Stephen Manion

Last night i attended my church's council meeting where we discussed the placement of a mobile phone mast on the church. This left me in a difficult position as i have represented many residents in my community when objecting to masts placed in or close to residential areas.

I can see the financial benefit to the church from hosting such a facility but.

i am also aware of the significant public opposition  that may arise.

i use a moblie phone

so i too benefit from the wide distribution of mobile networks, and the access to modern communication and information technologies. So this entry has links to my earlier entry on technological innovation. Yes modern innovations are exciting and hold promise of new ways of working, but if it has a negative impact our local community, then it is a difficult choice.

The church too is in a difficult position as the offer by the mobile phone company is a very good for our financial position. The church is facing rising costs forecasted to be over 5% next year. But it also comes back to our relationship with the community. I am mindful of the Two Great Commandments that Jesus gave us - that is You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbour as yourself.

Keeping in mind these commandments- where does that leave the church on this issue?

The church council voted unaminously  to consult with the wider community about such a development so this will be going out in the nexrt village newsletter so i urge all residents to make their views known so that, whatever decision is taken by the church council, it is made with full knowledeg of the community's views.

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Posted by: stephen-manion    in: My entries

Modified on June 27, 2006 at 4:06 PM

Nobody really likes paying parking charges. However we begrudgingly pay, so when the parking machine does not work it only increases our frustration and resentment at paying. Today in Deal, this happened and it led to a number of people being upset. The situation was further compounded as apparently the council had forbade the local supermarket from placing any form of warning on the machine as it was claimed that this is defacing the machine.

The people using this car park are one set of the council's customers and it concerns me that this situation is being allowed to arise. It is a saturday morning so naturally the council offices are closed yet the parking enforcement officers will be doing their rounds to enforce parking restrictions.

I will keep raising this issue with the council to try to get the best service for our community.

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Posted by: stephen-manion    in: My entries

Modified on June 27, 2006 at 2:39 PM

Anti social behaviour is a continuing problem in many of the communities i visit not to mention where i live. The press also covers a lot of this behaviour. So last night it was refreshing and even humbling to see some of the work that is done in the community by public spirited and brave young people. I went to the Try Angle awards. Many of the youth there do this work not seeking political gain or recognition but just to fulfil their places in their communities. I just want to take this opportunity to also pass on my congatulations and thanks to these young people and hope that they will be an inspiration to others of all ages. 

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Posted by: stephen-manion    in: My entries

Modified on June 23, 2006 at 8:31 PM

This week i attended Tilmanstone Parish council. The work of this tier of government is often downplayed however they do valuable work in representing their community's issues. Tilmanstone PC is no exception and i find that attending their meetings is a good opportunity to keep in touch.

This month Tilmanstone was concerned over traffic, footpaths and planning issues..

Even though Dover DC has less of a role in the first two items i still see it as part of my role to pass on their comments to the appropriate authority.

Also in the news this week was this blog. It is heartening to see that the local press do find out about these initiatives and i hope that thsi will spur on my colleagues to also maintain such blogs. If you read this article in the East Kent or Dover Mercuries then perhaps you could also send in a comment so that i can be more reponsive to my readership.

I am also interested in comments from the wider web based community as i note that last month there were a number from hits from places as far away as Japan and India while this month i have had a hit from Argentina.

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Posted by: stephen-manion    in: My entries

Modified on June 23, 2006 at 4:41 PM

This week i am attending a local goverment finance conference. One of the key addresses was by Sir Michael Lyons on his work on local government. His presentation was quite disturbing for local goverment and was challenging us to be more connected with our communities and that local governemnt was on the whole failing their communities. He talked about the resistance to such views as being another nail in the coffin of local governement.

Perhaps his views arise from the lack of interest in local government by the community as evidenced by the low turnout in local government elections as well as the annual discontent over council tax decisions.

whether he can provide solutions to these problems will be made clear in his report due out in December.

I know my colleagues will be doing their best to maintain their strong links with their communities.

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Posted by: stephen-manion    in: My entries

Modified on June 15, 2006 at 6:48 PM

Yesterday I chaired our members ICT group.

The internet and associated techonlogies is allowing us to find new ways of working

which will increase our effectiveness and also allow members and officers to respond to our residents quicker.

The mood of the meeting seemed to be that we were just scratching at the surface of the possibilities for new ways of working.

Our residents for the most part are embracing these new technologies and expect members to do likewise.

My only reservation is that we do not end up disadvantaging some members of the community more, in that while the majority of the population is able to access new technologies, there are still some that do not have access. How can we ensure that this group is able to enjoy the new opportunities?

I looked at the Budapest symposium coming up and cannot find sessions that would address these concerns.

I welcome others comments on this issue to find further opportunities of spreading the benefits.

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Posted by: stephen-manion    in: My entries

Modified on June 23, 2006 at 4:42 PM