StoneRoad2013's photos with the keyword: CoLC

and that is despite "the system" being made deliberately obtuse / confusing

Previously, there was a push to get people off the unemployment register during the period of the 2008 economic crash ... Then, post covid-19 a lot of people had "long covid" or other problems and there was an economic downturn, but people still need an income ... But these benefits are not easy to claim ... . not my image : fair use & public education

This *might* be because we have a) an aging population b) post-covid health problems c) poor diet / lack of exercise and other factors coming home to roost ... Alternatively - how about balancing the budget by making sure rich individuals and multi-national companies actually PAY THEIR TAXES properly ...

Maybe this is the result of the punitive council tax hikes on second homes, but there are other partial explanations such as failed "escape to the country" / covid refugees giving up and heading back to the city types. . not my image : fair use & public information

A drastic cut in house values in some parts of Wales. I'm not convinced that it will help local people as wages are generally very low in many areas, so they still can't afford to buy ... . not my image : fair use & public information

Infographic : Declining UK Defence - 1952 to 2923. Over the past 71 years, apart from a few small spikes due to world affairs, no matter which party was in power, there has been an overall decline in UK Defence spending from 10% of GDP in 1952 to slightly under 2.5% in 2023. [Currently, the Labour Government is planning to increase that to 2.6% imminently - 2027 - with a commitment to reach 3% by "the next parliament" and to update factors such as drones]. How that will be funded in the longer term is an interesting question, given what's happening over the pond. A reversal of the "peace dividend" that was promised when "The Wall Came Down"... . Not my Image : fair use & public information

The recent decline in new homes being completed [comparing 2023 & 2024] is a trend visible - at varying levels of seriousness - throughout all the English regions. . Not my Image : fair use & public information

Using the lodgement of "Energy Performance Certificates" as a measure of new homes completed shows fewer homes over the last three years. A worrying trend, given that the need for affordable housing is still increasing. . not my image : fair use & public information

The housing situation in Northumberland is actually rather complex. The county has a largely rural population with a few towns and villages, in contrast SE Northumberland is more urbanised, previously relying on coal-mining for employment. Plus it has a large National Park & a rich built landscape heritage. . However, in recent years there has been a good deal of house building in many areas, both rural and urban. Sadly, the national shortage of "affordable" housing to buy or rent is also found here - and I doubt if the increased targets for new & affordable homes will be fully met. {some areas also have the second / holiday / airbnb forcing out local people problem}. . not my image : fair use & public education

There is a tremendous shortage of "new" homes being completed - including "affordable" housing - and the new Labour Government are pushing the developers & builders to complete many more new homes than are currently under construction / planned. There has been a bit of a post-covid slump, not helped by workers leaving the UK after brexit and the uncertainty surrounding energy etc following russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. . not my image : fair use & public education

The problem of NHS waiting times [for non-urgent surgery in particular] is continuing to vex. I suspect that at least part of the problem is the UK's aging population, added to systemic problems with over-controlling [expensive] non-medical management and political interference. Personally, I don't like the over-sized "super hospital" concept, nor what seems to be over-complicated & inefficient administration. Note : the dip and excessive rise in 2020/21 is the product of the measures needed to deal with the Covid-19 Pandemic. . not my image : fair use & public education

There has been a chronic & nationwide shortage of "affordable" homes whether to rent, to buy or split tenure since at least 1945 [a provision that used to be filled by council housing - which was, largely, destroyed by political dogma in the 1980s - and is now social housing or charitable housing associations]. Various policy & planning reforms have attempted to address this by encouraging developers to include a "quota" of affordable homes & other social requirements [shops / schools etc] in new schemes - and to use brownfield / urban conversion sites. Erratic enforcement & political see-sawing has resulted in these policies having limited affects. . Not my Image : fair use & public education

Rather gives the lie to the frequent right wing whinging about how much money "dole scroungers" get in the UK. I would say that the UK's amount is far too low. . Not my image : fair use & public education

Water hardness does indirectly affect the cost of living - those living in hard water areas spend more on soap / detergents, plus certain electrical "white goods" do not last as well - things like furred up kettles and washing machines. Also hot water pipework can become almost blocked by limescale deposits - and it needs more expensive energy to heat that water as the scaling is a poor conductor of heat. [Quibble - this does not distinguish between temporary & permanent hardness - a chemist would do so] . Not my image : fair use & public education

Inflation is a strange thing - much of that rise in prices was in early-mid 2022 and was a direct and largely panic response to the ru55ian invasion of Ukraine - but probably due to the hikes in costs as a consequence of sanctions on oil / gas pushing up energy prices. Additionally; covid-19, bird flu and brexit have all affected food prices in an inflationary manner. . Not my Image : fair use & public information

Rather p****ed off with RR - I know the tories left a black hole in the national financial affairs, but itv would have been better to go after the filthy rich and multinationals that don't pay their proper taxes than pick on those with fixed / limited incomes. Pension Credit is means tested ... . Not my Image : fair use & public information

Rents are still rising ... leading to "housing poverty" ie too high % of income spent on housing The dip in 2020 was due to the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by a steep rise [relationships breaking up and the economy picking up, plus WFH / students all chasing limited vacancies pushed up rents, not helped by a continued failure to invest in affordable / social housing]. . not my image : fair use & public information