Residents like Buckinghamshire County Council's Buckinghamshire Times more than papers, boss says
10:02am Thursday 21st January 2010 in Where I Live By Oliver Evans
Residents like council magazine more than papers, boss says
RESIDENTS like a controversial taxpayer funded council magazine more than their local paper, a boss said.
Buckinghamshire County Council deputy leader Councillor Bill Chapple said The Buckinghamshire Times provided ‘value for money’.
The magazine, which he said cost taxpayers £114,000 a year, angered many after proclaiming on its front page in mid December that gritters were poised to tackle icy weather (see link, bottom of story).
In the coming weeks Bucks was plunged into the worst winter for three decades and supplies had to be rationed amid accusations that roads were not gritted.
Pressed by a committee probing spending cuts, Cllr Chapple said: “They like it better than the local paper.”
A survey found 45 per cent of respondents liked the magazine, he said. It is delivered to all 200,000 homes in the county.
Critics accuse such magazines as ‘propaganda’ as they herald councils’ achievements only.
Cllr Chapple said: “I believe that The Buckinghamshire Times is good value for money. I think it is a very good way of getting out what is happening within this county.”
Branding the magazine ‘free’ he said bosses were reluctant to take on too much advertising as this could distract from the editorial content.
But Councillor Michael Brand said: “Why can’t you make that self financing?”
This would pay for two top staff members, he said. “I’m not sure that area of your portfolio couldn’t take a bigger hit,” Cllr Brand added.
And Councillor Peter Hardy, the chairman of the probe, said greater use of the council’s ‘excellent’ website could reduce the magazine’s costs.
The magazine is to be merged with the four district councils in Bucks, Cllr Chapple said, to save cash.
The communications department will also be cut from 21 to 16 with the post dedicated to the magazine shared between staff who take on other roles, he said.
The examination of the budget and medium term plan task and finish group will meet again today to discuss schools and social care cuts. Click the link below for a live blog from the meeting.
Comments(27)
michael healy
says...
10:57am Thu 21 Jan 10
WELL DONE!!! A BIG PAT ON YOUR BACKS, NOT!!!!!!!!!!
MC=2
says...
11:00am Thu 21 Jan 10
miccles
says...
11:27am Thu 21 Jan 10
And this is what rubbish the council tax money goes to, is it any wonder they are in trouble.
45% of respondents liked the magazine, where was this poll taken, in the BCC canteen??
I bet those gritters in the picture still look the same today, brand spanking new and never been used.
What a load of ol fu***ng rubbish this is.
Red Fred
says...
11:33am Thu 21 Jan 10
miccles
says...
11:41am Thu 21 Jan 10
Red Fred wrote:Those were the days, when i used to travel on Alder Valley, always mostly on time, clean.
I actually agree with them. This magazine is much better reading than the bfp, but then again so is a soggy beermat or an old alder valley bus timetable circa 1978.
Arriva please note.
towncryer
says...
12:09pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Magazine is simply an ego trip opportunity for Shakespeare, Chapple and the other councillors!!
Get rid of the magazine and also the local District Magazines that councils produce
Funds are better spent on front line services !!!
muffintop
says...
1:37pm Thu 21 Jan 10
- what a waste of money.
Red Fred
says...
1:49pm Thu 21 Jan 10
aspen g
says...
2:05pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Do they think we are stupid???!
I think High Wycombe needs an unofficial 'newspaper' or 'internet blog' - so the PEOPLE can report on what IS ACTUALLY GOING ON NOT WHAT IS FED TO US BY OUR PROPAGANDA HAPPY COUNCILLORS.
Grrrr
BFP Reader
says...
2:36pm Thu 21 Jan 10
.
They are so at odds with what people observe and with people's common sense suggestions - missing the point and patronising us - they could save even more money by not holding elections and simply installing their own choice of councillors as it's evident they think there is only one brain cell between all the residents of bucks!
.
They even believe "2 gritters good/4 gritters bad" down at the BCC Farm
Rosa Klebb
says...
2:57pm Thu 21 Jan 10
:
I can tell you I don't read it.
:
At a guess, the people who responded were those of a certain age with some time on their hands and the questions were framed in very specific language. e.g.'Do you like the fact the Buckinghamshire Times is free unlike local papers, Madam/Sir?'
:
Let's see the questionnaire.
Plus ça change...
says...
4:49pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Wouldn't that save money?
I don't need glossy stuff to tell me what councils do.
WDC have got a decent website. People should try using it.
If people are solely reliant for their info on reading a mag, they are a bit behind the times.
trickerg
says...
4:56pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Is this a proven fact?
towncryer
says...
5:25pm Thu 21 Jan 10
aspen g wrote:There are a few local mags that tell it as it is -- Spotlight East Wycome is a great read --paid for by advertising , edited by local people and distributed by local people all on a free basis !!!
More council propaganda... Do they think we are stupid???! I think High Wycombe needs an unofficial 'newspaper' or 'internet blog' - so the PEOPLE can report on what IS ACTUALLY GOING ON NOT WHAT IS FED TO US BY OUR PROPAGANDA HAPPY COUNCILLORS. Grrrr
The district councillors even help to deliver it, ive seen then doing it!!
yog
says...
5:42pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Kania 2000
says...
5:57pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Would anyone missthe Buckinghamshire Council Times!
demoness
says...
8:01pm Thu 21 Jan 10
towncryer wrote:Wendover news does the same and is free as well.
aspen g wrote: More council propaganda... Do they think we are stupid???! I think High Wycombe needs an unofficial 'newspaper' or 'internet blog' - so the PEOPLE can report on what IS ACTUALLY GOING ON NOT WHAT IS FED TO US BY OUR PROPAGANDA HAPPY COUNCILLORS. GrrrrThere are a few local mags that tell it as it is -- Spotlight East Wycome is a great read --paid for by advertising , edited by local people and distributed by local people all on a free basis !!! The district councillors even help to deliver it, ive seen then doing it!!
Not as glossy as the Bucks one of course, but infinitely more useful.
northern_monkey
says...
10:34pm Thu 21 Jan 10
wayneo
says...
11:01pm Thu 21 Jan 10
northern_monkey wrote:I guess it's from the same breed as one of their consultations, where residents are in favour, it's a majority, where residents aren't in favour, the result is not proportional to the public at large.
..."A survey found 45 per cent of respondents liked the magazine". What survey was this? The editor asked 9 of his mates? How many people were asked? By whom? What were they asked?
George1
says...
11:09pm Thu 21 Jan 10
That 45% were from the FEW who responded, the tens of thousands who like me dislike this load of bilge glance at it and think same old self back slapping. There are small groups who get some Council help which the council commends itself for in their publication, pretending that the Conservative controlled Bucks County Council are interested in people and doing a good job, THEY ARE NOT, they do not list their FAILURES which far outweigh anything they find fashionable.
Why do I get the impression that the only groups receiving council help are those where council members have a personal interest, too much back scratching, have they got fleas?
readerabc
says...
10:05am Fri 22 Jan 10
what a waste of money
think of all the gitting, swiming pools and athletics tracks this could pay for!
SW: vote-once
aspen g
says...
11:48am Fri 22 Jan 10
5:25pm Thu 21 Jan 10
aspen g wrote:
More council propaganda... Do they think we are stupid???! I think High Wycombe needs an unofficial 'newspaper' or 'internet blog' - so the PEOPLE can report on what IS ACTUALLY GOING ON NOT WHAT IS FED TO US BY OUR PROPAGANDA HAPPY COUNCILLORS. Grrrr
There are a few local mags that tell it as it is -- Spotlight East Wycome is a great read --paid for by advertising , edited by local people and distributed by local people all on a free basis !!!
The district councillors even help to deliver it, ive seen then doing it!!
Thx - I will look out for it. I personally find the BFP bloggers more informative than the BFP reporters :)
Red Fred
says...
12:05pm Fri 22 Jan 10
.
And some, are one and the same!
Steve Totteridge Hill
says...
4:56pm Fri 22 Jan 10
aspen g
says...
3:15pm Mon 25 Jan 10
Now that really is money for old rope.
I need to get me a job at the BFP where I can be xenophobic and irrationally concerned with hedgehogs and the like :)
bumble007
says...
3:24pm Tue 9 Feb 10
DeepThinker says...
10:55am Thu 21 Jan 10
.
but overall Andrex is still the people's favourite.