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Thursday, 30 November, 2006
 | Apples and Pears |
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Back from my parents in very rural Espana tonight, its always good to be home.
Saw this article below on the BBC News Website, and it reminded me just what a tight rope councillors have to walk in carring out their roles. And the general public wonder why Councillors are wary of the rules around the planning process!
A planning councillor has received a written warning after being given four apples and a pear on site visits.
Middlesbrough Council's legal department warned Joan McTigue that accepting the fruit could have raised questions about her impartiality.
The independent councillor was given the "gifts" during three planning committee site visits, including one where she admired a pear tree.
Ms McTigue has branded the decision disgraceful and pathetic.
The Beechwood ward councillor, elected in 2003, admits being offered a pear, four apples and two plant cuttings, during a number of site meetings with the council's planning committee.
She said: "It's so ludicrous that I have been given a warning. I take my job very seriously, planning in particular. I never miss a site visit.
"I admired the pear tree and the apples and I was offered the fruit, so it was polite for me to accept.
"Do they think I can be bought for one pear and four apples?"
She said that if she is offered fruit or cuttings in future, while on a site visit, she will ask the chairman of the committee to decide whether she might accept the gift.
'Not appropriate'
In the letter, the authority's legal officer, Richard Long, wrote: "Whilst I am unable to say whether or not these items influenced the way you voted on the relevant applications, the mere acceptance of such gifts is sufficient to raise the presumption of bias in the minds of applicants and objectors.
"Such conduct is not appropriate for members of a quasi-judicial body such as the planning and development committee."
Because of the potential for bias, he said Ms McTigue should have left the room while the remainder of the planning committee determined the application. A council spokesman defended the letter, saying that councillors should avoid the slightest suggestion of partiality.
Thursday, 23 November, 2006
| Cabinet |
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It was District Cabinet tonight. A whole range of issues of discussed from CCTV, the District Budget, Housing benefits overpayments, Social Housing, Officer structure, ICT projects .............
The full agenda can be found here
Wednesday, 22 November, 2006
| Shared Services |
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Below is a letter submitted to the press this week:
Dear Editor,
At Wyre Forest District Councils meeting last Wednesday we saw a coalition of councillors join forces to vote against saving the taxpayers of this district £450,000 per year that we could have used to keep the Council Tax down and provide further services.
The majority of members decided not to accept the independent report from Price Waterhouse Coopers for working under a shared service arrangement with our neighbors to collectively save the Council Taxpayers money.
We are disappointed that the council have rejected the business case and to leave things has they are. Status Quo is clearly not an answer and we have seen in the Governments new white paper "strong and prosperous communities" that shared services and partnership working is now the only option available if we are to prosper as a District.
Early in the New Year we will be receiving Sir Michael Lyons review on Local Government Funding.
We believe that under the Lyons review our Revenue Support Grant (this is what government in London gives us to survive) will be cut if we do not have clear working examples of partnership working and will lead to continued pressure on your Council Tax that we believe is already too high. We have reduced the Districts Council tax Liability by nearly £1,000,000 over recent years but there is a long way to go, and we believe that cost saving measures like this, that would have NO IMPACT on the service you receive should be supported, not used as an opportunity for political posturing.
It was sad to see the business case be personalised in the way that is was.
Yours sincerely
Stephen Clee Leader of the Council
Marcus Hart Deputy Leader
John Campion Cabinet Member for Finance
Anne Hingley Cabinet Member for Housing Health and Rural Affairs
Nathan Desmond Cabinet Member for Leisure Services
Monday, 20 November, 2006
| Something new |
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I have discovered a feature on our web site I didnt know exsisted........ you may have noticed a new option on the menu list "Surveys and Campaigns".
My first survey is about making Wood Street / Park Street one way (I've had two votes so far as of today).
Comment recieved:
Nice to know you have now worked out how to use your web site,bit of a shame as we have had our petition going for 2 months regarding the one way system in wood st/park st
Adrian
Wednesday, 15 November, 2006
| District Counil meeting |
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Tonight at full Council Health Concern, Liberals and Labour scuppered plans to save the Wyre Forest taxpayer nearly half a million pounds a year.
The plan being debated was to merge the Revenue and Benefits services in Worcestershire. The plan would see no changes to the front line service the users receive but would benefit from a slimed down management structure and from the economies of scale of a larger organisation.
The opposition parties took the opportunity to politically posture and voted down the minority Conservative administration and threw out the plans.
Whilst speaking in support of the plans, Cllr Clee reminded Council that the Conservatives did not have a whip on the issue, but it was obvious that the supposed “independent” hospital group did have a whip. I thought they were supposedly just a group of independents……. It seems they are only independent when their dictatorial new leader says they can be.
The Conservative Administration will continue to drive through their efficiency measures in the District Council, and continue to drive down the cost of delivering quality services to local people at a price they can afford.
| Cllr Mike Oborski |
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I was saddened to hear Mike Oborski announce at Full Council tonight that his health was worsening. Mike has had a long fight with cancer.
Mike is a "giant" in Wyre Forest politics, and a gentlemen to boot.
I, and Wyre Forest Conservatives wish him well, and long may his fight continue.
Monday, 13 November, 2006
| Shuttle |
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My reply to Cllr Knowles letter in the Shuttle this week:
Dear sirs
Re: No Question Over Savings for Tax Payer
I write following Cllr Knowles letter printed in this weeks shuttle.
There is no question over whether the District Councils plan to move to a single office will provide hundreds of thousands of pounds in savings for the Tax payer, because it will. The proposal is backed by an independent report and the majority of the Districts elected representatives. The scheme will modernise how the Council works, whilst at the same time making sure we are spending more money on your services, not on the offices we occupy. The scheme will also provide a New state of the Art Civic Hall / Theatre in Stourport.
If Cllr Knowles had read the recent white paper from his Labour Government he would know that there are no plans to get rid of the District Councils in Worcestershire. I am surprised by his comments that he wants to see them abolished as he is a former District councillor, Chairman of the District Council, and a candidate in this years District elections! The Wyre Forest Labour Party should stop sniping from the side lines, and work with us to provide better services for the residents of Wyre Forest.
Yours sincerely
John Campion
Saturday, 11 November, 2006
| Town Hall in Kidderminster |
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Finally, we have been told that the specialist stone to finish the Town Hall entrance in Kidderminster is arriving next week. It has been a long wait but I hope it will be worth it when it is finished.
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