today.

Oops, bad luck.


Yes indeed. Poor old Sheffield.

With the benefit of some 2 years hindsight as anything changed since this thread was started, if so what, have things improved for the better and that being the case how?