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Almost 100% say no to iPads
THE huge scale of public opposition to the purchase of iPads for Scarborough’s 50 councillors has been revealed in a poll.
The purchase of the smart new Apple iPad devices is due to be decided on Friday.
But a survey on the Evening News website asking whether people were for or against the idea produced more than 67,000 responses – with 99.9 per cent against the idea, and 44 responses in favour.
Two councillors have also broken rank – and said that the members should buy their own.
Councillors already have full computer systems provided for them at public expense. But council chiefs say they can save £10,000 a year by avoiding having to print and post weighty agendas.
Cllr Janet Jefferson, who represents residents in the Castle ward, said she felt it was the wrong move. “I use my own computer, not the council’s,” she said. “If we need iPads I will buy my own.
“I would query the expense of these because of the economic climate.”
And Cllr Nick Brown, who represents residents living in the Ramshill ward, said when he first heard of the proposal he also felt strongly that if iPads were needed then councillors should buy their own.
He bought a cheaper Motorola model which he has found useful at meetings. He added: “I think there are more important things to be talking about than Ipads.
“I understand that people get angry because they hear us saying we’ve got to save money then with the next breath they hear that we are spending X on iPads for councillors.”
He added: “I think people who pay their council tax should be made more aware of what’s happening.”
Ipads cost about £400 but it is understood that the council would get them for less because they would need to buy so many.
The proposal has attracted about many comments from website bloggers, including one from someone known as ‘Baznpat’ who said: “If these freeloaders want iPads then go and buy them and save even more money.”
‘Sportinglife’ wondered what was wrong with simply using pen and paper.
‘Wigbert’ said: “iPads are a desirable toy not a business tool. The headline £10,000 saving is a joke. What is wrong with the laptops, which have a real keyboard, that they already have? Save even more money by using what you already have.”
‘Atilla the Hun’ said: “I have an iPad, and it is a great toy and multi-media device. I also have a laptop which cost half as much which I use for anything work related.
“I cannot think of any reason why I would want an iPad for use in my work unless it was to show people how extravagant I can be.”
‘Fair Deal For Filey’ said: “Many of them would not know an iPad from a brillo pad. They all have laptops, provided at taxpayers’ expense, broadband access at taxpayers’ expense, which is quite adequate for the simple functions councillors would need to perform, such as storing files, reading files and amending documents.”
He added: “In fact, the screen on an iPad is too small for this sort of work and its keyboard is non-existant, with fiddly on-screen buttons.
“Scarborough Council would be faced with a raft of claims for deteriorating eyesight and repetitive strain injury. iPads are for playing games primarily.”
‘Bluebird One’ said that council taxpayers should not be asked to fund the move and added: “Who do these people think they are ... We are in austerity measures up and down the land.”
‘Scarboroughman’ added: “All the council needs to do is look at ways to utilise the laptops more effectively. Instead of postage use email – after all they all have an email address provided by the council.”
According minutes from last month’s cabinet meeting, minutes the cost of the paper was low but the postage generated at total annual cost of around £10,000.
A review had been carried out and a small computer tablet device about the size of a computer mouse mat was considered to be the best way to offer the same “functionality” of paper.
The report from the Independent Remuneration Panel proposed that “the present provision of paper and computers be replaced by the one device” because it would reduce costs to a very reasonable level which would produce savings for the council.
It is understood that if the move is approved then all paper and laptops could be replaced by the one device within a year.
Friday’s council meeting is open to the public and is due to start at the Town Hall from 2pm.
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Comments
There are 24 comments to this article
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jgh
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 12:27 AMPending Moderation
ANARCHIST
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 09:45 PMIt's not iPads the councill need but Incontinece pads. They need to get the full value out of their Laptops and only use them for council business, not private use. If they wish to use them for private use, they must pay tax, as this is a perk. All usage must be logged and traceable.
FREE WHITBY
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 05:38 PM@21 Tim Thorne: You are speaking (of course) of Conservative MP for Scarborough & Whitby - Robert Goodwill. Today's story about former UKIP (now Independent) MEP Nikki Sinclaire is noteworthy for Ms Sinclaire's apparently limitless hypocrisy. Only last year, she told the Sunday Times, "The system in Europe remains ripe for abuse, and that needs to go." They say that politics makes for strange bedfellows. In my view, hypocrisy and greed are often to be found in close proximity. I will be watching the outcome of this case with great interest - as (I have no doubt) will Robert.
Tim Thorne
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 05:16 PMInteresting news story today. An ex-UKIP MEP has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud the European Parliament. The Daily Heil has it that she allegedly claimed "£840 for driving 1,200 miles when she took a much cheaper flight". Now, which former MEP has openly admitted to the following: "I fly from LeedsBradford to Brussels and we get a set fee of around £500, but if I buy a cheaper ticket, economy class for about £160 and £250, I can pocket the difference and, as a capitalist, also as a British Conservative, I see it as a challenge to buy cheap tickets and make some profit on the system" Does this mean that the chap who wrote the last quote has conspired to defraud the European Parliament too?
Tim Thorne
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 05:10 PM"Who ever thought to post the documents in the first place needs to be replaced by someone with logistics experience and knowledge." I would suggest anyone with common sense, which likely rules out anyone within the management structure of SBC and includes the vast majority of the population. Why is it just so difficult to get a bureaucratic civil servant type or politician to do the sensible thing?
Carole Gerada
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 09:15 AMThe only people in support of IPads for councillors is the councillors themselves. One of whom has increased the Eastfield Parish Council precept by over 100%! A case of getting the tax payer to pay for what councillors want and not what residents want. If the iPad idea goes ahead, I trust that all councillors will return their laptops and broadband allowances to go back into the pot. Somehow, I doubt it. The best saving could be made by getting councillors to collect their documents printed by the Council from the Town Hall - they are there often enough sitting in meetings doing not much else. Who ever thought to post the documents in the first place needs to be replaced by someone with logistics experience and knowledge.
TomH
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 09:04 AMDespite the obvious overriding public opinion on this comments page, I wonder at what point will the Evening News admit that the poll was hijacked and over 100,000 people did not vote against the Ipads? I'd feel a bit embarrassed if it had been me who printed this story.
baconroll
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:23 PM#7 Wigbert. Yeah they are all show-offs, ipad or no ipad Foxy & Dillon couldn't run a bath! We have to try and stop the closure of Trafalgar Street West before any more damage is done to what is left of our beautiful town.
joan greenwood
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:06 PMTKY Well said lets get organised as we are seeing the paid employed staff at the Town Hall just throwing our money down a drain Also they are getting a bigger pension than most of us who have worked hard all our lives So get organised please
T KY
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:03 PMNot a chance and for once the counciol need to listen to the tax payers. After all it is our money they are wasting. they already have the most up to date laptops.The council already have had a pay rise, more than the NHS and Police service. If the council go ahead and purchase these Ipads I suggest all us Tax payers stop our Direct debits and start showing some action. Our towns, our money, we want the benefits not the employers.
Bluebird One
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:32 PMWith the world let alone this tiny island G.B.being in recession, and austerity the Government cutting jobs like no tomorrow, huge saving have to be made up and down the land, people finding it hard to pay for food, utilities, council tax and rents and mortgages,and fuel, this Borough Council is hell bent on bucking the trend. I think they are all in denial the councillors should seek help they need it. They should sit in a room in a circle and look at one another and say out loud "I NEED HELP I AM A SCARBOROUGH BOROUGH COUNCILLOR . The dicision to even think about the Council buying "i-pads" should as they say been a NO BRAINER...... yes a NO BRAINER ....... oh I forgot like the scare-crow in the Wizard of Oz they have not got a brain................IDIOTS. I think the whole idea of purchasing i-pads is a disgrace...where are the computers the council tax payers bought?.
Oli Mount
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:42 PMThis council should be on tablets - it's true!
throxenbylad
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:09 PMInstead of eye pads aren't tablets available?
smellykipper
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 04:53 PMNearly 100% of the populaution didn't want a Tesco but didn't make one iota so I-Pads all round.
heavensentmum
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 04:08 PMCome on folks, you have got to admire their thinking. Embarrasing incidents-ipad.
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