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the alliance national meeting

the alliance

great mongeham drop in

another team sets off

earlier this month i wrote a blog about the team attempting to row across the tasman sea from australia to new zealand so i was surprised to read today about another team attempting this crossing, this time from new zealand to australia. you can follow their progress on their website.

technology ceainly has improved as far as tracking of these attempts but we need to ensure that all members in our communities have access to such technology.

Current mood: Cool

winter gripe

the days are getting shorter

and with wet weather about visibility on the roads

particularly in the morning and evening is low

so why do people persist in trying to engage in camoflage by not having headlights on!

be safe, be seen!

 

Current mood: Mad


safety on rural roads

Current mood: Sad

governor's visit

Current mood: Happy

labour's record

this morning in the interest of balanced views i had a look at the website for the champion of people - you know the ones who had their personal details lost - not to mention the miners who have been paying towards central government coffers at a time when pension funds were making a loss- the ever spinning Gwyn Prosser

a brief look at his website and i could see nothing about northern rock, the post office closures, HMRC losing personal information, nor even his balanced view on the latest donations row .

is it because he puts the government before his constituents?

find out tomorrow in the dover express - gwyn has a column where he sets the world to rights every week

Current mood: Sceptical


local development framework group

Current mood: Cool

meeting follow up

during the meeting, one person got up to describe his experiences of visiting one of these wind turbines and how he felt that the noise was not excessive however the consultant (?) assisisting the action group felt that this may not jeopardise the objections to noise. a dutch member of the adudience was able to share data from the the netherlands where the construction of new wind turbines fell of markedly when subsidies were stopped. 

 

 

Current mood: Sceptical


action group meeting

was i right?

for months if not years now i have been campaigning for better broadband access for all residents in the district so i felt somehwat vindicated by a recent story on the BBC.

there is widespread concern over the UK's access to faster broadband services and this is now being seen as a concern to the wider UK econonomy. Industry and indeed all residents need access to these services if we are to take full advantage of the opportunities on offer.

i will continue to press for better broadband access as it i still maintain it is not only vital for business but also essential if we are not to create a knowledge underclass. 

Current mood: Sad


alternative services

this morning at church i picked up the lastest copy of 'Outlook'  the newspaper of the Canterbury Diocese. the main headline is about the move by Kent County Council to offer a wider range of civil services, ie funerals and a service for the birth of a baby apart from the more accepted civil marriage.

this raises an intersting issue in that is it because that people see that the services of baptism and funerals mark keys stages in people's life histories and that non religious people feel that they are missing out, or is it a wider trend to further remove God from people's lives?

in fact this morning at church we had a baptism and the reading for the day from Matthew 28: 16-20 in which Jesus commands his followers to "go then , to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit".

so one must be thinking where the KCC form of service fits in with this- now i am not tryong to say that KCC is trying to start a new religion but what is it about these services that KCC can offer which the church cannot?

why not take a look at the sercices for marriage, baptism and funerals on the Church of England website?

Current mood: Love


never fear Gwyn is here

in all the chatter about the personal records going missing, dover's own gwynn prosser has been at the forefront of scrutinising data security in his work as part of a parliamentary select commitee. he describes this work in this week's Dover express and his considered view of the situation - "a junior member of the HMRC ignored regulations and sent out two computer discs to the national audit office - and they got lost in the post".

Current mood: Angry

conundrum

what do you do when people ring you up early on a saturday mornng just so that they can be mentoned in my blog?

do you satsfy their needs by blogging the event?

 

your answers please!

Current mood: Sceptical


Eastry Drop in

this morning i went to the drop in. i had some delicious home made apple pie with custard. i also chatted to a number of residents on issues such as council houses and the proposed wind farm at langdon.

i feel it is important to be available to residents through such weekly events and miss it most keenly when i have to be away.

our new parliamenatry candidate charlie elphicke also attended and met many residents.

Current mood: Happy


meaningless things to do

bored? living in east kent?

well to waste a bit more time why not see if you will be affected by the proposed third runway at heathrow.

just follow this link and put in your postcode

i would be interested to see if any kent post codes are affected

 

 

Current mood: Sceptical

Great mongeham drop in

this morning i went to the drop in. there was much discussion about the fiasco with the missing computer discs. One view expressed was that even if the discs are recoverd, there is no guarantee that the files have not been subesquently copied.

its a legacy which this government has given to every child alive in the uk - that they are all liable to have their personal details copied and used for identity fraud, maybe not this year, or in five years from now but perpetually hanging over their heads as a mark of this government's stewardship.

Current mood: Angry


full council

this evening i am at a meeting of the council.

on the agenda are a number of questions and motions. the meeting started with a video on the new code of conduct especially looking at members interests.

the meeting also heard from a number of cabinet members on the work going on in their portfolios.

Current mood: Cool

advice for Alistair Darling

with christmas approaching i was sent this pic which may perhaps be a way forward for the embattled minister with people after his scalp!

Current mood: Cool

risk management

this afternoon i am at training on risk management which is being run or members of the council.

this may be an oppotune time to discuss this topic given the disasterous events at the  HMRC.

i wonder what risk analysis was done beore this situation arose?

 

Current mood: Mad


dover north forum

dover north forum

tilmanstone parish council

tilmanstone parish council

delighting the customer

last night my wife and i went out to dinner at a local restaurant the court yard oyster bar in Deal.

while there the block was subjected to a power outage and the restaurant was plunged into darkness apart from the candles. the power was restored and our dinner arrived after a considerable delay.

what impressed me was the attitude of staff and management to this delay as they tried their best to make ammens even though the problem was none of their fault.

i came away thinking that this was an excellent example of delighting the customer and i wish other companies followed their example.

Current mood: Big-Smiley


petty crime

Current mood: Sad


sizen

Current mood: Happy

annual dinner

IOM Meeting

IOM Meeting

annual towns and parish councils meeting

tonight I am at this meeting. this annual meeting. it forms an important link between local government bodies in the district. with so much happening here, it gives the parishes a chance to network with colleagues as well as understand some of the work going on.

Current mood: Happy


agenda

today i received a hard copy version of the next full council meeting.

the agenda is also available on the internet on the counci'ls website

the agenda looks full of questions and motions including one by the deputy leader of the council on the proposed post office closures in the district.

the problems associated with air pollution along the M20 through the town of Dover are also up for discussion.

Current mood: Sad


neighbourhood forum

i just received notifcation today of a meeting of the dover north neighbourhood forum

i attach the agenda for the benefit of residents

Dover North Neighbourhood Forum

 

Draft Agenda

 

Tuesday 20^th November- 7pm start

St Peter's Church Hall, Aylesham.

 

Refreshments and an opportunity for informal discussions between members of the public and members of the Neighbourhood Forum will be available from 6.30pm

 

 

 

• 1. Welcome and opening remarks: Eileen Rowbotham, Chair

1a.       Apologies

1b.       Minutes and up date on actions from last Forum

1c.       Any declarations of interest

  

2.         Rural Housing Trust for Kent, speaker tbc, will provide a brief overview on the   Trusts aims and objectives and how they work with Parish Councils to create            balanced, sustainable rural communities.

  

3.         Access to the Countryside Act, Andrew Hutchinson, Public Rights of Way Area Manager, KCC will give an overview of the Public Rights of Way Service in Dover, as well as the impact of recent legislation on local footpaths and the Natural Environmental & Rural Communities Act 2006 which includes a section on PROW to do with vehicles in the countryside and restricting the creation of any new vehicular rights.

 

4.         Small Community Capital Project Grant and Local Schemes Grant

recommendations

 

            Date of next meeting - TBC

 

There will be an opportunity for questions throughout the course of the meeting.

 

Members of the Dover North Neighbourhood Forum Area

  

Chair: Kent County Council Dover North Electoral Division, Mrs Eileen Rowbotham

Vice Chair: St Margarets at Cliffe Parish Council, Mr David Hart

 

Dover Wards and Councillors

Aylesham, Cllr Keen and Cllr Thompson~ Eastry, Cllr Manion and Cllr Kenton ~

Eythorne and Shepherdswell, Cllr Record and Cllr Jones ~ Ringwould, Cllr Miss Edwards ~ St Margaret's at Cliffe, Cllr Ward and Cllr Watkins

 

Parish Councils

Aylesham Parish Council ~ Eythorne and Elvington Parish Council ~

Great Mongeham Parish Council ~ Guston Parish Council ~ Langdon Parish Council ~

Nonington Parish Council ~ Northbourne Parish Council ~
Ringwould with Kingsdown Parish Council ~ Ripple Parish Council ~

St Margarets at Cliffe Parish Council ~ Sutton-by-Dover Parish Council ~

Tilmanstone Parish Council

Current mood: Sceptical

crossing the ditch

today i came across this website about two men trying to row a kayak across the tasman sea between australia and new zealand. they set off from Forster, a small town north of sydney. in fact i sent in a blog entry from karuah during my trip to Oz in august which is just inland from Forster. that entry was about broadband access to access to the internet and i am pleased to see that one of the organisations supporting the attempt is trying to roll out a wireless broadband solution across the country.

it makes me wonder when similar services will be available here which could help communities which lack the commitment from BT to get connected!

i will following the attempt with interest as they have constant monitoring of their location so one can see where they are.

Current mood: Cool


last day for responses to Post office closure plans

today is the last day for the consultation to recive responses but you can still email them a response

the address is: consultation@postoffice.co.uk

so if you haven't done so yet, write in and make your views known.

 

Current mood: Sad


remembrance sunday

great mongeham art show

Current mood: Happy


dover & thanet rights of way society

Current mood: Happy

eastry drop in

this morning i went to the drop in, i have been unable to attend for a while so it was good to get back there.

parking issues seemed to be a high priority today so i answered a number of queries but will have to get further details from the officers on a few points.

the food is as always delicious.

Current mood: Happy


northbourne parish council

and to round off the evening i went to northbourne parish. my colleague was there to discuss planning and waste issues while i briefed them on post offices.

we also gave them feedback on a number of other matters on which they had asked for our help.

Current mood: Happy

great mongeham Village Design statement group

this evenin i went to the monthly meeting of this group. the process is nearing completion (we hope)

there is still mch enthusiasm in the group to get it finalised and i am keen to support them

i feel that communities need to take reponsibility for planning policies in their locality and the village design conceot seems to be a valid way forward.

Current mood: Cool

northbourne governors meeting

ldf meeting

Current mood: Cool

great mongeham drop in

Current mood: Happy


dover north forum

Current mood: Sceptical

are you a lawbreaker

i was amused to look at the list of ludicrous laws on the BBC website today

what struck me was the number of laws i had broken

such as not smiling in Milan and standing to relieve myself after 10.00pm (too much information i know) not to mention being guilty of eating mince pies on Chistmas day.

at least i still have my head!

Current mood: Cool


sutton parish council

Current mood: Happy


eastry parish council

Current mood: Happy

cabinet meeting

this morning i am at a meeting of the cabinet to decide a number of items including air quality in Dover. this problem has arisen due to the increased volume of traffic going to and from the docks on the eastern fringe of the town.

the full agenda is available on  the councils website.

Current mood: Cool


farewell to rev david kendrew

fireworks evening

This evening we invited some friends over for an evening round the bonfire and letting off a few fireworks. It was good to spend time with friends from both around the village  and from the local vicinity.

i was chatting to one of our guests who runs her own blog.

we talked about blogging and reaching members of the community.

i feel that a good time was had by all.

now if i can just figure out how to capture the event on camera!!!

Current mood: Big-Smiley


MP expenses

now this topic has been the subject of much speculation recently and i can shed some light on for our MP Gwynn Prosser.

Perhaps in his efforts to help royal mail he has been sending circulars such as the one on my blog last saturday.

note how he sends it first class

my wife also received hers in a separate envelope doubling the cost of this exercise.

 you comments are appreciated

Current mood: Sceptical


iconic structure