Alastair's Speech
Getting the pennies in
Once Alistair Darling sat down last week and the arguments between the different Parties started about who has the biggest and sharpest financial axe, the sad truth remains that frankly whoever is in charge ....well, there simply isn't enough cash to go round.
So how does all this impact upon CCHA giving services to residents?
Firstly the not so good news is that costs will rise (VAT back to 17.5% and National Insurance contribution to rise) - so just on the VAT alone if we spend £1 Million on improvements (as we did this year) an extra £25,000 will be paid in tax rather than on say four new kitchens.
So far not so good.
Regular salary increases for our staff have been abandoned meaning we'll have to work harder in other ways to keep the very best people we have. Rent arrears are also rising - we're investing in a new Debt Advisor Service in 2010 and our Welfare Benefits advice service continues; all aimed at helping those in the greatest need. The flip side is that all those others that refuse to pay will be pursued by a new Rent Arrears Officer - when it comes to the money, a bit like Alistair we just simply can't afford not to.
