Forum Topic

Is Wandsworth Council Efficient or Profligate?

Recently the ONS has published data making it possible to compare the profile of Wandsworth with the UK.  A profile shows how many are in each band and a comparison shows which bands are most and least representative.  For example the largest age band in Wandsworth is 28 containing 3.25% of the total population.  The peak age of the UK is 47 containing 1.47% of the Total.  28 is also the age at which Wandsworth is most overrepresented at 2.42 times the UK and both 68 and 83 are the least represented at 49% of the UK.This data can be visually seen on population pyramids but the principal points are:Age:            Wandsworth:UK Ratio0            1.34Between 3 & 4    117            0.60 (minimum)Between 22 & 23    128            2.42 (maximum)Between 42 & 43    168            0.49 (minimum)Over 90            0.55This table leads to my main question on whether Wandsworth Council is efficient as it claims or whether it is profligate based on the demographics, plus the ability, taken to full advantage, to exploit parking.  The ages when most people are subsidised from the public purse are when they are being educated, say 4 to 21, and requiring additional health and social care in old age.  The intervening years are when we work and subsidise.Clearly Wandsworth having more subsidisers and fewer subsidised has been dealt a good financial hand.  Most funding comes from Central Government.  If government ignores how good a hand Wandsworth has been dealt and provides funds on say a simple per capita basis then our council is profligate.  If on the other hand funding takes full account of demographics and the ability to exploit parking then our council is a paragon of virtue.  For those of us that have no idea how government funding works it would be useful to know.  Can anyone reading this provide enlightenment please?

Peter Hird ● 3856d3 Comments