PaulRogan

Tomorrow Calderdale Council sets it's budget for 2007.These are English Democrats Party comments, endorsed by a group of local members who are either seeking election or actively working in the 2007 election campaign. Their comments are a consensus view but are not binding on any particular candidate. This is in accordance with our local policy.

We accept that Central Government is targeting most of the shots in Local Authority budgeting. They do not, however, stipulate the cash amount to be allocated in any particular area. This is determined by the Tory-Labour Axis in Calderdale, who between them they control 28 out of 51 votes in the Council.

English Democrats believe that local services are the LAST things to be even considered for cuts.

We are certain that there are massive savings to be made in Council running costs, which would not imperil existing services.

Areas of saving which we have identified are:-

• Working with the Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) for youth services provision.
• Review of Council procurement policy.
• Development of service needs to neighbourhood/community groups. No expensive surveys, newsletters, engagers. Instead engage face to face with local people.
• Consolidation of revenue collection with central Government departments or other local authorities.
• Targeting existing funding on the provision of visible Street Wardens, who can enforce better behaviour and safer streets rather than squander precious resources in less effective administration of existing Politically Correct initiatives.
• Focusing more on working with VCS and social enterprise companies for waste and re-cycling services.
• Rolling program and funding of regular maintenance for Council buildings.
• Provision for more home working for Council staff. Reducing the need for expensive Council administration offices and helping to reduce traffic congestion and parking problems.
• Plans to re-locate Council offices to less expensive areas other than Halifax.
• Stop paying unnecessary consultancy fees in respect of the Shay stadium. Consider external funding to provide a new Borough Stadium near a motorway access in the Lower Valley.
• Cease expensive and futile legal actions and CPO's in Brighouse.
• Focus existing investment budgets on establishing facilities which will make Calderdale a REAL tourist destination.
• Most of our roads are seriously congested. Extra revenue streams should be found from existing national retailers in the Borough to address these congestions and problems they generate. Rather than companies, Tesco is a reported example, filtering off local profits to the Cayman Islands, they should be taxed locally to ensure that the money made here stays local and is used in the local economy.

Early comments on other main Parties views, as reported in the Halifax Courier, are included as a comment to this entry.

Councillors Michael Tibby (Dartford - Littlebrook Ward) & Councillor Austen

Brooker (Newtown Ward) are pleased to announce their membership and full

support of The English Democrats, following the recent merger of the New England

Party with the English Democrats, which is the leading Political Party

campaigning for the fair treatment of England.

Speaking at a press conference in Dartford, Kent, Councillor Mike Tibby

said, "I am certain that the English Democrats' general policies and democratic

call for an English Parliament will prove popular with electors from all

previous political persuasions. The future of English Nationalism lies with a

credible Nationwide Civic Nationalist Party of which there is only the English

Democrats Party."

The English Democrats' policies can be found on our website:-

_www.englishdemocrats.co.uk_ (http://www.englishdemocrats.co.uk/) or please contact us by

post at:- PO Box 1066, Norwich, NR14 6ZJ; or by telephone:- 08700 624555."

Mike added:- "Politics should not start in Westminster or Whitehall and

cascade down to "the masses"! It should start in the lanes and high streets of

England and by us listening to all the People and trying politically to make

happen what is best for them, their families and their way of life.

This May we will have at least 20 Candidates in Dartford Borough standing

for the rights of English People, we need a further 20 plus candidates to give

the English Democrats complete coverage of the Borough, please contact me if

you are interested in standing up for England and the rights of the English

People."

Robin Tilbrook from Essex, the English Democrats' National Chairman, said:-

"I am delighted to welcome Councillors Michael Tibby and Austen Brooker into

our democratic and patriotic party. The English Democrats are now making real

progress in getting England's interests politically onto centre stage and I

look forward to this year's local election results to help us to force the

other parties to take England's future seriously."

Steven Uncles from Dartford, the English Democrats' South East Chairman,

said:-

"We shall be forming a new Branch of the English Democrats in Dartford which

will help support our existing enthusiastic members and act as a focal point

for new ones.

At this time we plan to contest at least 20 seats at this years local

elections in Dartford, for which some candidates have already been identified. We

also plan to put 50+ candidates forward all over the South East of England.

All this is good news for our party in the South East and for the people of

the Southern Home counties who will now have the opportunity to vote for and

support a patriotic English Party. We are looking for more candidates all

over England this May."

Christine Constable from Norwich, the English Democrats' Vice-Chairman

added:-

"The English have for far too long been treated as second class citizens

within the Union, our right to a functioning democracy is just as important as

the rights given to Scotland and Wales and we believe we are winning the

argument up and down the country.

All three of the main parties continue to fail to recognise the rights of

the people of England to have a national identity, an English Parliament and a

secure national border. It is gratifying to note that those who really wish

to represent England now understand that the only way to deliver democracy

for England is to join the English Democrats, Cllrs Mike Tibby and Austen

Brooker have made that decision and we warmly welcome him into our rapidly growing

ranks."

Contact Details:- Robin Tilbrook, National Chairman, The English Democrats,

Quires Green, Willingale, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0QP

Tel: 01277 896000, Fax: 01277 896050, Mobile: 07778 553395

_www.englishdemocrats.co.uk_ (http://www.englishdemocrats.co.uk/)

Councillor Michael Tibby, Chairman of Dartford Branch,

91 East Hill, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1SN

Tel: 01322 279889, Mob: 07752 716607

The Council's Community Services Directorate is recommending 2 more plots of land in Rastrick are declared surplus and are proposed for disposal.

If the matter where not so serious I might content myself with the Bob Dylan musical reference "When will they ever learn?"

Rastrick residents will remember recent disposals. Bramston Park land, Carr Green Cemetary land (Demolition of barn - bats relocated we know not where), the Cemetary Chapel and all the distress that caused. This is not the full list. The two plots now subject to disposal are:

Rastrick Common Land

Sycamore Drive Land (This area doesnt seem to be in Rastrick, so I am waiting for a Cllr from another ward who has details sent to them of the Rastrick site on their list!!!)

I would welcome any residents comments on this matter. I have already opposed the disposals in principle and specifically but, will of course be happy to support the disposals if that is what Rastrick residents want me to do.

Tomorrow will see electors in North Halifax selecting a new Councillor to replace Labour's Tom McElroy who sadly and suddenly died after our last Council meeting.

I was a little surprised that this by election was moved, it being so close to the regular elections in May. I guess Labour must have a plan. Perhaps they feel that the BNP are a little disadvantaged at the moment? Seems that the 3 main Parties feel they can rely on their 'colour' votes or national issues. Tory, Nu-Labour and the Lib-Dems have all got candidates who have had little or nothing to do with the local ward, or so it seems to me. They (the main 3) continually harp on about wanting to do all they can to beat the BNP. Well, strikes me putting up strong local candidates might have been a good first step. The BNP candidate is a well known and active local. There is also a local Independant. It will be very interesting to see what the voters in Illingworth & Mixenden will make of it.

Many Brighouse residents hold the view that it is no longer Calderdale Council but Tesco that dictates the future of Brighouse town centre. Most certainly they encountered little authority opposition in obtaining approval for the location on our time honoured cricket ground for an unsympathetically cheap and largely unattractive store.

               In tandem with this they were permitted to gain access for their car park directly onto an existing major road junction on the busiest section of the Ludenscheid bypass. The upshot has been that our town's traffic problems have, in the popular view, grown from manageable to massive. Does anyone know of any other location in England where the planning and traffic management authority would have permitted such a fiasco?

               For Rastrick residents the Tesco re-worked, traffic light controlled system produced a double whammy. In order for them to car shop at Sainsbury's they are now obliged to detour past Tesco's front door. How's that for Tesco's claim of being keen to work with other stakeholders in the best interest of Brighouse?

               Not content with this, Tesco succeeded in acquiring town centre status within the new UDP, which immediately afforded them another long sought lever to extend their non food range. When it came to the vote in Council, only Cllr Yates and myself seemed to appreciate the enormity and danger to the delicate balance of existing town centre trade and voted against this extension of power.

               A number of people have raised concerns with me about their perception that Tesco "rules." Is it because Tesco are maximising all their advantages, or is someone helping them get away with it?

               Before me in a letter, dated 24th February 2006, addressed to Ms Janet Waggott, Calderdale's Group Director of Regeneration and Development, a Mr Tim Gittins alleges collusion between the chairman and some of those attending a Brighouse Regeneration Forum public open meeting on the 14th February 2006. It would seem that those members of the public who raised concerns are now to be branded alongside members of the Forum as corporate Tesco attackers.

               Mr Gittins, who is a director of a company claiming to be professional and political consultants, goes on to state that because Tesco was attacked both  locally and corporately the company is not prepared to engage further with the Forum or it's activities. He also threatens the intention to make seperate arrangements to move matters forward. Clearly this has all come about and Brighouse Pride, heavily supported by Tesco, is the outcome.

               I now understand that Marks & Spencer are seeking to come to Brighouse. Let's hope they've cleared it with Mr. Gittins and Tesco first.

I have attended the Public Inquiry at Brighouse each day last week and the conclusion I have drawn from what I heard is two-fold.

Firstly, if the Council's scheme to build retail sheds closing Mill Royd Street goes ahead, as per it's very latest revision, there will be more flooding in Brighouse. Specifically on Bethel, Market and Commercial Streets than is presently the case. By this I mean there will be a greater spread of flood water in these Streets and the water levels will be higher. That is to say, ‘we will be swimming in the Streets'!

This is important news for swimmers because, secondly the Council's scheme does not look to be financially viable either. This means in my opinion, that as the road bridge has to be built first and the proposed new swimming pool only after the retail sheds are open, with insufficient money in the scheme, the pool would never end up being built. Unless of course the Council has extra money to do the job. Another flying pig?

This is only an amateur opinion and should the scheme get the go ahead I sincerely hope I have got it wrong.

Whilst many around me were, I did not. Not because I was not inquisitive, not because I did not fancy the buzz, but because I knew it was highly illegal. Not just a matter of properly slowing down into a 30 mph speed zone, this was a premeditated and open disregard for the Law. I am now told that such recreational drug taking doesn't matter for those who aspire to lead Countries. The newly declared American Presidential candidate did drugs and you can tell I am getting on in years when a drug is mentioned which I don't think was invented when I was at school.

It doesn't really matter which drug was taken or if it was a long time ago, the real issue was did David Cameron seek to mislead, not just the Country and media but those Conservative members who voted him in as their leader BEFORE they caste their votes. If he did seek to mislead them, why did he feel he had to? Anything to do with the fact that drug taking would not be a popular admission with Party members?

Mr Blair, whilst against an undemocratic House of Lords is quite happy to let his Party's suporters buy the right to vote on legislation. Peers do vote after all on the policies which become law.

With examples like these it is hardly surprising that many feel we should get rid of the whole damn lot of them. It is why I feel we need a major re-think on how democracy works in England.