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Council Tax comparison

i was perusing the BBc website and came across a table comparing the latest known tax rises.

The Dover tax rise will confirmed next week at the full council meeting on the 5th March. The agenda is available on the council website. The proposal  is to increase it by 4.95% to £147.77. This equates to £6.97 per annum or approx 13p per week

Current mood: Cool


meetings

Current mood: Cool


EDM 722 the campaign continues

as well as our local MP Gwyn Prosser signing it, a number of other MPs have also signed the early day motion. to see the latest list look on the westminster EDM website

on today reckoning it had 98 signatures which put it in 60th position.

i hope more MPs sign this motion to keep this issue alive.

Current mood: Cool


networking

while up in Bolsover i was interested the see the leaflets that they produce up there to inform residents about the activities of their neighbourhood forums i have spoken to a number of people at the council to see if we can learn from this.

I also had an interview with members from the audit commission who are investigating regeneration in the coalfield areas.

i explained to them the view that while there has been some success with the physical regeneration, some social issues such as health and education remain.

Current mood: Cool


a busy day

Today i had a meeting abiut the Betteshanger regeneration project and the exit strategy for SEEDA. the community team was able to put their views forward about where they would like to see the project go as well as listening to the lastest briefing from SEEDA about the project.

after the meeting i went to bolsover to discuss the way forward for the Alliance in the Midlands and south.

we are keen to recuit new members involved in regenerating the former industrial areas.

Current mood: Cool


Broadband acess the debate continues

I notice from the BBC that there is to be a government inquiry into broadband access.

The story seemed to more about faster speeds for some rather than ensuring that broadband is available to all consumers including those in notspots such as Tilmanstone.

These communities are becoming increasingly desperate to be able to connect to the intrenet using broadband.

 

Current mood: Sceptical


multi tasking

an issue i have been following regards the use of technology by MPs while at westminster.

a number of articles on the BBC website relate to whether MPs should be allowed to use laptops while sitting, whether they should be issued with Blackberrys, and the way technology has rendered pagers obsolete.

technology is advancing rapidly in this field and i believe that elected members need access to information services wherever they are. some in the media may think its just to track football scores, but i find it very useful to do searches even during debates.

Current mood: Cool


Eastry Coffee Break

This morning i went with members of my famil t the drop in. The school hoiday break made it an ideal time to viist to sample the food and the ambience as well as to chat with residents on a range of issues including crime, The state of the NHS and the way forward for the Sandwich deanery of the Church of England. Housing was also a topic for discusssion and many people want to have more involvement in the way the village develops in the future. The consultation on the local development framework gives residents in the district such an opportunity.

Current mood: Happy


its in the bag

today while walking around Bruges i noticed  their approach to recycling.

i was interested in the bags which held plastic bottles, cardboard drink containers and metal containers.

perhpas this is something to consider for the councils plans for recycling

Current mood: Cool


parking solutions

i was quite taken with the situation here in Bruges. many people use bicycles as their primary means of transport. ot only is this good for their health and fitness but the parking of them adds to the charm of the city.

i have seen increasing numers of people using bikes around the district so perhaps there isq hope for us all.

Current mood: Cool


Gwyn finally does the right thing

I am pleased to see that Gywn Prosser, our local MP has finally signed the early Day Motion 722 on miners pension funds.

Thank you Gwyn.

i know many people are following this issue.

Current mood: Cool


tilmanstone parish council

Current mood: Cool

sustainable communities

sustainable communities

flytipping

Current mood: Mad


turning away business

this morning i went to a retailer in Deal. They had the product in stock that i was after yet they would not sell it to me!

i was paying by cash and this particular product has no reasonable reason for not letting me buy it so perhaps there are other reasons for not trying to sell it. Perhaps business is booming in Deal that they can afford to send customers away empty handed. Pehaps life is a game for them.

i will not be returning to that particular store.

i am just thankful that most retailers in Deal do not share this store's customer service philosophy.

Current mood: Sceptical


Eastry Coffee Break

This morning i went to the coffee break. While there a resident spoke to me about the traffic problems in Eastry. I was able to explain that this is an issue which the parish council is also involved with and in fact have had an extensive discussion with Kent Police at the January meeting. Speeding traffic through villages is a concern in many rural villages and i  too am keen to raise the profile of this issue.

I know that there is cross party support for action on this issue and it is hoped that improvements can be made to protect residents.

Current mood: Sceptical


Northbourne Parish Council

Tonight i went to the parish council meeting. There were a number of visitors to the meeting including discussion on Bus Stops, planning, and policing with the help of the local Police Community Support Officer.

There was also discussion on regeneration and planning issues.

Current mood: Happy

great mongeham drop in

this morning i went to the drop in

i gave feedback to some residents who had asked about potholes and addresses.

there was discussion about members expenses and london real eastate speculations.

one resident was also discussing the problems associated with the governments capping regime while continuing to reduce the real level of central government funding to local authorities.

this seems to contrast with a recent agreement between the scottish assembly and COSLA which was reported today

Current mood: Sceptical


a busy evening

this evening i started by going to a resource team meeting at northbourne school. This is a sub committe of the full governing body and we discussed a number of matters including the budget. It is good to bring in some of the skills and thinking from the district council finance function.

After that i went to the annual general meeting of the Eastry Twinning association. Again i like to use skills learnt in my civic function to help communities.

Current mood: Cool


valentines day approaches - a warning from the FBI

with many hoax virus warnings circulating its time to  promote a proper warning from the FBI website

this relates to a virus BOT called storm warning possibly hidden in an email about valentines day.

so you lucky people who get an emailed valentines day card

think twice before opening the link.

 

roses are red

violets are blue

emailed viruses

can infect you too!

Current mood: Cool

community farm

Current mood: Happy

So What is important to Gwyn Prosser MP?

let's see which Early Day motions he has signed recently

i copied this from the UK Parliament website

 

 he has signed EDM 723 but still not 722 for miners pension funds.

perhaps the animal rights lobby is more important to Gwyn than the Miners

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current mood: Sceptical

Bin The Bag

I received the following invitation from DEAL with it, an organisation devoted to campaigning on environmental issues. 

MAKE PLASTIC HISTORY

Bin the bag!

 

Could Deal be Kent's first

plastic bag free town?Come and find out more

3-17th Feb 2008 in Deal Library

and from 2:00pm Wed. 27th Feb

at St. George's Church Hall.

I hope local residents and retailers support this campaign

Current mood: Happy


ward matters

this evening i received a comment on this blog regading an allegation of a breach of planning policies. naturally i will pass this information on to the relevant officers but i am unwilling for the comment to be posted in public as it is more properly dealt with by the planning officers.

nevertheless i welcome residents sending me the information as i value their input.

Current mood: Cool


why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

after listening to many almost hysterical accounts of what The archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said about Sharia Law I listened to the whole interview on the BBC website

It seems that Dr Williams is only trying to extend to Muslims similar proposals that extend to other faith groups such as Jewish ones. As such this is a policy of inclusion and recognizing diversity rather than trying to enforce a cultural straightjacket. I hope that his many critics are not proposing to remove these measures which are available to other religions.

At least the tablods have managed to sell more advertising space,after all, is that not more important than the facts!

"Arch enemy: Bash the Bishop" The Sun February 10, 2008

 

the press complaints commission has a website to inform the public about making complaints against newspapers and magazines which break the code of practice.

Current mood: Sceptical


cyclists

Current mood: Mad


social event

Current mood: Dead

Coffee Break in Eastry

This morning i went to the coffee break. Among the issues discussed were the spate of recent break ins to sheds in the surrounding villages, the state of the NHS and the need to attend  hospital in Ashford due to the run down of services at Margate and Canterbury.

the increas ein parking charges was also discussed.

Current mood: Cool

Great Mongeham parish council

Great Mongeham parish council

Great Mongeham parish council

tonight i went to the great mongeham parish council. amon items under discussion were standards training for parish councillors, planning, highways issues including footpaths, an events such as the annual parish meeting and the village fun day.

Current mood: Cool


brownfields workshop

brownfields workshop

travels in the north

today I have travelled to warrington with one of the council officers. on the way we stopped at wath upon dearne to lobby the coalfield regeneration trust to continue the good work in supporting communities in the former east kent coalfield

Current mood: Cool


eastry parish council

Current mood: Happy

On Your Bike

Kent county council is holding a consultation on developing a cycle plan for the Dover District. the consultation is available on the KCC website

There is much interest in cycling in the district particulary thanks to the opening of the Fowlmead country park as well as the overall message on improving healthy living.

I would encourage residents to take part in this consultation.

Current mood: Big-Smiley

Cabinet meeting

this morning i am at a meeting of the council's cabinet. the agenda is on the council's website

the agenda included the response over the scrutny committee to the draft corporate plan and the budget. I note that the committee also highlighted the increases of the audit commission which have been highlighted by colleagues in other authorities such as Brennon who as blogged this issue recently.

Current mood: Sceptical


recycling

Today i have spoken to a number of residents and recycling seems to be a key issue. I was able to explain my understanding as to what DDC does with its recycled collections and how we had won an award for the paper collected and how this was one of the reasons for not collection cardboard yet. I was able to re iterate that it is goad to include both plastic bottles and cardboard in the kerbside collection if the new waste contarct. This contract is being negotiated by my colleague Nick Kenton at the moment and i am hopeful that we will continue to improve our recycling rates.

Current mood: Happy


Early Day Motion 722

today i have sent an email to our local MP asking for his support of an early day motion

 

here is a copy of that email

 

Dear Mr Prosser

One of the lobbying efforts by the Alliance, (formerly the Coalfield Communities Campaign) relates to the state of Miners Pensions where the government continues to rakeoff millions of pounds of miners funds.

The Alliance has the support of many MPs in this and has succeeded in getting Michael Clapham MP to sponsor an early day motion on this. This is copied below

 

COAL INDUSTRY PENSION SCHEMES

17.01.2008

 

Clapham, Michael

That this House urges the Government to begin discussions with the trustees of the coal industry pension schemes to consider how best to implement the joint statement of 17th January 2002 issued by the Government and the coal industry pension trustees declaring that `both the Government and the trustees recognise that there have been changes in circumstances since 1994. They have therefore agreed to explore how these changes might best be reflected in revisions to the 1994 arrangements which would benefit members'.

The Alliance would appreciate your signing of this motion so that we can continue this campaign

 

Yours sincerely

 

                        Cllr Stephen Manion

                        Cabinet Member Corporate Resources and ICT

                        Dover District Council

And Vice Chair

The Alliance Midlands and South Region

 

Current mood: Cool


cllr Eddy finally follows my lead

i notice that at least one member of kent labour has his own blog

it will be interesting to see if he posts about DDC matters or will it be just a kent labour spin cycle.

i could not find any link to the blog from our local MP's site.

 

Budget Consultation

at this stage of the year the council is going through the process of finalising the budget.

this is necessary to support the councils corporate plan. A part of this process is giving residents and stakeholders the chance to comment on the budget so there is an online consultation going on. the proposed budget is available on the councils website

the response address by email is

consultation@dover.gov.uk

Current mood: Cool