INDEPENDENT CONSIDERS JOINING MP RACE

 

Sooner or later there is going to be a general election.

 

At such a high level of politics, what choice do we have -

 

The Telford and Wrekin Constituency is well looked after in the hands of

 

MP Pritchard

 

And it really makes no difference who Labour put up against him, they will always be considered second best after Alison Wedgewood pulled out.

 

 

The Telford Constituency has been served by Labour, unfortunately, the word well cannot be used.

 

 

I am now giving serious consideration to giving the residents of Telford another choice, but most importantly, a choice that makes his views clear and will not sit on a fence, but someone who often gets results, like it or not, it’s a fact.

 

Who better to represent the residents of Telford than a “bog standard” resident.

 

Is the thought of me standing in a general election going to go down well?

 

Probably not and probably not with quite a few Labourites who have made a good living not really doing a great deal, the most recent proof of this is

 

Sutton Hill

 

Where was the Telford MP for that, I don’t know, but he certainly was not representing the residents and has still not said anything.

 

 

If nothing else, you know exactly where I stand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only two things can really stop me from going further –

 

1.Support – Just what do people think of the idea about a bog standard resident standing up to be counted, but to be counted for the benefit of others.

 

2.Cost – naturally, an issue like running a campaign involves some financial support and not just the £500 deposit, would people be prepared to put their hands in their pockets in support – using the Telford First vehicle and account we already have.

 

I’ll stand – unfortunately at such a level it requires considerable support from others.

 

 

Council Tax Increases – Services Cut Back

 

The Residents of Telford & Wrekin have seen their Council Tax increase year on year with the overall Tax Bill for a Band D property being

 

 

This represents an increase of some £304.82 since the year 2003 - 2004

 

 

But we must be asking –

 

 

 “Just what are we getting in return for this spiralling cost”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There a number of other proposed savings throughout the budget and we will be receiving less customer service, impact on front line services which all means a negative impact on the “Customer” – Service user.

 

I for one do not remember these issues being mentioned to the public in consultation and would suggest that if front line services are at risk, Customer services levels are being negatively impacted yet we are expected to pay more and more, it is increasingly important that we as residents have an increased say and greater involvement.

 

Now is time for a residents panel that is allowed to speak and not be steered by leading questions through the “Community Panel”.

 

 

 

 

A Donnington resident has taken his fight to top.

 

Like many residents, Graham Williamson is not happy with by weekly waste collections and has originated a petition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councillors Defend Budgets and Tax rises

 

The Conservative Administration successfully defended their budget proposals after the labour amendment fell.

 

The Labour budget amendment initially seemed sound with published proposal of a 3.9% Council Tax Rise, but the amendment fell on removing monies from the Tory budget, ultimately removing rural areas and business from financial support,

 

It was proposed that,

 

 

 

 

Despite raising some legitimate concerns and raising what sounded like some very valid points, the Labour party did let themselves down. They did not want to take up to much of Officers time and get figures checked, that led to the presentation of what seemed like a half hearted effort, this allowed Adrian Lawrence the time to actually write the budget amendment on the back of a second class stamp.

 

The Labour Party have always had the ability to rally numbers and team work, but it appears that they have resigned themselves to the fact that the numbers are against them and are playing a waiting game until the next local elections.

 

I do still share their concerns about the policy of charging for Bulk Collections at £15. This policy is still flawed and the implementation is going to be difficult. Registered Disabled will not have to pay, but what is the definition of registered disabled or how do you prove who is disabled. For example, my wife is disabled and despite being heavily reliant on a wheel chair, walking aids and multiple drugs, she does not get DLA, does she qualify for free removal?

 

The reliance on the WEE Regs is poor, areas of the WEE Regs are loop holes knitted together and the lack of formal auditing means companies can get around the removal of white goods from a customers house for example.

 

Fly Tipping will increase and we will be watching, reporting and placing photo’s in Telford & Wrekin in pictures and videos in the TCW Video News

 

But not to worry, Cllr John Dixon has the answer to this issue, he said

 

 

This statement is a disgrace and John Dixon should apologise for it, its as insulting as me saying about him,

 

 

 

TAWPA were caught between a rock and a hard place with regards voting for the budgets.

 

They could not vote for an increase in council tax, the charge for bulk waste, increase cost for meals on wheels or the City Region, yet Labour offered NO REAL alternative, so they did the right thing, showed their independence and abstained.

 

Vic Tonks made the suggestion that Councillors allowances are frozen and used to pay for the increase in meals for wheels to benefit those in need of them and all it brings.

 

 

It has been cleared up once and for all, The Arena is safe and will NOT form part of the foundations of the Possible Velodrome and the only possible works is likely to be the improvement of drainage.

 

The lottery application will go ahead in September with the Councils Chances of success being as good as anyone else’s and propped up by monies from the recent bargain basement auction sales.

 

Denis Allen was absolutely right when he said that the Councils under performing quango – Tramping over Telford TT are

 

 

And are a

 

 

The fact that they are on target for creating 200 jobs whilst the likes of Maxell, Clestica and Capgemini (who ironically sit on its board) have recently lost about 1000 jobs between them.

 

TT should be placed into permanent suspended animation and the business conducted in house were we have control.

 

 

 

 

The layout of the room went back to its old layout, but it worked and worked well, plenty of seating and information.

 

Overall, the evening produced some very good debate, again Sean Kelly showcased his public speaking skills, Stephen Burrell coming into his own, liz Clare showing passion.

I have been quite vocal about the lack of Social Housing in the borough, the regular sales of Social Housing and housing being anything other than affordable.

 

I will now go one step further and condemn the Choose Your Home Scheme as being in-effective for the needs of the borough.

 

I will also again express my concern with regards homelessness in the borough and further express my concern on this issue.

Prior to the Council Housing waiting list being handed over to the care of Choose your Home, the waiting list consisted of a total of

5287 on 30/11/06 waiting to be housed

The waiting list was changed to Choose your Home in December 2006.

In an effort to be fair, I have waited almost 13 months before making a comparison of the old system to the new,

I can now confirm that the Choose Your Home waiting list now consists of

9064 as of Monday 28th January 2008

This is an increase of 3777 on the new system.

This indicates that the Choose Your Home System is not adequate to cope with the needs of the borough to increase by so much in such a short time.

Historically, when the housing register was in operation households were advised that the average wait to be rehoused into social housing was between 6-12 months.

 

At the start of Choose Your Home, those that registered were often informed it would take 12 months for them to be rehoused, this is far from being the case.

 

The last quarter has seen an increase in households in temporary accommodation

Oct – Dec 2006 saw 129 in temporary accommodation

The period for 2007 saw

131 households in temporary accommodation and a further 12 households choosing to remain with friends or family total = 143

 

Again displaying that the new system is not functioning as well as the old.

A total of 112 households are registered on Choose Your home in the urgent band, this is 112 households in the borough that are statutory homeless.

 

However, there is no method of accurately counting those that are homeless, but not statutory and rough sleeping or those that are sofa surfing.

 

An additional failure of the Choose Your Home Scheme is the banding. Residents have been moved from one band into another without being informed and when you are moved from one band into another, you join another list from that date.

 

This could cost those registered considerable waiting time, only made worse when staff do not understand the points system themselves.

 

The lack of Social Housing within the borough is further enhanced by property sales and the lack of replacements.

 

The most recent example is the recent sale of Manor Heights in Hadley. Previously owned by the Wrekin Housing Trust and contained approximately 60 flats.

 

It is said the Housing Trust have a policy of selling one property and replacing it with either another two or four, the amount depends on who you speak too, therefore, Hadley should be looking forward to at least 120 flats for Social Housing.

 

As no one is not holding the trust to account, properties could be sold and not replaced or sold in one area and replaced in a completely different area in no particular time scale.

 

I Now Formally call on our MP’s David Wright, Mark Pritchard, the leaders of all political parties to arrange a housing summit to address the dire shortage of Social housing within the borough and to address the homelessness issue.

 

This has been promised once and not arranged, we cannot allow these issues to worsen.

 

As I do not expect a reply to this piece, I will be writing to MP’s, Councillors, Residents and various agencies formally myself to get the ball rolling.

 

 

 

Apart from one or two moments, one hot moment was my fault, the public meeting at Sutton Hill Community Centre went well.

 

I would say 50+ turned up to air concerns, forward questions to the Chair of the meeting Eric Carter.

 

Overall, Eric Carter did well and I think he has certainly started to win people round quickly with much of what he said coming from the heart and the genuine want, desire to effect positive change.

 

I got feedback that people thought he was the right man for the job, do I think that, I have to honestly say yes.

 

Officers performed well although it sounded like their were more reasons for not doing the job rather than doing it, but in all honesty it was often down to legislation allowing little room for manoeuvre.

 

I would ask residents and all parties to now view this as a chance for being positive.

 

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES was this campaign designed to run down the area, but it certainly had to draw attention to the worst points in the most dramatic way possible to get the assistance needed.

 

There is someway to go, but the journey has started going in the right direction.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for 9^th April when answers to some questions will be provided on a wide variety of issues.

 

One common theme that I have noticed throughout the last four weeks and was again echoed tonight, was the fear of reprisals should people report any issue to the authorities, I wonder if there is any mileage in a Confidential Whistleblowers Hotline – on a temporary basis to facilitate the reporting of issues until confidence is raised.

 

It was interesting to listen to the issues of litter, waste and fly tipping, the discussion eventually led to a vote about return to weekly waste collections, every person in the room raised their hands in support of the return of weekly waste collections and it is certainly needed at Sutton Hill.

 

As for my involvement with regards Sutton Hill, apart from tidying up a few loose ends and awaiting a response from the Prime Minister which I will share when it arrives,

 

“I feel that I have taken this issue as far as I can and must now hand it over to residents, Councillors, Officers and partners to their expertise and drive it forward”