Global economics have killed off city's flowers
IN response to Jacqueline Burnell's letter, "Why morale will suffer if certain council cuts are made" (Opinions, January 5), I wish to say that I share many of her views.
Morale will be affected by the cuts that the city council is being forced to make and it will be very disappointing not to see displays of flowers in the parks which are a great asset to Derby.
It simply is the case, however, that the council has no choice but to make severe cuts to its services, given the extent of Government budget cuts. No Labour councillor wants to make these cuts and I doubt many of our colleagues in other parties wish to see cuts on this scale. Losing the flowers does, nevertheless, serve as an illustration of just how far local provision is ultimately influenced by global economic factors.
National economies are now inextricably bound to the fortunes of global markets. In response to the global crisis, the Government believes that in reducing public sector spending to a bare minimum it will reduce the national budget deficit. However, it has discovered that the British economy cannot escape the whims of global markets and cutting public spending can have adverse effects, such as reducing growth.
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When to cut and when to invest is a judgment call and they seem to have got it wrong, as the deficit is in fact growing.
With more Government cuts in sight, Derby City councillors cannot promise to bring back the flowers in the short-term. The money is just not there. We could keep the flowers and cut other services even more but that would be equally bad for morale.
We need to retain our parks as public assets where we can plant flowers when the economy is once again flourishing. We're unlikely to see that happen while cuts are the only response to the global economic crisis.
Councillor Alison Martin
Labour councillor for Boulton Ward
Comments
by Derby_born
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 12:50PM
“For many years we have seen flower beds at traffic islands, verges and in parks, that are sponsored by local businesses. This sponsorship had been secured by previous council administrations and was supported by businesses who benefitted from Derby being an attractive city that encouraged visitors.
The traffic island on Bradshaw Way has a notice promoting Derby's Aerospace industry, Ia believe this island is sponsored by Rolls Royce, and the island opposite Westfield is sponsored by Westfield, they pay for the traffic island's horticultural management. The Pennine Hotel used to sponsor the flower beds near London Road, so perhaos the Jurys Inn, Hampton Hilton and The Holiday Inn could sponsor the River Gardens and St. Alkmunds way? After all the state of these areas will have an effect on their trade!
So Councillor Allison Martin, why are you not persuing sponsorship options? Or is it more politcally effective for you to allow the city to look run down so that we fail to attract inward investment? Just as Councillor Banwait's recent litter stunt left the city centre looking like a tip and upset a lot of the hotel and leisure trade over a whole weekend.”