Your maths are no dobut better than mine, but you've hit the concepts spot
on, I think even if the numbers vary a little. I suppose other LA's might
vary in actual experience.
A related line of thought that's come up on this "just" or "democratic"
distribution of either trees or tree budget is a bit interesting. I hope
John Flannigan will join in here. I think I got onto this from the 2003
Colin Price paper John. Is it just that "affluent" folks can outcompete
"unaffluent" folks in the marketplace for situations of amenity. Say trees
or fine views. Let's eliminate the issue of taste and sophistication and
say the struggling lot would actually prefer the same amenity as the snooty
lot.
On the leftist or social welfare side you might argue that somebody ought to
be interspering parks and gardens into Dingy Dale for the amenity of the
poor folks. The government through a tax scheme or the better-off folks
through some imposed charity scheme. It's only fair. And I suppose send
their kids to the best schools and make them drink fine wine rather cheap
beer or spirits.
On the rightist or capitalist side I suppose you might argue that if it gets
ugly enough they just might move away and wouldn't that be nice for the posh
folks? Except, then who'd they hire to sweep the stables? Actually, my
serious argument is that left to the extreme, with the primary motivation
being shelter, food and fuel, would we envision the sprawling slums of
Calcutta or Rio? Lots of amenity there. Does the existence of Snootyside
if fact insure that some areas of high amenity punctuate the regional
landscape. Does the wider populace experience more amenty - at least from
time to time - that way? Does the LA budget properly go to smooting out the
"public" amenity in between?
Scott Cullen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Birtles, Jerry" <jbirtles@xxxxxxxxxxx.gov.uk>
To: "UK Tree Care" <uktc@xxxxxx.tree-care.info>
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 4:38 AM
Subject: RE: Tree Officers - What are they worth?
<< I was wondering if TO salary was a big chunk of budget. >>
Scott,
In relation to TPOs to I suspect this one varies considerably between LAs.
However, in Wandsworth, TO salaries account for about 40% of total
budget -
the rest being spent on tree maintenance. Planning work accounts for about
15% of salaries - therefore about 6% of total budget (if my maths are
right). TPOs account for about 1/3 of planning works - so about 2% of
total
budget.
So even if there is an imbalance between the wealthy areas & the socially
deprived - for which, to keep the argument going, I maintain there is no
socio-economic rationale - then they are not being deprived of much.
Jerry
IMPORTANT:
Confidentiality: This e-mail and its attachments are intended for
the above named only and may be confidential. If they have come to
you in error you must take no action based on them, nor must you copy
or show them to anyone; please reply to this e-mail and highlight the
error.
Please visit the Council's web site at: www.wandsworth.gov.uk
--
The UK Tree Care mailing list
To unsubscribe send mailto:uktc-unsubscribe@xxxxxx.tree-care.info
The UKTC is supported by The Arbor Centre
http://www.arborcentre.co.uk/
--
The UK Tree Care mailing list
To unsubscribe send mailto:uktc-unsubscribe@xxxxxx.tree-care.info
The UKTC is supported by The Arbor Centre
http://www.arborcentre.co.uk/
