Budget 2008 - Downsizing Democracy

Earlier this month the Conservatives in charge at South Ribble published their budget.

Just days after congratulating themselves on a below inflation council tax, shock redundancies were announced -thought to be the first the council has had.

Ron Matthews who oversees the area committee system, Derek Frew head of information services and Jack Gregory, head of revenues and office support are all to lose their jobs.

There are also to be cuts to the number and format of the area committees -the public forums were local people can have their say on local issues.

In addition the funding of small grants to community groups and charities in the area is to be slashed by 50%. In the past such grants have gone to help scout, brownie and guide groups, playschemes, arts and sports groups, pensioners groups and village fetes.

Meanwhile the Mayor is being kitted out with new robes and new links added to the Mayoral chain at a cost of £750 for the robes and around £6500 for the links.

The Conservatives also took to the pages of the local media to bemoan the cost of free travel for pensioners and disabled people. They have suggested they may have a shortfall of £71,000 in funding the scheme.

This is all very different from the extravagant and uncosted pledges the Conservatives made at the local elections last year when they were desperate to regain power after many years in opposition.

They promised £35000 to RAWS to fund legal action which had little chance of being successful against the Farington Waste Plant yet now begrudge pensioners their free travel. They also implied a return to weekly waste collections in their election leaflets but have found it to be too expensive.

Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, leader of the Labour group at South Ribble criticised the budget as "unremarkable". He said that many who voted Conservative last May would be disappointed as many of the promises which were made have been broken.

He also described the cuts to funding for community groups and charities as "mean spirited" and reminded the Conservatives that they had inherited a council judged excellent by the Audit Commission -the achievement of the previous Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition.

After less than a year in control this does not seem excellent at all. As Councillor Tomlinson concluded his budget speech "is this it?!"

Conservative MP described as miserable so...

Despite appearances sometimes the House of Commons really is a lot of fun.

On Monday Shona McIsaac Labour MP for Cleethorpes, Immingham and Barton introduced a Bill to Parliament in an attempt to gain a new Bank Holiday in Autumn.

The UK has not had a new Bank Holiday added to the calendar since 1978.

Shona outlined to Parliament the history of public holidays:

"This country used to have far more public holidays, as there were local fairs and festivals. In fact, in the 1820s the Bank of England took 33 public holidays a year. But then came the 1830s and it was nose to the grindstone time. Public holidays were cut to just four a year.

We have made progress since, and we now have eight public holidays a year—in England anyway—with the last one being introduced in 1978, under a Labour Government of course. This Government have done well in introducing a minimum annual holiday entitlement, which I am sure everybody welcomes, but we have not done so well with public holidays.

We seem to have spent all our time debating Europe recently, so I thought I would look at European public holidays. It turns out that most European countries are far better than Britain in this regard: Italy gets 16 days, Iceland gets 15, and Spain and Portugal get 14 each. However, countries such as Italy, Spain and Portugal also have all sorts of festivals, ferias and local saints’ days, so they are way ahead of us when it comes to having time away from work. It makes our measly eight days look even meaner."

Shona recognised that although many welcome an extra holiday there were some "misery-guts" who were against such a new Bank Holiday:

"The CBI is one such organisation: it claims that another public holiday would mean less productivity. However, I would hit back by asking whether, if it thinks that one extra day would have such a dramatic impact, it intends to campaign for the abolition of weekends."

Don't tempt them!

There was great hilarity when Conservative MP Christopher Chope got up to object to being called a miserable soul for being against the holiday and proceeded to describe the "victims of bank holidays" -people who are dependent on benefits and want to gain access to public services, those who found themselves caught up in the traffic and of course the national economy (to the tune of £2.5 billion apparently).

His concern in the first instance would be more believable if Conservatives had a record of being concerned about people on benefits or of those trying to access public services. On the contrary! At least not in that way.

Bizarrely, he argued that "bank holidays smack of collectivism and central control."

"They militate against individual freedom and flexibility. Most people, if they were given a choice between taking a holiday on a bank holiday set by the state or at a time of their own choosing, chosen in consultation with their family, would choose the latter."

This would have been a fair point if he was proposing to offer people that choice. But of course he was in favour of no extra holiday at all.

Let Shona know what you think.

Also there is a petition here for a National Remembrance Holiday falling on the second Monday in November each year to reinforce Remembrance Sunday which falls on the second Sunday in November. Such a holiday, the petitioner suggests, "will serve to emphasise our commemoration of The Fallen who gave their lives to save Britain and also the on-going importance of the survival of our Nation. The National Remembrance Holiday will further serve to break that period between late summer and Christmas when there is currently no public holiday." Closing date 18 April 2008.

Shaken but not stirred

This time last week people across the UK were picking up the peices after the country's biggest earthquake in 25 years.

The earthquake's epicentre was at Market Rasen in Lincolnshire and measured approximately 5.2 on the Richter scale -big in UK terms but moderate compared with others that occur around the globe every year.

Nevertheless, many people across Leyland, Lancashire and the rest of the UK were woken as their properties shook in the early hours of the morning on February 27th. While some were worried enough to call the emergency services others either did not stir at all or rolled over and went back to sleep.

There were also some ruffled feathers as a parrot who lives in Fulwood fell off his perch three times as a result of the tremors. Although the parrot's owner was unaware of the 'quake, he was awoken by the fluttering of his African Grey pet parrot Scrimshaw.

Bent Lane Post Office Meeting

A public meeting is to be held this afternoon regarding the future of the Post Office on Bent Lane, Leyland.

The meeting to be held at Wright's Fold Community Room at 5pm will be attended by South Ribble MP David Borrow and Councillor Matthew Tomlinson who will hear residents' concerns.

Councillor Tomlinson and David Borrow have been working hard to ensure local residents' voices are heard during the consultation period.

However, a spokesman for Post Office Ltd stated that it is not numbers of objections received but 'valid rationale' put forward which will help to persuade Post Office bosses of why a particular Post Office should not be closed.

Have your say on the future of your local Post Office. Consultation ends March 3rd 2008.

Working to improve your environment

Local resident and Councillor for the area Fred Heyworth was amazed at the amount of water that collects at the bottom of Kingsway and Queensway when we get a lot of rain. It prevents people getting in and out of their homes. County Councillors Anne brown and Fred Heyworth have brought the matter to the attention of the authorities. It is believed that the necessary work will be fairly substantial.

They will press for the work to be done as soon as possible.

Golden Hill Lane & Fox Lane

Both Golden Hill Lane and Fox Lane have benefited from extensive re-laying of the footpaths.

Labour’s Anne Brown said:

"I know that the Western Drive and the Cedarwood Drive areas are also in need of work. Some has been done but I will not rest until pedestrians can walk along our streets with pride".

Drinking in Public

The issue of drinking in public on the Wade Hall estate is something that is regularly brought up by residents at Wade Hall Forum. They do not like it. Ways and means of addressing the matter are being considered. Your local Labour Councillors will make sure that it is not forgotten.

Rocks in their heads!

As Northern Rock is going through the process of being put into public ownership, the blame game rages on.

The government itself seems to be unfairly taking most of the flak for it. Yet it is the government that has had to step in to rescue a horrendous market failure.

Typically, the Conservatives have engaged in irresponsible, opportunistic flip-flopping on the issue.

Elsewhere there has been much media and other expert commentary on the whole subject.

Some have criticised the time it took to get to this stage. However, this period of time since the government first stepped in last September has been spent trying to find a private market-based solution. Yet again the market failed to put a rescue package together which would prevent the taxpayer from bearing huge costs while the shareholders gained all the benefits.

Indeed, some large shareholders to benefit would have been those that have swooped on the bank since the crisis hit hoping to make even more money from the crisis.

Various punditry on the matter blames the shareholders of Northern Rock for not holding the management board of the bank to account for its risky business model.

Though it has to be said that Northern Rock's practices and the complexity of the financial products (called 'collaterised debt obligations' apparently!) in the American 'sub-prime mortgage market' (lending money to poor people to buy a home who couldn't then afford the repayments) that lay behind the Rock's problems doesn't lend itself to close scrutiny or understanding.

Which brings us to the next candidates for blame -the regulatory authorities, mostly notably the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Many questions will be asked of their role and whether they could have done more to prevent the crisis. However, all the financial institutions are regulated by them but it is Northern Rock's specific business model which left it particularly vulnerable to the difficulties it has landed us all in.

Then, of course, there is Margaret Thatcher. Her government and party's policies set the larger context and forces for this to be possible in the deregulation of the financial markets back in the '80s and the whole 'greed is good', loadsamoney philosophy. At the same time the Conservative goverment oversaw the de-industrialisation of Britain and encouraged a heavy reliance in the economy on the financial sector. Profit-making was the primary aim regardless of the wider public good. There was no such thing as society.

The current crisis arose out of the buying and selling of debt and risk as things in themselves in order to make a profit. Those dealing in financial markets took, some have argued, reckless risks with these financial instruments whilst making vast amounts of money.

Credit ratings agencies in these markets also rated these products as safe when many were warning that they patently weren't.

It is important to note that the Conservative MP John Redwood continues to advocate even more deregulation.

The list of other villain candidates include Adam Applegarth, chief executive of Northern Rock, Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve in the US from 1987 to 2006 and those poor folks who just wanted to buy a home for their families.

And so the government had to step in to clear up this whole sorry mess. There is widespread agreement that they are doing the right thing. For this it should be given, pardon the word, credit.

Use it or Lose it

Bus number 112 now connects Croston, Ulnes Walton, Longmeanygate with Leyland and Preston Via Sainsbury’s.

When it was rescheduled your local County Councillor Anne brown suggested that it should run down Leadale Road. She remembered that the old minibus that ceased some years ago was missed by residents.

Some local residents from the Broadfield area, find it a long way to walk to a different bus stop. The 112 will stop on demand. Ring Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 for details of timings.

At present it is not well used and we will find it difficult to justify its continuation if it is running empty.

Councillor Profile: County Councillor Anne Brown

Anne Brown has been the County Councillor for the western half of Leyland since 1997.

This covers the wards of Lowerhouse, Seven Stars, Moss Side, Earnshaw Bridge and Golden Hill. The area includes the industrial estate of Moss Side and the large residential areas of Wade Hall and Broadfield.

Councillor Brown is active locally, supporting local schools and has been a Governor of Wellfield High School for 30 years. She is a member of the Community organizations within the area, Moss Side Community Forum, Broadfield 2000 and Wade Hall Action Group.

Within the County Council Anne has special responsibility for Resources and Performance. She is the first woman ever to hold this post in Lancashire County Council.

See full contact details

Anne Brown in action:

Working to improve your environment, On the Buses, First Lady, Supports good works, Local news and action, Working hard for your local environment, On Question Time, Giving Cold Callers the Cold Shoulder

Who believes in equality

The first 3 Labour women MPs, Susan Lawrence - 1923, Dorothea Jewson - 1924, Margaret Bondfield - 1923

The 6th of February marked the 90th anniversary of Royal Assent to the Representation of the People Act 1918.

This Act gave most women over the age of 30 the right to vote. Women finally achieved the same voting rights as men ten years later. The Equal Franchise Act 1928, which gave women the vote on the same terms as men, received Royal Assent on 2 July 1928.

Read more here

The Conservatives have 17 female MPs.

Labour has 97 ...still not enough we should be working towards 50:50.

At Lancashire County Council, County Councillor Anne Brown was the first woman to deliver the important budget speech as Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance.

Setting the record straight (after it has accidently been knocked)

The Health & Safety Executive is fighting back against the 'health & safety gone mad' myths often peddled which cloud the proper business of managing risk.

Each month they shatter a popular H & S myth on their website.

With some humour, dispelling another rumour that they possess none, for September 2007 they tackle the life-threatening issue of playing conkers in school...

"This is one of the oldest chestnuts around, a truly classic myth. A well-meaning head teacher decided children should wear safety goggles to play conkers. Subsequently some schools appear to have banned conkers on ‘health & safety’ grounds or made children wear goggles, or even padded gloves!"

Realistically the risk from playing conkers is incredibly low and just not worth bothering about. If kids deliberately hit each other over the head with conkers, that’s a discipline issue, not health and safety."

Read more fun myths here ...go on fall off your chair laughing.

• February 2008 Myth - If a pupil is hurt, the teacher is likely to be sued

• January 2008 Myth - Safety Experts’ New Year resolution is to make the life of business people as miserable as possible

• December 2007 Myth - Every possible risk needs a safety sign

• November 2007 Myth - Workers are banned from putting up Christmas decorations in the office

• October 2007 Myth - Children were banned from riding at a donkey derby

• September 2007 Myth - Kids must wear goggles to play conkers

• August 2007 Myth - Egg boxes are banned in school craft lessons as they might cause salmonella

• July 2007 Myth - All office equipment must be tested by a qualified electrician every year

• June 2007 Myth - New regulations would require trapeze artists to wear hard hats

• May 2007 Myth - Risk assessments must always be long and complex

• April 2007 Myth - HSE has banned stepladders

Poles Apart

The story as reported by the Lancashire Evening Post, 7th February, 2008

Margaret Smith, the Conservative Leader of South Ribble Borough Council and councillor for New Longton & Hutton East, thinks the objections by locals in her ward to a recent advertisement written partly in Polish are 'understandable' even though Councillor Smith admits their concerns are based on 'fear of the unknown'.

The mobile advertising board for a recruitment agency was placed outside the former Post Office on Chapel Lane, New Longton for less than 24 hours during which time the council received 45 complaints.

Though the advertisement was not placed illegally it was still forced to move as a result of the complaints.

Another local resident could not understand all the fuss about the recent ad.

She did not want to be identified but told the LEP:

"As far as I know no-one has complained about it being there, there is nothing illegal about it being parked by the side of the road and there are a lot of similar sized signs in the village, so I cannot see the problem".

She also said that the same sign had been positioned on the corner of Strand Road and Marsh Lane in Preston for months without problems.

It seems then that it was the Polish element of the sign which drew the objections.

Councillor Smith explained to the Lancashire Evening Post the context of her constituents' reaction:

"Obviously there are sensitivities relating back to last year's planning application which has put this issue in the front of people's minds and, when they see something like this it, understandably, concerns them."

"People are concerned about what is going to come and this degree of the unknown does make a situation slightly awkward".

Last year a plan by the local owners of the property to turn the former Post Office into a hostel for agricultural workers in the area was turned down after other villagers angrily objected. Some were concerned about how the workers, likely to be of Polish and Latvian origin, would affect the "upmarket and quiet" village.

However, further up the road, Tarleton has long hosted and valued the contribution of such workers from abroad.

One resident who has lived in Tarleton all her life said, "I have never come across any problems at all with immigrants in the village,"

Another resident from nearby Little Hoole said of his Eastern Europeans neighbours:

"They are a lot friendlier than English people...They are polite and hard-working. They have made every effort to integrate round here and there have been no problems at all."

Across the river Preston North End has signed the much-coveted Polishman Grzegorz Szamotulski as goalkeeper.

While PNE fans are quite pleased will Councillor Margaret Smith encourage her constituents to be as welcoming if he decides to buy a property in New Longton?

Weather Forecast

The sunshine has made a welcome return to Leyland and its environs after the wet and wild weather of recent weeks.

Elsewhere across the globe, China has just seen its worst weather conditions for 50 years. One traveller caught up in the weather chaos described the scene:

"The railway stations in Guangzhou are a scene of horror, with countless thousands of desperate and freezing people besieging them...." Read more..

In America on Tuesday some of the worst tornado clusters in US history ripped their way through 5 states killing at least 31 people in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama.

Parts of Australia have been particularly drought-stricken over the last decade which it is believed is due to climate change. (It has also pushed the price of wine up!)

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Whilst it is difficult to pin any one weather event on global warming the increasing number of extreme weather events seen around the world is in line with the predictions on climate change. And while a minority dispute the precise extent and balance of causes of the changing climate the degree of consensus on the evidence that it is happening and we need to do something is overwhelming.

The challenge is how we prepare for the full consequences and try to minimise our own impact.

Even in the arch-capitalist United States of America some influential businesses together with environmental groups last year formed the United States Climate Action Partnership to demand tough national legislation from the federal government to require significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Back in Leyland our very own Matthew Tomlinson, Labour councillor for Golden Hill Ward and County Councillor, is showing leadership by example. He has pledged to reduce his own carbon footprint by going to work less by car and using other forms of transport more such as buses, trains and bicycle.

Matthew Tomlinson in the Leyland Guardian, 16th January 2008.

Post Office Consultation

There is still time to participate in the consultations about Post Office closures.

**Consultation ends March 3rd 2008**

Click here to access the full list of consultation documents and scroll down to the area plan for Lancashire and Fylde with Southport.

There is also available to view/download a map and 'Branch access report' which shows access and service details of nearby alternative branches to those proposed for closure.

Postwatch the independent watchdog which looks after the interests of postal service customers has handily crunched some numbers and provided some background and reasoning to the proposed changes to the Post Office network.

Have your say on the future of your local Post Office!

Nice brick work!

Some toy fads come and go. But Lego is still alive and well after 50 years.

50 years ago today Godtfred Kirk Christiansen filed a patent for what became an icon of the childhood toybox and bane of hoovering mothers everywhere, the lego brick.

Check out the work of brick artist Nathan Sawaya

A holiday to Remember

A petition at the government's online petition site is calling for a new National Holiday

It reads...

"By comparison to many other European Countries, Britain has fewer public holidays and none at all for a period of some three months between the August public holiday and Christmas. Moreover, Britain does not have a "National" day. So what better way to celebrate our Nation than to have a National Remembrance Holiday falling on the second Monday in November each year to reinforce Remembrance Sunday which falls on the second Sunday in November? Such a holiday will serve to emphasise our commemoration of The Fallen who gave their lives to save Britain and also the on-going importance of the survival of our Nation. The National Remembrance Holiday will further serve to break that period between late summer and Christmas when there is currently no public holiday."

Sign up here. Closing date 18 April 2008.

Read about another notable 'Grand National Holiday' (for a whole month!) once advocated. Sadly the closing date for this one was August 1839.