REVEALED: Multi-million pound cost of council staff sickness which is 'much higher than other local authorities and can not be sustained'

This is more than double the national average for all working people, which currently stands at 4.4 days a year.
For certain departments, such as the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) – which is a joint venture between several councils – the number of days lost to sickness was even greater.
For October - December 2014, DWP had 14 days average sick per employee.
A target of just under 10 days has been set for 2015/16 which it is estimated could save around £100,000 from the DWP budget.
Robert Gould, leader of the county council, told the Echo that the authority is taking the situation ‘very seriously’.(more from dorset echo)

Council squander £60k+ on yet another consultant

from dorsetecho.co.uk

The council has revealed it spent £63,525 on bringing in a communications expert to help address a number of areas identified for improvement in a review.

“DCC has a long history of squandering resources on consultants and that is no reason to believe that this will not be more of the same.”
She added: “Spending £63,525 of public money on communications consultants is a complete and utter waste of resources that could go directly into supporting existing employees to deliver valuable local services.

Weymouth and Portland Burough Catastrophe (WPBC) strike again

This is a classic example that's been rumbling along for a while but has recently culminated in another Weymouth and Portland Burough Catastrophe.

Bohos outdoor seating license revoked for no good reason.

A letter in todays Echo sums it up nicely

Thanks for ruining a wonderful place

9:38am Thursday 1st November 2012 in Your Letters

Like all other customers, I was deeply sad and angry to hear aboutWeymouth and Portland Borough Council’s recent decision to remove Boho Bar’s outdoor seating licence.

This has effectively sounded the death knell for what I believe to be one of the best hostelries in the resort.

It’s the only incarnation that has had any real success in this building.

It has managed to combine the best of British drinking with a continental atmosphere – probably the only bar in town to pull this off authentically.

Walk past on a weekend night and you’ll see dozens of good-natured, happy revellers having a great time.

And not just locals. Countless visitors leave that bar with a fantastic impression of this town and its inhabitants. Despite its customer volume and late opening hours, it has never become notorious, unlike so many other pubs.

And now, for reasons I cannot fathom, the licensing powers have killed it. Already several jobs have been given the axe.

An independent business cherished by hundreds of people has been curbed, neutered and spat out by a group of councillors completely lacking in foresight for our borough.

I suppose the best we can hope for is that every customer, young and old, no longer gives their vote to any of the joyless few that decided in their ignorance to destroy this wonderful and vibrant place.

Sam Childs Rodwell Road Weymouth

Welcome to our nightmare, WPBC

A blog sharing local views on Weymouth and Portland Borough Catastrophe... sorry Council. Renowned for spending huge amounts of money on white elephants with no consultation, whilst seemingly waging a battle against local businesses and the Borough in general.

Please watch this space for prime examples as they come to light and please feel free to contribute your own examples, views and solutions