How much could you save under the Lib Dems ?

Under Liberal Democrat proposals to raise the tax threshold, 10% of workers in Norfolk would become exempt from paying income tax.

Using South Norfolk as an example, the lowest paid 10% earn £7996 per year.

The Lib Dem proposals to raise the tax threshold (by asking the wealthiest to pay more) would ease the burden on 3,800 people in South Norfolk alone -tthe equivalent to a place the size of Long Stratton.

Across the whole of Norfolk, 27,800 people would be taken out of tax altogether – or 11.68% of the working population.

Under the Lib Dem tax plans, the average person would save £700 per year in their tax bill, no one will have to pay tax on the first £10,000 of their income.

This will save the average working age taxpayer £700 each. Homes with two workers could be up to £1400 a year better off.

These tax cuts will be paid for by measures including closing tax loopholes exploited by the rich, taxes on pollution and a new levy on houses worth more than £2 million.

Lib Dem candidate for South Norfolk Jacky Howe says, “Ordinary people are paying far more than their fair share while the rich pay less than they should. Our plan will put money back into the pockets of those who need it most, pensioners and working people on low incomes.”

Norfolk MPs with nothing to hide print additional costs allowances online

Four Norfolk MPs who clearly feel they have nothing to hide regarding their expenses have decided to print their additional costs allowances details for the last four years on their websites today.

You can find the details at http://www.normanlamb.org.uk , http://www.richardbacon.org.uk , http://www.iangibsonmp.org.uk and http://www.charlesclarke.org.uk .

Yet another South Norfolk Tory Councillor convicted

Conservative South Norfolk Councillor Jon Herbert has joined two of his council colleagues by being convicted of a criminal offence.

You can read all about the way this Tory Councillor treated Council staff HERE. The Tories campaigned hard in South Norfolk last time on the issue of crime. It seems odd that so many of their councillors have become criminals since being elected.

I note that the Tories are to consider his application to rejoin the Tory group at their next meeting. With the precendent the Tories set last time, we shouldn't be at all surprised to see him happily back amongst Tory ranks very soon, such is the Tories propensity to happily allow criminals back in their party.

As one South Norfolk resident who e-mailed me about this today said in his e-mail said "the Tory group will soon have to start turning up in shirts with arrows on them".

New scandal for South Norfolk Tories - Another Conservative Councillor drink driver

I seem to have missed THIS story about another (yes another) South Norfolk Conservative Councillor who has been caught drink driving.

This time, County and District Councillor Stella Tilcock (who prefers to be known as Stella Rice) has been up to no good.

Of course theinteresting thing is that another South Norfolk Councillor, Keith Tilcock was similarly found guilty of drink driving (and worse) just a few months before. What is it with Tory Councillors called Tilcock in South Norfolk

Like this time, the Tories talked about suspending Keith Tilcock "temporarily", but soon let him back in to their political group. One wonders what sanctions the Tories will actually take against Cllr Stella Tilcock (Rice) when they set such a poor precedent last time.

You have to ask why it is that South Norfolk Tories talk so tough on crime but when people in their own party act so badly they send out the wrong message by completely failing to act tough on them.

Update - There is also a rumour that another South Norfolk Tory is also in court in the next few weeks on another charge. What a good example this lot set to the people of South Norfolk.

South Norfolk and Breckland Councils - Has someone not told them about the local governnment review ?

Norfolk local government is set for a shakeup with plans for unitary authorities or a single super council to be set up for the whole county. The problem is, nobody seems to have told South Norfolk Council or Breckland.

Breckland Council are determined to farm out some departments to outside companies (presumably meaning the staff getting farmed out would not be guaranteed an equal chance of getting jobs in the new super councils, after all only existing council staff will be considered for jobs). What utter chaos this will cause if some parts of Norfolk have farmed out their services to private companies when all the services have to be merged together.

Then there is South Norfolk, who are advertising a £100,000 a year vacancy for chief executive when the council may not exist in a few months time. Presumably South Norfolk Tories who run the council feel that allowing to the council to have an acting chief exec is not the way to go. South Norfolk electors who will have to pay the £100,000 salary (and redundancy pay presumably if the merger of the councils goes ahead) would probably disagree.

Another poor showing from South Norfolk Lib Dems

I shouldn't really have been surprised to see South Norfolk Lib Dems produce another poor election result in the Diss by election held, rather oddly, last Thursday.

Con 1041 56%

LibDem 768 41%

Lab 63 3%

Turnout 33.44%

Diss was, until 5 years ago, a bastion of Lib Dem support. The Lib Dems held seats on the District Council with good majorities and the County Council seat was "safe as houses", but like much of the area once called "safe" by South Norfolk Lib Dems, too little was done between elections, and as soon as the Tories recovered in the polls, the Lib Dem voters had forgotten why they elected lib Dems in the first place and so elected someone else instead.

With the Tories now running South Norfolk Council, and none too well either if my wife's family are to be believed (and they are natural Tory voters who live in Diss), then you might guess from their surprise that the Tories held on here with a large majority, that this really was a seat the Lib Dems should have been challenging in.

I well remember in the run up to the 2001 General Election when in North Norfolk we were running our campaign in the way Cowley Street and our target seat officer told us to, how we had to almost fight off South Norfolk Lib Dems who tried to muscle in on the publicity we were garnering, which in turn actually diminished what we were doing in North Norfolk. The problem is that for too long South Norfolk Lib Dems have done it "their way", which in many ways is the way the Lib Dems (or Alliance as it then was) did it in the 1980's, but they have not really moved on. This is not to say that they do not have some excellent people. In Costessey, for example, the Lib Dems have enormous majorities (counted in thousands), but that is because they work "all year round " and "not just at election time". That is what we did in North Norfolk and what they continue to do. It is also what Norwich South did, but then forgot to do when they ran the council, and it is something they are now starting to do again.

For the Lib Dems sakes, South Norfolk have got to re-learn the message that they have to get out on the streets and give people a reason to vote Lib Dems. Invariably, that means finding issues, writing about them and then sticking them through people's doors.

Tories "so forgiving" of their own councillors

I noted a few months ago that a Tory Councillor who drove to a hospital whilst over the alcohol limit and then urinated in the grounds of the hospital, had resigned from the Conservative Group, but was , as the Tory leader of South Norfolk made clear, going to be allowed back in to the Tory group at the earliest opportunity. So in effect his "resignation" from the Tory group was a meaningless gesture.

Well if the South Norfolk District Council website is to be believed, Cllr Tilcock has already been let back in to the Tory group.

I wonder if the Tories would have been so forgiving of this sort of behaviour from a teenager or a non Conservative councillor ?

South Norfolk Tory Councillor Keith Tilcock shows voters what anti social behaviour is really like

A South Norfolk Tory Councillor, Keith Tilcock, has been banned from driving for a year after being caught driving by police whilst in a drunken state.

In a further shameful act, he was also observed urinating in the ground of the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital close to one of the wards.

In the Eastern Daily Press (story not available online) the Tory Leader of the council is quoted as saying that Councillor Tilcock had been suspended from the Conservative Group but that "he expected to be able to welcome [him] back at a later date". This sounds very much like "We'll have him back when all the fuss has died down." Given that sort of attitude, it's perhaps no surprise that Mr Tilcock's conduct has been reported to the Standards Board for England.

In his recent election literature, Mr Tilcock said that the Tories will "...tackle anti-social behaviour". I can't think of behaviour that is more anti-social than driving halfway across Norfolk under the influence of alcohol and then acting in the way he did at the hospital.

In the circumstances, it's ironic that Mr Tilcock represents South Norfolk Council on Active Norfolk, formerly the Norfolk Sports Partnership, a body charged with promoting an active and healthy lifestyle! What sort of role model does he provide for the young people of the county?

In the same election leaflet referred to above, Mr Tilcock was endorsed by the local MP who said "...[he] will serve you with integrity." Perhaps Mr Tilcock might demonstrate this "integrity" by resigning from the Council ?

Conservatives already breaking election promises in South Norfolk

Having been elected on a promise to scrap Lib Dem plans to invest in social housing in South Norfolk, the Tories are instead going ahead with the scheme, because they now admit that the scheme had "already gone to far to be cancelled".

Whatever the rights or wrongs of the scheme, wasn't it therefore a bare faced lie to claim that they would oppose the scheme. After all, the Tories at the time chaired the Scrutiny committee in South Norfolk, a privilege they have removed from the Lib Dems, so they were in the perfect position to find out before they made their promise.

Norwich's "Home Rule" bid comes in for further criticism

Norwich's bid to become a Unitary Authority has been mismanaged and badly handled, from a publicity point of view, since day one of the process. And today it has come in for more bad press.

In the first instance Norwich decided to put in a non compliant bid. This bid attempted a takeover of large chunks of neighbouring Broadland and South Norfolk. They failed to consult before the bid went in, only attempting some piecemeal consultation with local parishes after they had already made their decisions (and of course after they had already alienated the parishes). Whilst their takeover attempt has also annoyed Broadland and South Norfolk Councils.

Okay, Labour run Norwich (with their Green allies) might argue that this bid has not been accepted and their current bid is based only on the council's existing boundaries. However, this has not stopped Norwich City Council claiming that they will, if they get Unitary Status, attempt to get the Norwich boundaries redrawn to make another takeover attempt.

Now, after a series of reports that Norwich's financial claims about the bid do not add up, the Eastern Daily Press reports that their bid may have a detrimental affect other district adjoining Norwich, particularly if Norwich continue and are successful in their takeover.

For North Norfolk or South Norfolk Council to take over running services to the most rural parts of Broadland and South Norfolk whilst the urban parts, with lower costs, are siphoned off in to Norwich, is to pass on massive increases in tax to residents of other councils. I argued this back in January 2007 at full council in North Norfolk. I am pleased the EDP now realises that this could happen.

One rule when in opposition, another when in power - That's Norfolk Tories

You can never trust a Tory ! A simple statement, but true when you look at the utter hypocrisy of the Conservatives in Norfolk.

Having argued for the right to chair the scrutiny committee in South Norfolk as the "opposition" party, upon taking power the Conservatives re-write the council's constitution in order to prevent the lib Dems, now in opposition, from having similar privileges. Breckland Tories too are removing the right of the opposition to chair scrutiny.

In Broadland, the Tories claim to be much fairer by allowing an independent to chair the scrutiny committee instead of the opposition Liberal Democrats. However, this is far from fair as the independent gets elected because the Tories do not oppose him and he is a member of the Conservative Party, so it is actually a ruse to prevent the Lib Dems getting the scrutiny role.

Can any Conservative actually justify why it is okay for the Tories to demand that they should have scrutiny chairmanships when they are in opposition but then oppose it when in power ?

Put simply, you can't trust the Tories.

I hope Great Yarmouth borough Council have better architects than other councils

Great Yarmouth councillors have given the go ahead to build a £10million new council building and offices.

All I can say is i hope they have better architects than other Norfolk councils had.

County Hall - Ugly building, has leaked ever since it was built. Big and airy, but nobody who works their likes the building.

North Norfolk - Big "Norfolk barn" style, open beams, open plan, far too hot in summer, freezing cold in winter. Some of it built on multiple levels (up and down steps), making it a nightmare for anyone who is disabled. Built in the late 1980's, early 1990's with windfall cash from water privatisation. Amazingly, they failed to add facilities to allow easy cleaning of the windows (to save £50,000), but then paid £5000 a year to get specialist window cleaners in !

Breckland - Ran out of money before they finished the air conditioning. As a result, air is stagnant, absolutely baking hot al year round but areas near windows are freezing cold.

Broadland - Horrible 1970's monstrosity. Horrible place to work (I've worked their) awful council chamber.

So I really hope Great Yarmouth does a better job than all these councils.

The folly of Norwich and its unitary status bid

The government have shortlisted Norwich City Council and 17 other council for consideration of becoming unitary authorities, but in Norwich I have to ask at what cost ?

Norwich submitted two bids. The first was to become a unitary authority on its present boundaries. I doubt many people in Norfolk, other than those with a vested interest in the County Council could have come up with many reasons to oppose this simple plan. Indeed, I could see how working with neighbouring local authorities, this plan could be made to work for Norfolk and for Norwich.

So what is the problem ?

The problem was Norwich's second bid, a land grab, an attempted takeover of large chunks of neighbouring authorities, the proposed dismemberment and destruction of at least one neighbouring authority and the phony and false consultation with parishes. Let's get one thing clear straight away, this second bid was, from the start, a non compliant bid. The government's own rules said that councils could only apply for unitary status on their present boundaries. however, this didn't stop the government saying they would consider the second bid.

So what is the problem now the government have rejected the takeover bid in option two and gone for option one ? Simple, in going through with the option two bid, Norwich City Council have wrecked relations with Broadland and South Norfolk District Councils, they have upset parishes all around the city and they have caused large amounts of time, energy and money to be wasted by neighboring authorities and Norwich City Council itself to be wasted in making the case for and against option two.

So what now ? Well it appears that Norwich will be able to go it alone, but they have damaged the chances of neighbouring authorities ever wanting to work closely with Norwich again and left a feeling of animosity and anger amongst those outside Norwich. Many will so let Norwich go it alone, and good riddance !

Tories desperate for candidates in South Norfolk ?

A friend of mine who lives in Hethersett, South Norfolk, received an interesting proposition through the door the other day from Conservative Party. They were asking him if he wanted to be a Conservative candidate in the forthcoming local elections.

This came as something of a shock to him as he is neither a Tory member, a Tory voter, or for that matter someone devoid of his own ideas, which seems to be the main qualification to become part of "Dave's" pale blue vision of the future.

A sign of desperation by South Norfolk Conservative's ?

Indigo publishes local election predictions

I received an e-mail today with the predictions of this year's local council elections, as extrapolated by David Boothroyd, a psephologist of some note in usenet circles.

Unusually for David, he has actually included the Liberal Democrats in his calculations. David Boothroyd was famous on the old uk.politics.electoral usenet group for never including the Liberal Democrats on any swing calculations. This mean that in by-elections like Christchurch, where the Labour vote dropped by 10% but the Tory vote dropped by 30%, he would calculate this as a swing to Labour.

If you want to look at the predictions, you can find a link HERE.

From a local point of view, I note that he predicts Lib Dem holds in North Norfolk and South Norfolk whilst nationally, we can expect a number of gains and better results than those achieved last year.

First Stalham, next stop Diss. Which Norfolk town will be next for the Tesco ghost town experience ?

The EDP reports on the ongoing saga in Diss, in South Norfolk, and Tesco's plans for total domination of the town.

A battle royal has been going on for some time since Tesco bough the old Co-op site and took on Morrisons. Anyone who drives through Diss will know that what was already a difficult road to drive through town on is now often a log jammed traffic jam. But the biggest problem is that there is now the real danger of a second Tesco superstore just a few hundred yard away, which many feel will cause the collapse of existing shopping patterns in town, leading to a closure of many shops in the high street with everyone going to the edge of town supermarkets. Read the report HERE.

I hope South Norfolk Councillors will have the stomach for the fight that could ensue. The site Tesco want to build on is already designated under the local plan as being for "leisure use". When Tesco wanted to build a store in my ward, they succeeded, but not without having restrictions placed upon them, but also not without the implicit threats that they constantly make to planning authorities and councillors.

Tesco have deep pockets, will use the best lawyers in the land, and will threaten councils that if the councils lose, they will ensure that the council pays. Many council's retreat through fear. In North Norfolk, we didn't, as can be seen from the fact that in Sheringham, Tesco have been thwarted so far. But that is because we have seen the dreadful effect Tesco has had on Stalham, which has seen local and independent shops close whilst Tesco has taken over.

Have South Norfolk Council got the strength to take them on over Diss ?