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more training

this morning I am attending another training session, this time on the licensing act and the gambling act. this training is necessary so that members can better understand the latest on these two acts.

Current mood: Cool


dodgy numbers

recently some labour MPs were quick to point out that conservative tax plans were unworkable due to incorrect figures, although i have not seen any evidence to back up their claims yet it seems that the government is the one who is guilty of incorrect figures according to a BBC report.

can we still have faith in anything this gorvenmnet tells us?

Current mood: Sceptical


improvement and development consultant

this afternoon I am attending a training session on chairing skills. I see it as important to keep updating such skills in order to be an effective representative.

Current mood: Cool


'tech guys' ???

last year in november I purchased a new laptop for my son from pc world. earlier this year it became inoperable so I took it in under warranty. I collected it when it was 'fixed' but it soon became inoperable again. again I returned it and I collected it yesterday but it was still inoperable. I have returned it but I have no faith in their ability to sort this out. I will be complaining about this to trading standards. while waiting another customer came in with a similar problem and a similar tale of unfixed laptops. perhaps the season of advent, the brand of laptop, has a new meaning at pc world. if you have had a similar experience then please let me know.

Current mood: Mad


mixed messages

i have been somewhat confused by the actions of our local MP

in his newspaper column in the dover express of 25th october, he stresses the need to rationalise the post office network and the inevitable closures.

'offices will have to close to make the remainder viable and the postal network more stable'

so it would seem that he is in favour of the closures.

and in todays mail i get a letter from him.

Is he just following the lead set by activists such as charlie elphicke and diana knight?

 

Current mood: Sceptical


back home

well we arrived back this afternoon and it was straight offf to a party meeting looking at ways forward.

with recent events we are looking buoyant in the polls and this gives us enthusiasm to keep up the pace.

there are many opportunities fpor us to consider and i expect our opponents are going through similar processes.

so it is back to the job in hand but using the experiences of the holiday to further enhance my role in the community.

 

Current mood: Big-Smiley


a novel approach!

ere's someting that maggie never tried. I found this on the BBC website. i am sure we are all interested in the results of this approach and peraps it needs to be investigated over here.

i doubt it will be able to reverse the overall decline in this industry

Current mood: Sceptical

Post Office fight continues

i am pleased to see that while i have been away others have been active in the fight to keep the great mongeham post office open.

i remember that at the last parish council meeting, some members expressed doubts over whether a campaign could make a difference, but i am pleased to see that some local activists do not sare this pessimistic view.

Current mood: Angry

a sad loss for local government

Current mood: Sad


the journey home

Current mood: Sceptical


mining regeneration

siena

iconic structures continued

grosseto

history

tuscan seaside views

ward business

road pricing

north deal

unexpected success

well there have certainly a few unexpected results and the england team seem to be getting stronger.

only one match away from completeing an impressive double

Current mood: Cool


Macmillan Cancer Relief

this morning i was down at Whitfield at the superstore there collection for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

i went with my daughter to spend the hour there collecting as this is a regular event for me.

i noticed that many people there with their grandchildren who seemed to encourage charitable giving .

clearly these people have an important role in guiding future generations.

 

Current mood: Happy


alliance midlands meeting

Current mood: Cool


kent conservatives agm

Current mood: Happy

great mongeham drop in

this morning i  went to the drop in. i discussed a number of issues in one of the neighbouring villages with residents.

there was also support for the post office campaign and of course some people could not resist the recent world cup rugby result

.

Current mood: Cool


csr v pbr

after yesterdays hype today is a chance to sit down and more thoroughly go through the statement by the chancellor to better understand how it will impact on councils finances and the wider public.

some analysts have indicated although the headline figure of 1% increase in real terms for the local governemnt settlement may to a large extend be swallowed up by schools and social services at county and unitary authorities. this would lead to the settlement for the districts being much lower.

likewise there are quiestions over the local business rates supplement. and if this will be a variation on the Business Improvement District approach where businesses in the affected area are consulted and vote on the proposal

Current mood: Sceptical

Vodka saves life

i found this story on the sydney morning herald website.

will it also be written up in the BMJ?

it will be an unsual hosptal bill.

i can't see the vodka manufacturers using this in their advertising campaigns though!

Current mood: Sceptical

problem sorted

last week a resident contacted me about problems he was having using the contact me facility on this blog site. The technical people have looked into this and now report that the issue has been sorted so thanks to them and also thanks to the resident for persevering in bringing the issue to light!

 

Current mood: Big-Smiley


Governors Meeting

This evening i attended a governors meeting for one of our local schools.

the agenda included a number of items such as revised policies on literacy, handwriting, bullying, charges and freedom of information.

i also raised an issue from sutton parish council regarding the access to free school transport and the governors agreed to take the matter forward.

Current mood: Cool

what's on at the movies?

Dover district council has taken the unusial step of posting the  video of the planned regeneration of Dover on its website

this is an exciting set of proposals and i hope many residnts will take the time to watch the movie so they can see what is planned

likewise i hope residents give us their feedback on these proposals

Current mood: Happy


alliance briefing meeting

this afternoon i chaired  a briefing meeting for members of the council on the alliance.

members were interested in the business plan and how it was developed

i was also able to update members on the recent conference as well as the current national campaign.

Brin Hill, the officer support for the alliance was also able to brief members of technical aspects related to the work of the alliance. there was some misunderstanding as to how regeneration projects are funded.

there was also a brief discussion of local matters such as the betteshanger regeneration project, the snowdown project and North Deal.

i look forward to keeping members aware of the good work of the alliance.

Current mood: Happy

cabinet meeting

this morning we have a cabinet meeting

items on the agenda include response on the south east plan (members of WAG  were observing), parking strategies and regulation.

these last two items had significant reports. the cabinet sees the move to linear charging as a way forward.

Current mood: Cool


Golden Jubilee

this morning i went to mass at st finbarrs in Aylesham as part of their celebration of 50 years of the church here.

the service was attended by members of the parish, some of my political colleagues, clergy from the local anglican church and the archbishop.

during the service tribute was paid to the members of the parish as well as the clergy which have served here over those 50 years.

Current mood: Happy


medley of music

tonight I am up at st martins church in the village for an evening of musical entertainment. there are so many talented individuals in and around the village.

Current mood: Happy

Post Offices - the fight continues

i have recently received the follwing email about the wider campaign t save our post offices.

Dear Council Leader/Clerk/Councillor/Officer

 

I am Vice-Chairman of Eynsford Parish Council, one of the rural Kent parishes affected by the devastating proposed cuts in rural Post Offices just announced by the Central PO . As such, the PO 's major shareholder is the Government and the closure is, transparently, a work of financial engineering by the government through DEFRA. There are many reasons we see which show what a short-sighted and damaging decision this is, and it is yet another attack on quality of life of the rural minority of which we are a beleaguered part.

 

We do not believe that petitions or individual campaigns, on their own, will achieve the objective of stopping this proposal, or even making the government think again. We believe that only direct and collective campaigning, which in the mind of the politicians who are behind this might affect votes, will have any chance of success. We therefore would wish to know if your Council, and as many of your parishioners who will be directly or indirectly affected or interested, would be prepared to take part in a march to Westminster deliver a petition to either DEFRA or the House of Commons, or both. Hopefully, we can persuade our District and County Councillors and our local MPs to take part as well.

 

We have only SIX weeks from now before these cuts are confirmed - if we are to have any chance of stopping or even modifying them we need to act NOW. Please give us your support. If there is sufficient positive response we will recirculate all those in favour and look to organizing the protest. Please respond to me as soon as possible.

 

Yours sincerely

 

John Harris

 

===========================================================================================================

Dr C J Harris

Vice-Chairman of Eynsford Parish Council

 

i hope our residents join in this campaign!

Current mood: Mad


wind power

while visiting the district council offices today i noticed that work is underway for the new wind turbine. this is an exciting project which is being assisted by the local development agency.

i am keen to see the viability of this project as a first step in the creation of energy from  renewable sources.

Current mood: Happy

eastry drop in

this morning i went to the drop

i met a number of residents there as well as members of the parish council.

there were questions abut recycling and the dover anti social behaviour unit.

another issue that was raised concerned the use of migrant workers fow some occupations and what are the legal protections for these workers.

i will pass on these concerns to the relevant officers fr their response 

 

Current mood: Cool


great mongeham parish council

this evening we had our parish council meeting.

the post office clsure was the most important agenda item although some members seemed unsure as to whether they should be dealing with this issue. i feel that it is the responsibility of the parish as well as myself to take a lead on this issue. there was concern expressed that this was a done deal and that no matter what we do the post office will close these offices. my answer is that we have had some notable local succeses recently particularly with the connaught barracks campaign.

we need to illustrate the significant local opposition to this closure.

Current mood: Mad

great mongeham drop in

this morning i went to the drop in

there was of course much speculation about an election.

but people there are also interested in things in the local community like whether the street lights work and how can we save our post office.

these local issues are the ones i concentrate on most to bring a real difference to local residents.

Current mood: Happy

Tax Man

looking for something fun to do on the net?

try this game

in the end he will get you!!!

Current mood: Cool


rural road deaths

a report on the BBC  highlights the problems on our rural roads.

the research indicates that the south east had the highest incidence of road deaths yet our local MPs seem to be ineffective in getting any progress to alleviate this situation.

Current mood: Sad

kentish granny smith apples

i did some research after listening to a local radio station this morning

the whole account is on the ryde city council website

but to summarise  maria ann sherwod was born in sussex, married in kent before moving to australia

there she bred the granny smith which is now grown in many countries.

 

Current mood: Cool


sutton parish council

tonight i attended sutton parish council where the main tpic for discussion seemed to be a proposal to build a number of wind turbines on land in an ajacent parish. The chairman claims that this will impede his flying and is mounting a campaign to stop this proposal. a number of residents back his claims.

Current mood: Sceptical

another nail in the coffin of the local community

Current mood: Angry


busy evening

this evening i had 3 meetings to attend but only managed to get to one one i arrived too late and the the third had also finished by the time i got there.

Current mood: Sad