Tonight the Town Council held a meeting concerning Shepton Mallet's Community Hospital.
I unfortunately had a meeting in Wells at the Scrutiny Board for the District Council.
I did manage to get back to engage in the debate.
It is clear that the people of Shepton value their hospital, sometimes I wish the people who run the NHS appreciated it as much.
Let us be clear, our community hospital delivers excellent care, our hospital has high occupancy rates and is a sense of local pride.
I know through personal experience how difficult it can be for those people who suffer a stroke, but of course it is not only those people who suffer from a stroke, but their families who also suffer, the concern and the heartache, just imagine if you, a suffer of a stroke and your loved news cannot visit because they do not have transport?
Then also imagine how this impacts on the stroke patients recovery.
But also how good is the back up community services, the stair lifts, the changes in the home to allow the stroke suffer to live their lives, with dignity. Then how good is the nursing care to be given in the patients home 24/7 or 15 minutes 3 times a day?
Let us be clear, the risk to our beds in Shepton Hospital comes from the Clinical Commissioning Group, this is the body that buys care on our behalf. This risk to our hospital beds is simply about money, it is where they choose to spend our money.
The Conservative party and the Lib Dems introduced the Clinical Commissioning Groups through the Health and Social Care Act, the privatised and marketised NHS, a NHS of providers and purchasers, these changes were said to put the patient first, yet as we are seeing in Shepton, the patients are neither consulted or important, because the Clinical Commissioning group knows best.
I remember Dr Bourke defending our local hospital back in the early eighties, he was magnificent, with the suites sent with a flee in their ears, do we see the same resolve of our GPs today?
It is so important to defend our hospital beds, the Town Council voted unanimously to tell the Clinicial commissioning group, hands off Shepton beds.
Monday, 3 February 2014
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Old Wells Road
This is what I said to the planning meeting on Wednesday 8 January 2014
Thank you for allowing me to speak on this very important planning application.
Without doubt this planning application is wholly opportunistic and for many local residents most unwelcome, the applicant is not concerned about the best way to develop Shepton, but ladies and gentlemen you are, this is why you have worked on the emerging local plan.
This site has never been judged not to be suitable to be included in the Local plan either in the past or the current plan or the emerging plan.
The planning policy team rightly judged this area considered before you tonight, as isolated and is to small to meet the requirements for a comprehensive strategic location.
The officers report sole focus seems to be to legitimate the findings around the District Councils inability to prove the five year supply of land with planning applications.
The broader and more important focus should be around the significant housing sites that are held within the emerging local plan, through the whole process land at the south of Shepton Mallet was deemed to be the location for the strategic housing sites, short term expediency should not carry more weight than properly thought out proposals that can demonstrate community support.
Shepton Mallet has been out performing the requirements for housing, in terms of numbers within the emerging local plan, with even more sites expected to come through in Shepton for planning, piece by piece it is changing Shepton's housing numbers, Shepton is doing its bits to plug the planning application short fall, this site at old wells road is not required and should be rejected
The old Wells road is essentially a lane, it was not designed for heavy traffic, in my time as PACT police and communities together, chairman, traffic problems dominated these meetings with residents demanding action on speed and road safety, the problems have and will get worse, with a former PCSO held discussions with county highways about traffic calming, worryingly there is no mention of this in the report. I have seen nothing in the officers report that tackles the traffic problems.
The junction of West Shepton and Old Wells Road is also a cause for concern.
Shepton mallet has the worse bus service of any Mendip town, no direct bus services to Bath, Bristol Taunton or Bridgwater.
The notion that people will use poor buses services that are viewed as an inferior mode of transport, is fanciful, travel vouchers may work in the city, but in a town with little public transport, this is merely a sop to plug the obvious gap in the isolation of his site.
The increased volume of traffic will Make walking on his lane even more unnerving, this especially true beyond 25 old wells road.
It is sad to see the proposed play area situated at the back of the housing site, not integrated in the development, the site is not even level.
Skateboarding is an exhilarating sport with noise of wheels and young people being exuberant, I can fully understand why the environment health office wanted a 200metre buffer, they know, through experience, that the amenity of the houses will be affected by young people enjoying themselves and for the potential for unintentional nuisance, I have serious concern that 50 meters, especially as the older person tends to like bungalow
Shepton as continues to grows faster than predicted, the pressures on our public services is causing very real problems, the post office can't cope, the doctor surgeries are full and difficult to get appointments, the town has no cinema or theatre and buses that cannot service an entertainment need.
Shepton is becoming unsustainable.
This application is opportunistic and will do nothing to improve the local neighbourhood, on the contrary the visual impact and traffic will cause a worse environment without delivering benefits.
The site is considered by the planning policy team as too isolated so I call upon members of the planning board to reject this application.
Thank you for allowing me to speak on this very important planning application.
Without doubt this planning application is wholly opportunistic and for many local residents most unwelcome, the applicant is not concerned about the best way to develop Shepton, but ladies and gentlemen you are, this is why you have worked on the emerging local plan.
This site has never been judged not to be suitable to be included in the Local plan either in the past or the current plan or the emerging plan.
The planning policy team rightly judged this area considered before you tonight, as isolated and is to small to meet the requirements for a comprehensive strategic location.
The officers report sole focus seems to be to legitimate the findings around the District Councils inability to prove the five year supply of land with planning applications.
The broader and more important focus should be around the significant housing sites that are held within the emerging local plan, through the whole process land at the south of Shepton Mallet was deemed to be the location for the strategic housing sites, short term expediency should not carry more weight than properly thought out proposals that can demonstrate community support.
Shepton Mallet has been out performing the requirements for housing, in terms of numbers within the emerging local plan, with even more sites expected to come through in Shepton for planning, piece by piece it is changing Shepton's housing numbers, Shepton is doing its bits to plug the planning application short fall, this site at old wells road is not required and should be rejected
The old Wells road is essentially a lane, it was not designed for heavy traffic, in my time as PACT police and communities together, chairman, traffic problems dominated these meetings with residents demanding action on speed and road safety, the problems have and will get worse, with a former PCSO held discussions with county highways about traffic calming, worryingly there is no mention of this in the report. I have seen nothing in the officers report that tackles the traffic problems.
The junction of West Shepton and Old Wells Road is also a cause for concern.
Shepton mallet has the worse bus service of any Mendip town, no direct bus services to Bath, Bristol Taunton or Bridgwater.
The notion that people will use poor buses services that are viewed as an inferior mode of transport, is fanciful, travel vouchers may work in the city, but in a town with little public transport, this is merely a sop to plug the obvious gap in the isolation of his site.
The increased volume of traffic will Make walking on his lane even more unnerving, this especially true beyond 25 old wells road.
It is sad to see the proposed play area situated at the back of the housing site, not integrated in the development, the site is not even level.
Skateboarding is an exhilarating sport with noise of wheels and young people being exuberant, I can fully understand why the environment health office wanted a 200metre buffer, they know, through experience, that the amenity of the houses will be affected by young people enjoying themselves and for the potential for unintentional nuisance, I have serious concern that 50 meters, especially as the older person tends to like bungalow
Shepton as continues to grows faster than predicted, the pressures on our public services is causing very real problems, the post office can't cope, the doctor surgeries are full and difficult to get appointments, the town has no cinema or theatre and buses that cannot service an entertainment need.
Shepton is becoming unsustainable.
This application is opportunistic and will do nothing to improve the local neighbourhood, on the contrary the visual impact and traffic will cause a worse environment without delivering benefits.
The site is considered by the planning policy team as too isolated so I call upon members of the planning board to reject this application.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Tonight
I had the very real pleasure to talk to the Somerton and Frome Labour Party tonight about my role in the Mendip District Council.
It was a pleasure to follow the report from the Labour Conference. The representative gave an excellent report.
It is so obvious that housing is a key priority for local people, I outlined the changes in government policy and the housing strategy adopted by Mendip Council.
I really struggle to understand how this government's policy on housing is anything other than short-sighted ill thought out policy.
The affordability of housing is a key issue.
It is clear that housing is a key policy in family life, a public health policy and for safe secure communities.
So how can setting rates of social housing at 80% of market rents couple his with short term tenancies and with very few new new social homes being built, couple this with a housing boom that affects affordability then far from a rebalanced housing sector the government has failed to make housing affordable, a key cost of living cost.
There is a definite requirement to licence and has an accreditation scheme for private landlords.
Also councils should borrow money to build council houses once again, direct action to tackle the housing shortage.
I also detailed the social problems that the governments welfare reforms? I am seeing many issues presenting themselves to me as a councillor from the Bedroom tax through to indebtedness from increased costs of council tax increases.
Nationally we are seeing increasing numbers of people turning to food banks with 356,000 people receiving emergency food. Labour members are looking into he local situation.
It is good to see the Labour Party is looking at policies to tackle payday lenders and promoting credit unions.
I also advised the Labour Party that I have questioned the Conservative leader of Mendip Council about the lack of gender balance of the cabinet, can it be justifiable that in 2013 no female councillor is represented at the key board of he Council?
Also I told Labour Party members of my opinion that is was unacceptable to raise councillor allowances at a time of a cost of living crisis, I am even opposed to reviewing allowances. I personally give 14% of my allowance to community groups. I cannot think it acceptable not to do so.
I have agreed to visit the Somerton and Frome Labour Party at each of heir meeting to report MDC matters.
It was a pleasure to follow the report from the Labour Conference. The representative gave an excellent report.
It is so obvious that housing is a key priority for local people, I outlined the changes in government policy and the housing strategy adopted by Mendip Council.
I really struggle to understand how this government's policy on housing is anything other than short-sighted ill thought out policy.
The affordability of housing is a key issue.
It is clear that housing is a key policy in family life, a public health policy and for safe secure communities.
So how can setting rates of social housing at 80% of market rents couple his with short term tenancies and with very few new new social homes being built, couple this with a housing boom that affects affordability then far from a rebalanced housing sector the government has failed to make housing affordable, a key cost of living cost.
There is a definite requirement to licence and has an accreditation scheme for private landlords.
Also councils should borrow money to build council houses once again, direct action to tackle the housing shortage.
I also detailed the social problems that the governments welfare reforms? I am seeing many issues presenting themselves to me as a councillor from the Bedroom tax through to indebtedness from increased costs of council tax increases.
Nationally we are seeing increasing numbers of people turning to food banks with 356,000 people receiving emergency food. Labour members are looking into he local situation.
It is good to see the Labour Party is looking at policies to tackle payday lenders and promoting credit unions.
I also advised the Labour Party that I have questioned the Conservative leader of Mendip Council about the lack of gender balance of the cabinet, can it be justifiable that in 2013 no female councillor is represented at the key board of he Council?
Also I told Labour Party members of my opinion that is was unacceptable to raise councillor allowances at a time of a cost of living crisis, I am even opposed to reviewing allowances. I personally give 14% of my allowance to community groups. I cannot think it acceptable not to do so.
I have agreed to visit the Somerton and Frome Labour Party at each of heir meeting to report MDC matters.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Choices choices
Monday evening we held the monthly Mendip Council scrutiny committee meeting.
The more I attend council meetings the more I fear councils are out of touch with the world I occupy.
We are told the county council will have to make £105 million of cuts over the next four years, this with the Tories promises of no council tax increases. One tory said there was more fat to be trimmed, but essentially they want to move services in the voluntary sector, they want to structure of local government as a funding centre to fund services run by others, this with the consequence of poor services for ordinary people and the wealthy can buy the services they need.
The county plan makes statements on improvements to education in the county yet the council wants to rationalise children's centres with likely voluntary input, Academies competing for students, so less collaboration, schools poaching children from school catchment areas and making it harder to plan decent education.
I asked about when contracts are to be awarded should they not insists that a living wage and decent contractual arrangements be made.
We know the vulnerable children services had a poor ofsted report outlining poor leadership.
The infrastructure of our county is poor, the roads are disintegrating, the bus services are poor and the digital broadband is also poor for too many communities. Yet the county say they want to create a strong economy, without the infrastructure building a strong economy will be difficult.
It is my belief the county council needs to honest about what they can achieve and this should be independently verifiable, too many reports have too many words and not enough progress to build better economies, deliver good public services and creating a more equal society.
Without a clear aim, any county plan is a report to sit on a shelf.
The more I attend council meetings the more I fear councils are out of touch with the world I occupy.
We are told the county council will have to make £105 million of cuts over the next four years, this with the Tories promises of no council tax increases. One tory said there was more fat to be trimmed, but essentially they want to move services in the voluntary sector, they want to structure of local government as a funding centre to fund services run by others, this with the consequence of poor services for ordinary people and the wealthy can buy the services they need.
The county plan makes statements on improvements to education in the county yet the council wants to rationalise children's centres with likely voluntary input, Academies competing for students, so less collaboration, schools poaching children from school catchment areas and making it harder to plan decent education.
I asked about when contracts are to be awarded should they not insists that a living wage and decent contractual arrangements be made.
We know the vulnerable children services had a poor ofsted report outlining poor leadership.
The infrastructure of our county is poor, the roads are disintegrating, the bus services are poor and the digital broadband is also poor for too many communities. Yet the county say they want to create a strong economy, without the infrastructure building a strong economy will be difficult.
It is my belief the county council needs to honest about what they can achieve and this should be independently verifiable, too many reports have too many words and not enough progress to build better economies, deliver good public services and creating a more equal society.
Without a clear aim, any county plan is a report to sit on a shelf.
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Housing
With the District Council trying to submit it Local Plan, the issue of housing is at he top of local discussion.
Last month the District Council produced it's three year housing strategy document for the next here year.
I have very real concerns over this three year strategy, the document talks about the opportunity to have a decent home, yet, any strategy should be providing decent homes for all.
Mendip Council has plans to provide 120 socially rented units per year for he next three years.
I have real concerns that the Council is far to relaxed with their relationship to private landlords, I think it is interesting that MDC licences taxis, this includes regular inspections of cabs and drivers providing evidence of good health, yet the very basic need of private rented housing, they have vague standards, surely every private rented home should have as a minimum of double glazing with energy efficient homes, with listed standards of management and accreditation.
The provision of socially rented housing is insufficient to meet the need and insufficient protection for private tenants.
This in the context of low paid insecure work and high levels of personal debt.
It has been suggested as the economic will come at some point, the level of mortgage repossession are likely to increase, if his happens then there will be more pressure on a rented sector that is becoming more expensive.
The national governments policy's are also making the situation worse, charging 80% of the market rent and short term tenancies as the norm, this with the bedroom tax and a minimum of 20% payment of council tax, the District Council housing strategy looks increasingly complacent in the face of huge housing challenges.
Last month the District Council produced it's three year housing strategy document for the next here year.
I have very real concerns over this three year strategy, the document talks about the opportunity to have a decent home, yet, any strategy should be providing decent homes for all.
Mendip Council has plans to provide 120 socially rented units per year for he next three years.
I have real concerns that the Council is far to relaxed with their relationship to private landlords, I think it is interesting that MDC licences taxis, this includes regular inspections of cabs and drivers providing evidence of good health, yet the very basic need of private rented housing, they have vague standards, surely every private rented home should have as a minimum of double glazing with energy efficient homes, with listed standards of management and accreditation.
The provision of socially rented housing is insufficient to meet the need and insufficient protection for private tenants.
This in the context of low paid insecure work and high levels of personal debt.
It has been suggested as the economic will come at some point, the level of mortgage repossession are likely to increase, if his happens then there will be more pressure on a rented sector that is becoming more expensive.
The national governments policy's are also making the situation worse, charging 80% of the market rent and short term tenancies as the norm, this with the bedroom tax and a minimum of 20% payment of council tax, the District Council housing strategy looks increasingly complacent in the face of huge housing challenges.
Sunday, 15 September 2013
This weekend I did my sponsored bike ride in aid of Somerset Churches and Chapels and the Shepton Mallet Skate Park. I would like to thank for all the sponsorship that people gave this will add to the funds of the two groups.
I had the good fortune to ride with a group from Kilmerston, they are raising money for their church. I love looking at churches, they are oar inspiring buildings, the quality of the buildings and the features contained within them are magnificent. Although you do realise that the cost of maintenance is high and continuous.
The beauty of the landscape is breathtaking, with hills and fields, the reservoir with the boats and the magnificent houses in pretty villages, this a rural idyll.
Yet, this picture box scene, is this to lived in by those with deep pockets, large cars and the access to wealth to buy the services they need.?
Governments talk about a great deal about supporting rural Britain, yet the proposed sell off off of the Post Office is a classic anti rural community policy.
There is no doubt that the postal services within the urban areas is profitable and easy to provide, yet rural communities, little hamlets and villages in the middle of nowhere are more difficult and costly to provide for.
The universal service will be secured no doubt, but what kind a service; once or twice a week deliveries?
These services are not nicety's they are services that make rural economies work, electronic media is fine, but how many rural communities have fibre fast telecommunications? So the cost will increase or the service will rationalise, either way not good for a rural community.
The loss of bus services again hinder rural communities, the notion that only profitable routes should be supported is anti to public service, in many places bus services can be called less than basic.
There is no doubt our rural settlements are increasingly becoming gentrified, with the wealthy buying their piece of paradise and where are the small housing schemes for the aspiring young who wish to stay in their own communities?
Under the beauty of our rural idyll, the hidden problems of urban Britain remain, maybe just a little better hidden.
I had the good fortune to ride with a group from Kilmerston, they are raising money for their church. I love looking at churches, they are oar inspiring buildings, the quality of the buildings and the features contained within them are magnificent. Although you do realise that the cost of maintenance is high and continuous.
The beauty of the landscape is breathtaking, with hills and fields, the reservoir with the boats and the magnificent houses in pretty villages, this a rural idyll.
Yet, this picture box scene, is this to lived in by those with deep pockets, large cars and the access to wealth to buy the services they need.?
Governments talk about a great deal about supporting rural Britain, yet the proposed sell off off of the Post Office is a classic anti rural community policy.
There is no doubt that the postal services within the urban areas is profitable and easy to provide, yet rural communities, little hamlets and villages in the middle of nowhere are more difficult and costly to provide for.
The universal service will be secured no doubt, but what kind a service; once or twice a week deliveries?
These services are not nicety's they are services that make rural economies work, electronic media is fine, but how many rural communities have fibre fast telecommunications? So the cost will increase or the service will rationalise, either way not good for a rural community.
The loss of bus services again hinder rural communities, the notion that only profitable routes should be supported is anti to public service, in many places bus services can be called less than basic.
There is no doubt our rural settlements are increasingly becoming gentrified, with the wealthy buying their piece of paradise and where are the small housing schemes for the aspiring young who wish to stay in their own communities?
Under the beauty of our rural idyll, the hidden problems of urban Britain remain, maybe just a little better hidden.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Must do better
I have somewhat neglected this blog since the May elections, the simple message to myself is that, I must do better.
Since my election to MDC in May, I have been allowed to join the Scrutiny committee. This is a interesting committee and in the three months I have served, several interesting items have been discussed.
The District Council have set up a new licensing arrangement for taxis and the housing strategy for he next three years.
Last week I attended the planning meeting to speak against the proposed use of Hitchen Lane for access for 10 four bedroom development on the disused railway line, my objections were that Hitchen lane is an unsuitable access, this application would landlocked another development opportunity, the development would affect the strawberry way cycle track and there is a breeding colony of slow worms and I was not convinced they would be protected.
The MDC Planning board refused the application.
On Tuesday the Town council recommended refusal for the unwelcome Redrow planning application off the Old Wells Road, it is clear this is opportunistic and speculative.
MDC inability to support a sufficiently large planning application land bank has allowed speculative planning applications to be considered as if the land contained within the emerging local plan, this was used by the planning inspector who works for the Secretary of State, if you were cynical you might say the government wants more building as they have failed to rebalance the economy and the last chance for growth is housing. The government are offering councils little support.
The town council also supported a youth council and appointed Susan Gibbs as the link councillor.
Since my election to MDC in May, I have been allowed to join the Scrutiny committee. This is a interesting committee and in the three months I have served, several interesting items have been discussed.
The District Council have set up a new licensing arrangement for taxis and the housing strategy for he next three years.
Last week I attended the planning meeting to speak against the proposed use of Hitchen Lane for access for 10 four bedroom development on the disused railway line, my objections were that Hitchen lane is an unsuitable access, this application would landlocked another development opportunity, the development would affect the strawberry way cycle track and there is a breeding colony of slow worms and I was not convinced they would be protected.
The MDC Planning board refused the application.
On Tuesday the Town council recommended refusal for the unwelcome Redrow planning application off the Old Wells Road, it is clear this is opportunistic and speculative.
MDC inability to support a sufficiently large planning application land bank has allowed speculative planning applications to be considered as if the land contained within the emerging local plan, this was used by the planning inspector who works for the Secretary of State, if you were cynical you might say the government wants more building as they have failed to rebalance the economy and the last chance for growth is housing. The government are offering councils little support.
The town council also supported a youth council and appointed Susan Gibbs as the link councillor.
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