Random Thoughts

Dear Reader,

I am not a great one for “blogs” but I am regularly told I should be……that being the case, I am advised that I should use my “blog” as a tool to get thoughts/ideas/actions across. The truth is that I am a) too busy and b) too busy to produce these very often and I am grateful therefore for the help given by my “right hand” Jo Nudd. She has kindly agreed to post my odd and occasional ramblings…..so here goes.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION (LGR)

It was announced that Exeter would be given “Unitary” status. That means it will no longer be a part of Devon for administrative purposes and will carry out all the functions that previously Devon County Council performed as well as those functions it was already carrying out. The rest of Devon remains the same, so Teignbridge Council will still continue to provide the services locally that it always has done.

This decision by Central Government is a disgrace. It is one of the worst cases of political gerrymandering and abuse of power I have come across in my time in politics. The debate has rumbled on for 2 or 3 years. The Boundary Commission, an independent body established by Government to advice on these “refoms” came out against and the Treasury similarly advised that the financial case for change simply did not stack up. So what does the Government do? It goes against all the independent advice and opts for an Exeter Unitary council. (Just like Torbay…..now hasn’t that been a glorious success story worth copying...……..) This decision weakens local government in Devon….and it will cost us all money……almost certainly loads of money.
So why have they done this?

The only people who want this change are the Exeter Labour Party. Exeter is the only place where Labour has any electoral success. They (currently) have the MP…….Ben Bradshaw, who very much supports this nonsense and from time to time they have run the City Council. To retain any influence anywhere in the county they have opted to take Exeter out of Devon and hope in so doing to have from time to time a political base in the West Country. This will cost local Council Tax payers ……it is to be hoped they remember in the years to come who foisted this on them…….against all the advice.

However, all is not yet lost. Lib Dem and Tory MPs and Lords are pledged to oppose and will do so. The announcement was made in the hours before Parliament went into recess (a typical ploy for administrations announcing unpopular legislation) but we have not heard the last of this one…….watch this space……



RECYCLING IN DEVON

Locally here in Teignbridge we pioneered modern recycling, and despite initial hostility residents have responded magnificently and Teignbridge is a national leader in this field. Most readers will know that. Devon County has also been a leading authority in green issues and it is my hope and intention that it should remain so. Back in June we Lib Dems were (sadly) replaced as the administration in Devon by the Conservatives, though I was delighted to hold my own seat with a good majority (many thanks to all concerned!!!) In the time since the election the administration has been putting together a policy statement of intent, called, “Investing in our Devon”…..a strategic plan 2009 – 2013. It’s publically available and while it is rather “apple pie and motherhood” it is all we have to go on.

Following the June elections I was delighted to be elected to the post of Chairman of the Environment, Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee. I know that’s a bit of a mouth full, but it means that I Chair the committee responsible for commenting on the administrations policies. We are sometimes known as a “critical friend”. All that’s a bit of a ramble I acknowledge, so why am I saying it?

I want to put on record what the Conservatives are planning for our precious environment and, in the fullness of time, we can all see what has, or has not been achieved. Under the heading “Reduce Waste, improve recycling and reduce landfill……they state that their pledge is by 2013 to have “Worked together to reach our recycling target of 57%”.

At the first opportunity I suggested that as Teignbridge and South Hams were already recycling more than that and that Devon’s current figure is 54.6% it wasn’t particularly ambitious to only want to add 2.4% in 4 years. The Tories didn’t agree and have kept to the 57% figure. My argument is that a 60% figure is more ambitious, more challenging and, yes, may well require more effort on the part of some to make that target. Consequently I raised the issue again at another environmental committee at County, where this committee voted in favour of my proposition that 60% was a more meaningful target. It is now up to the administration to accept or reject that advice…….those voting against at that committee were all Conservatives, so I don’t live with great expectations. Make no mistake despite what their national leader would have us believe, at local level there is precious little environmental sympathy or understanding from the Conservatives. To help local district councils do this they have withheld a centrally administered grant of £411,000 which traditionally (and certainly under the Lib Dems) was passed down to the districts to help with this vital work.

What other targets do they offer?

Target: Reducing carbon emissions by 2.1% per year.

I recently signed the 10.10 pledge on behalf of Teignbridge which sets us a target of 10% cut THIS YEAR! Again, even if we don’t make 10% how much better to have failed at 7, 8 or 9% than succeeded at 2.1….again a feeble commitment in my view to the critical issue of protecting our environment, and indeed saving the planet for generations as yet unborn.

Target: Reduced the number of potholes by 30%. Admirable. It means that if there are 10 potholes 3 will be filled by 2013. I know the local highways department are working hard to fill potholes(and I have reported many and am always keen to hear from you about potholes…..or anything else for that matter…..) but a significant increase in current budget projections will be needed if that is to be achieved. Again, watch this space.

Target: Made major road improvements to unlock economic potential, such as the Kingskerswell bypass…..We all know this is a major debating point and it has been going on for a long long time now. In my opinion the one measure that has not been tried and should have been prior to any multi million pound expenditure on a very dubious project, would be to simply switch off the traffic lights at Jury’s Corner for long periods of the day if not all the time. When I called for this action it was rejected. When recently the lights failed traffic congestion was at it’s lowest in living memory……

I could go on……and probably will…..

Gordon Hook