WHAT'S THE SURPRISE ?

The Council has been repeatedly bleating this week about an inaccurate article in the Daily Torygraph claiming that there are no male teachers in our local primary schools, where the 'newspaper' didn't check the facts.......

I can't get my head around this. Isn't that what all Tory-supporting newspapers omit to do ? Including not checking who runs the local Council.

Though of course our local mob are pretty irrelevant in the wishful schemes of Cam-borne.

"I WANT TO WIN JUST ONCE !"

With those words I tonight got my motion on the public service we can expect from the ferry companies through the Full Council - by 35 votes to 1............

I said the words when accepting an amendment to my motion fom the Conservative ruling group that included Southern Vectis within its remit, since local bus services are also to be the subject of a study by the OFT. The amendment also said a few other things I was less happy with, but it retained the three things I wanted the Council to try to get from the ferry companies and now Southern Vectis (see my last post). I think I got a result.

The rest of the Full Council was uneventful apart from right at the end when Barry Abrahams (Con.) expressed a desire that all mainstream political parties on the Isle of Wight work to ensure that we do not have have to share the Council Chamber with the BNP after June. I heartily endorsed what he said, as did the Liberals. The BNP are lurking in some dark corners of the Island and democrats need to be very alert and prepared to stand up to them.

ARE OUR FERRIES PROVIDING A PROPER PUBLIC SERVICE ?

I have proposed this Motion to next Wednesday's Full Council meeting:

Council congratulates the Island's MP on his success in mobilising a community campaign that achieved an Office of Fair Trading investigation into the cross-Solent ferry companies.

Council also agrees that it expects a minimum level of service from the cross-Solent ferry companies, based on what the Island needs for commerce and general day to day life.

Council, therefore, resolves:

i. to seek an acknowledgment from the ferry companies, and in particular Wightlink as owners of a previously public service, that they have a public service obligation;

ii. to seek from the ferry companies clarification as to which of their current services are deemed to satisfy any public service obligation that they do acknowledge;

iii. to enquire of the ferry companies if they have any plans for further service reductions.

"YOUR ISLAND, YOUR COUNCIL"

After 6 month's consultation with party members and supporters Island Labour has published its 2009 Local Election Manifesto "Your Island, Your Council", which reveals our aspirations for the IW Council after the June local elections.

Labour recognises that having influence at County Hall rather than power is its realistic target, though it plans to field candidates in a majority of the Island's 39 new wards.

For the last 4 years the IW Council Labour Group has been recognised by all fair commentators as the only effective opposition group at County Hall. We now hope to build upon that reputation by securing a larger group of councillors at the June elections who can exercise far more influence at County Hall. We believe that our Manifesto offers Islanders many good reasons to vote Labour at a local level. By releasing it early we are giving Islanders plenty of time to consider our aspirations.

The Manifesto brief says:

From June 2009 Labour Councillors at County Hall will seek to achieve or exert influence upon the following-

YOUR COUNCIL TAX

• Guarantee to limit Council Tax increases to no more than the maximum advised by Government – usually the inflation rate.
• Aim only to use Council reserves and balances for projects that deliver a public asset, such as a swimming pool or day centre for vulnerable people.
• Commit to delivering efficiencies year on year in line with Government targets.
• Choose the Council’s own staff before extortionate outside consultants.
  

YOUR SCHOOLS & YOUR CHILDREN

• Reject the current school closure programme and support small schools, recognising their importance and value to local communities
• Fully implement the government’s ‘Reducing Surplus Places Strategy ‘ and work to reduce the size of our secondary schools
• Introduce free school meals for all primary and middle school children.

YOUR HOMES

• Ensure that all new housing developments include at least 33% affordable homes, and at least 50% when built on Council owned land.

• Target more Council resources on converting empty properties into homes for hard-pressed local people.

• Offer dedicated staff, and work in partnership with other organisations, to provide more support and help with the legal system to prevent Islanders from losing their homes unnecessarily, and improve services such as debt counselling.
  

YOUR TRAVEL

• Pursue a flat rate bus fare of £1 for 19-59 year olds - 50p for 5-19.

• Roll-out a free ‘park & ride’ scheme for Island towns, and ensure buses connect with other public transport links.

• Make car parking more accessible for local shoppers, whilst increasing the costs of long-stay parking and permits (over 4 hours).

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

• Initiate the further development of alternative energy systems based upon LOCAL production and supply that are fuel efficient and powered by renewable energy sources.

• Establish annual community and individual carbon emission targets, monitored by local forums in liaison with elected members.

YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE

• Offer free swimming in public pools for the over 60’s

• Provide the driving force and co-ordination for an annual Island-wide Cultural and Arts Festival, which stimulates the diversity of our community and encourages the involvement of young people.

YOUR HEALTH AND CARE

• Increase support for patient and carer travel to mainland hospitals.

• Improve support for carers – through faster assessments and more respite and day care services.

LAW & ORDER IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

• Seek to improve cooperation with pubs, clubs and outlets selling alcohol to reduce anti-social behaviour in the night-time economy.

• Abolish the existing Environmental & Neighbourhood Officer scheme and introduce a more effective and cost-effective Local Community Warden scheme in areas of anti-social behaviour.

• Increase resources for CCTV monitoring capacity

QUALITY JOBS FOR ISLAND PEOPLE

• Work with IW College and employers to provide the courses and training for the jobs of the future.

• Push the IW Council to take the lead with quality modern apprenticeships

HELPING TOURISM

• Commit to investing a proportion of car parking charges to improving amenities - for example, decorative flowers and safety improvement along the sea fronts - and the appearance of the towns where visitors stay.
  

THE DELUDED

So a four year journey of braggado and hyperbole leads us to this:-

The IW Council under the Tories remains a 2 star authority that is 'improving adequately' (Audit Commission, March 09). Precisely where it was when it was elected four years ago.........

I am the last person to be an apologist for the Liberal/Island First shambles of 2001-05, but the Tories have been slagging them off for the last 4 years and yet have made NO PROGRESS whatsoever in the eyes of the Audit Commission.

What does that tell us about their ability to run a local Council ?

Within the overall ratings they also get just 2 stars for the 'Value for money' and for 'Use of Resources' components.

It is clear that the bragging and the exaggerating was all entirely delusional.

COUNCIL SPINNERS FERRY QUIET.......

I notice that the IW Council spin machine is being very quiet about the great news that there will be a full Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into Island ferry services, after the local MP's campaign.

Of course at Full Council in February 2008, as I reported here,

"On Ferry Fares Fair (Labour's) motion to support the MP's campaign for an OFT investigation was amended by the leadership to kick it into the long grass of a Policy Commission enquiry by 27 votes to 14 - those against were myself, Deborah Gardiner, Mosdell, Swan, Foster, Stephens, Bowker, Joyce, Bishop, Churchman, Mc Robert, Humby, Knowles and Adams. Again cross party and none."

And that long grass has proved to be pampas-like under the loyal Policy Commission chairmanship of Johnny the Fox-Bond.............as of last month they were still taking 'evidence'. IW Council Tories - as snail-like as ever......