Paul Crossley

Friday 31

This months car mileage = 85 = 0.03 tonnes of CO2 = 21p offset. Again I’ll add it to the bill to pay next month. April is election month and I will be in Bristol a lot so will rack up a few miles over the next 4 weeks I am afraid. Still the good news is the Liberal Democrats are poised for victory in Bristol.

Just got back from Exeter and again all 3 trains on time and to schedule. During this last month I have been to Wakefield, Lincoln, Taunton, Exeter, Bristol and London and every journey was to schedule except the return from Wakefield when we got caught up in the end of the Cheltenham Gold Cup week and were delayed by 30 minutes at Cheltenham and missed a connection at Bristol to Bath. It’s not a good idea to miss late evening connections. Still talking to the race goers they had had a fantastic festival of racing and fun. Let the Train take the Strain.

On the journey back today I was on the same train as David – a leading public transport campaigner for Transport 2000 – and he took the opportunity to lobby me hard to ensure better bus and rail provision in our sub region and particularly to lobby for a better deal on some of Bristol’s transport proposals.

The journey to Exeter was for an Environment Agency meeting of REPAC (regional environment protection action committee) to discuss the DEFRA document on England’s waste strategy. It doesn’t address funding, is weak on organic waste but is a good discussion document to start the debate going.

Monday to Thursday this week

First Canvass session in Bristol for my mate Tim Kent in Whitchurch. A fantastic night of canvassing with Tim steaming ahead and set to win this important seat from Labour. Bristol has had years of Labour control and has not delivered for the people. Last year Barbara Janke and the Liberal Democrats took minority control and are now addressing some of the deep seated problems faced by Bristol. They need 4 seats to gain a majority and Tim looks set to be one of those.

Full Council week – so lots of meetings, motion development, talking to Liberal Democrats and members of the other three parties. We had an incredibly large agenda but by shortening all our speeches and limiting numbers we got through the whole agenda on time. We passed our Local Transport Plan which contains an ambitious set of targets for bus routes and Park and Ride expansion. This has been a major piece of work starting with the Atkins consultants study before being debated across the 4 Unitarys to develop the Greater Bristol Transport Plan for submission to Government. Locally the main controversy is around the setting of the East of Bath Park&Ride site. The current plan shows Lambridge training ground but there is a powerful lobby to move this to Charmy Down. Cllr Nigel Roberts spoke strongly against the proposed A36/A46 link – a road proposal that I think is a waste of money. The other controversial aspect of the plan – a joint submission with 3 other U.A.s – is the proposed completion of the Bristol Ring Road. We also had 3 good motions to debate on Post Office Closures, Regional Assemblies and the Dentistry in the NHS (or abysmal lack of it). Cllr Steve Hedges moving the NHS motion for the Liberal Democrats gave his best public speech ever and the motion was won with only Labour voting against it. But then the NHS is clearly not safe in their hands as they privatise, fragment and demoralise the service.

Tuesday - and upto London for the LGA Greening Communities conference where I was one of the speakers at the lunchtime session on some of the initiatives we have done in Bath and NE Somerset on the environmental agenda.

Last weekend – Southdown ward work – neighbour disputes, planning problems, litter, footpath problems, parking problems and revenue and benefit issues. Then went away for a weekend break in Somerset at the Webbington Hotel and to celebrate Graham and Rita Watson's 18 years of marriage, his 50^th birthday and his third election victory as a Liberal Democrat MEP for the SW of England. Gave my Bath season ticket to a friend who had to suffer in the rain seeing Bath loose to Leicester. L

Last week

Lots of interesting stuff – meeting with a developer who wanted to outline ideas for Paulton and the old paintworks sites. I advised him to engage with the community in developing any scheme. Rather than simply imposing a plan on them and then fighting the planning system. A meeting with Friends of the Earth looking how we can take environmental issues forward in our area. We meet up with FOE on a regular basis and it produces a good dialogue. Training session with senior staff. We are in the process of major structural change in the Council at present. Visit to the RUH (Royal United Hospital). Guest speaker at the Downstream South AGM. A lively residents association. And finally a Thursday evening promoting Tourism in our authority and the use of our Council Assets. Bath is a great place to get married with some wonderful Council Venues. And Finally.... a conversation with Phil Woolas MP and the Council Leaders from Somerset, Glos, Wilts and Avon on the Government White Paper on Local Government reorganisation. My view - best leave it alone rather than all this piecemeal change and why are we changing to different timescales and rules from the police, fire, NHS and PCTs. However the ODMP seems determined to have change somewhere so will have to read the paper with care when it comes out in the summer.

Press and Media – interviews over the 2 weeks with Bath FM, BBC Bristol, Somerset Guardian and the Chonicle

Our new Council E-News is going very well and if you haven’t yet subscribed try it out - its called INFORM

Sunday – Bath Half Marathon. What a great race today – good weather – bit cold and over 10,000 runners. The biggest Bath Half yet. Organisation was spot on and I shuffled round in 2hr 37min, my slowest time in years (last year 2 hrs 19min). A reflection on my very poor training record this year rather than being a year older I think. The Kenyans fielded a great team of runners and one of them won in 64 minutes. They are superb athletes.

Saturday – out delivering Bath Echo – our Lib Dem newspaper in the morning – then settled down to watching a feast of 6 nations rugby. I was backing Italy, Wales and England and all three lost. But really enjoyable games.

Monday to Friday – second week of the Wakefield CPA. So as for last week I cannot saya anything about that due to the confidential nature of the CPA process with the Audit Commission.

Sunday 12

Woke up this morning to see a blanket of snow. Our first of the Winter and its Spring! Front page of the Independent was all about our rivers drying up. Mother Earth is struggling under our collective impact at present. All our radiators are on indivdual thermostats and turned low and for minimum hours. However I think I will get an energy audit done on the house.

Spent the morning catching up on emails and ward work from the week. Litter, cars, parking problems, alleged illegal activities, youth problems, motor scooters up lanes etc etc.

Snow gone by Midday.

What a poor performance from England in Paris against the French this afternoon.

Saturday 11

Visited a group of Residents in Marsden Road Southdown to discuss footpath issues, litter and youth problems. One problem is that the land being used is private property and so our ability to intervene is restricted. However lots of letters and emails to various departments and agencies to see if we can get the issues resolved. One resident mentioned putting up a siren type gadget that only young people can hear. Has anyone else heard of this and is it real? At the Co-op in Mount Road we solved a similar problem by playing classical music. The kids couldn't stand it so stopped loitering outside the shop.

Then into town to join a Faritrade march with a group of youngsters. We called on Cafes and if they used Fairtrade gave them a nice window sticker and if they didn't gave them a nice letter to pass to management. If your Council isn't using Fairtrade products then get them to do so.

Bath Rugby 20 Newcastle Falcons 18. What a great game and a great result - moves us nicely away from the drop zone. My man of the match - Andy Beattie.

Monday to Friday

Spent most of the week with the Audit Commission doing a CPA inspection of Wakefield MBC. So can't say anything about that here. However I do recommend Councillors to visit other Councils from time to time. There is always something to be learnt.

Friday had a heated exchange with a Friend of the Rec about a Leylandii Tree that the Council cut down. We cut it down to enable us to do repairs to the heritage Turnstile Buildings. The resident was of the view that we had acted illegally and had no right to cut the tree down. My view is that Leylanii should be classed as pest and removed from the landscape and replaced by native trees and hedging.

Saw our MP Don Foster to catch up on news and discuss issues ranging from the Rec to the Spa and the possible new Dyson Building in Bath.

Had three interviews this week. Chronicle - on Fairtrade, LGIU on elected Mayors - I am against them - and Building Constructor on the Spa.  

Sunday March 5

Friday was a great day. Spent the morning with Sustrans people including John Grimshaw and a new community group Called Bath Two Tunnels Shared Path and a fellow Councillor Gitte Dawson. It was really invigorating to walk this hidden beauty of Bath. If the scheme procedes it would open the Greenway and Lyncombe tunnels and extend the cycle/footpath along the old Somerset Rail from Tucking Mill into Westmorland.

Cllr Dawson and members of the TwoTunnels team on the path in the heart of Bath

Entrance to the second tunnel

To get this going will be a challenge but the goal is fantastic. Opening up this area to walkers and cyclists as well as the band of users who already know this quite lane will be great.

Followed this with a meeting with the Chair of the police authority to discuss the new Government plans for large numbers of PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers). Sounds great in theory - but as with so many Government initiatives comes with strings. Its only funded 100% in year one then 75% in year 2 and apparently gets no funding from year 3 on!!!! 

Evening - gave a speach at the start of our awards ceremony for Women who have given to the Community as part of our International Womens Day Awards.

Saturday - Southdown and case work - housing issues, parking issues, litter issues and speeding traffic. A usual assortment of problems.

Then with hordes from Bath we decended on Cardiff for the Powergen Semi finals. Wasps beat Leicester in a rather turgid affair. The main game was electrifying. Bath v Llanelli - a few years ago they beat us in the European Cup knock out stages at the Rec and this time they beat us again at the Millenium stadium. A great game - 5 tries , the lead changed 5 times and only one point in it. The last kick of the game was a brave drop goal try from Bath which if it had worked would have seen us win by one point. Alas it failed and we lost by the single point. Bath V Llanelli is always great rugby - with 2 great sets of fans. Cardiff is a fantastic rugby town and venue.

After the game carried on to Carmarthan to spend Sunday with my daughter who lives and works there.

March 2nd

Well its nearly two weeks since I entered anything into my log. I have just calculated month 2 of my carbon offsets for car mileage use. I only drove 126 miles in February. So thats 0.04 tonnes of carbon cost 31p. So added to January thats a total of £1.67. I think I'll leave it a while before sending off my first cheque. Reasons for using my car so little - let the train take the strain - during Feb it was journeys to London, Newark, Gainsborough, Bristol and Taunton. All journeys on time. Also more walking to local destinations. I think I'll sell my car soon. 

Main event of the last 2 weeks was the Budget Council when Bath and NE Somerset set its budget at an increase of 4.95%. We have one of the lowest Council Tax in our area and amongst the best services - however the Tories and the Labour keep on and on and on about the Spa project. They really are single issue political groups in our patch!

Had a really good morning with a set of IT suppliers - Fujitsu, BT and the University of Bath on the concept of Bath as an intelligent or smart city. The technology is moving so fast there are really exciting possibilities coming along in the future.

Another major scheme happening in Bath is the Western Riverside project. Tonight have just come back from the roadshow. Had a good conversation on using the historical heritage as the basis for road and building names. Also discussed the concept of using history and interactive displays using individual recollections, pictures and videos as interactive art around the scheme.

The Taunton visit was to attend a SWLGA conference on reputation management for Councils. However main topic was about Millibands proposals for changing County and District Councils to make more Unitary Authorities. And of course the Liberal Democrat Leadership election.

Well today we got the result - Ming is our new leader. My choice, Chris, was second. However no problem with Ming. I think he will be a great leader. I hope the party adopts a more strident pro-NHS stance and curb the Labour and Tory privatisation and fragmentationn of the NHS.

The Executive decision to move to Edge of Property waste collection has been called in. The Independent group do not like the proposal - but fail to offer any solutions on how to increase recycling. I got them riled up by accusing them of wanting an incinerator in the area.