I read today that Tim Farron MP was going to join the protest at Grizedale against the sell-off of our forests. I'd just been reading about the situation which arose in 1921 when the Liberal-Conservative coalition government decided to raise a bit of money by selling off Runnymede. A huge protest was held on the site during the League of Nations conference and the government backed off. However, the danger wasn't completely gone until the generosity of one family saved the most important meadow in the country, buying it and then eventually bequeathing it to the National Trust to care for in the name of the British people.
Sadly, I don't think there's such a rich benefactor waiting in the wings to save our forests so it's going to be up to each and every one of us to do what we can to ensure that they don't go into private hands. Previous governments have "sold the family silver", let's not allow this one to sell the back garden as well.
ps For those whose memory of history is a bit lacking - Runnymede is the meadow where negotiations between King John and the barons came to a conclusion and Magna Carta was sealed (not signed - that apparently is a popular misconception)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
ABCD
One topic of course was the cuts to spending and the impact on both the borough and the university. Both were fairly upbeat about meeting the challenge and not letting the cuts ruin everything, difficult though that will be.
There was some discussion of the Tees Valley Music Service, inevitably given the amount of press coverage generated in the last few days. This is one of those precious services which do so much for so many children and young people that it's hard to imagine life without it. Unfortunately the government hasn't yet announced whether we'll get any funding towards it and if so how much so the resultant uncertainty is causing real problems. I'll wirte about it all at some point, but enough to say that it had great support round the dinner table tonight. If fine words paid the bills the music service wouldn't have any problems at all!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Another consultation
Stockton Council is consulting on the Environment Development Plan Document over the next 6 weeks till March 14th. This is the document which will incorporate policies on green spaces and conservation areas, among other things. For people in Eaglescliffe, fighting against developments that ruin the character of the historic areas, it's going to be a very important document and needs to have all the safeguards we can get in there. So, go to Stockton Council's website and have your say. It might make a lasting difference to Eaglescliffe.
In the meantime the debate about the Yarm & Eaglescliffe Area Action Plan is on the agenda again at Western Area Partnership next week. Let's hope we can reach an agreement on the way forward.
In the meantime the debate about the Yarm & Eaglescliffe Area Action Plan is on the agenda again at Western Area Partnership next week. Let's hope we can reach an agreement on the way forward.
Who's on the moral high ground then?
There seems to be a somewhat strange idea in David Cameron's mind as to what constitutes transparency, fairness and honesty in government. Vince Cable has responsibility for deciding on the Murdoch bid for BSkyB taken from him because he expressed open hostility to the takeover. David Cameron wines and dines senior figures from the Murdoch empire but claims to be completely impartial in decisions around not just the takeover but whether to push for a better investigation of all the phone tapping allegations which are filling the air between public figures and the Murdoch empire.
I for one would rather the decision was taken by someone who is open about his views than someone who tries to hide behind the excuse that these senior figures are constituents. Believe me, Mr Cameron, most constituents don't expect to be invited to parties at their MP's home.
One cross-party initiative that really would help this country would be for all politicians to ignore the comments from the press for a year. If the sky falls in, then go back to pacifying the press barons. If it doesn't - whoopee. We might have a more open, transparent way of doing government for the future.
I for one would rather the decision was taken by someone who is open about his views than someone who tries to hide behind the excuse that these senior figures are constituents. Believe me, Mr Cameron, most constituents don't expect to be invited to parties at their MP's home.
One cross-party initiative that really would help this country would be for all politicians to ignore the comments from the press for a year. If the sky falls in, then go back to pacifying the press barons. If it doesn't - whoopee. We might have a more open, transparent way of doing government for the future.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Cycle route to Egglescliffe Comp (and Tesco)
There's a proposal to improve the cycle route to the school from Newsam Road. The idea is to take out the steps which lead from the footpath/cycleway down to Aspen Rd and convert them into a slope, and then to add some safety features at Elton Lane and at the entrance to the school. The plans are on Stockton Lib Dems website if you'd like to look. We need comments by Thursday Feb 3rd please.
There might be some concerns about having a slope down to Aspen Road, especially in icy weather, but we have in the past had requests for such a slope to make it easier to get to Tesco on mobility scooters and with prams and wheelchairs. Let us know what you think.
Today's Environment committee received an update on Cemetery and Memorial inspections and it was good to see that people with loved ones buried in Egglescliffe Cemetery are generally keeping to the rules. As a lawned cemetery it isn't designed to have a large area of planting or other memorials for each grave, but to have a headstone (if wished) and a small area for planting, vases or other such tributes. Over 80% of the graves in Egglescliffe stay within the rules with the remainder having just a few things outside the designated area. When the committee studied the policies and visited cemeteries here and further afield one of the complaints from people was that if other people had too much planting or other material on their grave it was difficult for other people to tend the graves next to them. It's also difficult for the grass cutters to keep the place looking as tidy as we would like. A very difficult and emotive subject but one we do need to be able to discuss openly.
There might be some concerns about having a slope down to Aspen Road, especially in icy weather, but we have in the past had requests for such a slope to make it easier to get to Tesco on mobility scooters and with prams and wheelchairs. Let us know what you think.
Today's Environment committee received an update on Cemetery and Memorial inspections and it was good to see that people with loved ones buried in Egglescliffe Cemetery are generally keeping to the rules. As a lawned cemetery it isn't designed to have a large area of planting or other memorials for each grave, but to have a headstone (if wished) and a small area for planting, vases or other such tributes. Over 80% of the graves in Egglescliffe stay within the rules with the remainder having just a few things outside the designated area. When the committee studied the policies and visited cemeteries here and further afield one of the complaints from people was that if other people had too much planting or other material on their grave it was difficult for other people to tend the graves next to them. It's also difficult for the grass cutters to keep the place looking as tidy as we would like. A very difficult and emotive subject but one we do need to be able to discuss openly.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Today was not a happy day. When I visited my mother this morning it was noticeable that the atmosphere in the home wasn't nearly as cheerful as usual. The reason was soon obvious - a much loved longstanding resident had died and neither staff nor residents could disguise their sadness. This was the staff at their best - sharing their sorrow and consoling the residents with a hug here, a squeeze of the hand there, sitting and chatting with someone else, just doing what came naturally to them. You can't put a value on that behaviour and it means a lot to know that such caring is there.
This afternoon's meeting was about play provision and the cuts that will happen because various grants aren't available any more. Yet at the same time there are opportunities for other grants to do different things like refurbish play areas. Such is the world of lottery funding.
And then came Cabinet. I'm not a member of the council's cabinet which takes most of the decisions on running the council, and this was one of those occasions when being an observer was quite enough. In an effort to avoid more compulsory redundancies than absolutely necessary it's been proposed that perhaps the redundancy packages should be a bit less generous than they have been. That's not to say they are particularly generous at the moment, certainly not by comparison with the high profile figures who hit the news from time to time. Our staff currently get 2.2 weeks pay for every year they've worked for the council, not the kind of payout which is going to provide a comfortable few years till the economy picks up. So a proposal to cut that to 2 weeks pay is a worry to those who are under threat of redundancy, but might give a lifeline to someone else. Definitely the judgement of Solomon needed! Calls for a general invitation to volunteer for redundancy were countered with claims that we need to do it service by service to ensure a skills match. Eventually cabinet agreed to consult on the proposed changes. We knew they would of course - all their disagreements are aired at pre-agenda meetings and reports are tailored to ensure they can be agreed. At least at the Parish council meeting this evening there were no budget decisions to take, just lots of technical discussion about standing orders - dry but important.
This afternoon's meeting was about play provision and the cuts that will happen because various grants aren't available any more. Yet at the same time there are opportunities for other grants to do different things like refurbish play areas. Such is the world of lottery funding.
And then came Cabinet. I'm not a member of the council's cabinet which takes most of the decisions on running the council, and this was one of those occasions when being an observer was quite enough. In an effort to avoid more compulsory redundancies than absolutely necessary it's been proposed that perhaps the redundancy packages should be a bit less generous than they have been. That's not to say they are particularly generous at the moment, certainly not by comparison with the high profile figures who hit the news from time to time. Our staff currently get 2.2 weeks pay for every year they've worked for the council, not the kind of payout which is going to provide a comfortable few years till the economy picks up. So a proposal to cut that to 2 weeks pay is a worry to those who are under threat of redundancy, but might give a lifeline to someone else. Definitely the judgement of Solomon needed! Calls for a general invitation to volunteer for redundancy were countered with claims that we need to do it service by service to ensure a skills match. Eventually cabinet agreed to consult on the proposed changes. We knew they would of course - all their disagreements are aired at pre-agenda meetings and reports are tailored to ensure they can be agreed. At least at the Parish council meeting this evening there were no budget decisions to take, just lots of technical discussion about standing orders - dry but important.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Save our Cheque
Council tonight passed our motion calling on our MPs to lobby for and support David Ward's bill in Parliament to stop the abolition of cheques. Until this issue came up I didn't even know there was such a thing as The Payments Council, but it seems to be a kind of union of big banks which has decided that we shouldn't use cheques any more as they cause too much work or they're inconvenient or they aren't secure - take your pick of excuses. Can you imagine Christmas without cheques winging their way to grandchildren, nieces, nephews, the Salvation Army, Crisis at Christmas, hundreds of other worthy causes etc? Apparently we're all going to start using Paypal and other such internet based systems. Tell that to the thousands of people who have never accessed the internet!
Cllr Alan Lewis did an excellent job of proposing the motion, pointing out that although it's a Lib Dem initiative it isn't at all controversial and he hoped everyone would support it. There must have been something in the water because not only did everyone agree to support it but one Conservative and one Independent actually stood up and spoke in favour of it.
In celebration Alan then wrote a cheque for the Mayor's benevolent fund - a very worthy cause indeed. Unfortunately the mayor left the building so quickly after the meeting that he didn't get his cheque and it will have to be taken in to the office! Could the footbal match involving his attendant's favourite team have anything to do with their haste? I really wouldn't know.
A meeting earlier in the day with a senior council officer was spent in discussing where we are with the planning documents needed to ensure that Eaglescliffe doesn't go through another spate of garden grabbing. We're not safe yet but there's another weapon in the armoury now, which hasn't been widely publicised but we'll soon change that. Western Area Partnership meeting should be interesting.
Cllr Alan Lewis did an excellent job of proposing the motion, pointing out that although it's a Lib Dem initiative it isn't at all controversial and he hoped everyone would support it. There must have been something in the water because not only did everyone agree to support it but one Conservative and one Independent actually stood up and spoke in favour of it.In celebration Alan then wrote a cheque for the Mayor's benevolent fund - a very worthy cause indeed. Unfortunately the mayor left the building so quickly after the meeting that he didn't get his cheque and it will have to be taken in to the office! Could the footbal match involving his attendant's favourite team have anything to do with their haste? I really wouldn't know.
A meeting earlier in the day with a senior council officer was spent in discussing where we are with the planning documents needed to ensure that Eaglescliffe doesn't go through another spate of garden grabbing. We're not safe yet but there's another weapon in the armoury now, which hasn't been widely publicised but we'll soon change that. Western Area Partnership meeting should be interesting.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Virtual Wall
Councillors receive many invitations to attend openings, launches, AGMs, seminars, conferences and more. Some of them look frankly dull or irrelevant. Others look really interesting but are at the wrong time or in the wrong place (don't get me started on expensive day conferences in London with no option for a web-link involvement). One such is for later this week - the official launch of The Stockton Wall. It's a virtual wall with information on living and working in Stockton, designed for young people but there are bits of interest to people of all ages. Sadly I can't be at the launch owing to pressure of other work but do have a look - you might be inspired.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Planning for the Future
Planning committee this afternoon had to consider two fairly large proposals, both of which claimed to be linked to job creation, regeneration and various other good sounding things for the future prosperity of the borough. First up was a new supermarket in Billingham Town Centre. I remember that Town Centre being new and fresh when I was studying at "the Tech". We lived in a flat above one of the shops when first married. It has a special place in my affections so watching it deteriorate over years has been sad. To see the new owners managing to encourage new tenants into shops and now proposing a new food store is exciting. I just hope that Stockland continue to invest not just funds but their energy and enthusiasm into the regeneration of the centre and I look forward to seeing the new store open and trading.
That was a unanimous and fairly easy decision.
The second one was more difficult. Teesside Retail Park is a legacy from previous planning regimes about which the least said the better. It seems to be successful as both a retail centre and a place to go for a meal out, though why one would want to go for a meal to an out of town shopping centre is beyond me. I'm told that part of the restaurant trade is related to the cinema and bowling alley in the neighbouring Leisure Park. Be that as it may, the thing which was less successful and is now derelict was a Fitness club. Today the land owners and developers came to plead the case for a hotel, pub/restaurant and Nandos restaurant to replace it. We were told it would create 60 Full time equivalent jobs, that the local town council was in favour, that ward councillors thought it a good plan and that we should grab it with both hands. On the other hand we were told that it was against our core strategy, that each element could be accommodated elsewhere nearer to the town centre, that we need to encourage development nearer to the town centre and not expand the out of town offer. So planning committee were left to make the decision - grab some investment now in the wrong place or turn it away and aim to get better in the future. For me there was something intrinsically undesirable about building a pub in a place which needed people to use cars to get there. It also seemed wrong that we spent 3 years producing a core strategy only to suggest disregarding it when someone came along with a proposal falling outside it. The debate was detailed and lengthy, and a close vote went against the application. Only the next few years will show if we were right or wrong.
That was a unanimous and fairly easy decision.
The second one was more difficult. Teesside Retail Park is a legacy from previous planning regimes about which the least said the better. It seems to be successful as both a retail centre and a place to go for a meal out, though why one would want to go for a meal to an out of town shopping centre is beyond me. I'm told that part of the restaurant trade is related to the cinema and bowling alley in the neighbouring Leisure Park. Be that as it may, the thing which was less successful and is now derelict was a Fitness club. Today the land owners and developers came to plead the case for a hotel, pub/restaurant and Nandos restaurant to replace it. We were told it would create 60 Full time equivalent jobs, that the local town council was in favour, that ward councillors thought it a good plan and that we should grab it with both hands. On the other hand we were told that it was against our core strategy, that each element could be accommodated elsewhere nearer to the town centre, that we need to encourage development nearer to the town centre and not expand the out of town offer. So planning committee were left to make the decision - grab some investment now in the wrong place or turn it away and aim to get better in the future. For me there was something intrinsically undesirable about building a pub in a place which needed people to use cars to get there. It also seemed wrong that we spent 3 years producing a core strategy only to suggest disregarding it when someone came along with a proposal falling outside it. The debate was detailed and lengthy, and a close vote went against the application. Only the next few years will show if we were right or wrong.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Civil Liberties
It's been so many years since there was a government which improved on Civil Liberties in this country that I have to pinch myself when I think of what's happening now. It's early days, and some promises are yet to be fully implemented but we have no more threat of ID cards, detention of child asylum seekers being ended, the awful DNA database being reduced, sentencing of criminals taking account of rehabilitation and restorative justice as well as punishment, and control orders being reformed. There's a long way to go, not least in convincing people who've been told for over 12 years that the only way to be safe is to have more and more liberty taken away from innocent as well as guilty people.
Nick Clegg's speech today made it clear that more is to be done but also how far we've come. I'm still pinching myself.
Nick Clegg's speech today made it clear that more is to be done but also how far we've come. I'm still pinching myself.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
It's not all doom and gloom
Contrary to what readers of the national press might think, here in Stockton bins have been emptied on schedule, recycling has been collected, major roads have been gritted, grit bins have been filled for residents on tricky areas of side roads, paths in front of housing with a high proportion of elderly people have been cleared of snow and ice. The staff who work in those areas have excelled themselves for the second year in a row. I've had phone calls and emails of congratulation and thanks which I've passed on to the managers and I've had very few complaints this year. I think that's partly because an even better job has been done than last year but also there's been a lot more easily accessible information on what's happening and why, so people could understand. How many other councils sent emails to all councillors and put messages on Twitter and their website and Facebook page every time the gritters were going to start a run? Well done Stockton Borough Council.
Equally, the poll ratings for Liberal Democrats are not as bad as they're made out to be. They were lower in the early months of the Lib Dems when part of the SDP still hung on as a separate party. Yes they're low and no party likes low ratings. But the local elections in May are just that - Local. They're about who can do the best job for the ward and the borough, not about who runs the country. Lib Dem councillors here in Stockton continue to do just that - working for the people who elected us and trying to make sure their voice is heard, whether it's about getting a pavement repaired or fly-tipping removed or fighting an unsuitable planning application or making sure there are play facilities for the children of the area - I could go on!
Rant over, back to work.
Equally, the poll ratings for Liberal Democrats are not as bad as they're made out to be. They were lower in the early months of the Lib Dems when part of the SDP still hung on as a separate party. Yes they're low and no party likes low ratings. But the local elections in May are just that - Local. They're about who can do the best job for the ward and the borough, not about who runs the country. Lib Dem councillors here in Stockton continue to do just that - working for the people who elected us and trying to make sure their voice is heard, whether it's about getting a pavement repaired or fly-tipping removed or fighting an unsuitable planning application or making sure there are play facilities for the children of the area - I could go on!
Rant over, back to work.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Happy New Year
Not much blogging this last few days as we've spent all our time with family.
When I was a child I remember waking to the sounds of Auld Lang Syne being sung by the men out in the street before they first footed carrying their lumps of coal across the threshold, cutting the Christmas cake and being rewarded with a silver coin. The traditional blessing of "Health, Wealth and Happiness" rang round the cul-de-sac. Today's organised celebrations with fireworks in city centres round the world, apparently vying with each other over how much explosive material can be consumed in peacetime seems a million years from those days. Am I getting older and looking back through rose coloured glasses? Perhaps.
I do know that it's a time for counting blessings and reflecting on how fortunate I am. Fortunate to be living in an era when the click of a mouse brings family on the other side of the world into our living room. Fortunate to have enough money to buy the food we need and a few luxuries besides. Fortunate to have family who can come and stay and who still love us enough to do so. A roof over our heads, mothers who are still alive, friends to visit, and so they go on. We are very fortunate indeed at the start of the new year.
When I was a child I remember waking to the sounds of Auld Lang Syne being sung by the men out in the street before they first footed carrying their lumps of coal across the threshold, cutting the Christmas cake and being rewarded with a silver coin. The traditional blessing of "Health, Wealth and Happiness" rang round the cul-de-sac. Today's organised celebrations with fireworks in city centres round the world, apparently vying with each other over how much explosive material can be consumed in peacetime seems a million years from those days. Am I getting older and looking back through rose coloured glasses? Perhaps.
I do know that it's a time for counting blessings and reflecting on how fortunate I am. Fortunate to be living in an era when the click of a mouse brings family on the other side of the world into our living room. Fortunate to have enough money to buy the food we need and a few luxuries besides. Fortunate to have family who can come and stay and who still love us enough to do so. A roof over our heads, mothers who are still alive, friends to visit, and so they go on. We are very fortunate indeed at the start of the new year.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
What a difference 4 years makes
I can't help reflecting on the Boxing Day Test match of 4 years ago - my first visit to our elder daughter's new home and as a treat she'd bought tickets for the 3rd day of the Test match. Sadly, the day was cut short by England's lamentable performance. The shout from my neighbour in the stand to one of our fielders who'd missed what looked like a fairly easy catch if only he'd made the effort to get down to ground level "You're allowed to get your blouse dirty you know" summed up the feelings of the spectators.
This year it's the turn of the Australian supporters to feel demoralised, humiliated, frustrated, as their team only just managed to get to a 4th day of play in this hugely symbolic match. Are there parallels with political parties and general elections? Some perhaps. It does strike me that some sections of the media in particular think they can predict the results of an election in 4 years time from the results of this year's. All I can say is, would they have predicted this Ashes series from the result of the previous one?
This year it's the turn of the Australian supporters to feel demoralised, humiliated, frustrated, as their team only just managed to get to a 4th day of play in this hugely symbolic match. Are there parallels with political parties and general elections? Some perhaps. It does strike me that some sections of the media in particular think they can predict the results of an election in 4 years time from the results of this year's. All I can say is, would they have predicted this Ashes series from the result of the previous one?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The photos
Hot mulled wine, sausages, candy floss and much more mixed to give that very special atmosphere.
I was interested (councillor hat on) to see that the carousel nearby was being enjoyed by all generations of families and was provided free by the Mairie of Paris (the local government of the city). A big sign told everyone that this was a Christmas gift from the Mairie and wished everyone happy Christmas. It occurred to me that we do quite a bit of free entertainment in Stockton at different times of the year and perhaps we should make it more obvious how it's funded. Though of course such things will be less frequent as cuts have to be made.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A European View
Denis and I took a few days off politics over the weekend and visited Paris. The reasons for the choice of city and the timing are not for the blog but we were very relieved on Friday when we arrived at Newcastle Airport for our flight to find that it was leaving on time unlike the ones to Amsterdam which were cancelled thanks to the bad weather there.
We had snow in Paris but it didn't stop us wandering the streets and the Christmas markets, enjoying mulled wine and hot chestnuts and soaking up the atmosphere. It was interesting to see how well wrapped up the locals were - boots and warm coats, scarves, hats and gloves were everywhere. Even teenagers were sensibly dressed. I couldn't help but contrast it with Yarm on an evening where hardly anyone seems to wear a coat whatever the weather.
The local TV news had quite a bit of coverage of the weather disruption to holidays but the press front page news was of problems in Africa and other international events. The weather was relegated to the middle of the newspaper, again a huge contrast to what I'd left behind.
Of course I wasn't totally out of touch with the UK. The wonders of modern technology meant that my colleagues could keep me up to date with what was going on in the ward and the borough, and we could still plan our activities even though miles apart.
Photos will follow when I can upload them.
We had snow in Paris but it didn't stop us wandering the streets and the Christmas markets, enjoying mulled wine and hot chestnuts and soaking up the atmosphere. It was interesting to see how well wrapped up the locals were - boots and warm coats, scarves, hats and gloves were everywhere. Even teenagers were sensibly dressed. I couldn't help but contrast it with Yarm on an evening where hardly anyone seems to wear a coat whatever the weather.
The local TV news had quite a bit of coverage of the weather disruption to holidays but the press front page news was of problems in Africa and other international events. The weather was relegated to the middle of the newspaper, again a huge contrast to what I'd left behind.
Of course I wasn't totally out of touch with the UK. The wonders of modern technology meant that my colleagues could keep me up to date with what was going on in the ward and the borough, and we could still plan our activities even though miles apart.
Photos will follow when I can upload them.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Humanity at last!
Wonderful news this morning as the closure of the "Family Unit" at Yarls Wood detention centre was announced along with the end to detention of children over the next few months. This is a Lib Dem policy being put into action by the coalition government. It's not a "sexy" policy, it doesn't appeal to the extremists but it is a right policy, a good policy. No-one claims that all the parents seeking asylum here should be granted sanctuary just because they have children but we have said over and over again that there are ways to keep adults under close supervision which don't involve locking them up with their children - imprisoning children for the perceived sins of their parents.
I do think this awful practice would have ended a lot sooner if we'd subjected the inventors of the policy to the treatment, just for a month. The cries of their children as they were separated from their friend and their few treasured possessions surely would have softened the hardest heart, wouldn't it?
Today, though, I just want to give thanks that this step along the way has been taken. A slightly more humane asylum system is the result.
And it all happened on the day the Peace Light came from Bethlehem to Stockton. How appropriate is that?
I do think this awful practice would have ended a lot sooner if we'd subjected the inventors of the policy to the treatment, just for a month. The cries of their children as they were separated from their friend and their few treasured possessions surely would have softened the hardest heart, wouldn't it?
Today, though, I just want to give thanks that this step along the way has been taken. A slightly more humane asylum system is the result.
And it all happened on the day the Peace Light came from Bethlehem to Stockton. How appropriate is that?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Fairer Votes
It's refreshing to be part of a campaign that's not linked to any one specific political party, nor to a local single interest, but which spans all parties and those with no party links and which is about something as fundamental as voting reform.
This afternoon a small group gathered in Eaglescliffe to hear about the campaign across the North East region and how we can be involved.
When we were knocking on doors during the general election a number of people said that they really didn't know which way to vote - they really wanted to vote for a smaller party's policies (and in Stockton South there were plenty to choose from) but they were frightened that by doing so they would allow a victory for the big party they didn't want. It was a genuine dilemma for a number of people and when I pointed out that it's possible to have a fairer system which would allow people to rank the candidates rather than just pick one, and have those preferences taken into account, the reaction was amazing. I've never had anything so positively received on the doorstep!
Next May we have the chance to change things for ever - to say Yes in a referendum and to sweep away complacency and laziness. MPs would have to work harder - to cover all their constituency and not just those people most likely to vote for them. It would mean that no MP could be elected on less than half the votes. The only people to lose from a Yes vote are the lazy MPs who don't deserve to be in Westminster anyway including those who are arrogant enough to live miles from their constituency, not be available for their constituents and yet draw a full allowance and expenses for doing the job. To my thinking, there's no reason not to vote Yes!
This afternoon a small group gathered in Eaglescliffe to hear about the campaign across the North East region and how we can be involved.
When we were knocking on doors during the general election a number of people said that they really didn't know which way to vote - they really wanted to vote for a smaller party's policies (and in Stockton South there were plenty to choose from) but they were frightened that by doing so they would allow a victory for the big party they didn't want. It was a genuine dilemma for a number of people and when I pointed out that it's possible to have a fairer system which would allow people to rank the candidates rather than just pick one, and have those preferences taken into account, the reaction was amazing. I've never had anything so positively received on the doorstep!
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
Funding Higher Education
The dust is settling a little, the accusations about behaviour during demonstrations are bouncing round the media and conversations up and down the land, and one thing strikes me above all else: The focus of the public "debate" has been entirely on the rise in tuition fees. Yet this package is about so much more than that.
There's been some discussion of the rights and wrongs of shifting the burden of paying for education from parents supporting their offspring while at university to graduates paying for it after they leave, but the decision on that shift was taken back in the 90s when Labour introduced tuition fees, having said that they had no plans to do so. They then introduced top up fees, having said they wouldn't. So the shift in emphasis on how higher education is funded has been established for more than a decade now under Labour.
Liberal Democrat party policy is to phase out Tuition Fees. Not enough people voted Lib Dem to get a Lib Dem government, but the country did get a coalition government including Lib Dem ministers. Some Lib Dem policies are being implemented (on pensions, on early years education, on ID cards, to name just 3) but not all - some Tory policies are being implemented (on Free Schools for example) but not all.
Lord Browne recommended no cap on fees - let universities charge whatever they think the market will stand. Lib Dems pushed for a cap and got it, albeit at £6000 as the norm. Under exceptional circumstances universities can charge £9000 per annum but they've got to ensure community benefits and support for students from low income families.
Students whose family income is low enough to qualify them for free school meals will have their first year fees paid by the state. If they go to a university that charges £9000 the university will have to pay their 2nd year fees. So for the common 3 year degree those students will only pay £9000 tuition fees.
Part time students who currently have to pay their fees before they start to study will now be able to pay them back through the graduate contribution in the same way as full time students.
Maintenance grants are going up for students from low income families.
No-one will start to repay their loans until their income is £21k per annum which is a lot better than the £15k at present, and it is going to be index linked following pressure from Lib Dem MPs.
These are good things to come out of the response to the Browne report and they are being missed, either deliberately or accidentally, by most of the people shouting about fees including members of the Labour party, not least the leader of the National Union of Students.
I'm not a tax expert and I don't know whether a graduate tax would work better. I suppose that in truth we'd all like everything to be "free", i.e. paid for from general taxation, but without taxation going up to fund it! But we have to accept that the number of people of working age in the country is not as high a proportion of the population as it used to be, a higher proportion expect to go into higher education, and the money has to come from somwhere. Fees paid back from earnings seems as fair a way as any to me.
Last week I spent some time with people involved in Higher Education and all of them agreed that a rise in tuition fees was disappointing but inevitable, but they did feel very sorry for the students of today compared to those of 50 years ago who went to university, with tuition funded by the state and maintenance grants available to all who needed them. A golden age perhaps?
There's been some discussion of the rights and wrongs of shifting the burden of paying for education from parents supporting their offspring while at university to graduates paying for it after they leave, but the decision on that shift was taken back in the 90s when Labour introduced tuition fees, having said that they had no plans to do so. They then introduced top up fees, having said they wouldn't. So the shift in emphasis on how higher education is funded has been established for more than a decade now under Labour.
Liberal Democrat party policy is to phase out Tuition Fees. Not enough people voted Lib Dem to get a Lib Dem government, but the country did get a coalition government including Lib Dem ministers. Some Lib Dem policies are being implemented (on pensions, on early years education, on ID cards, to name just 3) but not all - some Tory policies are being implemented (on Free Schools for example) but not all.
Lord Browne recommended no cap on fees - let universities charge whatever they think the market will stand. Lib Dems pushed for a cap and got it, albeit at £6000 as the norm. Under exceptional circumstances universities can charge £9000 per annum but they've got to ensure community benefits and support for students from low income families.
Students whose family income is low enough to qualify them for free school meals will have their first year fees paid by the state. If they go to a university that charges £9000 the university will have to pay their 2nd year fees. So for the common 3 year degree those students will only pay £9000 tuition fees.
Part time students who currently have to pay their fees before they start to study will now be able to pay them back through the graduate contribution in the same way as full time students.
Maintenance grants are going up for students from low income families.
No-one will start to repay their loans until their income is £21k per annum which is a lot better than the £15k at present, and it is going to be index linked following pressure from Lib Dem MPs.
These are good things to come out of the response to the Browne report and they are being missed, either deliberately or accidentally, by most of the people shouting about fees including members of the Labour party, not least the leader of the National Union of Students.
I'm not a tax expert and I don't know whether a graduate tax would work better. I suppose that in truth we'd all like everything to be "free", i.e. paid for from general taxation, but without taxation going up to fund it! But we have to accept that the number of people of working age in the country is not as high a proportion of the population as it used to be, a higher proportion expect to go into higher education, and the money has to come from somwhere. Fees paid back from earnings seems as fair a way as any to me.
Last week I spent some time with people involved in Higher Education and all of them agreed that a rise in tuition fees was disappointing but inevitable, but they did feel very sorry for the students of today compared to those of 50 years ago who went to university, with tuition funded by the state and maintenance grants available to all who needed them. A golden age perhaps?
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Carols at Christmas
Nevertheless the Mayor and Mayoress joined the carol service and evening dining so the link between Town and Gown wasn't lost completely.
I enjoyed being able to relax and contemplate the Christmas story with the aid of a mix of traditional and modern words and music. One hears so many carols and Christmas tunes crackling over loud speaker systems in shops at this time of year that I for one just shut them out. So to sit and enjoy well performed music and to join in the singing of traditional carols in that setting was a real treat.
It was especially so when I'd spent a part of the morning, yet again, on the thorny question of recommendations from the Environment Committee on Car Parking. I believe we've got a good set of recommendations now which stand a fighting chance of getting cabinet approval next week but it's taken a great deal of work to get there.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
School roofs & Asbestos
A couple of comments on the report that Asbestos was found in the collapsed roof at Junction Farm School led me to get further information from Stockton Council Officers. Rather than post as responses to the individual comments I'll put them here where they might be more visible to all:
The Council does regularly inspect all buildings and schools and keep records of condition, including where asbestos is present. Clearly it is an ideal objective to remove all asbestos where possible but health and safety guidance requires that the Council has a management plan for where asbestos is known to be present. Therefore where asbestos is contained within the fabric of a building but it is encapsulated it can remain. Such areas can then be removed when maintenance programmes allow. The safety of building users and staff who carry out maintenance are always the first priority.
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