Paul Crossley

Biarritz 18 - Bath 9

a fabulous weekend in the Basque Country to watch Bath go out of the European Cup. No tries, a nasty spear tackle on Malone and a clear professional foul which stoped a certain Bath try. No matter - it was a great atmosphere and the Biarritz fans were fantastic and made us really welcome. In Biarritz they are putting car parking underground - why don't we do more of that in the UK and have nice public squares above them.

Over the last 10 days had lots of case work in Southdown ranging from garden help for an infirm resident to parking problems to anti-social behaviour.

On Thursday I was in London with my son and called in to see Don Foster MP on some issues we have in Bath around the Spa and the Rec and others. My son had his first visit to parliament and was very impressed by the scale of it all.

The Spa should be open soon and it has been a tremendously contentious issue in Bath and NE Somerset for quite a while now. I am a supporter of the Spa but it has certainly given a lot of issues and problems to face upto.

Last Tuesday at our Area Committee pilot we had the last meeting at which we consider planning applications. In my view having to do planning at the area committee level has killed of the pilot. Residents simply do not understand that local Councillors cannot campaign either for or against things until the evening of the application. Now we have got rid of planning we can try and develop a community leadership agenda and develop some ideas with our local community for the community.

Below a picture of Bath fans - see my photo diary for more. 

I have now been chair of the LSP for four years and during that time we have come along way in building up our partnerships, reforming the Voluntary imput to the LSP, developing and producing our strategy and getting it into the Council's Corporate thinking. Our LSP is run on a tight budget and so we aim to value add to partnership working and as an LSP submit project bids to government. 

As an LSP we have won a key worker housing bid and just this month won an innovative energy efficiency bid which is going to aim at reducing energy consumption across the public sector in our authority. Since we put the bid in of course energy prices have escalated so all our partners are really up for the project. We also hope to roll the lessons learned out to the private sector.

Our LSP meets at board level on a quarterly basis and the partnership boards that support the board also meet on approximately a quarterly basis. In addition we have an annual visioning and developement day. The next steps forward are in leading the bid for the Local Area Agreement (LAA). Our LAA board comprises Councillors, LSP members, Police, Somer(RSL), Resident rep, PCT and 2 members from the Voluntary Sector.

LSP-APRIL06.pdf. This is my first document (abode pdf) added to my blog.

Planning - always a controversial subject. On Wednesday I subbed on the planning committee and the main item was an application for Folly Farm, an Avon Wildlife Trust site. It has been subject to legal challenge and delay. At the meeting though the Councillors voted 10 - 0 to accept the application and reject the officer recommendation. It now has to go to Government for final decision.   

Global Compact

Bath and NE Somerset were the first Council in the UK to sign up to the Global Compact and this week we have had a visit from David Teller from Melbourne Australia who is the UN coordinator for the project. London is now apparently also thinking of signing up to the convention. This Compact is based on the principles of trade justice and the dignity of workers across the world. It is the idea of Koffie Annan.

Picture shows Nicky Rylance from Business West, David Teller UN, Cllr Phyllis Gay Chair of Bath and NE Somerset, Carol Bond Business west and Paul Crossley.

During David's day visit we put on presentations of our Vision for Bath, LSP, Carbon Free Bath, Envolve - sustainabilty and in discussions developed ideas for our Global Compact project around the themes of behaviour change and water.We also met up with Bath business and Regional Business.

The Global Compact is all about building city to city relationships. Cities share many common problems across the globe and city to city relations means we can put aside the baggage that comes with national politics. In Bath and NE somerset our compact has been lead by the business sector with full participation from the Council. We have succeded in getting across ideas of Fairtrade and labour rights with several companies. Our theme will be water because we have in Bath the Spa culture, a river, a canal, 2 universities, strong links with water aid and the HQ of Wessex Water.  

If your Council is not signed up then check the web site out and consider getting it to join the movement.

Also today TV interview with HTV Bob Constantine on Tour Buses and the ability to regulate them like any other business. Last summer we had 4 companies driving old diesel polluting buses around competing for trade and annoying everyone. We currently have one responsible operator with new clean buses and multi-language headphone sets. It is much better for residents and tourists alike.

Sunday 9

Quiet day - no politics - just visit to gym, reading and watching the powergen final between LLanelli and Wasps. However this evening of to a meeting with colleagues on Bath developement opportunities. Also had a quick phone call with various members of the family. Eric has just got back from his Egypt diving holiday.

Saturday 8

All day campaigning in the Bristol elections for Tim Kent in Whitchurch. Four car loads from Bath went across to help at these important elections. Tim looks better each week for a gain from Labour.

Friday 7

In the morning on the longlisting panel for our Children's directors appointment. We had a very strong field and the long list is 12 candidates for more detailed appraisal. Then in the afternoon the continuing development meetings for our Development Tarrif setting. In the evening attended the Chair's Ball - a charity fundraising evening for the RUH and Paulton Hospital.

Thursday 6

Spent the morning at Hillcrest Field with an officer talking about varying the mowing regime for the field to try and encourage wild flower growth. Whilst there talked to several users and residents on ideas. Cllr Romero and myself would like to develope this area into a local area nature reserve over time and get residents involved in its upkeep and development.

Over the years we have managed to get three separate paths made up, an area put aside for youngtsers to play free from dog mess and new seats put in for rest. We are using seats made from recycled plastic which are very tough and fire proof and present a more difficult challenge to some off our youngsters who try to set fire to these things or indeed trash them. The slats can bow over time as shown above.

Today we were visited by a group from Lahti in Finland who were looking at how Bath and North East Somerset processes its waste and recycles. 

And then at the end of the day we wished our Political Research Assistant best wishes before she headed off to Scotland to go and get married. We put on a small party upstairs at the Rummer. A good local pub.

Alison with Councillors Curran, Metcalfe and Crossley. The observant ones will have spotted that I have the date set wrongly on the camera!!

Monday to Wednesday

Open Executive meeting had our new waste charges to consider. We have been collecting garden waste for 3 years now and the first customers have come to the end of contract. Our new charges are £20 for the large wheelie bins and 75p a sack. Fortnightly collection. Then saw the manager of the Rondo and then off to Chippenham for a board meeting of CVS N.Wilts who run our CVS in Bath and NE Somerset.

Met up with the new First Bus manager to discuss bus issues. Bath has a rising passenger base year on year for over 5 years now. With the addition of the new Diamod Travel for the over 60s this growth will continue. The Chencellor shortchanged us in his budget settlement for this implementation. But it's a committment from the Council and the scheme is better than was being asked for. In addition we are extending our dial-a-ride options throught the authority area.

First have also just won a new rail franchise and are taking over the Wessex franchise as well. So the launch day of the new franchise lead to interviews with Vibe FM and Bath Fm and the Chronicle

Sat and Sun 1 and 2

Morning monthly surgery was good with housing, building and parking issues being the main concerns. Then the rest of the weekend in Bristol for the local elections campaign.