I was saddened to learn of the death of Margaret Davie, a former Broadland Councillor, school teacher, and fine Lib Dem councillor for Spixworth from 1993 to 2002.
Margaret taught at Hellesdeon High School for many years, and was a school governor of many local schools. She was elected in 1993 in a by-election in August 1993, an election which saw me take charge for the first time of designing leaflets for a campaign. Margaret won by about 160 votes, and was then re-elected the following year by over 400 votes (she asked me to be her agent, and it was certainly a proud moment for me to steer a campaign that won by such a big margin, but also a very easy campaign, because in less than 12 months Margaret had built up a massive following and showed just how good a councillor can be.
In 1998 Margaret was re-elected, but she stood down in 2002 to pursue other interests, with a particular fondness for raising money for animal charities at the top of her list of good deeds.
Margaret's funeral will be in four weeks time (yes, that's a shockingly long time to wait, but there is a shortage of trained pathologists in Norfolk !) She will be missed by many people.
Showing posts with label Broadland District Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadland District Council. Show all posts
1/09/2011
8/28/2010
The online voter registration site with no security certificate
I received a letter today from Broadland District Council encouraging me to register as a voter as part of their annual canvass of electors.
The form, which is actual rather confusing, seems to be encouraging me to register online if I have no changes to make to my details. The website itself is oneI have never heard of before called http://www.register-online.co.uk/.
The problem is, this website has no security certificate and Internet Explorer is encouraging me not to access this website, as can be seen by the screen shot below.
The issue of companies phoning local residents in an internet scam, claiming to be able to clear viruses from computers but actually downloading spyware on to PCs is something I have recently taken up with a local resident, so I am shcoked that the council should be encoraging me to use a website without a valid security certificate.
How many other companies are using http://www.register-online.co.uk/ as well as Broadland ?
The form, which is actual rather confusing, seems to be encouraging me to register online if I have no changes to make to my details. The website itself is oneI have never heard of before called http://www.register-online.co.uk/.
The problem is, this website has no security certificate and Internet Explorer is encouraging me not to access this website, as can be seen by the screen shot below.
The issue of companies phoning local residents in an internet scam, claiming to be able to clear viruses from computers but actually downloading spyware on to PCs is something I have recently taken up with a local resident, so I am shcoked that the council should be encoraging me to use a website without a valid security certificate.
How many other companies are using http://www.register-online.co.uk/ as well as Broadland ?
2/26/2010
What the Tories offer Broadland
At last night's meeting at Broadland District Council to vote on the new development plan for Broadland, the council's attitude towards the NDR and the future of the eco town in Rackheath, amazingly more than one third of the Conservative councillors failed to turn up. Does an empty seat vote ?
Despite Tory councillors at the meeting telling us how important the document was that was being voted on, despite being lectured about the vital blueprint this will give Broadland for the next decade, 12 Tories failed to turn up.
If this is the way the Conservatives treat an "important" decision, you have to ask why so few turned up. The people of Broadland deserve more than an empty chair.
As for the plan itself, it was picked apart in great detail by several members of the public and by Lib Dem councillors. Despite this, the Tories argument was simply "If we don't vote this plan through we will have no plan", simply failed to address the issue that they could have promoed a better plan in the first place.
If you want an example of why the plan is flawed it can be given by the represetative of Ringland Parish Council and also the letter sent in by Felthrpe Parish. Both these villages would be badly hit by any plans for a part NDR "road to nowhere" (indeed this was highlighted by the County Council traffic projections), but both villages was classed for the purposes of the report as "non villages", meaning the way they were consulted and their ability to take new developments was not considered alongside other villages. If two villages who want some development were ignored in order for Broadland Tories to justify their need for 4000 new homes in Rackheath, how much of the report can we believe ?
2/25/2010
Broadland Council Meeting Tonight - The Eco town and its effect on Taverham
I shall be attending my second Broadland Council meeting in two weeks tonight as an ordinary member of the public (which is ironically the same number of meetings that the former Conservative councillor for Taverham North managed in a whole year) when they discuss the Rackheath "Eco" town tonight.
The whole concept of the Edo Town is flawed on many different levels. Firstly, the standard of ecofriendliness required for building the houses is a lower standard than those standards expect of all new homes by 2016, and by 2016 none of the new houses will be built. So in effect the government has dumped 4000 new homes on prime farmland which will not be built to a higher standard than any other house in Norfolk or the UK.
Then there is the wider issue of the problems this eco town will have on neighbouring villages and those further afield.
Rackheath is to be on the NDR (Northern Distributor Road), which was first mooted as a bypass, but now falls well short of that and will stop at Norwich Airport, leaving Drayton, Taverham, Thorpe Marriott, Costessey and Ringland as the favoured alternative routes to get to the Southern bypass. The proposal to build 4000 extra homes (and further business developments) on this land means thousands of extra vehicle movements which will inevitably affect this part of the world too.
As it is, the Tory Council voted last week to hand executive powers to the Tory controlled cabinet at Broadland to allow them to make decisions affecting the eco town with little or no reference back to the whole council and opposition councillors, effectively writing a blank cheque to do as they please.
With people from the SNUB (Stop Norwich UrBanisation) group who oppose the eco town attending tonight's meeting it may put pressure on the Tories who are seemingly unable to see any problems with the eco town or the NDR.
I will report back on the meeting.
The whole concept of the Edo Town is flawed on many different levels. Firstly, the standard of ecofriendliness required for building the houses is a lower standard than those standards expect of all new homes by 2016, and by 2016 none of the new houses will be built. So in effect the government has dumped 4000 new homes on prime farmland which will not be built to a higher standard than any other house in Norfolk or the UK.
Then there is the wider issue of the problems this eco town will have on neighbouring villages and those further afield.
Rackheath is to be on the NDR (Northern Distributor Road), which was first mooted as a bypass, but now falls well short of that and will stop at Norwich Airport, leaving Drayton, Taverham, Thorpe Marriott, Costessey and Ringland as the favoured alternative routes to get to the Southern bypass. The proposal to build 4000 extra homes (and further business developments) on this land means thousands of extra vehicle movements which will inevitably affect this part of the world too.
As it is, the Tory Council voted last week to hand executive powers to the Tory controlled cabinet at Broadland to allow them to make decisions affecting the eco town with little or no reference back to the whole council and opposition councillors, effectively writing a blank cheque to do as they please.
With people from the SNUB (Stop Norwich UrBanisation) group who oppose the eco town attending tonight's meeting it may put pressure on the Tories who are seemingly unable to see any problems with the eco town or the NDR.
I will report back on the meeting.
2/11/2010
Norfolk County Council to stop gritting side roads ?
According to BBC Look East this evening, Conservative run Norfolk County Council are giving serious consideration to stopping the gritting of all side roads, with just main roads to be gritted in future. This will effectively cut off large parts of Norfolk, with roads becoming impossible to drive on and people being left unable to get off side roads on to main roads.
Where I live in Thorpe Marriott is not the flattest part of Norfolk. Marriotts way runs through the middle of Thorpe Marriott and and this whole valley will become a no go zone for buses and cars, meaning that Thorpe Marriott will be split in half because the ungritted hill will not be manageable without regular gritting. There are many other parts of Norfolk too that will suffer if Norfolk Tories have their way.
Norfolk County Council complain that some of the grit orders have been commandeered by other councils. I would ask simply why it is that Norfolk waits until January or February to order its salt and grit, presumably at sky high prices when there is peak demand, when they could have order received the grit in the summer when prices would be cheaper and delivery would be guaranteed.
Where I live in Thorpe Marriott is not the flattest part of Norfolk. Marriotts way runs through the middle of Thorpe Marriott and and this whole valley will become a no go zone for buses and cars, meaning that Thorpe Marriott will be split in half because the ungritted hill will not be manageable without regular gritting. There are many other parts of Norfolk too that will suffer if Norfolk Tories have their way.
Norfolk County Council complain that some of the grit orders have been commandeered by other councils. I would ask simply why it is that Norfolk waits until January or February to order its salt and grit, presumably at sky high prices when there is peak demand, when they could have order received the grit in the summer when prices would be cheaper and delivery would be guaranteed.
2/10/2010
Broadland saved, but Norwich to go Unitary
After a leak last week giving away the government's position on the proposals for unitary councils in Norfolk, the government today officially announced that Norwich City Council is to be turned in to a unitary authority, with no change for the rest of Norfolk. Whilst this is in many ways a good thing, particularly as we retain our local councils and will not be swallowed up by some "super council" as was first proposed, there are some consequenes for all of us, even those living outside of Norwich.
In giving Norwich Unitary status, and its schools becoming separate from Norfolk Schools, there will now need to be some duplication of resources, and many of the economies of scale which Norfolk Education Authority has will be gone as 20% of the schools budget was spent in Norwich. Teacher training centres, managers, and a whole host of other expenses will now be split amongst the remaining 80% of the county. inevitably this will put up costs for all of us.
Then there are the issues to do with children in Broadland going to Norwich schools. Many children in Broadland go to schools in Norwich like The Open Academy, Sewell Park College, Hewett, and others, and these schools will now be in a different education authority. This will cause all sorts of problems too in social services, bit this is all stuff the government know and chose to ignore.
The ironic thing is about the whole process is that the re-organisation of local government was supposed to cut costs, not increase them. According to the government's own rules, Norwich going unitary could not pass the threshold for making savings and it therefore should have been turned down. So the Labour government have managed to botch one of their final ever decisions. No change there then , they've botched up a lot since 1997 !
In giving Norwich Unitary status, and its schools becoming separate from Norfolk Schools, there will now need to be some duplication of resources, and many of the economies of scale which Norfolk Education Authority has will be gone as 20% of the schools budget was spent in Norwich. Teacher training centres, managers, and a whole host of other expenses will now be split amongst the remaining 80% of the county. inevitably this will put up costs for all of us.
Then there are the issues to do with children in Broadland going to Norwich schools. Many children in Broadland go to schools in Norwich like The Open Academy, Sewell Park College, Hewett, and others, and these schools will now be in a different education authority. This will cause all sorts of problems too in social services, bit this is all stuff the government know and chose to ignore.
The ironic thing is about the whole process is that the re-organisation of local government was supposed to cut costs, not increase them. According to the government's own rules, Norwich going unitary could not pass the threshold for making savings and it therefore should have been turned down. So the Labour government have managed to botch one of their final ever decisions. No change there then , they've botched up a lot since 1997 !
2/04/2010
A Unitary Norwich plus Norfolk to keep its District Councils ? - Let's hope it is true
The EDP reports that government minister John Denham, who has responsibility for making the decision about the bids for unitary status in Norfolk, may decide to keep the present council system, but allow Norwich City Council to become a Unitary Authority on its existing boundaries.
Firstly, can I say how pleased I am if this is the decision. Not because I particularly want to change education authorities (as I work in Norwich), but because I have long been an advocate of keeping the existing district councils which are more in touch and often more relevent to local people in our village and small town communities across Norfolk.
When I was a North Norfolk District Councillor I was applauded loudly by the Tory Councillors for my passionate speech in defence of District Councils and in opposition of plans by Norwich City council to take over vast areas of Broadland District Council, leaving the rest of Broadland to be scattered amongst neighbouring authorities. The Tory who was due to speak after me merely stated "I agree 100% with councillor Starling and have nothing else to add". Indeed my position and arguments against the unitary authority demands made by the Labour run Norwich City Council was praised by a local Tory Parliamentary candidate in comments sent to this blog.
We are not to know yet whether the rumours are true, but I know that people here in Taverham have no wish to be taken over by Norwich City Council. I am sure that people in the West of the County in places like Clenchwarton (where I lived as a child) and those in Diss, Bacton and Gorleston, all feared that their local councils with local offices would be abolished in favour of a remote Norfolk County Council based in Norwich.
An announcement is expected next week. Fingers crossed that we stay here in Taverham as part of Broadland District Council (despite the rather odd decisions and money wasted by the Tories locally). Given the was the Tories have mismanaged the County Council, being taken over by that body would have been an unmitigated disaster !
Firstly, can I say how pleased I am if this is the decision. Not because I particularly want to change education authorities (as I work in Norwich), but because I have long been an advocate of keeping the existing district councils which are more in touch and often more relevent to local people in our village and small town communities across Norfolk.
When I was a North Norfolk District Councillor I was applauded loudly by the Tory Councillors for my passionate speech in defence of District Councils and in opposition of plans by Norwich City council to take over vast areas of Broadland District Council, leaving the rest of Broadland to be scattered amongst neighbouring authorities. The Tory who was due to speak after me merely stated "I agree 100% with councillor Starling and have nothing else to add". Indeed my position and arguments against the unitary authority demands made by the Labour run Norwich City Council was praised by a local Tory Parliamentary candidate in comments sent to this blog.
We are not to know yet whether the rumours are true, but I know that people here in Taverham have no wish to be taken over by Norwich City Council. I am sure that people in the West of the County in places like Clenchwarton (where I lived as a child) and those in Diss, Bacton and Gorleston, all feared that their local councils with local offices would be abolished in favour of a remote Norfolk County Council based in Norwich.
An announcement is expected next week. Fingers crossed that we stay here in Taverham as part of Broadland District Council (despite the rather odd decisions and money wasted by the Tories locally). Given the was the Tories have mismanaged the County Council, being taken over by that body would have been an unmitigated disaster !
10/02/2009
Two gains for the Lib Dems in Broadland constituency
The Lib Dem target seat of Broadland received a timely boost yesterday when two local council gains were made in the constituency.
In Wroxham, a large rural ward on Broadland District Council the Lib Dem vote was up by more than 50% to snatch the seat the Tories expected to pick up easily. This seat was won by the Tories in 1998, and although the councillor later sat as an independent, he was never known for being anything other than a Con-dependent and was not often opposed in elections by Tory candidates.
In the other election, the Lib Dems gained Walsingham from the North Norfolk independent group after the sad death of Cllr Tom Moore. I knew Tom when I was on North Norfolk council and he was a genuine and popular independent councillor. Again the Lib Dem vote was up significantly (over 30% up).
With Broadland Lib Dems on something of a roll after other recent by-election wins in Aylsham and Buxton, there should be no shortage of good candidates wanting to stand to become the Lib Dem PPC. Many people will know that the former PPC transferred her candidature to Norwich North.
As for the Council representation after this, North Norfolk Council now has 31 Lib Dems (Tories on 15 with one vacancy) and Broadland has 11 Lib Dems, the Tories on 34.
In terms of district councillors within each of the Broadland and North Norfolk constituencies, the number for Broadland is 17 Lib Dems to 18 Tories. In North Norfolk it is 23 Lib Dems to 15 Tories.
In Wroxham, a large rural ward on Broadland District Council the Lib Dem vote was up by more than 50% to snatch the seat the Tories expected to pick up easily. This seat was won by the Tories in 1998, and although the councillor later sat as an independent, he was never known for being anything other than a Con-dependent and was not often opposed in elections by Tory candidates.
In the other election, the Lib Dems gained Walsingham from the North Norfolk independent group after the sad death of Cllr Tom Moore. I knew Tom when I was on North Norfolk council and he was a genuine and popular independent councillor. Again the Lib Dem vote was up significantly (over 30% up).
With Broadland Lib Dems on something of a roll after other recent by-election wins in Aylsham and Buxton, there should be no shortage of good candidates wanting to stand to become the Lib Dem PPC. Many people will know that the former PPC transferred her candidature to Norwich North.
As for the Council representation after this, North Norfolk Council now has 31 Lib Dems (Tories on 15 with one vacancy) and Broadland has 11 Lib Dems, the Tories on 34.
In terms of district councillors within each of the Broadland and North Norfolk constituencies, the number for Broadland is 17 Lib Dems to 18 Tories. In North Norfolk it is 23 Lib Dems to 15 Tories.
10/01/2009
Lib Dem gain in Wroxham (Broadland)
Just received a text telling me that the Liberal Democrats gained the wroxham seat on broadland district council from an independent Tory with 63% of the vote. The same ward is held by the Tories at county level and also has another Tory district councillor.
The Con-dependent who died had been elected as a Tory and was re-elected with the Tories failing to field a full slate. He was also known to be a Tory party member, so in many ways this is gain from the Tories.
So much for "The Sun" effect.
The Con-dependent who died had been elected as a Tory and was re-elected with the Tories failing to field a full slate. He was also known to be a Tory party member, so in many ways this is gain from the Tories.
So much for "The Sun" effect.
7/23/2009
Are Broadland District Council totally useless at running elections ?
Many people are asking why it is that the count for the Norwich North by-election is not being held on the evening of the election, and others are asking why it is that the count is not even being held in Norwich North or in the District of Broadland or the City of Norwich.
In 2004 I was agent for elections in Broadland and they sent me the wrong agents forms. At the time I was a councillor on North Norfolk Council so I got the correct forms from their electoral packs and crossed out "North Norfolk", inserting "Broadland" in their place. Only when I returned the forms did they suddenly realise their error and send out replacement forms to all candidates.
In 2005 at the General Election there were complaints in Norwich North, and most notably in Thorpe Marriott (Taverham) that the polling stations were not properly organised and prepared so angry voters who had queued for some time were turned away at 10pm not having voted.
In 2007 at the local election count they took the best part of a whole day to count the local election votes despite a low turnout. People at the count that I knew described it as a shambles.
Now in 2009 the same council are holding the count for a parliamentary by-election the following day, not even on the same night as the election. Then to compound things the count is not even being held in Norwich North or the District of Broadland. Instead it is being held in South Norfolk !
But don't worry. These people only act as the guardians of our democracy.
In 2004 I was agent for elections in Broadland and they sent me the wrong agents forms. At the time I was a councillor on North Norfolk Council so I got the correct forms from their electoral packs and crossed out "North Norfolk", inserting "Broadland" in their place. Only when I returned the forms did they suddenly realise their error and send out replacement forms to all candidates.
In 2005 at the General Election there were complaints in Norwich North, and most notably in Thorpe Marriott (Taverham) that the polling stations were not properly organised and prepared so angry voters who had queued for some time were turned away at 10pm not having voted.
In 2007 at the local election count they took the best part of a whole day to count the local election votes despite a low turnout. People at the count that I knew described it as a shambles.
Now in 2009 the same council are holding the count for a parliamentary by-election the following day, not even on the same night as the election. Then to compound things the count is not even being held in Norwich North or the District of Broadland. Instead it is being held in South Norfolk !
But don't worry. These people only act as the guardians of our democracy.
3/06/2009
Tories lead by example when it comes to the credit crunch
News reaches me that one Tory run council is offering staff a 0% pay rise this year whilst the councillors themselves took a large increase in allowances and in addition to this, another council (Broadland) has seen the Tories ignore Lib Dem pleas at the last full council meeting to halt plans for a further rise in allowances in order to "show solidarity with council tax payers at this difficult time". Sadly Broadland Tories felt a pay rise was more important.
Isn't it odd that at this particular time some Tory councils are notably unaware of the credit crunch and the need for councillors to lead by example.
Isn't it odd that at this particular time some Tory councils are notably unaware of the credit crunch and the need for councillors to lead by example.
Tories humiliated in Norfolk by-election
The Tories in the new Broadland constituency were given a salutary warning about the prospects for the Lib Dems when the Lib Dems sensationally took the Buxton seat on Broadland District Council from the Tories in a massive reversal of fortunes.
The Lib Dem candidate, Barbara Rix, won by 354 votes, gaining 555 votes to the Tories 201. The Greens trailed in a miserable third with just 22 votes.
The Broadland seat is a new Lib Dem target seat and the Tories, aware of this, pushed an enormous effort in to the campaign with dozens of Tory activists outnumbering the Lib Dems on some campaign weekends still unable to stop the Lib Dem Juggernaut in Broadland.
The Tories produced some high quality looking literature, but as ever, their campaign themes missed the point, failed to address real local concerns, and many voters are now starting to realise that Broadland District Council, under the Tories really offers nothing to those outside of the city fringes.
A big well done to April Pond (Broadland PPC) and her team who can look forward to the County elections with real hopes of further gains.
The Lib Dem candidate, Barbara Rix, won by 354 votes, gaining 555 votes to the Tories 201. The Greens trailed in a miserable third with just 22 votes.
The Broadland seat is a new Lib Dem target seat and the Tories, aware of this, pushed an enormous effort in to the campaign with dozens of Tory activists outnumbering the Lib Dems on some campaign weekends still unable to stop the Lib Dem Juggernaut in Broadland.
The Tories produced some high quality looking literature, but as ever, their campaign themes missed the point, failed to address real local concerns, and many voters are now starting to realise that Broadland District Council, under the Tories really offers nothing to those outside of the city fringes.
A big well done to April Pond (Broadland PPC) and her team who can look forward to the County elections with real hopes of further gains.
5/12/2008
Do as we say not as we do - Norfolk County Council
I was speaking to someone I know yesterday who was rather struck by the hypocrisy of Norfolk County Council. Having read on Norfolk County Council's website about issues to do with fly-tipping, she contacted Norfolk County highways about a load of rubble that had been dumped on her land. Norfolk County Council were not too impressed or happy to be bothered with a phone call about fly-tipping and insisted she phone up Broadland District Council who are responsible for flytipping, and as Norfolk County Council were keen to add "the perpetrators could be fined".
"Oh, you're happy to be fined are you ?" replied the lady
"Why should we be paying it ?" replied Norfolk County Council ?
"Well the rubble was dumped there by Norfolk County Highways workmen about three months ago", she added.
"It's funny" , said the lady " Suddenly they were not so keen for me to phone Broadland and they insisted they would find someone who would clean up the mess for me".
Now it is good that Norfolk County Council put right their mess, but it's a shame that councils don't all lead by example.
"Oh, you're happy to be fined are you ?" replied the lady
"Why should we be paying it ?" replied Norfolk County Council ?
"Well the rubble was dumped there by Norfolk County Highways workmen about three months ago", she added.
"It's funny" , said the lady " Suddenly they were not so keen for me to phone Broadland and they insisted they would find someone who would clean up the mess for me".
Now it is good that Norfolk County Council put right their mess, but it's a shame that councils don't all lead by example.
5/06/2008
Former Tory Councillor charged with sex attacks - How can political parties expect to know who they allow to join ?
Stephen Mullins, a member of Norwich North Conservative Association and a former Tory parish councillor, has been charged with a series of sex attacks by Norfolk Police.
I report this not to throw mud at the Tories, because sadly this sort of thing can happen to any party and it says nothing about that party because sadly there are people who commit all sorts of crimes in society and politics actually does reflect what goes on in society.
No, the interesting point was the odd explanation given by a source in Norwich North Conservatives about the man's links to the Tories.
“Nobody knows him very well,” the source said. “He seemed like a respectable man who wanted to play a role in the community. But he has never been particularly outgoing and I don't think any of us knew much about him.”
Of course it is difficult to understand what someone is really like, but when I served on various Lib Dem Constituency Executive Committees, we did know virtually everyone who came forward to serve on the committee and we also knew a little bit more about them than "they wanted to play a role". We did, in North Norfolk, always have to be vigilant about opposition people "spying" on us, so it was incumbent on us to be very aware of who people were, but the Tory excuse does seem a little odd.
No doubt this person's details will be combined in to the list the BNP keep on the misdemeanours of other parties, but it should be remembered he is innocent until proven guilty and that each and every party has its fair share of odd bods and criminal types. It does though perhaps pay local parties to be vigilant about who tries to get in and not simply accept help from just anyone without finding out a little more about them.
I report this not to throw mud at the Tories, because sadly this sort of thing can happen to any party and it says nothing about that party because sadly there are people who commit all sorts of crimes in society and politics actually does reflect what goes on in society.
No, the interesting point was the odd explanation given by a source in Norwich North Conservatives about the man's links to the Tories.
“Nobody knows him very well,” the source said. “He seemed like a respectable man who wanted to play a role in the community. But he has never been particularly outgoing and I don't think any of us knew much about him.”
Of course it is difficult to understand what someone is really like, but when I served on various Lib Dem Constituency Executive Committees, we did know virtually everyone who came forward to serve on the committee and we also knew a little bit more about them than "they wanted to play a role". We did, in North Norfolk, always have to be vigilant about opposition people "spying" on us, so it was incumbent on us to be very aware of who people were, but the Tory excuse does seem a little odd.
No doubt this person's details will be combined in to the list the BNP keep on the misdemeanours of other parties, but it should be remembered he is innocent until proven guilty and that each and every party has its fair share of odd bods and criminal types. It does though perhaps pay local parties to be vigilant about who tries to get in and not simply accept help from just anyone without finding out a little more about them.
9/30/2007
The next time the Tories go on about fortnightly bin collections, remind them about Broadland District Council
Tories, in the main, like to go on about fortnightly bin collections as if they are the work of the devil, the Labour party and/or the Lib Dems, but never seem to acknowledge that plenty of Tory Councils also have such a system.
In Broadland, where the Tories have run a fortnightly collection system for some years now, they are changing the collection days so they are asking us to put out both bins tomorrow. I fear this means that they are going to throw away our recycled rubbish with the ordinary waste, but that's another story. No, my real concern is that the next time our normal landfill waste bin will be collected will be 18 days. Yes, we have to wait two weeks and four days for our next waste collection, Recycled waste will be collected in 11 days time, but recycled waste is generally not stuff that will rot and smell, unlike the nappies and other rubbish in our general waste bin.
I do hope if a General Election is called this week that the Lib Dems will ask why the Tory council is making us all wait longer for our general waste bin to be collected rather than our recycled waste bin. there must be a few votes in that, surely ?
In Broadland, where the Tories have run a fortnightly collection system for some years now, they are changing the collection days so they are asking us to put out both bins tomorrow. I fear this means that they are going to throw away our recycled rubbish with the ordinary waste, but that's another story. No, my real concern is that the next time our normal landfill waste bin will be collected will be 18 days. Yes, we have to wait two weeks and four days for our next waste collection, Recycled waste will be collected in 11 days time, but recycled waste is generally not stuff that will rot and smell, unlike the nappies and other rubbish in our general waste bin.
I do hope if a General Election is called this week that the Lib Dems will ask why the Tory council is making us all wait longer for our general waste bin to be collected rather than our recycled waste bin. there must be a few votes in that, surely ?
7/25/2007
Unitary Status For Norwich - Takeover bid for fringe parishes is on
It has been announced that Norwich has not been granted unitary status, but in a disgraceful twist, minister Hazel Blears confirmed that the government might allow Norwich to take over a number or rural fringe parishes, some of which are some considerable distance from Norwich, in order to make the Norwich bid viable.
The parishes concerned do not want to become part of Norwich and the proposal has received no support from people outside of the boundaries of Norwich, indeed, it has received little enough support from people in Norwich itself (37% by the city's own statistics).
If a takeover has been granted to Norwich, it will mean a dismemberment of Broadland District Council and a rising of costs in North Norfolk as this council will have to take over the burden of running services in rural parts of Broadland where it costs more to provide services, and no, of course the government will not provide any support to North Norfolk to do this. Don't be silly !
The parishes concerned do not want to become part of Norwich and the proposal has received no support from people outside of the boundaries of Norwich, indeed, it has received little enough support from people in Norwich itself (37% by the city's own statistics).
If a takeover has been granted to Norwich, it will mean a dismemberment of Broadland District Council and a rising of costs in North Norfolk as this council will have to take over the burden of running services in rural parts of Broadland where it costs more to provide services, and no, of course the government will not provide any support to North Norfolk to do this. Don't be silly !
5/31/2007
"A New Life In The Country " on Channel Five insults Norwich
Watching the TV programme, "A New Life In The Country" on Channel Five this evening was rather delightful, looking at the restoration from a ruin of an old water tower in Norfolk, that was until they ran their competition.
The question was;
"Which if these is a famous town in Norfolk ?"
Instantly, I thought of all our towns. Swaffham, Watton, Dereham, Downham Market, Diss, Wymondham, Stalham, Great Yarmouth, Kings Lynn, Cromer, Wells, Holt, North Walsham and Sheringham (apologies if I have missed any).
So what were the choices ?
A- Cardiff
B - Norwich
C - Edinburgh
What ? Norwich ? A Town ?
Norwich is, for the benefit of Channel Five, a city, given its royal charter many centuries ago. If we were a town then the football club would be Norwich Town, not Norwich City !
Describing Norwich as a town is like describing the QE2 as a boat.
P.S. For anyone who wants to know which planning authority they were on about in the TV show that refused to allow the man to use solar panels on his water tower, it is Tory run Broadland District Council.
The question was;
"Which if these is a famous town in Norfolk ?"
Instantly, I thought of all our towns. Swaffham, Watton, Dereham, Downham Market, Diss, Wymondham, Stalham, Great Yarmouth, Kings Lynn, Cromer, Wells, Holt, North Walsham and Sheringham (apologies if I have missed any).
So what were the choices ?
A- Cardiff
B - Norwich
C - Edinburgh
What ? Norwich ? A Town ?
Norwich is, for the benefit of Channel Five, a city, given its royal charter many centuries ago. If we were a town then the football club would be Norwich Town, not Norwich City !
Describing Norwich as a town is like describing the QE2 as a boat.
P.S. For anyone who wants to know which planning authority they were on about in the TV show that refused to allow the man to use solar panels on his water tower, it is Tory run Broadland District Council.
5/08/2007
Broadland District Council's Website out of action for 3 days
I've been trying to use Broadland District Council's website for three days to try and check the bin collection dates for this week. However, Tory controlled Broadland appear to have nobody employed to ensure that their website is fixed when it goes wrong over a weekend or bank holiday.
Remember, Broadland are also the same council who did not employ an environmental health person responsible for noise problems at night and also wouldn't send someone out at weekends to deal with noise problems at events held in the district.
Surely the people of Broadland deserve a 24-7 council, not a nine to five "don't bother us at weekends" council ?
Remember, Broadland are also the same council who did not employ an environmental health person responsible for noise problems at night and also wouldn't send someone out at weekends to deal with noise problems at events held in the district.
Surely the people of Broadland deserve a 24-7 council, not a nine to five "don't bother us at weekends" council ?
5/07/2007
Broadland Tories and their stories
Just a couple of gems from the elections, two stories of mass deception in separate wards from Tories.
Firstly, in Sprowston, the Conservative Party were canvassing with the message that the local Lib Dems had supported Norwich's bid for unitary status, which is a blatant lie. I have also been told their was a Tory leaflet stating the same untruth, but sadly, you cannot libel an organisation or a political party, so the Tories can get away with blatant lies. Oh Dave must be so proud.
The other story is a tale of two independents who, I am told, are actually Tory party members, but stand as independents, sit as independents and then get given vice-chairmanships of committees reserved for opposition councillors, in order to allow the ruling Tory group to have another Tory in place of an a Lib Dem.
If this is the sort "clean" political climate David Cameron urges us all to believe in then god help the country.
It is because of these sorts of things that I have lost a lot of faith in politics and why I have withdrawn from front line political activism.
Unfortunately in politics, like fluid, the scum usually rises to the top !
P.S. And yes, I am sure there are tales of all political parties telling porkies. I wouldn't justify the telling of lies in any circumstance. If you've had it happen to you, don't use it as a justification to do it back or justify what Broadland Tories do. Only by people taking a proper stand against lies and misleading campaigns will politics be genuinely cleaned up.
Firstly, in Sprowston, the Conservative Party were canvassing with the message that the local Lib Dems had supported Norwich's bid for unitary status, which is a blatant lie. I have also been told their was a Tory leaflet stating the same untruth, but sadly, you cannot libel an organisation or a political party, so the Tories can get away with blatant lies. Oh Dave must be so proud.
The other story is a tale of two independents who, I am told, are actually Tory party members, but stand as independents, sit as independents and then get given vice-chairmanships of committees reserved for opposition councillors, in order to allow the ruling Tory group to have another Tory in place of an a Lib Dem.
If this is the sort "clean" political climate David Cameron urges us all to believe in then god help the country.
It is because of these sorts of things that I have lost a lot of faith in politics and why I have withdrawn from front line political activism.
Unfortunately in politics, like fluid, the scum usually rises to the top !
P.S. And yes, I am sure there are tales of all political parties telling porkies. I wouldn't justify the telling of lies in any circumstance. If you've had it happen to you, don't use it as a justification to do it back or justify what Broadland Tories do. Only by people taking a proper stand against lies and misleading campaigns will politics be genuinely cleaned up.
5/06/2007
When are my local Tory Councillors going to tidy up after their fly-posting ?
On Wednesday , the invisible Tory Councillors in my area ( Taverham North) decided that street litter was the new way forward, so they attached a number of Conservative posters to street lamps, road signs, county highways fencing and trees, in order to boost their profile.
The question is, why is it that by the following Sunday, some four days later, they have not been bothered to go round and collect in their street litter.
What a good example the Conservative Councillors have set to the electorate of Taverham North.
The question is, why is it that by the following Sunday, some four days later, they have not been bothered to go round and collect in their street litter.
What a good example the Conservative Councillors have set to the electorate of Taverham North.
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