Shoebury Blogger

At Augustine's Church

2012-02-12T19:59:00.000Z

Not many readers or residents in West Shoebury will be aware that some of the ward belongs to the parish of St Augustine's where St Augustine's Church in Thorpe Bay is located.

To mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, I was invited to a special service at St Augustine's Church this morning where a Royal Coat of Arms was unveiled to mark the occasion. It was a fantastic and very well attended service conducted by the Reverend Jonathan Collis. The new Royal Coat of Arms makes a wonderful addition to the Church.

The Victoria Voice has Woken

2012-02-08T21:59:00.001Z

After a 3 month hiatus, it would appear that a recent post of mine has helped the author of Victoria Voice, Cllr Ian Gilbert, to find his blogging voice again.

To some on the left, it would appear that the proposed benefits cap is like a red rag to a bull. The idea that no household should get more than £26,000 in benefits – equivalent to a pre-tax salary of £35,000 – is overwhelmingly popular.

British voters subscribe to a strong idea of fairness, particularly when it comes to the idea that working should be more rewarding than not working but it astounds me when some on the left, like Cllr Gilbert, bleat on about equality and fairness and standing up for the working man but fail yet fail to back the Welfare Reform Bill.

Cllr Gilbert's assumption that capping benefits at £26,000 will force people to move out of central London is fatally flawed because socialist economics fails to recognise that the economy is dynamic.

The truth is that some of the main beneficiaries of overly high benefits are private landlords. They may not get payments from the DWP direct, but they reap the cash anyway through inflated rents, secure in the knowledge that every time they put the price up, benefits levels are raised to pay them. This is a racket, exploiting the foolishness of officials in pumping more and more money out and the absence of taxpayer power to rein in this behaviour.

If rents were fixed then yes, some would be affected by capping benefits but rents aren’t fixed, they are fluid. If you remove a large amount of cash from the system then prices will fall. By arguing for the system to remain as it currently is, rather than accept a cap, this supposed “progressive” is effectively fighting the corner of benefit-farming landlords.

There are knock-on benefits to removing the artificial inflation in rents, too. If renting property out becomes less profitable, the desire and the financial means to buy-to-let will be reduced, helping to address the shortage of affordable housing that is so often highlighted as a problem.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Anniversary

2012-02-06T11:27:00.000Z

With all the news coverage being dominated by the adverse weather it seems that a significant milestone in this country could be overlooked today.

Although the main celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubliee will be in June, today actually marks the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Her great-great grandmother Victoria was the only other British monarch to achieve this milestone - and commemoration, marking as it does the anniversary of the death of her father, George VI.

Hopefully as the weather improves and the months go by, there will be nothing subdued about the events which will be staged for a reign which is the second longest in British history.

School Closures

2012-02-06T10:16:00.000Z

Following the heavy snow yesterday there have been some school closures this morning as a result. Currently, only Richmond Avenue Primary School in West Shoebury is closed but a full list of current school closures can be found here.

What Have I Learnt

2012-02-05T09:39:00.000Z

This May will mark six years since I was first elected as a councillor in West Shoebury. Somebody said to me the other day: “I bet you’ve learn a lot in that time.” And they’re right – I have.

Obviously I’ve learnt a lot about how the council functions, how its departments run, how the organisation is structured. I’ve learnt which road repairs are better for different circumstances, how much things cost, how long things take and both the possibilities and the limitations of the position I hold.

In regards to politics I’ve learnt a lot about how the party political groups work (and how they sometimes don’t work) and what opposition groups will say and do to score points. Even so sometimes, just sometimes, people rise above the cut-and-thrust of politics and surprise you. While others do the precise opposite and sink beneath the waves.

I’ve learnt that you can speak your mind, only that a great deal of care must be taken about how things are worded. Local politics is littered with bear traps; opposition parties, local pressure groups, local campaigners, local press – all looking for opportunities to capitalise in one way or another on the things people say. All with their own agendas and often prepared, deliberately or through casual misunderstanding, to use and abuse comments you make for their own ends. Still, despite this, you must try to speak your mind wherever possible and damn the consequences if need be – for your own conscience if nothing else.

I’ve also learnt that councillors are integral to the spirit of a community. Much-maligned, often controversial, sometimes just ignored, the challenge of the job is to just try and make small differences; here, there, wherever you can. As the years pass the small differences begin to accumulate and it is possible to do some lasting good.

If you intend to do it right then this is not an easy job. Every day is a challenge and you will have to contend with local forces that do not wish you well and indeed some that will be actively working to undermine you. You will face harsh scrutiny, sometimes from those who have positive goals in mind, other times from those who are just looking for you to fall down.

But it is the most rewarding job I have ever done. Rewarding for the small differences you can make. Rewarding when you help local people to little victories. Rewarding when you are embattled and, to your surprise, you find your community and new friends rallying around you.

There is nothing quite like being a local councillor. I would strongly recommend it to anyone. But I would particularly recommend it to anybody who would describe themselves as; energetic, determined and thick-skinned. The last being a particularly important trait if you want to come out the other end in a positive way.

If you think this might be something you’d like to do, then don’t stop there. Get involved. It’s well worth it. I promise.

http://www.beacouncillor.org.uk

Proposed Benefits Cap

2012-02-05T09:13:00.000Z

I am a firm believer that the benefits system in this country should act as a safety net in which people should not fall but not be a lifestyle choice.

The Governments proposed benefits cap of £26,000 per year still exceeds the earnings of most in Southend. A BBC article earlier this week looked at a family who could be affected by the proposed changes. I wonder how many people reading this link think that this particular family really face the choice of 'eating or heating'?

The comment that really astounded me was: 'We get the Sky Movies package because we're stuck in the house all week - otherwise we wouldn't have any entertainment.'

From the work that I have been doing on the doorsteps it is plainly clear that Labour's stance on this is way off what the majority of West Shoebury residents think. As one resident put it Ed Milliband is coming across on this issue as the leader who supports you going to work as long as you pay for your neighbour too.

Economic & Environmental Scrutiny

2012-02-04T13:06:00.001Z

On Thursday evening the council's draft budget proposals were discussed at some length by the Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee.

The Lib Dems proposed introducing limited free swimming for the over 65s, re-launching the Advantage Card and offering council tax rebates to special constables. It was agreed that some health funding will be allocated for free swimming for over 65's for one day a week for 2 years with a review in 18 months, agreed that we will re launch the Advantage Card which can be accommodated within the existing budget and have agreed to request a paper on the financial and practical ramifications of offering council tax rebates to special constables. Who says that the Conservatives do not listen?

The Independent Party contribution from Martin Terry and Ron Woodley was little short of amusing. Cllr Terry confirmed what the majority of us already knew that after nine years on the council he did not understand how to read the accounts. It would seem that Cllr Terry also has difficulty in understanding an agenda after throwing a mini strop when he was prevented from asking a question on an item which wasn't on the agenda.

In a budget in excess of £450 Million where difficult choices have had to be made to save £11 Million. Cllr Woodley concentrated all his efforts on a minor issue of car parking charges in Thorpe Ward which was agreed last year without any comment from him and is not proposed to change this year.

Cllr Woodley also tried to raise the old chestnut that borrowing out of control. When challenged by the leader on whether he would cut investment in the pier or cliffs stabilisation to reduce borrowing the silence was deafening

It was also raised a chuckle when Cllr Woodley claimed that he was a Conservative. I also had a chuckle when he signed the nomination papers of the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate in 2010 and when he claims he is an Independent.

Also called into scrutiny was the Independent report on the City Beach scheme which was approved by cabinet on the 26th January. It was a very good debate and the report passed without amendment. As the Lib Dems also agreed the report in full and accept that the City Beach scheme is safe I hope they do the honourable thing and remove their appalling news item posted on the Southend Lib Dem website in June last year which they claim that the City Beach scheme puts peoples lives in danger. You can not have it both ways!

Southend Driving Test Centre

2012-02-04T11:38:00.000Z

Four years ago, Southend lost its Driving Test Centre under the last Labour Government despite an intense battle by local campaigners spearheaded by James Duddridge MP and the Southend & District Driving Instructors Association.

A few weeks ago, I gave my full support in bringing a mobile test centre to Southend and was delighted to see a letter from the Chief Executive to transport minister Mike Penning confirming that Southend Council would be delighted to host the mobile centre at a council facility.

On Thursday, I was delighted that Mike Penning visited the town at the Tickfield Centre in Tickfield Avenue, the proposed venue for the mobile Test Centre. Transport Mike Penning confirmed that Southend is "99.9% certain" to be included in the Government's pilot of new mobile test centre initiative. Mr Penning also added that it might be a push to get the test centre open by Easter but it should not take much longer than that. I will keep you posted on further developments.

Hypocrisy on Resients Associations

2012-02-04T10:55:00.000Z

Last month I highlighted the hypocrisy by Independent Party leader Cllr Martin Terry over the issue of residents associations following his criticism of Lib Dem councillor Ric Morgan in the letters pages in the Southend Echo for being involved in a residents association.

This hypocrisy of Cllr Terry on this issue knows no bounds as he is now actively involved in setting up a new residents association following the collapse of the Residents Association of Westborough - the political wing of the Independent Party in Westborough.

The Westborough Residents Association has been beset by internal feuding following the removal of 8 committee members. In a copy of a flyer that I was given yesterday, a meeting at the end of the month has been set up by the three Westborough ward councillors at the end of the month to set up a new residents association. It is good to see the do as I say and not as I do attitude of Cllr Terry is alive and well.

City Beach

2012-01-24T15:09:00.000Z

On Thursday, the Independent report into City Beach comissioned in September will be discussed at cabinet and will then go through the scrutiny system.

Firstly I think it is important to immediately dispel the myth that this report was only commissioned as a reaction to criticisms of City Beach, mostly unjust and unwarranted in my opinion, as it was always the intention to conduct a review after the summer period.

The Independent report undertaken by John Dales at Urban Movement is certainly comprehensive and covers every aspect of the scheme in detail. It was interesting that a key point of the report suggests that the term ‘shared space’ should not have been used as people do not like the concept rather than the actual design of the road.

This theory may have some merit as the High Street is ‘shared space’ in all but name and yet nobody has batted an eyelid.

In my view it is immaterial what the scheme is called but what ultimately matters is that this administration had the conviction to invest and regenerate in our seafront and respond with a scheme that is safe, well liked and a major improvement to how Marine Parade operated previously which I am pleased has been acknowledged in this report.

This report has also vindicated the original decision to have no formal crossing point between the Kursaal and Pier Hill and the report confirms that there is no evidence to suggest that no formal crossing in this area makes the scheme unsafe.

In addition to the recommendations on monitoring and communication the report makes six recommendations, which includes the enhancement of the existing informal pedestrian crossing facilities to courtesy crossings, where some adjustments to the design of the scheme need to be made.

It is only right that if an Independent Report is commissioned that you agree to implement all of its findings in full and I reiterate that commitment made at Full Council in December.

Parking on Pavements

2012-01-23T15:30:00.000Z

Earlier this month the Traffic & Parking Working Party passed new measures to prevent parking on pavements in roads where cars continually obstruct pedestrians and have caused damage to the grass verge of footpath.

It was argued by some members that there should be a blanket ban on parking on pavements like there is in London but it was generally excepted that this would be too draconian and should only be applied to road where there is a significant problem. It was recognised by the committee that there are some roads in town that parking on the pavement was a necessity on very narrow road.

It was ultimately agreed that the council will introduce pavement parking restrictions when:

• There is evidence of a problem demonstrated by at least 5 complaints during the last 12 months or clear damage to footways or verges caused by parked cars

• Legitimate on street parking will not result in the obstruction of traffic (i.e. where there is an ideal carriageway width of 7.3m (recommended DfT guidelines) and no less than 7m

• There are no existing waiting restrictions or such plans under consideration

• Existing waiting restrictions exist, but short term loading / unloading occurs with vehicles on the footways (e.g. London Road)

• The scheme has the support of all Ward Councillors

If any resident feels that their road could benefit from these new restrictions then please get in touch and let me know.

Council Budget 2012 - 2013

2012-01-20T16:59:00.001Z

Much has been said on the state of the national economy and as a result all local authorities from Lands End to John O’Groats are faced with making difficult decisions for the next financial year.

The economic situation across Europe has worsened and you only have to switch on the news or look at a paper to realise we’re nowhere near out of the woods yet. We didn’t get ourselves into this financial mess but we’ve got to be responsible for doing our bit to help the country get out of it.

This authority had begun the process of identifying efficiencies for the next financial year well before the current financial disaster struck and we were in a more favourable position than some others.

Around a third of the savings required of us have been achieved by our officers re-negotiating contracts and other corporate work stream initiatives which means that no leisure centres, arts or cultural facilities have had to be closed, weekly refuse collections are retained and we are proposing to ease the financial burden on hard pressed families by freezing Council tax, car parking costs and many other fees and charges.

Despite these tough times we still want to invest in the town and from within the Capital Budget the Conservative Administration is finding capital for the Cliff slip in the area where the proposed museum would go, for the Pier, our world famous landmark and for a much needed extra primary school and money to support our existing primaries under the pressure of higher pupil numbers.

Although we were required to make slightly less savings and efficiencies for the next financial year, no cost reduction measures are welcome or nice but we still have a responsibility to ensure that the authority lives within its means and remains sensible by not borrowing to fund day-to-day expenditure.

Blogging on Blogging

2012-01-20T15:35:00.000Z

In June this year this blog will celebrate its third birthday. With the rise in use of social media, blogging has become an important way in which an elected politician or activist can communicate with residents.

Whilst there can be many pitfuls for politicians using social media I strongly believe that blogging has helped the public engage in genuine political debate.

I was pleased to see an article in the Southend Echo this week to reflect this growing trend. As the article mentioned, there are currently six councillors in Southend which use this medium to communicate with residents but I can claim with some pride to be the first southend councillor to start this trend.

Southend in Bloom

2012-01-19T22:04:00.000Z

In my council mail yesterday I received a very nice letter from the Chairman of Southend in Bloom asking if I could help publicise and promote their annual competition.

The main objective of Southend in Bloom is to encourage residents to take pride in our town by creating and maintaining their front gardens and allotments. Southend in Bloom award prizes for the very best in their annual competition which forms part of the Royal Horticultural Society's Anglia in Bloom scheme.

I'm not sure how many residents are aware that Southend was awarded the silver medal last year.

From hanging baskets outside front doors to the neatest front garden, every little helps in improving our surrounding. I am happy to oblige in supporting this community spirited cause. Further information for Southend in Bloom can be found at http://www.southendinbloom.org.uk/

Councillors Allowances & Expenses

2012-01-18T12:19:00.001Z

I mentioned in a blog post yesterday that I do believe that on the whole councillors in Southend have honest intentions and try to do their best for the town and the residents that they represent. I fully support complete transparency on allowances and expenses for elected politicians. So, this is a list of what it is possible to claim and what I do actually claim, with some notes for clarification and personal opinion.

Basic Allowance: Each elected councillor gets £8,402.00 per annum (before tax and National Insurance). My weekly council work varies based on how many local issues I am dealing with and how many meetings/committees are being held that week.

Special Responsibility Allowance: Since my promotion to the cabinet as the portfolio holder for Public Protection, Waste and Transport I receive an additional £10,503 (before tax and National Insurance) to cover the additional responsibility and workload.

I estimate that on average I am officially working on an average 25-30 hours per week. As I am also employed full time my allowances are taxed at the 40% tax rate.

Travel & Parking: Councillors are unable to claim for travel whilst on official council business within the borough. As part of my duties I have to on occasions attend meetings in London, Essex CC, Thurrock, Cambridge and sometimes at Norfolk CC. I could claim out of borough travel and car parking expenses but I choose not to.

I am also happy to put on record that I also receive a car parking permit (All members are entitled to this) whilst on official council business within the borough – and yes I do lead by example and pay for car parking when using car parks whilst not on council duty. Having a parking permit does not allow me to park in banned areas, such as roads with double yellow lines, or take up two or more spaces in a car park.

Communications: I strongly believe that my communications with constituents are vital and that that councillors should be as accessible as possible. All councillors are entitled to a telephone line for calls that need to be made for council business as well as a council provided laptop and internet connection. As I can access all my council emails through an online system, my home computer is adequate to the job so I do not have a council laptop and pay for my own internet connection. I also choose not to have a council blackberry as a portfolio holder.

What I do not claim:

Carer’s Allowance: Although I have a young daughter and occasionally need child care to cover when I am at meetings – I have never claimed, nor will ever claim any ‘carers allowance’. It is there to help more varied people become councillors which is laudible. But I do not need it and so will not claim it.

Out of Borough Subsistence: It is possible to claim for food during meal times and accommodation when you are on county council business. I do not and will not

Local Government Pension Scheme: The local government pension scheme is a generous one, as with most public sector pensions. No Southend councillor is entitled to join this scheme.

Councillors Meals: Although it wasn’t always the case, any councillors meals before any evening council meeting are not funded by the taxpayer and is not an allowance.

What I Spend Myself: All costs associated with my Street Surgeries are paid for out of my own pocket. As are dry-cleaning of suits I wear to many official meetings and functions that I attend as a councillor, web costs involved with keeping this (and other) sites running – and the time I spend maintaining them.

There are many, many additional costs that are incurred by doing the councillor job properly including leaflets and literature to residents. Again – no complaint from me. I love the job and do not begrudge a penny of it.

I am honored that West Shoebury residents have put their trust in me to be their local voice and view being a councillor as privilege not a right and did not get involved in politics for financial reasons. I simply think it fair that the sort of detractors like Independent Party leader Cllr Terry who portray councillors as being on the take and on a gravy train be faced with the truth to challenge their fiction.

Councillors Parking

2012-01-17T14:33:00.000Z

Earlier this morning, I had the opportunity to lock horns with Independent Party Leader Martin Terry on BBC Essex over the issue of free parking for councillors.

On Friday, an article appeared in the Echo alleging that a new parking system to be introduced will mean that no councillor will receive a parking ticket from traffic wardens. The story also made the national news last Saturday and was featured in the Daily Mail as well as the Mirror and the Telegraph.

Towards the end of last year the Council’s parking contractors APCOA suggested the authority could make savings if it switched to a paper-free parking dispensation system as they suggested paper free systems offer potential savings in relation to all parking permits issued by the council. These include permits used by Council officers for use in the line of their duties, resident parking permits, carer permits and all other discretionary permits.

Very early exploratory discussions have taken place and APCOA was in the process of producing a detailed proposal for the Council to consider. The Council has yet to receive the proposal. Contrary to what has been reported, no decision has been taken to replace the current system where paper permits are issued to councillors.

Before the radio debate started, BBC Essex played some audio clips of residents views on councillors parking. The majority were of the opinion that councillors should pay for parking but claim the costs back on expenses.

Prior to issuing members with parking permits, councillors could only park for free at the Civic Centre and claim back on expenses any other expense for car parking whilst on official council business in the town.

Under the old arrangement there was also an element of trust in councillors to be ethical as there was nothing technically stopping a councillor using a council car park, have a meeting, do their shopping and claiming the total cost back on expenses.

This was a very costly way to administer these expenses as it cost £9 for each individual claim when the issuing of a parking permit to each councillor only incur a one off cost of £5 to administer. In times of austerity, I make no apologies in making these cost savings and making taxpayers money go further.

Sadly, Cllr Terry is a serial offender in accusing councillors of being on the take giving residents the impression that the Independent Party are whiter than white whilst being economical with the truth – especially when Cllr Terry claims over £7,000 of taxpayers money for being their leader whilst claiming he is an Independent.

In all the press coverage on this subject over the past few days, Cllr Terry has given the impression that the Independent Party are against free councillors parking and publicly claimed that all nine of his group have handed back their permits.

The sheer hypocrisy of the Independent Party knows no bounds as I can real, to date, that eight of them, including Cllr Terry, are still in receipt of their all areas parking permit.

I do believe in the main that councillors in Southend have honest intentions although from time to time we may not always agree but this is just another example of the Independent Party conducting their politics from the gutter.

Common Permit Scheme for undertaking Highway Works

2012-01-12T13:01:00.000Z

A decision was taken by cabinet this week to introduce a Common Permit Scheme for all works onto the highway. Southend council has been working with a number of authorities in the East of England recently (Hertfordshire CC, Luton BC and Bedford BC) to develop the scheme which will allow each highway authority to co-ordinate and manage highways works in its own areas.

The permit scheme for all higways works will mean that any company, including utilities companies, will have to book occupation of the highway to undertake works rather than the present system of companies only giving us notice that they are going to undertake works.

I am of the clear belief that the implementation of a permit scheme will help drive up standards in the co-ordination of all highways works and also in the quality of repairs. The permit scheme will allow the council to tell companies when they can work on the highway and the length of time allowed for the works. Those carrying out works will also be subjected to a more rigorous inspection regime. Faliure to comply with any conditions within their permit will then result in a fine and reinstatement works imposed.

This will mean the end of companies digging up the highway without proper notification to the council and residents and lasting for months on end with no end in sight. In the words of the Leader of the Council at cabinet - Hallelujah!

Blue Badge Parking in Southend Car Parks

2012-01-02T13:47:00.000Z

I came in for a bit of criticism from former Lib Dem councillor Jim Clinkscales in today's letters page in the Southend Echo commenting on proposals to charge holders of blue badges to park contains some inaccuracies following an Echo report on Friday.

The idea to charge holders of blue badges for parking who live outside the borough was proposed by Independent Party councillor Mike Assenheim at the Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee in November who asked me to look into introducing the charge. Being a former councillor Jim would be well aware that if a portfolio holder is asked to look into any issue and refused he and fellow opposition councillors would be the first to cry that I was being undemocratic regardless of how crazy an idea may seem on the face of it.

I told members at scrutiny and full council that I would look into the feasibly of this, as I have real concerns that any such proposal could be costly, unworkable, put further parking stress on side roads and put off blue badge holders living outside from visiting the town. I would also need to be persuaded that it would be the right thing to do because as yet I still remain unconvinced.

Hypocracy of the Indpendents in Southend

2012-01-02T13:28:00.000Z

Intresting to read in todays letters page in the Southend Echo that Independent Party leader Cllr Martin Terry has publicly criticised a K Hanmore for having Lib Dem councillor Ric Morgan on his residents group committee.

I presume he will now publicly criticise and condemn his own party colleagues Cllr Ron Woodley and Cllr Mike Stafford for being the Chairman and Treasurer of the Burges Estate Residents Association and ask them to resign with immediate effect?

Review of 2011

2012-01-01T15:43:00.001Z

2011 was certainly like no other year that I can remember, with the world certainly a very different place at the end of the year than when it first began. There have been some excellent programmes over the past few days reviewing the year none more so than Alex Crawford's on Sky News on Friday and her OBE in the New Year Honour's List was richly deserved for her broadcasts on the Arab Spring and for being the first journalist to broadcast the fall of Tripoli.

After much searching, there does not appear to be any reviews looking back at 2011 from a local perspective so, after over 60 posts on this blog in 2011, I will attempt to round up the year based on events in Shoebury, Southend and in my portfolio.

In January, Southend Council was shortlisted for 'council of the year award' although the council were ultimately unsuccessful in their quest for the top honour. The Independent Party deceitful campaigning for the local elections started in the middle of January by claiming Westcliff, Friars and Thorpedene libraries were at risk of closure - all three libraries are still open.

In April, an application by Laura Millard to the High Court to force a judicial review of Southend Council's decision to grant planning permission for an extension to the runway at Southend Airport failed. The 'battle for the Civic Centre' was hotting up as campaigning for the local elections and the AV referendum intensified. Lib Dem councillor Ric Morgan told the local press that the Lib Dems in Southend had no policies and UKIP announced an electoral pact with the Independent Party further compromising their so called 'Independence' of political parties.

The AV referendum was resoundly defeated in May with Southend voting 'No' by 34, 365 to 13,488 and Cllr Derek Jarvis was re-elected in West Shoebury with a healthy majority of 825 and the Conservatives retained control of Southend Council. It was also reported that newly elected St Lukes Independent Party councillor Paul Van Looy would be spending very little time at the council representing his residents costing taxpayers approximately £840 per appearance. I was also asked to serve in the cabinet as the portfolio holder for Public Protection, Waste & Transport.

There was good news in June for Southend Airport as it was announced that that a 10 year deal had been announced with EasyJet with flights to commence from April this year. I helped bring a bit more resident engagement to local politics by moving the start time for the Traffic & Parking Working Party from 14:00 to 18:00.

Students across the town received record breaking A'Level and GCSE results in August. The Council's mobile CCTV car was involved in a collision with a young lad on City Beach promting further debate on the use of shared space and the Progress Road scheme won a Local Government News Award.

Shoebury hit the news in September and October as it was announced that the former Drill Shed in the Garrison would become the home for new Shoebury Heritage Centre. A debate was also started about the future of the Shoebury touring site, closed for a number of years, following Tingdene's proposal to put an additional 32 mobile homes on the site.

After falling subscriptions, the Burges Estate Residents Association (BERA) - the political play thing for the Independent Party in Thorpe Bay announced that they were going to expand into Southchurch and West Shoebury wards.

Condolences and tributes were paid to Joseph Ball who was tragicly killed whilst crossing London Road with his Mum. A petition with 10,000 signatures has been received asking for a crossing on London Road, close to Milton Hall Primary School which will be debated at the next full council.

It was announced in November that the Olympic Torch Relay would be coming to Southend on the 6th July. Shoebury wasn't far from the news as it was announced that fishing would return to Friars Park after an abesence of 20 years, nursery provision would be available at the new HInguar School and local listing status was given to the ticket station at Shoeburyness Train Station, The Cage and the Victorian front facia of Hinguar School.

The use of local shopping areas and the future of the West Road Shopping Area were also in the news and continued into December when the Labour candidate for West Shoebury suggested that boarded up shops in West Road should have artwork displayed on them when no shop fronts are currently boarded up.

The Independent Party in Shoeburyness hit the headlines in December when councillors Mike Assenheim and Anne Chalk decided to attend a party meeting rather than listen to local policing concerns. An advert placed by BERA in the December issue of the Thorpe Bay Oracle had to be referred to the Advertising Standards Agency following a flurry of complaints that I received over the Christmas period.

2011 was certainly a busy and intresting year. Finally, this leaves me to wish a Happy New Year to you all.

Thorpe Bay Oracle

2011-12-31T09:34:00.000Z

In between Christmas and New Year is a time when residents queries reduce but this year has seen a significant rise.

The reason can be attributed to an advert placed by the Burges Estate Residents Association (BERA) on page 13 of the December issue of the Thorpe Bay Oracle. The Thorpe Bay Oracle is distributed in parts of West Shoebury ward especially in areas covered by Burges Estate.

Worried residents in these areas, including the vulnerable and the elderly, have contacted me concerned that they are going to shortly receive a demand for thousands of pounds from representatives of Thorpe Estates Ltd.

The BERA advert claims that residents in West Shoebury can get access to information and advice to avoid paying thousands of pounds for an alteration license with the strap line at the bottom '£5 or £1000,s you have a choice!'.

Not only does the advert imply that residents are about to get costly demands but only paying BERA a £5 subscription fee will can stop this. One fuming resident even compared the advert to one of the money making scams that people receive via email.

What is also concerning is that the only two contact details on the advert are those of Ron Woodley and Mike Stafford...Independent Party councillors for Thorpe Ward.

The ad is poorly worded and does give cause for concern. It is also irresponsible for two councillors to compromise themselves in this way fuelling the argument that councillors should not chair resident associations. At the very least Ron should apologise for the distress that he has caused West Shoebury residents over Christmas.

Due to the number of queries that I have received on the interpretation of this advert I have asked the Advertising Standards Authority to investigate.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T22:20:00.000Z

To all the residents of West Shoebury and regular readers of my blog, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Coming to a Door Mat in West Shoebury this Christmas

2011-12-23T15:53:00.001Z

It's not often that I get the chance to blog about the local Labour Party in West Shoebury as for a number of years Labour had appeared to abandon West Shoebury. The lack of a mainstream alternative opposition here in West Shoebury has allowed, in my opinion, the BNP and the policy lite and principle free Independent Party to achieve second place in the majority of local elections in West Shoebury since I was first elected in 2006.

Creditable opposition is healthy and I welcome the selection of Gray Sergeant as the Labour candidate in West Shoebury as he appears to be more than the token 'paper candidate' put up by Labour in recent years, although even by Gray's own admission in his blog there were no other willing takers and a former Labour parliamentary candidate admitted on his blog that Labour can not win in West Shoebury.

As I have mentioned previously in this blog I am also encouraged that another young person is actively engaging in local politics. I also appreciate when I was a whippersnapper starting in politics that combining active politics whilst studying at university restricted campaigning to when term ends or in the summer recess. This can not be easy for Gray so credit where credit is due and I also have a gut feeling that for Gray the 'political bug' is here to stay.

When I was a full time student at university I quickly realised that standing in elections was not an option as the demands of being a committed, hard working councillor wouldn't be conducive to my studies. I didn't feel that if I were to be elected at that time of my life that the residents I was seeking to represent deserved a part time councillor. Local government has partially addressed this but needs to go further if we want representation on councils in the UK of all ages and walks of life.

It has been said that challenging young people involved in politics was a political no, no but I subscribe to the view that age is no barrier and if you are willing to put your head above the parapet and stand for elected office then you open to challenge and scrutiny. I found it personally patronising and insulting when others wouldn't challenge me on my politics or beliefs because of my age.

Yesterday I was give a copy of the latest Labour Rose newsletter in West Shoebury and it would appear that it is coming the way of West Shoebury residents door mats shortly. It seems that the main focus of Gray's campaign will be on the West Road shopping area. Recently, I blogged at some length on West Road on the things that have been done and on it's future and it could be that the Labour candidate is leading on this after disclosing that he finds out what is happening in West Shoebury by reading this blog.

Gray claims in his leaflet that he has taken small steps to make West Road a better place by reporting piles of rubbish and rusty bollards and street lights. As the portfolio holder for these areas/issues I have checked with the council department yet they have no records of any councillor or resident reporting any of these issues in West Road.

Gray also claims that he will shame local councillors into taking action on three immediate steps which could be taken to improve West Road.

Firstly, Gray claims that instead of boarding up empty shops with wooden boards, artwork should be used from either local artists or schools to 'brighten up' the area. There is one slight problem with this. Currently, no empty shop in West Road is boarded up!

Secondly, a notice board should be installed for commercial and community groups to advertise local events. I do not know if Gray's picture has been super imposed onto a photo of West Road but on closer inspection, he would have noticed the notice board on the side of the building on the junction with Sea View Road. As with most of these notice boards they are used by nightclubs in the town to fly post although this one in West Road is currently free of such activity.

Finally, Gray suggests that the local environment in West Road would be improved by hanging flower baskets from the street lights or planting a tree or adding a flower bed. I will let the residents of West Shoebury decide if this will measure will send shoppers or potential traders flocking to West Road.

Campaigning All Year Round

2011-12-22T13:54:00.000Z

December is always a busy month in the Cox household. It is Mrs Cox birthday at the beginning of the month and with family members scattered far and wide we try to make an extra effort to visit relatives as we are strong believers in Christmas being a time for families. This year we also have a very excitable two and a half year old who is also understanding Christmas much more.

December is also a time when here in West Shoebury we put the finishing touches to our campaign plan for the next five months in the build up to the local elections. Delivery of our winter leaflet was also completed last Sunday and although the temptation is there to utilise the Christmas and New Year period for campaigning but I do except that Christmas and Easter are times of the year when campaigning is a no, no.

We also found time this month to have a short break at Disneyland Paris to celebrate Mrs Cox birthday and Miss Cox love of anything Disney. If I was in a nice relaxed state after our short break, this was quickly knocked out of me due to a major incident at work which left me having little or no sleep at times last week.

After our quick whistle stop tour of Disneyland Paris we also saw the Aladdin pantomime at the Cliffs Pavilion starring Shane Ritchie. For those of you who are contemplating seeing this over Christmas book your tickets now as it fantastic and hilariously funny.

Shoebury NAP

2011-12-01T15:09:00.000Z

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of attending the Shoebury Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP) at Shoebury High School. The NAP is a forum of residents across Shoebury which help set local policing priorities for the local police.

Usually these meetings have representation from local councillors across the political spectrum, however at this meeting the two Independent Party councillors for Shoeburyness ward Mike Assenheim and Anne Chalk both gave their apologies.

Curious to their absense, as these two normally attend the opening of a letter, it transpires that they both thought it would be better to attend their party political meeting at the Civic Centre rather than hear the concerns of Shoebury residents.

Shoebury residents should also be aware that originally a meeting of the local Shoebury Conservatives branch was also scheduled for yesterday evening but was cancelled upon notification of the Shoebury NAP so local Conservative councillors could attend.

So, do the Shoeburyness Independent Party put local residents before politics? You decide.

Shoebury Residents Association

2011-11-24T13:44:00.000Z

As a councillor, two of my favourite meetings of the year are the open meetings of the Shoebury Residents Association where all members and non members of the Residents Association across the two wards of Shoeburyness (West Shoebury & Shoeburyness) are invited to attend.

As a councillor I like these meetings as they give me another opportunity to listen to what residents concerns are. These meeting are not scripted and I am not briefed beforehand on what issues will be raised.

Over the years, the Shoebury Residents Association have been very active and vociferous in major planning applications affecting Shoebury, re-launching the Shoebury Fair and campaigning on issues which are of concern to Shoebury residents.

The open meeting last night was no exception with a committment from the Residents Association to be very active in helping promote and support small businesses especially in West Road and the elderly population in Shoebury.

One thing from the meeting which particularly struck a chord with me was the Chairman's opening remarks especially in regards to the Burgess Estate Residents Association (BERA) recruiting leaflet which some residents when the misfortune to find on their door mats.

I have blogged at length the issues with BERA which for time and space considerations I will not repeat, but the Shoebury Residents Association Chairman gave me gentle reminder and others present how independent the Residents Association are from their elected politicians.

Back in 2006, when I was first elected as a councillor, I was forced to resign my membership of the Residents Association and in fairness to him even Shoeburyness ward Independent Party councillor Mike Assenheim resigned as Chairman and from the Association when he a candidate in the Shoeburyness by-election in 2007, albiet he did set up the Coalition of Borough Residents Association (COBRA) and remained in control until his election.

To see a Residents Association not run for political ambition and have the honest intentions of the residents it represents makes a refreshing change.

Local Shopping Centres

2011-11-18T16:17:00.001Z

On Wednesday, there was an interesting feature on the future for the West Road Shopping Area in the Southend Echo.

In the tough economic climate, the retail sector in general has been suffering as hard pressed families watch their spending to ensure that they make ends meets. There is also the fact that the increase in Internet shopping and supermarkets have had an impact generally on the High Street and in particular on independent shops.

As a resident myself in West Road, one of the qualities of living there is that I have a local shopping arcade within walking distance of my front door. I am also blessed that I have the Ness Road Shopping Area also within a stones throw and where practically possible I use these local shops.

What the article didn't really address or explore are some of the local issues in addition to the general issues of why local shopkeepers in West Road are finding times difficult. There is no doubt in my mind that West Road and Ness Road's struggles started when the Post Office closed some time ago and are further compounded by the fact that the nearest cash point is in the Asda complex.

Yes, I do agree the council has a role to play in invigorating West Road Shopping Area and encouraging people to shop. Along with my fellow ward councillors we have worked hard to get any graffiti removed when it appears, had more litter bin installed, ensure that West Road Shopping Area is cleaned every morning and to keep free parking.

I have also committed to local residents and shopkeers that I would personally object to any new application for a takeaway as I believe there are more than enough and anymore could make also make them commercially unviable - in past couple of years three takeaways have already folded in Ness Road. I know this approach could lead to some empty shops in the short term but I take the view that this approach encourages a better mix of shops and services in the long term.

But the shopkeepers have a role to play to. One of the biggest criticisms that I have from local residents is that they can never park in West Road - even at times when shopkeepers say custom is quiet. I suspect that this may be down to the fact that parking spaces are utilised by staff who work in the shops.

Around four years ago concerns were expressed to me by the shopkeepers that their premesis were suffering from vandalism and general anti-social behaviour. To try and combat this I arranged with the borough's Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator to set up a group with local shopkeepers here. I set up a meeting at a local community centre, spoke to all the shopkeepers about the idea and wrote to them all in advance yet not one shopkeer attended.

Yet on the other hand, the shopkeepers in Ness Road speak to each other and over the past two years have even chipped in together to get Christmas lights and decorations for the festive season.

I do not think all is doom and gloom in West Road as there has been a steady trickle of new businesses opening in the past couple of years with the Mayor opening a new venture just a couple of weeks ago.

It is undoubtable that the shopkeers in West Road and Ness Road have passion, determination and Shoebury at heart but ultimately I say to residents 'use em or lose em'.

Readers letter

2011-11-10T11:43:00.001Z

On Monday a clearly rattled Cllr Woodley took to the Echo letters page to defend his precarious position and attack hard working West Shoebury councillors following my expose on his stewardship of Burges Estate Residents Association (BERA).

The Echo did allow me a right of reply in today's paper albeit a heavily edited version. So for my regular readers here is the letter that I sent to the Echo in full:

Sir

I find it incredible that Ron Woodley continues to use the Burges Estate Residents Association (BERA) as a decoy to mask his true motives (Echo Letters 07/11/11). The real reason for the expansion of BERA into other areas from their Thorpe Bay base can be found in BERA's last statement of accounts which shows a fall in their membership subscriptions by over a third.

With a falling membership, Mr Woodley tries to deceive residents of West Shoebury and Southchurch into joining their ailing organisation by implying in their latest newsletter that only joining BERA will stop over development in these wards. It is also disingenuous of the BERA Chairman Mr Woodley to suggest that BERA stop councillors becoming complacent in the areas it represent, currently Thorpe ward at present, when Mr Woodley and BERA treasurer Mike Stafford are local Thorpe ward councillors! You really couldn't make it up.

I find it incredulous that Mr Woodley dares suggests that West Shoebury councillors do not care about residents who live in areas covered by Burges Estate in West Shoebury, especially as one of my fellow ward councillors lives in an area of West Shoebury that is covered by the Burges Estate.

To reassure Mr Woodley, Instead of trying to hide behind BERA for political purposes or use the Echo letters page to run nasty smear campaigns against political opponents I will be getting on with what residents of West Shoebury elected me to do - tackle the issues that matter to them most.

Yours Faithfully

Cllr Tony Cox
West Shoebury Ward
West Road
Shoeburyness

Olympic Torch Relay

2011-11-07T12:28:00.000Z

Excellent news breaking this morning that Southend will be hosting the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on the 6th July. I will post more details as they emerge.

BERA - The Truth Unravels

2011-11-05T16:02:00.001Z

Last week I posted regarding the expansion of the Burges Residents Association (BERA) in West Shoebury and this week the story made the Southend Echo prompting further intrigue.

It is the long held belief by many that Cllr Woodley has used BERA as his own personal political tool. This view may be more widespread than first thought as an eagle eyed contributor to the Echo message boards posted a link to the current BERA accounts which shows membership subscriptions to BERA have decreased by over a third!

Could it be that Cllr Woodley wants to use the funds of West Shoebury residents to prop up his fledgling association? Possibly, as I have never seen him utter a word in the council chamber about West Shoebury.

It was also brought to my attention in this Echo article of a similar charade in St Lukes ward. Having heard very little of Cllr Van Looy's dulcet tones since his election in May his first action was to set up a residents association.

As reported in the Southend Standard, Cllr Van Looy demonstrates his version of democracy by installing Brian Ayling, who featured recently on ITV's Homes From Hell, as chairman before its first meeting!

For those of you who haven't yet guessed it, Brian Ayling is the Independent Party candidate for St Lukes in next years local elections.

Shoebury in the news

2011-11-02T17:00:00.001Z

Yesterday at cabinet Shoeburyness featured heavily with some exciting developments for Shoebury residents. Firstly, it was agreed that fishing would return to Friars Park after an absence of 20 years. I welcome this move and agree with the police submission that an organised presence will deter anti-social behaviour in the park.

Hinguar School was also on the agenda as it was agreed following a formal consultation that nursery provision will also be made at the new Hinguar School site in the Garrison Development.

Shoebury's history was also discussed where it was agreed that The Cage, Shoeburyness Station Ticket Office and and the Hinguar Street victorian front fascia of the current Hinguar School would be locally listed.

The Hinguar School building has been the subject of much discussion and debate but I believe the proposal agreed by cabinet was the best outcome.

A couple of years ago I was successful in getting the front fascia of the old cinema on Ness Road locally listed and as most of the original features were removed from the original building only the frontage of the building had any architectural value.

The same applies with the current Hinguar School building and am hopeful that a good development could still happen with the victorian front fascia incorporated.

I do reject the assetion made by the Independent Party that the current building should be for community use as we currently have two community centre's in Shoebury and the Drill Shed in the Garrison will hold a heritage centre for Shoebury.

Making the best out of a bad situation

2011-11-02T15:03:00.002Z

It is not often I get the chance to blog about what happens in the west of the town but yesterday I was given a copy of the latest Lib Dem Focus newsletter in St Laurence ward.

The newsletter editor is Carole Roast, a former Lib Dem councillor in St Laurence, who lost her seat in this years local elections to the Conservative candidate Adam Jones.

Many local commentators have suggested that her defeat can be blamed on Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems poor poll ratings since forming the coalition Government, although many residents in St Laurence have indicated that the reason why Carole lost her seat was because she was ineffectual.

Some residents may be aware that the David Lloyd Centre in Southend is part of the St Laurence ward. Recently, the David Lloyd Centre submitted a planning application to install new air conditioning equipment on the northern part of the complex.

The Focus newsletter spoke of how gamely Carole fought for local residents in trying to get this application refused due to concerns about noise and blames Southend's Development & Control Committee for allowing the application.

So good so far, except she forgot to tell St Laurence residents that her St Laurence Lib Dem colleague Cllr Ted Lewin actually sits on the Development & Control Committee. Doh!

Not in our name...

2011-10-30T21:03:00.002Z

In West Shoebury, some of the ward is covered by Burges Estate a company which has it origins from a man called John Burges and he is known to be John Burges of Parkanaur, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland which is why there are some Irish sounding roads in West Shoebury ward.

Following the death of Alfred Burges in 1984, the interest of the estate to the Burges family ended and any covenants on the Burges Estate were purchased by the Lintott Family and renamed Thorpe Estates Ltd.

The majority of the Burges Estate falls within Thorpe ward and a Residents Association the Burges Estate Residents Association (BERA) was formed to be a voice for the residents in Thorpe ward covered by the Burges Estate.

I was interested to read in the last BERA newsletter that BERA were going to start spreading their wing to cover West Shoebury and Southchurch wards.

Their newsletter makes interesting reading as it claims that BERA helps to prevent the councillors becoming complacent in the areas that they represent - Thorpe ward at present.

This is interesting as West Shoebury residents may wish to know before they part with their fiver for membership that the Chairman of BERA Ron Woodley and its Treasurer Mike Stafford are Independent Party councillors for Thorpe Ward. You couldn't make it up!

Many Thorpe ward residents have held the belief for some time that BERA are the fundraising and campaigning arm of the Independent Party. One Thorpe ward resident quipped to me over the weekend that BERA are the Independent Party's guerrilla wing.

If there are still any lingering doubts that BERA are the recruiting wing of the Independent Party then these are quashed as the newsletter reveals that West Shoebury spokesman for BERA is James Moyies the UKIP West Shoebury candidate for the past two local elections.

Back in April this year, I exposed the close relationship between the Indepedent Party and UKIP on this blog but I wonder how much groveling James had to do to Ron to gain this position especially when in 2010 James Moyies claimed that he had no credability.

East Beach Touring Site

2011-10-30T19:07:00.001Z

Yesterday afternoon I spent the afternoon in neighbouring Shoeburyness ward talking to residents in Blackgate Road, Gunners Road and East Beach Park regarding Tingdene's proposal to put 32 extra mobile homes on the last remaining touring site in the borough next to East Beach Park.

there were very mixed views from the residents regarding the proposal but there seemed to be strong representations made to me from residents that there is a demand for a touring site.

The current site has been closed by Tingdene's for a number of years now but residents said that they still get tourers asking them where the touring site is.

What was clear was that the residents apprecriated the local Conservatives spending time at the doorstep talking about the issue and encouraging them to make representations to the council either for or against the proposal.

As one resident in Gunners Road summed it up:

"It was nice to see local councillors take the time to come and speak to us regarding the situation and not inform us in a few lines on a tatty leaflet that Independent Party councillor Anne Chalk sent us during the week".

Condolences to Joseph Ball

2011-10-21T15:44:00.000+01:00

Yesterday evening gave me the formal formal opportunity on behalf of the members to offer my condolences to the family and friends of Joseph Ball who was tragically killed last week whilst crossing London Road on his way home from Milton Hall School.

When I first heard the news I was numb with shock as I have a young daughter of two and couldn't possibly imagine having her taken away in such tragic circumstances.

I received a briefing on the incident from officers upon hearing the news and the Civic Centre was a very sombre place. The interview that I did with BBC Essex last week at the site where tributes are being laid was the most difficult that I have ever done.

It has been widely reported that a petition is imminent for a crossing at the site of where this tragic incident occurred but I would like to reassure residents that as soon as the full details of the incident are released by Essex Police a full safety review will be conducted on this stretch of of the London Road.

Southend's Shrinking Carbon Footprint

2011-10-21T15:01:00.000+01:00

In November I will have the pleasure of attending the House of Commons to receive on behalf of the Council the Green Apple Award from the Green Organisation - an independent environmental group which recognises and promotes environmental best practice for the Council's 'Looking for Carbon' initiative.

Details of the Southend project will also be published in an international reference book, to help others follow the Council's example.

'Looking for Carbon' was launched to help the Council reduce its overall carbon emissions, become more energy efficient and help tackle climate change. It has so far led to a huge range of changes, savings and achievements, including:

· Running the first national conference on the UK's transition to the low-carbon economy, called 'Funding a Green Future' held this year in Southend. Due to its success the event is due to be repeated in March 2012

· Identifying £20,000 annual savings in the Civic Centre. A new lighting system, expected to save another £1,000 per year, has also just been installed.

· An energy audit conducted by the Green Staff Forum - formed through the 'Looking for Carbon' project - helped reduce the Council's overnight energy use by 67 per cent.

· The Council's IT department recently introduced 'thin client', a new computer terminal which can reduce energy consumption by up to 90 per cent.

· The Council has started to ensure that renewable energy technologies are used in new builds and refurbishment work. Examples include:

(i) Futures Community College - ground source heat pumps and energy efficient lighting
(ii) Southend Pier - solar voltaic panels
(iii) Shoebury Connection - solar thermal and air source heat pump
(iv) Chalkwell Hall - Metal - wind turbines, solar voltaic and a woodchip boiler
(v) North Road Chapel - a European funding project that provided Southend with its most energy efficient building.

· The Council recently gave 48 schools free water-saving technologies, saving each one an estimated 1,000 cubic metres of water per year.

· The Council has just bought an electric street sweeper, which has zero emissions and saves the equivalent carbon output of 40 cars. It operates on lithium batteries which can work for up to eight hours at a time.

This award is very well-deserved indeed. The 'Looking for Carbon' initiative is prompting a whole range of activities within and beyond the Council which not only help reduce carbon emissions, but are also saving considerable sums of money too.

Staff at all levels throughout the Council have contributed to this achievement, through the Green Staff Forum and through the Carbon Reduction Group and the Climate Change Group These feed directly to senior management and Councillors - which helps keep climate change, sustainability and carbon reduction issues high on the Council agenda.

Organ Donation: Opt In or Opt Out...the debate begins

2011-09-25T13:25:00.000+01:00

I have to confess that I have strange hobby of keeping an eye on what is going on over at the Welsh Assembly.

Since its conception in the Government of Wales Act 1998 following a referendum in 1997, the Welsh Assembly has reminded me of Lib Dem conferences in years gone by for having a tendency for discussing trivia and debating issues that the general public could not care less about, like when Assembly time was given to discussing the merits of whether Charlotte Church should win rear of the year.

This week however, I noticed that the Welsh Assembly are planning to issue a white paper in the Autumn on presumed consent on Organ Donation.

At present the UK adopts an opt in policy on Organ Donation but if this white paper becomes law in Wales then it would reverse to become and opt out policy and for those to chose not to opt out then the law would assume that you have given presumed consent to donate your organs.

A change in the law is one that I would fully support especially as there is a shortage in organ donation especially within ethnic minority communities.

I know a change in the law would raise huge civil liberties debates and there would also be the religious arguements as well.

I am a passionate believer in civil liberties and as long as there was an opt out facility then I do believe these arguments have been answered. If this white paper should become law then I also believe that there needs to be a widespread advertising campaign so that every family would be having this debate to ensure an informed decision can be made.

Those against such plans always point to the fact that the state has no business owning your body. This arument falls down for me as in any death the coronor always owns the body until they pass the body back to the family a coronors are employd by the state.

Whatever the final outcome, I just hope that parties give Assembly members a free vote on the issue. Should this become law in Wales I think this could follow suit in the rest of the UK.

The trust cost of PFI unravels

2011-09-25T12:35:00.000+01:00

Staying with the NHS, the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley this week told The Telegraph that some NHS trusts are 'on the brink of collapse' because of of costly private finance initiative schemes.

I have always been a sceptic and an open critic of pfi schemes as under the PFI deals, a private contractor builds a hospital or school. It owns the building for up to 35 years, and during this period the public sector must pay interest and repay the cost of construction, as well as paying the contractor to maintain the building.

Hopefully this should be the final nail in the coffin for the pfi Shoebury Health Centre on the Garrison.

Labour: The party of the NHS

2011-09-25T12:17:00.000+01:00

This week, after costing an estimated £12.7 Billion so far, the Government have pulled the plug on the disastrous vanity IT project.

The NHS IT project was a prime example of New Labour's prolifigacy in their 13 years of power. It is startling to believe that this figure would have paid the salaries for 60,000 nurses for a decade.

Nick Clegg was bang on the money for me when he told the Lib Dem conference this week never ever trust Labour with the economy again. Hopefully this will dispell the myth once and for all that Labour are the party of the NHS.

2012 Council Budget - Have Your Say

2011-09-19T00:37:00.000+01:00

This year to support budget decisions the Council has put forward an online budget simulator as its public consultation.

The simulator, which has gone live today until 30 October, will allow users to see the impact of what savings of 10% could mean for services.
It does this by showing the possible consequences when the user increases or decreases the budget for service areas.

The budget consultation activity is designed to help determine residents’ priorities and provide information to support the budget setting process. The simulator can be found at www.southend.gov.uk/haveyoursay.

Parliamentary Constituency Review

2011-09-19T00:22:00.000+01:00

In an effort to reduce the number of MP's from 650 to 600 it was inevitable that changes would have to be made to the to the current constituencies which cover the Southend borough in the Boundary Commission review.

In the review, it is proposed that the wards of Leigh and West Leigh will join Castle Point with Milton, Victoria & St Lukes moving from Rochford & Southend East to join with the remainder of Southend West. Rochford & Southend East will then be swelled by Hockley & Hawkwell. This would mean that Southend would be represented by 3 MP's rather than the current 2.

Should the proposals be approved surely it would be better to rename Southend West Southend Central and rename Castle Point, Castle Point & Southend West?

The proposals are currently out to consultation and a final report will be made by 1st October 2013.

Shoebury Heritage Centre

2011-09-18T23:58:00.000+01:00

This week saw the first cabinet meeting after the long summer recess. One item which I was delighted to see on the agenda was the proposal which will finally see a Heritage Centre created at the Drill Shed on the Shoebury Garrison site.

A Heritage Centre was always planned for the Grade II listed building as part of the agreement to award planning permission but a consortium of groups led by the Shoebury Society are set to form a management team to enable memorabilia and artifacts from the Garrison to be displayed to the public.

Despite these plans, back in February, Independent Party councillors for Shoeburyness Ward Anne Chalk and Mike Assenheim were openly campaigning for a Heritage Centre at the HInguar School site when the pupils move to the new school currently being buit on the Garrison development.

I always though that this campaign was odd, disingenuous at best, as Cllr Assenheim was on the Hinguar Schhol Project Board and never objected to the decision that the new school would be built and part funded by the sale of the current Hinguar School site.

Conspicuous by their absence over the summer, Anne and Mike made their 2011 political return with a traditional distortion of the truth, by trying to claim the credit for the Heritage Centre at the Drill Shed in the Southend Echo. You couldn't make it up.

Based on previous experience, it would appear that Mike's re-election campaign has started a little earlier than usual!

The truth behind the English Democracts Southend Branch

2011-09-05T22:25:00.000+01:00

Over the weekend, I managed to obtain a copy of the latest English Democrat leaflet delivered to certain parts of West Shoebury.

The English Democrats are a small party with only 5 councillors although they do have have an elected Mayor - Peter Davies - in Doncaster who shot to national prominence when elected in 2009 on a pledge of reducing reducing waste and political correctness but failed to mention to the residents of Donny that he admired the Taliban for their record on 'family values' in his election material.

Whilst reading further down the leaflet I was surprised that it was promoting a link to the website http://www.southendpatriot.blogspot.com/

For all the politicos out there 'Patriot' is the name given to BNP literature. During the run up to this years elections, I blogged that this particular blog was suggesting that there was no difference to the BNP, UKIP or the English Democrats.

Over at the Southend Patriot it reported in a post back in March that the BNP Southend branch organiser, Stuart Freeman, had been ousted from his role following failed coup by party members to oust Nick Griffin as the leader of the party claiming that he had taken a well earned rest from local politics. Stuart is known to local Conservatives as he also lives in West Shoebury ward.

If you thought leadership contests were bitter in the Conservatives, Labour or the Lib Dems they are mere playground spats compared to the BNP contest which has lead to court cases galore and members leaving in their droves.

In a post during August, the Southend Patriot announces that a Southend branch had been established, I was surprised to see Stuart Freeman at the top table with Robin Tilbrook (English Democrats Leader).

The English Democrats links with the BNP do not end their as it has also been announced that Eddy Butler, a challenger to Nick Griffin has also joined the English Democrats.

So far the English Democrats have avoided scrutiny in its links with the BNP. As disenfranchised former BNP members find their new home in the English Democrats scrutiny will be far more intense.

GCSE & A Level

2011-08-26T12:09:00.000+01:00

Over the past two weeks, students all over the town received their A level and GCSE results. I offer my congratulations to all the students who received their results through their hard work and dedication to their studies.

Road Works Update

2011-08-26T12:03:00.003+01:00

Over the past week, road resurfacing works have been taking place in Church Road, West Road and St Andrews Road causing some difficulties for residents and businesses accessing the West Road Shopping Area.

The road resurfacing works have now been completed in Church Road and in St Andrews Road by the entrance to the one way section of the West Road Shopping Area and the West Road Shopping Area is now fully accessable to vehicles.

West Road remains closed today between Church Road and St Andrews Road whilst the old road surface is being removed and the resurfacing of this section of West Road will begin after the Bank Holiday weekend on Tuesday 30th August.

As a reminder all Shoeburyness residents, the refuse collection for next week will be on Saturday 3rd September because of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Hands up who thinks the rioters need lenient sentences

2011-08-19T16:04:00.003+01:00

Nearly two weeks on following the beginning of four nights of rioting, almost everybody has had a view regarding what should be done to ensure that there is no repeat of the violence which shocked and appalled the entire nation.

Of all the comment and analysis from the political and chattering classes, Simon Marcus, who runs a boxing academy in Tottenham and was a Conservative candidate at the last General Election has for me, given the most moving and quite brilliant analysis on the issue so far.

Attention now by some in the media are focusing on the severity of the sentences handed down to those who took part in the riots. The Guardian today has some very interesting analysis on the sentences handed down to date.

With 8 out of 10 people supporting the tough stance on the sentences handed to rioters it seems some still haven't captured the public mood. It seems odd that those on the left who were decrying Ken Clarke for being too lenient on sentencing are now saying that punishments handed to the rioters are too severe.

Maybe those who are advocating these lighter sentences should face the family in Tottenham, who nearly two weeks on, only have the clothes on their backs and the thousands petrified in local communities across England.

Or the local businessman in Clapham, who is struggling to keep his business alive while their is a shortage of glazers to repair the broken windows to his shop.

Even the 750 workers at the Sony Distribution Centre in Enfield who lost their jobs as the building was set alight by looters or possibly the Reeves family who saw their 140 year old family business go up in smoke in Croydon.

How about 180+ police officers who were injured during the disturbances and fireman who came under attack from thugs as they tried to put out their fires.

Better still, the family and friends of the five who sadly perished as they mourn and bury their loved ones.

The list is endless. Still think the rioters deserve lenient sentences?

Shared Space Schemes in Highway law

2011-08-19T14:25:00.001+01:00

Much has been written about the New City Beach scheme. I believe the seafront between the Kursaal and Pier Hill has been revitalised and is popular with visitors – especially the water fountains and wasn't in the least bit surprised to hear that City Beach has been shortlisted for an award.

Following an article that appeared earlier this week in the Echo, there seems to be some confusion as to what is 'Shared Space' in Highway law.

Shared Space is not a definition that has a background in Highway Law but is rather a relatively new concept in the UK which has been supported predominantly by research in Europe. The Department for Transport commissioned a report in November 2009 to develop guidance for UK shared space schemes.

The City Beach scheme has been designed in a way that adopts “Shared Space” principles and the DfT guidance.

LGN Award for Progress Road

2011-08-19T13:47:00.000+01:00

I was delighted to hear earlier this month that the new Progress Road junction clinched a major award from the Local Government News. The successful scheme won the “Highway” category of the LGN‟s Street Design 2011 Awards. Progress Road junction is part of the Better Southend initiative, launched to help to make the borough a better place for residents, visitors and businesses to live, rest and work.

The LGN judges recognised how significantly the new Progress Road scheme was reducing traffic queues and delays at the junction, adding: ‘The work has provided local and national benefits and was completed on a tight budget.’

‘The infrastructure improvements achieved during the scheme will also enable further regeneration work to be carried out in the area.’

The new Progress Road junction provides additional lanes on both carriageways of the A127, allowing traffic to flow through the area more easily.

The £5m scheme, was delivered on time and on budget, and was funded by grants from the Homes & Communities Agency and from the Council‟ Capital Budget.

City Beach Accident

2011-08-05T13:29:00.002+01:00

Apologies to all of you that follow this blog that blogging has been a bit light recently but some recent home DIY has taken up much of my free time over the past month.
Whilst blogging has taken a bit of a back seat, I have added a new feature to this site which gives an indication of some of the work that I and the West Shoebury Action Team have done in West Shoebury since I was first elected as a councillor in 2006.

When I first set up this blog, I pledged that I would not shy away from talking about and giving my own personal opinions on the biggest issues both locally and nationally.

Since the last round of local elections in May, I was privileged to be asked to be the portfolio holder for Transport in addition to the responsibilities that I already had for Public Protection and Waste. One thing that I have quickly learnt is that roads and parking is probably the single issue that raises emotions and feelings in people. Yesterday was no exception especially after the incident at City Beach where a 6 year old boy was involved in an accident with one of the new council CCTV cars.

There have been numerous comments made on the ECHO website forums about this incident and also dominates 3 pages in today’s edition and also the main subject of the papers leader column.

Following an investigation yesterday’s accident is exactly what it was – an accident, which could have happened to any car in any road in this town. It is impossible to mitigate against the risk of a young, unaccompanied child suddenly running across a road into the path of traffic without looking. This was a very unfortunate accident and my thoughts go out to this young boy and I wish him a speedy recovery.

I also believe the 20mph speed limit in force on Marine Parade almost certainly prevented the boy’s injuries from being even more serious and potentially saved his life.

I would also like to wish the driver of the CCTV car a speedy recovery as he was naturally shaken by the incident as anyone would be.

Southend Airport Takes Off

2011-06-17T15:04:00.000+01:00

I was absolutely delighted with the news that EasyJet have signed a 10 year agreement to commence flights from Southend Airport.

EasyJet will begin flights from April next year to 10 European destinations creating approximately 150 new jobs.

Southend Airport is the single most important catalyst for economic creation and regeneration of this town. It was interesting to hear that Southend Airport was the the 3rd largest airport in the UK in the 1950's.

Democracy in Action

2011-06-17T14:57:00.000+01:00

Since gaining Transport as part of my portfolio, I have quickly learnt that resident parking schemes are an emotive subject for many.

As the portfolio holder for Transport, one of my duties is to chair the Traffic & Parking Working Party. To help resident engagement in the political process, I decided to move the meeting from a traditional 14:00 start to 18:00.

Last week was my first Traffic & Parking Working Party meeting and residents responded by turning up in their droves - probably the largest turnout from residents that I have seen at a Council meeting in my five years as a councillor.

I think that the residents who attended were pleasently surprised that they could engage in the debate if parking proposals affected them in their roads and that decisions were taken taking into account all the residents feelings when they responded to the consultation.

Curiously though, Independent Party councillor for Thorpe Ward had difficulity understanding what a consultation was. This wasn't missed by the residents who attended.

Street Surgery Welcomed by Residents

2011-06-17T14:46:00.000+01:00

Despite the inclement weather, residents turnded out in their droves for our first Street Surgery on the Bishopsteignton Estate. If you di not get the chance to meet us, we will be holding another Street Surgery on Saturday 2nd July from 10:00 - 12:00 outside the Co-Op in West Road.

The Work Shy...

2011-06-05T10:34:00.000+01:00

Whilst driving into work on Friday the news bulletins were reporting official Office of National Statistics figures revealing that under the past Labour Government long term unemployment doubled to 352,000.

What was even more surprising was that seven out ten people in this group claimed that they had no intention in the near future to find work.

On the back of these statistics I wonder how many people will support Julian Ware Lane's view that we should support the lazy

The Missing St Lukes Councillor...The Defence Begins

2011-06-05T10:26:00.000+01:00

I wondered how long it would be before the missing St Lukes councillor Paul Van Looy went crying to the Echo claiming that it is all the nasty Tories fault why I am lazy arse and only sit on two working parties and an outside body which you could count on one hand the number of times they meet collectively.

In his defence Cllr Van Looy makes the revelation that the Independent Party will be issuing concise details soon of its policies. This raises some important questions.

1. If you are a so called 'Independent' why are they making policies collectively?
2. Surely you put forward policy ideas before an election and not after so the residents can decide?
3. How long do we have to wait for Independent Party policies as the West Shoebury Independent Party candidate two years ago said they were imminent?

Judging on past performance I think the residents of this town have more chance of seeing Halley's Comet than an Independent Party policy.

Street Surgery Returns

2011-06-01T13:02:00.000+01:00

Along with my fellow ward colleagues, we will be holding our popular residents Street Surgery on Saturday 11th June from 10:00 - 12:00 on The Green, Bishopsteignton. If you have any pressing issues then pop along and come and see me.

2011 Airshow

2011-05-30T11:12:00.001+01:00

I was fortunate enough to visit both days of the Southend Airshow and what a fantastic event it was. Undoubtably the stars of the show were the Red Arrows but there were a couple of changes which for me helped the event.

Switching the days to the Saturday and Sunday from the traditional Sunday and Monday was a huge success as was having the aircraft displays from 2pm-5pm instead of over four and a half hours. For me it helped with the continuity of the event.

This was the 26th Airshow and hopefully still going strong.

Musings? More like Misgivings

2011-05-30T10:59:00.001+01:00

Prominant Southend Labour Party activist Julian Ware-Lane's blog is always worth a good read and has some thought provoking posts like the excellent one on Anne Chalk. Like myself Julian is qualified football referee but where we differ is that he is an old Socialist.

Sometimes political dogma can get in the way of reasoned and sensible judgement. I mean, would any person not weighed down by dogma seriously advocate helping the lazy as Julian advocates?

The Missing St Lukes Councillor

2011-05-30T10:45:00.001+01:00

A spat has broken out this week following Southend Council leader Nigel Holdcroft's revelation on his blog that newly elected Independent Party councillor Paul Van looy face will not be seen many times at the Civic Centre next year.

The story then went viral after it was published in an edition of last weeks Echo. With alarming predictability the Independent Party 'leader' Martin Terry rushed to his defence.

Without going over the rights and wrongs, I would like to pose one question to the residents of St Lukes, do they think Cllr Van Looy costing them approximately £840 per meeting is good value for his representation?

Thought not...

The hunt is Over

2011-05-30T10:17:00.000+01:00

After 16 years the hunt for Europe's most wanted man is finally over. General Ratko Mladic was the Bosnian Serb army chief throughout the Bosnian war - and the man many hold responsible for the worst atrocities in that bloody conflict.

Along with the Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic, he came to symbolise the Serb campaign of ethnic cleansing of Croats and Muslims. Ratko Mladic was ferocious in pursuit of what he saw as the destiny of the Serb nation. He oversaw the siege and bombardment of Sarajevo, in which 12,000 died.

He was a pioneer of the technique known as ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of thousands of non-Serbs were driven from their homes in the brutal campaign to create an ethnically pure Serb state in Croatia and Bosnia and he commanded the men who murdered at least 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995.

When I worked for NatWest some years back I used to work with a guy who was part of the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Bosnia and he claimed that some of the acts that he witnessed were so horrific that they will haunt him for the rest of his life and he was powerless to stop it.

Let us hope that Mladic is brought to justice for war crimes quickly at The Hague.

Resigning is an Honourable Thing to do....

2011-05-30T10:02:00.000+01:00

It was sad to see my old stomping ground of Tottenham and Haringey Council hitting the headlines again this week for all the wrong reasons.

Sharon Shoesmith, the infamous director in charge of Childrens Services at Haringey Council at the time of Baby P's death won her case of unfair dismissal at the Court of Appeal when she was sacked live on TV by formoer minister Ed Balls.

Enough has been said and written about the Baby P case which I do not want to go over but can not help feeling that the case of Sharon Shoesmith should never have gone this far.

Like the leader of the council and portfolio holder did at the time, Sharon Shoesmith should have done the honourable thing and resigned.

The Past Week

2011-05-21T22:20:00.000+01:00

As a belated birthday present, Mrs Cox and Miss Cox treated me to a week away at my favourite holiday destination - Cornwall.

Whilst I have been away, I am delighted to have been asked to serve in the cabinet for another year as portfolio holder for Public Protection, Waste and Transport - a position that I have accepted.

During our stay, it is always nice to visit my favourite place St Michael's Mount but also spent a few hours in the surfing capital Newquay. This was an interesting visit for a number of reasons but also for its new shared space area in the High Street.

It was busy and the scheme resembles the new City Beach and Victoria Circus schemes. Newquay is a vibrant resort which attracts many young revellers as well as many day visitors.

It was interesting to observe the behaviours of both the pedestrians and motorists in this area. The shared space idea seemed to working very well and some of the locals that I spoke to were very receptive to the scheme which has been in place for nearly two years.

It seems that the shared space concept is an idea which is being implemented by many local authorities. There has been many column inches written about City Beach and Victoria Circus. As these are new schemes in their infancy it is important to let them bed in. As the new portfolio holder for transport I am aware of the issues raised about these schemes and will be monitoring these over the next few weeks.

New Civic Year

2011-05-12T20:52:00.000+01:00

Today was the annual council in which the mayor is elected into office and the leader of the council is elected.

Southend has a tradition whereby its Mayor's are decided by length of service which allows opposition members to become Mayor and not a privilege of the ruling party.

The outgoing May was Cllr Ann Holland who had a successful year by raising the profile of Southend locally, nationally and internationally.

The incoming Mayor is long serving Labour Victoria ward councillor David Norman. David is a rare type of politician who is by far the best speaker in the chamber and a real gentleman to. It is a tragic that a politician of David's calibre did not not make it onto the green benches of Parliament.

I wish David every success as Southend's first citizen

Election Aftermath

2011-05-08T18:12:00.000+01:00

As usual election day was long and demanding starting with opening up Friars Community Centre as it was being used as a polling station and eventually finishing at 03:30 Friday morning when the last result was declared. It was back to Garons Park again later that afternoon for the AV Referendum count.

There were some mixed emotions having lost two seats and gaining two seats at the expense of Lib Dems maintaining our overall majority of five. It is not unusal for the party of Government to suffer at local elections and considering the austerity measures having to be implemented following the reckless spendng of the previous Government, no change locally and a net gain of three council and 81 councillors nationally is an excellent achievement.

Here in West Shoebury I am naturally delighted at Derek Jarvis's empathic victory demonstrating the support he enjoys and the his excellent election campaign.

All three West Shoebury councillors will be consolidating this position and working to resolve the issues that matter to West Shoebury residents the most.

Southend votes 'No' to AV

2011-05-07T00:46:00.000+01:00

Voters in Southend returned a resounding 'No' vote in Thursday's AV referendum. The result for Southend was as follows:

'Yes' - 13,488
'No' - 34,365

Total Votes: 48, 107
%Turnout: 38.3%

Conservative s maintain control of Southend

2011-05-07T00:41:00.000+01:00

It has been a very busy last 48 hours with very little sleep as we awaited the results of the election in West Shoebury and the results of the AV referendum and would like to thank all the residents who took the trouble to vote. Conservatives retain control of the council with composition of the council Conservatives: 28 seats, Lib Dems: 10 seats, Independent Party: 9 seats and Labour: 4 seats The result in West Shoebury was as follows:

Derek Jarvis 1517
UKIP               692
Labour            496
Lib Dem         232

Total Votes: 2355
%Turnout: 40.08%

The full results for the Southend Borough Council elections can be found here.

Democracy...not if you are Comrade Chalk

2011-05-04T00:15:00.001+01:00

As the finishing line is fast approaching in this years elections, it is known for some candidates to develop 'candidate itus' but it appears that Comrade Chalk may be wilting under the pressure.

Over at Comrade Chalk's propoganda site Shoebury News a rather bizzare rant has appeared from Comrade Chalk suggesting that I should not be setting up polls on my own personal blog. What business is it of hers I do not know.

Comrade Chalk also believes that I should leave people alone to make up their own minds in this referendum. Surely in a referendum everyone has the right to campaign for either the yes or no camp?

At present, readers of this blog who have taken the trouble to contribute are showing a prefeence for a YES victory. Comrade Chalk claims that:

"On his personal website Cllr Tony Cox is suggesting that a YES vote for the Alternative Voting (AV) system is the most popular choice of Shoebury residents.

and that

"Cllr Cox should not be setting up Polls like this one to try and promote his own personal preference".

This seems a bit odd considering that back in July 2010 on this blog I nailed my colours firmly to the NO campaign.

Comrade Chalk here is a piece of advice for you.

Although you may otherwise like, this is a democracy. I believe in the principles of freedom of speech and expression and subscribe to the view that you may not like what someone has to say but you defend their right to say it.

I have the right to have a poll on this blog as any reader has the right to contribute to the poll if they wish. Keep your extreme brand of Communism to yourself and do not lecture me or others on what I or others should and should not do on a personal site.

I find your lies and distortion of the truth and facts that you peddle on your website repulsive but respect your right to peddle them. My grandparents fought and died for freedom of speech and expression and I intend to exercise this liberty gifted to me.

The art of deceiving...part 2

2011-05-01T09:45:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately Comrade Chalk’s tendency to dupe or blatantly lie to residents has spread to West Shoebury’s UKIP candidate James Moyies. In a desperate last ditch attempt to wrestle the seat, James has decided to ask residents to join him in stopping 2,000 homes being built north of the Angel Pub on Bournes Green Chase.

One resident, wiping away the tears through laughing, couldn’t believe the incompetence as there is a board on the land saying “Land for sale D2 leisure use” meaning that no homes can be built on the site!

The art of deceiving...

2011-05-01T09:28:00.002+01:00

This week has been very exciting as Miss Cox turned two and all her friends joined her for a party at Thorpedene Community Centre yesterday.

Whilst an excitable Miss Cox has run me ragged I have also found time to help deliver our latest leaflet in West Shoebury.

On the subject of leaflets, I was handed a copy of our favourite Commie Anne Chalk’s leaflet, the former Labour now Independent/UKIP candidate in Shoeburyness ward.

The main theme of her latest propaganda, sorry, leaflet centres on the theme of dog fouling. According to Comrade Chalk I have slashed the budget for dog bins. Oh dear, more lies to the Shoeburyness electorate.

What Comrade Chalk fails to mention is that I have personally given the authorisation for three new dog bins in Shoeburyness Ward, one in Ravensdale Way, one in Collingwood Way and another in Wakering Road which is currently on order.

Recently, local Conservatives surveyed the residents of Collingwood Way who were delighted with the new dog bin. What was interesting is that a couple of the residents were under the impression that it was Comrade Chalk and her agent Cllr Assenheim who got the bin installed. I wonder how they could have formed this opinion?

It transpires that Comrade Chalk and Cllr Assenheim canvassed Collingwood Way previously and led them to believe it was them who got the bin installed.

Fortunately not all the residents were taken in. One resident, angered by Comrade Chalk’s shameless campaigning techniques commented:

“It would appear that it is not only Anne’s website that has had a makeover but so has the photo on her leaflet too. They have done such a fantastic job it would be interesting to know where she got it done as I and lot of women in Shoebury would like some of that”!

I couldn’t possibly comment…

Official: Lib Dems have no policies for Southend...says a Southend Lib Dem councillor

2011-04-26T18:23:00.001+01:00

You may remember what Southend was like the last time the Lib Dems had a taste of power locally in a coalition with Labour.

Southend was in the doldrums and suffering from neglect. Remember the crumbling Palace Hotel at the top of Pier Hill, the Victoria Shopping Centre past its best and the ageing South East Essex Colleage building?

Compare that to the current Conserative administration. The Palace renovated, the new Essex University Campus with the planned new library, the regenerated Warrior Square Gardens, the St Johns Church gardens, Cuckoo Corner & Progress Road improvements, City Beach, The Victorias scheme. The list is endless.

Have the Lib Dems learn't their lession from 2000? Not so according to Southend Lib Dem councillor Ric Morgan. In an astonashing attack on the Southend Lib Dems in yesterday's Echo newspaper Cllr Morgan is quoted as saying:

"We are not putting forward clear alternative policies, neither us nor the Labour Party. We are not clear on the specifics of local government and what a Lib Dem council would do. That is a serious concern for me.

"There is no clear direction. It's a failure of the Lib Dem group".

Wow. Hard hitting stuff. Best of British to all Lib Dem candidates standing in Southend following this...

"

Town Centre Parking Reversal

2011-04-26T18:01:00.001+01:00

At full council last Thursday, fellow colleague and portfolio holder for Planning & Transport Mark Flewitt announced that he is going to reverse the decision to extend car parking charges from 6pm to 9pm in the Town Centre following feedback from residents.

Mark was in a situation where he was dammed if he did and dammed if he didn't. If he didn't reverse the charges he would have been accused of not listening to residents. Now he has made the decision to reverse the proposed extension he is accused of buying votes by opposition parties in the run up to the local elections.

The truth is that when we consult we listen to what people have to say and reevaluate proposals in the light of their comments. A consultation is not a referendum but if valid objections are raised it is right and proper that we react.

Educashion, Educahion, Educashion

2011-04-26T08:58:00.003+01:00

Our favourite Commie Anne Chalk the Independent/UKIP candidate for neighbouring Shoeburyness Ward has given her website a timely makeover for the local elections shortly upon us. Reading her latest this morning, it seems as a former teacher that maths and checking over pupils work wasn't one of her strongest points.

For starters, there are nine cabinet members not ten and yes I was the latest addition to the cabinet last year, but the cabinet will be reduced by one after the elections bringing the size of the cabinet down to eight. Comrade Anne also suggests that Southend Council do not need a executive councillor for Public Protection & Waste (The portfolio I am executive councillor for).

Maybe Comrade Anne doesn't think that refuse collection, recycling, crime, CCTV, dog fouling and the taxi trade are not important to the town?

This is not the first time Comrade Anne has put her big size nines in it and followers of this blog will remember last year when she wanted permanent travellers pitches on Gunners Park with skips and toilet facilities for them to enjoy...ah bless.

Another sum that former teacher Comrade Chalk has difficulity with is that of interest repayments. It is common place for local authorities to have a level of borrowing. At present Southend Council has borrowing of £218 million. £11 million will be spent on interest repayments in this financial year.

Comrade Anne claims that borrowing is out of control with 16% of our council tax spent on interest repayments.

This is blatent scaremongering.

Southend Council this year will have an annual budget of £472 million. £69 million of the annual budget is raised through collection of council tax with the rest of the budget made up of central Government grant. With £11 million to be spent on interest repayments, this is less than 2% of the overall budget.

Intrestingly, the figure of 16% was calculated by an Independent Party/UKIP councillor in Thorpe ward who was a financial controller for a business that went bust! Says it all really

Revised Collection Dates...

2011-04-23T08:53:00.000+01:00

I would like to wish all Shoebury residents a happy Easter. This time is particularly busy and will shortly be out and about again in the ward delivering Cllr Jarvis's election address leaving little time to enjoy the sunshine.

This year, we will be having another extended long weekend due to the Royal Wedding in addition to the traditional Whitsun holiday which mean revised collection dates for refuse collections. The revised dates for Shoebury are worth noting to avoid bags being lined up in the streets:

1. Friday 29th April 2011 refuse will now be collected on Tuesday 3rd May 2011.

2. Friday 6th May 2011 refuse will now be collected on Monday 9th May 2011.

3. Friday 13th May 2011 refuse will now be collected on Saturday 14th May 2011

4. Friday 3rd June 2011 refuse will now be collected on Saturday 4th June 2011

If any of your refuse is not collected on these days please get in touch

The Bell Un-Principles

2011-04-17T12:32:00.002+01:00

The postal voters this week in neighbouring Shoeburyness Ward received some junk mail from our favourite leftie Comrade Anne Chalk.

In an expensive first class mailing, the poor Shoeburyness Ward residents had to suffer the usual annual election time rant. What was interesting was the endorsement from Independent Party/UKIP councillor Mike Assenheim.

In his opening gambit, cllr Assenheim claims that Comrade Anne only narrowly lost in the 2010 elections. Comrade Anne lost by 600 votes to popular local Shoeburyness resident Roger Hadley! I suppose this is close in Cllr Assenheim's world.

Further on Cllr Assenheim tells the residents that the 'Independent Group' on Southend Council only endorse Independent Candidates if they genuinely care for residents. Ommitted from the letter of support to Comrade Anne was the revelation in last Monday's in the Southend Echo that the 'Independent's' have formed an electoral pact with UKIP. Yes UKIP!

I presume the endorsement roughly translated means you can only join our gang if your face fits and you hate the Tories.

Cllr Assenheim then repeats the mantra that by definition Independents are free from Party Politics and each other. Lets look at Cllr Assenhiems actions on this statement:

1. Part of the 'Independent Group' on Southend Council which has a leader who draws a leaders salary from the council and holds party meetings at the Civic Centre at a cost to the taxpayer.

2. He is part of the 'Independent Group' which has formed at electoral pact with UKIP at this year's elections.

3. Stood for the Political Party Alliance Southend in the 2006 local elections

At the end of the diatribe, Cllr Assenheim claims that he and Comrade Chalk subscribe to the 'Bell Principles'. The Bell principle were those set out by former BBC jounalist Martin Bell. Martin Bell famously beat Conservative Neil Hamilton in Tatton over the 'cash for questions scandal'.

In 2005 Martin Bell, Dr Richard Taylor and Terry Waite the former Church of England envoy and assistant to the former Archbishop of Canterbury formed the Independent Network an online resource for Independent councillors or candidates.

The 'Bell Principles' were developed in 2009 by Martin Bell for the Independent Network and are the first code of conduct for elected representatives - they demand that independent politicians behave to those standards. The Independent Network asks that all endorsed candidates and supporters agree to the following principles.

1. Abide wholeheartedly by the spirit and letter of the Seven Principles of Public Life set out by Lord Nolan in 1995: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

2. Be guided by considered evidence, our real world experience and expertise, our constituencies and our consciences

3. Be free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip How does Cllr Assenheim explain the UKIP pact

4. Be non-discriminatory, ethical and committed to pluralism. How does Cllr Assenheim explain having four different views on East Beach and using others work as his own in an article for the Southend Older Peoples

5. Make decisions transparently and openly at every stage and level of the political process, enabling people to see how decisions are made and the evidence on which they are based

6. Listen, consulting our communities constantly and innovatively

7. Treat political opponents with courtesy and respect, challenging them when we believe they are wrong, and agreeing with them when we believe they are right Does this count as respect and courtesy when exposed over the Southend Older Peoples scandal

8. Resist abuses of power and patronage and promote democracy at every level

9. Work with other elected independents as a Group with a chosen spokesperson Yep Cllr Assenheim certainly does this but intrestingly this was the only 'Bell Principle' left of the endorsement!

10. Claim expenses, salaries and compensation openly so the public can judge the value for money of our activities.

All noble principles you may think, but the Bell Principles are very hypocritical. How do principles 3 and 9 work together?
It is even surprising that the Independent Network's resources page even gives tips on how to form your own local 'Independent Party. In a page on how to campaign, one of the founder members Dr Richard Taylor even claims that:
'You are only allowed the one word “Independent” on the ballot paper unless you have registered as a political party with a title, with or without a logo, with the Electoral Commission (EC). For example our title is “Independent Community and Health Concern” with a heart in hands logo. The word “Independent” is vital to separate us from the main parties and we believe that an extended title is helpful as it gives voters an idea of your aims and may create interest lacking from the single word “Independent”'

Dr Richard Taylor was the creator of the Independent Community and Health Concern Party!

We now know where the Independents in Southed get it from! It is always worth remembering Cllr Assenheim's wife, Evelyn, words in an email to a resident in West Shoebury last year - No single councillor can get anything done on theri own.

Southend Judicial Review Fails

2011-04-12T16:05:00.000+01:00

Good news to hear that yesterday morning judgement on the application by Laura Millard for leave to apply for Judicial Review of the Council’s decision to grant planning permission (reference SOS/09/01960/FULM) for the runway extension at Southend Airport. This followed an oral Hearing held last week.
The High Court refused to grant leave and the judge ruled that all 4 grounds of challenge advanced on behalf of Ms Millard were unarguable.

Hopefully that is the end of the matter, unless Ms Millard attempts to pursue an appeal to the Court of Appeal or some type of action in Europe.

UKIP/Independents 2011 Election Pact

2011-04-12T15:56:00.001+01:00

The local rag the Southend Echo, reported the electoral ‘pact’ between United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and the ‘Independents’ on Southend Council.

Not so ground breaking as I had previously exposed this grubby deal on my facebook and twitter pages over the weekend.

We know from previous experience that the Independent’s or not so Independent. They were formally Alliance Southend, signed Lib Dem nomination papers at last year’s General Election, formed a group on the council, have a leader who draws a leaders salary the list is endless.

What is interesting is that UKIP/Independents have so little support they think that they can say what they like, deliver nothing and don’t have a view on anything.

The local Southend UKIP branch leader is James Moyies who is the UKIP candidate for West Shoebury. It is also worth delving a little into his policies and views on all things Shoebury and Southend.

Firstly, in a deliberate attempt in this years local elections to conceal the UKIP brand to make them appear ‘Independent’. Gone from their literature is the UKIP logo, gone is their purple and yellow colours and replaced by standard ‘Independent’ white leaflets with lots and lots of claptrap.

Most people know the between United Kingdom Independence Party as good ole UKIP but in an attempt to dupe people Mr Moyies is calling himself UK Independence Party – note the emphasis on the word Independence.

I do wonder if Cllr Terry and his clan actually know what they are getting themselves into. On Mr Moyies twitter feed he calls residents ‘dimwits’, stupid boy, immature and ‘you strangely violated person’ to all those that disagree with him.

In his current election literature Mr Moyies claims that he has been working very closely with ‘Independent’ councillor Ron Woodley in Thorpe Ward. This is interesting as on the 24th April 2010, James Moyies posted on twitter:

“Independent Ron Woodley earlier this year "If I support a party candidate in the Election I will lose all credibility." He just lost it!” when Cllr Woodley signed the Lib Dems Rochford & Southend East parliamentary candidates nomination papers.

It’s also worth noting that I bumped into James outside the Co-Op in West Road three weeks ago and challenged him on UKIP’s pact with the Independents. He naturally denied it but claimed he would never work with Ron Woodley as he is the devil!

I will keep a close eye on their relationship leading up to the elections.

The article which appeared in yesterday’s Echo had a quote by Independents leader Cllr Martin Terry.

Cllr Terry claims that there was no official electoral pact. Does he really expect us to believe that? How then will Cllr Terry answer the fact that no UKIP or Independent are standing against each other if they were not talking. How will he answer that in a leaflet deliver by James Moyies two weeks ago claiming that if he or any UKIP candidate are elected then they will join the ‘Independents Group’.

Also how will Cllr Terry explain the tweet by James Moyies on the 5th January 2010 when he claimed:

“This General Election is the time to support a party you really believe in”

In the same quote Cllr Terry was also quoted saying “There is a lot of synergy between us and UKIP”

After reading this I thought I would do some digging and look at the UKIP policies. A google search led me to a Southend BNP activists blog Southend Patriot.

In this blog, the activist claims that UKIP are a ‘far right party’ along with the English Democrats, the BNP and National Front and compares policies. I wonder what synergy between UKIP and the Independents Cllr Terry refers to?

Finally it is worth looking at the latest UKIP literature that James Moyies is distributing.

In his latest leaflet he confirms he doesn’t know the authority he wishes to represent as he claims he is standing for ‘Southend Town Council’. Claims he has lived in West Shoebury ward for over 20 years when West Shoebury ward was only created in 2000 following a boundary commission review and that he is concerned about traffic in Shoebury and is campaigning for a by-pass.

Campaigning for a by-pass is commendable, but local Conservatives have been lobbying Central Government for years on this issue. It is also interesting to look closer at how concerned Mr Moyies is about traffic congestion in Southend.

Just last year in March 2010, Mr Moyies congratulating the Camp Cuckoo protesters on a ‘well made protest’ when he visited the illegal encampment protesting at the new Cuckoo Corner road improvements which have helped cut Shoebury residents journey times.

Residents thinking of voting UKIP/Independent on the 5th May should seriously think again.

What the Government have done in the past year

2011-04-10T19:35:00.000+01:00

It is almost one year since the Conservative led coalition Government was elected. It led me to pause for a moment to think about what the Government has achieved. Although not exhaustive, here is my list of the Government's achievements over the past year:

1. Corporation Tax - CUT
2. The Jobs Tax - AXED
3. Police Targets - SMASHED
4. Immigration - CONTROLLED
5. Personal Tax Allowances - RAISED
6. Home Information Packs - DROPPED
7. ID Cards - ABOLISHED
8. Quangos - CLOSING DOWN
9. £6 Billion in Government Spending - SAVED
10. Successive Budgets to balance the books in - 5 YEARS
11. For our pensioners - THE EARNINGS LINK RESTORED
12. For our Brave Armed Forces - OPERATIONAL ALLOWANCE DOUBLED

Still here blogging, but getting Derek Jarvis re-elected has taken up much of my time

2011-04-10T17:51:00.000+01:00

Many have asked if I am still blogging, yes I am still hee but getting fellow ward colleague Derek Jarvis re-elected has taken up a lot of time - especially as I am his agent.

We have delivered two election special leaflets over the past few weeks to over 4,000 homes in the ward. Over the course of this week we will also be delivering a new full colour leaflet as well.

It has been a good exercise going around the various different parts of the ward where many issues have been picked up and reported for action to be taken.

This week also saw the list of candidates for West Shoebury Ward announced. As well as Derek, there are also candidates from UKIP, Labour and the Lib Dems. All the candidates for this years Borough Council elections can be found here.

Airport gets High Court Take Off

2011-02-07T20:08:00.000Z

Click here to read the formal response to the application for a judicial review by resident Laura Millard.

Now we need to move on , get the landlord consent signed off and the JAAP underway so as to ensure we are ready to maximise the economic benefits for Rochford and Southend once the Airport ‘Takes Off’.

As we come out of the economic down turn- we will need those jobs!

An Era Finishes

2011-01-26T11:30:00.001Z

This week, I had to take the difficult decision to cease working at Tottenham Hotspur on matchdays after 16 seasons. I used to laugh when people said to me that you see more of your grandchildren than you do of your own kids when you become a father. How true were they.

Since Miss Cox some 21 months ago both my wife and I have had the pleasure seeing her grow into a fine little lady as we say.

Working full time and representing the West Shoebury take up much of my time and it was a New Years resolution of mine to make more time to spend with my family. Both Mrs and Miss Cox have been very supportive of my work and public duties and now it is my turn I feel to repay that faith so the football lost out.

It is not all sadness as I have made some wonderful friends during my time there but I am looking forward to the day when Miss Cox is old enough for Daddy to take her to see her first Spurs game. Now that makes me feel proud!

Black Sacks Myths

2011-01-26T11:25:00.000Z

Over the past week there have been a number inaccuracies in the budget coverage in the local media that as portfolio holder need correcting.

Firstly, residents currently receive deliveries of pink, black and white sacks twice a year and not four times a year as quoted. If the budget in its current form is agreed by full council, residents will receive one roll of black sacks twice a year – a reduction but not a cessation in service.

It was also stated that Southend lags behind the rest of Essex in its recycling rates. This is also inaccurate. Currently residents in Southend recycle approximately nearly 50% of its household waste and is on course to recycle 60% of its domestic waste by the end of our current contract with Cory.

It is this impressive performance by you, the residents, which has enabled us to reduce black sack provisions ensuring a cost saving. I will be making this point strongly at cabinet tomorrow

Lies, Dammed Lies and a Hypocrite?

2011-01-19T11:40:00.000Z

It seems that since I first started blogging and embracing social media a number of my computer literate colleagues from all parties have cottoned onto this medium as a good way to communicate with residents.

It is also interesting to note how many stories first broke on local blogs, facebook and twitter which have subsequently made the local media.

Some months ago I was made aware of a new blog called Kursaal Voice. As blogs go it is generally quite entertaining. I have also recently been made aware of another blog called Tory Pier . I became more interested in this blog due to a scathing post about former Labour Kursaal councillor Judith McMahon.

It would seem that on the face of it Kursaal Voice is a blog run a by local resident concerned about the neighbourhood they live in. Given a little investigation by Tory Pier, it would appear that the blog is the work of the above mentioned former Labour councillor Judith McMahon although the blog doesn't confirm this.

There are however a few things that give the identity away when you look closer, e.g. all posts are by Judy, takes the name of the blog from Victoria Voice a blog run by Labour councillor Ian Gilbert and only allowes anti Conservative comments on there.

What seemed to irate Tory Pier more was the lies and sheer hypocriticism of the now ousted former Labour councillor in this particular post.

The blog post in question starts with former council comrade pointing out that neither Cllr Robin nor Cllr Burdett live in the Kursaal ward and goes on to say:

“If you don’t live here, how do you know what it’s like? Tory councillors don’t live here.”

The implication being you can’t represent a ward properly if you do not live there. I know I am fortunate enough to represent the ward that I live in but I don't think that living in the ward should be a pre requisite for someones capabilities to be able to represent residents.

If Comrade McMahon has such a big issue with this, why does she not raise this within the Labour group in Southend? For example, the current Labour Councillor in Kursaal, Stephen George, lives in Leigh-on-Sea, several miles from the Kursaal ward. Not only that, but none of the three Labour Councillors in Victoria live in the ward they represent.

Could this be why rumours are rife that Cllr George was knifed in the back for the Labour nomination in Kursaal? I would like to know their response to Comrade McMahon’s concerns and opinion that they can’t represent their wards!

The rant which really took the piss for Tory Pier concerns the increase in the councillor’s allowance that was recently voted through. This increase of 1.2% for all members was designed to stop members from claiming for in borough travel expenses - a move which overall saves the council money.

According to the alledged posting from Comrade McMahon, Cllrs Burdett and Robin voted for this increase was “because now they cannot claim expenses to travel to the place where they don’t live”.

This takes the biscuit for three main reasons. First, the accounts available show that during his time as councillor, Blaine Robin claimed a total of zero for travel expenses. Second, Cllr Burdett has not been elected long enough to be included in an up to date set of accounts.

so where did Comrade McMahon find the figures for the travel expenses that it is suggested Cllr Burdett has claimed? So to say that Cllr Burdett and Cllr Robin voted because they could not claim travel expenses is a complete lie perpetrated by a prospective candidate in the 2011 Local Elections. Neither Cllr Robin or Cllr Burdett has claimed travel expenses from what I can gather.

Last, and by no means least, is Comrade McMahon’s own record as Kursaal ward councillor. Of course, McMahon would never claim travel expenses. It would be the height of hypocrisy, had she claimed travel expenses during her time as a Kursaal councillor.

But wait. What’s this? Turn to page 100 of the accounts of Southend Borough Council for the year ended 31 March 2008. What do we learn? That one Judith McMahon claimed £228.80.

Oh Dear, it seems that New Labour is alive and well.

Save Our Libraries...What Nonsense

2011-01-19T11:34:00.000Z

It appears once again the Independent Party are playing political games to try to frighten residents into supporting them. They have been suggesting to residents in Westborough that plans are afoot to close Westcliff Library and in Shoeburyness, in a leaflet delivered just before Christmas, that Thorpedene and Friars Libraries are at risk.

This is complete nonsense. At no time during the preparation of the budget for the coming year has any member of the Conservative administration or senior officer indicated any plan to close any of the town's libraries.

I'm sure in the lead up to the elections we will see in the Independent Party literature how they have saved their library....don't be fooled by it now boys and girls!

2011/12 Budget

2011-01-19T10:31:00.000Z

Today is an important day as the budget plans for the next financial years are formally released. All members of the council will receive these papers and I will have the opportunity to debate these in cabinet next week and also respond to questions in scrutiny.

Unlike in previous years, I hope all the three opposition parties engage in the debate so we can best constructive dialogue possible.

Happy New Year

2011-01-19T10:25:00.000Z

It may seem somewhat belated by I would like to wish all West Shoebury residents a happy new year. Having recently just come back from a short break with the family at Disneyland Paris campaigning has already started in West Shoebury for the local elections and also as important the referendum on the the use of the Alternative Vote (AV) in Westminster Elections.

It was also pleasing upon my return to hear that Southend Council has been shortlisted for 'Council of the Year'. The result will be known later in the year and I will keep you posted on the result

Merrry Christmas to all residents

2010-12-23T16:24:00.000Z

As we approach Christmas I would like to take the opportunity to wish all the residents of West Shoebury a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

For me politically, it has been a fantastic year as you the residents gave me a massive endorsement at the local elections in May. I will be forever grateful for the 1,400 plus majority that you gave me.

I was also at 32 the youngest ever councillor to be appointed the cabinet on Southend Borough Council. This has opened my eyes to wider scale issues other than the general day to day ward issues that I have dealt with. The leader has said, rightly, that during these difficult times he will trim his cabinet by one in the next Civic Year. I would like to think that I have done enough to impress him over the past year to continue in the cabinet.

Since I started this blog at the beginning of the year I have tried to give a different angle to workings of the council and tried to break stories that the local media choose to ignore.

Whilst I am looking forward to spending Christmas with my family and my daughter who will understand her first Christmas blogging will be light for the next couple of weeks.

I want to end the year how I started with an unbelieveable story given to me by a young wippersnapper on the Southend Older Peoples Assembley.

From time to time, councillors are asked to contribute articles to their newsletters. In issue 7, Shoeburyness Independent Party councillor wrote a thought provoking piece here on page 2.

After receiving praise for this piece, it would seem that that Cllr Assenheim owes them an apology. In the anonamous communication from an Assembley it appears that Cllr Assenheim has recited an historical piece of BNP propoganda from YouTube. If you look closely at the article and the YouTube clip here Remembering Great Britain, posted on YouTube in March 2009 it is word for word.

It is bad enough plagarising somebody elses work but BNP propoganda? I think at the very least Cllr Assenheim should apologise but also confirm that he isn't a BNP supporter or sympathiser. Shoeburyness would like to know

Truly World Class

2010-12-23T16:20:00.001Z

I have just been informed that European, World and Commonwealth diving champion has described the new diving facility at Garons Park as awsome. I couldn't agree more. If you haven't had the chance to go I suggest you make it new years resolution.

Let us hope that the Olympic Diving squad will use Garons as it's base!

Higher charges for Car Parking? Yes if you are the Independent Party

2010-11-30T15:55:00.000Z

In an unreported debate at the last full council, the Independent Party's latest way of helping hard pressed residents was to increase car parking charges for the town's commuters.

Southend Council has recently increased the parking facility behind Leigh Station and undertaken some environmental improvements and has imposed a charge for all day parking of £1.00 per day to offset these costs.

Prior to these improvements there was no charge, however, cars parked all over the place and along the narrow road making it dangerous for pedestrians and access was difficult.

There is a large station car park operated by a national chain but the charges there are so high that many commuters cannot afford to park in that car park.

The idea that all commuters have vastly well paid City jobs is ridiculous, many do not even go as far as London and I would not want to deter them from using the train or working.

Given the increasingly high cost of train travel before 9.30 adding another £25 a week to local residents costs simply does not encourage train travel or working up the line in low to medium paid work.

I do not approve of squeezing the motorist and tax payer for every last penny, they pay their road taxes, their national taxes and their council tax, why should they be ‘taxed’ yet again for parking to get to work?

Yes we are in difficult economic times and yes all councils including Southend are having to look very closely at budgets, but before we start adding to the cost of getting work let’s at least consider what happens when that cost gets too high resulting in the commuter either moving away or giving up work- as that cost could be far greater to economic prosperity of Southend.

Labour Manifesto Called for Housing Benefit Reform

2010-11-30T15:19:00.000Z

Earlier this month Red Ed Milliband piously called on the Lib Dems to block the implementation of the Housing Benefit Reform policy, claiming, “That is not what they came into politics for. I hope they will vote with their consciences.”

Intrestingly, the other day I was looking through the three main parties general election manifesto's. Upon further reading of the Labour manifesto was this snippet:

‘Housing Benefit will be reformed so we do not subsidise people to live in private sector accommodation on rents working families couldn’t afford’

The quote is taken from the Labour Party manifesto, written by one Red Ed Miliband…

James Purnell when he was at the DWP said he wanted to ensure “people on benefits do not end up getting subsidies for rents that those who work could never afford”

I would agree, £20,000 a year in rent is of course way beyond what the majority of us can afford!

I just find the barefaced hypocrisy from Labour breathtaking...

Clegg's Sneaky Coffers Liner

2010-11-30T15:11:00.000Z

Nick Clegg is responsible for guiding the AV bill through Parliament, he backs it, as does his party.

I have been handed some latest Lib Dem leaflet artwork that has been given to all Lib Dem branches for the start of the Yes campaign, but rather sneakily and possibly illegally, the LibDems are pulling a clever little ruse:

On the fundraising form that is not just for LibDem members, but the whole Yes to AV campaign, it clearly asks people to make out cheques to the “Liberal Democrats”, not to the official pro-AV campaign.

Not only is it completely inappropriate for the Deputy Prime Minister to be attempting to fund-raise for his party on the back of a piece of legislation that he is responsible for, the form is completely deceptive.

The forms are also definitely for use before the Bill has gone through the House as they talk about the referendum “next year”. Sneaky.

I wonder how many people will fall for their trick of pretending to give money to the Yes to AV campaign when they will actually be lining the LibDem coffers. Dishonesty on a LibDem leaflet? Surely not…

The Return Flight

2010-11-30T15:05:00.000Z

It was interesting to see in the latest list of nominated peers that the name of Howard Flight appeared.

You may recall that former Tory MP Howard Flight was secretly recorded discussing plans for cuts in the run up to the 2005 election.

What he suggested has been completely eclipsed just five years later and fell far short of even what Labour proposed at the last election. Michael Howard, in a last-ditch bid to look like a strong leader in the waning election campaign, summoned the TV cameras to his home and fired Flight live on air.

His treatment was a textbook example of when being ruthless was unnecessary. Nick Herbert, now the policing Minister took his safe seat and seemingly ended the career of the experienced former MP.

I'm sure he will get on famously with his fellow red-bencher Lord Howard…

Anne Chalk Exposed...

2010-10-11T20:34:00.000+01:00

You may recall yesterday that I exposed serial Shoeburyness Ward Independent Party Candidate Comrade Anne Chalk's nasyness in wanting homes in West Shoebury to be exposed to flooding and putting a badget sett at risk, it seems Comrade Chalk has gone to some lengths to hide this latest gaffe on her shoeburynes.com website.

As part of her news and views, this article appears on the front page:

Not content with this, the rolling ticker-tape latest news has this:

When you click onto the link it leads you to Comrade Chalk's readers letter from last week. What is clear is that Shoebury councillors have been kept regularly updated and can only assume that Cllr Assenheim is forwarding this information to Anne.

What also is interesting and need answering is does Cllr Assenheim also share these views. I ask as he is being associated with these views quite clearly by Anne Chalk on her website but interestingly he had this to say about the flood defence works in the Southend Echo on the 30th September.

Mike, it's time to publicly disassociate yourself with these comments or this could be another East Beach moment for you having been exposed as having more than one view on this issue.

2010-10-10T18:34:00.000+01:00

In Thursday's Echo, 7th October 2010, you may have noticed a factually incorrect readers letter for serial Shoeburyness Ward local election candidate Comrade Anne Chalk, relating to Bund Works and Badger resettlements in Gunners Park.

Whilst I welcome Anne Chalk’s acknowledgement that I and the West Shoebury local councillors work hard and continuously keep residents informed with good quality local literature, Comrade Chalks comments in the local press are ill-informed, misguided and mischievious.

Anne Chalk’s suggestion that West Shoebury councillors should leaflet their residents asking them for their objections to the bund work is frankly daft as well
as dangerous.

The need for a bund was recognised back in 1998 as part of the defence work to protect Shoebury residents from flooding. I’m sure residents wouldn’t like a repeat of 1953 which these works will help resolve.

The Environment Agency have recently stepped up their demands for this work to be completed quickly.

Fellow West Shoebury Ward Councillor Derek Jarvis the Cabinet member responsible for Parks and Chairman of the Bio Diversity Working Party reassured himself that this essential work on the bund will take account of the needs of the wildlife and in particular the family of Badgers which have to be relocated.

Ecologists from Natural England will undertake this work. Once the vegetation was removed from the bund it became obvious that the number of Badgers in this sett exceeded 40 which called for a large area to be identified remote from the bund where they could be relocated.

Natural England selected a suitable site and all six Ward Councillors were informed of this location in an e mail on 17th September and that the work was about to start and needed to be complete by the end of November.

It was never intended that this information should be widely broadcast due to the sensitive nature of Natural England’s work which needs to be undertaken with the minimum of interference.

In Shoeburyness Ward there are no houses in the Garrison overlooking the bund or the new location of the Badger sett. In West Shoebury Ward, there are only a small number of properties which are affected by the bund works and all received a letter from the Council advisingthem that the work was about to start.

In addition and in order to keep local residents informed, West Shoebury councillors have personally visited these residents keeping them informed of the latest developments and have spoken with dog walkers and other park users who have an interest.

Due to the sensitivity of the relocation of the Badgers, the time of year and the unfortunate reality that some wish harm on the animals, the discreet work of Natural England is ongoing to resettle the family. We hope you will understand the sensitive manner in which this work is being progressed.

Let's just hope that Comrade Chalk’s needless and irresponsible comments will not place these animals at significant risk. Another own goal by the Independent Party in Shoeburyness.

5 Things Should Know About New Shaddow Justice Minister

2010-10-10T18:28:00.000+01:00

Sadiq Khan has somewhat controversially been made the Shadow Justice Secretary by Red Ed. He was also put in charge of constitutional and political reform, which is ironic. A relative unknown before his promotion there are all sorts of mysteries about the man that I feel need some light shedding on them…

1. Did you know that Khan has been exposed three times for fiddling his expenses, even after the public outcry last year? Using a thief to catch thief?

2. Did you know that five members of Khan’s family and various clients belonged to fundamentalist group Hizb ut-Tahrir? Something he called “irrelevant” and “trivial” Well they must be proud of his line of work…

3. Did you know Khan got the bent copper Ali Dizaei off the hook. He was later jailed in Wandsworth Prison, in Khan’s own constituency.

4. Did you know Khan tried to join the defence team of Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted of the 9/11 attacks. The US government refused him clearance. As they did over a Guantanamo suspect’s trial. What do the Americans know about Khan?

5. Did you know Khan voted for post office closures at 7pm in Parliament and spoke out against closures at 8pm in a public meeting in his constituency? What was that about two faced liars…

Blears: Labour Are The Nasty Party

2010-09-30T09:54:00.000+01:00

On the daily politics show during the Labour Conference Andrew Neil questioned Hazel Blears regarding her remarks at a fringe meeting where she said that some of Labour's policies during the last Government were nasty.

Blears, live on air, had the bare faced cheek to say she was talking about the Conservative Party. The following day, a recording of the fringe meeting was passed to Neil who exposed it yesterday.

You can see the clip here

Unless I don't know something and Hazel Blears has joined the Conservative Party I would say she is a liar!

Red Ed's First Speech in full...

2010-09-29T11:41:00.000+01:00

“Comrades, I am not Red Ed. I am a nice boy, the son of immigrants who escaped the Nazis. I might have had an unusual childhood growing up in a house full of passionate lefties, but my elder brother, David, is a good guy. But I am in charge now.

"In Government, Labour got a lot right: the minimum wage, the New Deal, better schools and hospitals, civil partnerships, devolution. But we also got a lot wrong and that is why we lost the election. We must not blame the electorate for not voting for us.

"So, without batting an eyelid, I am quite happy to trash much of Labour's record. The party was wrong on the Iraq war, bank regulation, mass immigration, civil liberties, and tuition fees. I will brush over the fact that I was part of the government that made these mistakes. I was a Gordon Brown protege, but he was wrong to claim that.

So, I will do things differently. I am the new generation even if I am a similar age to the prime minister. I will be a responsible leader. I will back the coalition on some issues: Ken Clarke's plans for shorter prison sentences, Theresa May's review of stop and search, and even Iain Duncan Smith's plans to reform welfare. I will speak for the mainstream majority. But I will shape the centre ground of politics, not occupy it.

"Oh, and by the way, I spent much of my campaign slagging off the Liberal Democrats but I will vote yes for AV, an elected Lords, stronger civil liberties, more freedom for local authorities and no more Iraq-style wars. Just in case we might need to work with Nick Clegg and he kind of likes these things too.

"I want to try to work out a credible policy on the economy. I want to cut the deficit. It is patriotic to do so. So, cutting the deficit by half over four years is a good starting point. But we must not cut at a pace and a scale that endangers the recovery. So that's a hint I will cut spending more slowly but I will not tell you today what that means in practice.

"I think Dave Cameroon is onto something with his "big society" riff so I will support this too. I too, you see, believe in the good society and community, the importance of post office, pub and family. But government must play a big role in shaping this, I mean, the state can itself be a "vested interest" and impede the good society. So I might not a "big state" man, whatever my critics say.

"Now, I might have won the leadership election on the back of union votes when I wasn’t the real winner (Get over it brother) but I want to tackle the idea that I am in their pocket. So, brothers, you must be responsible. There must be no irresponsible strikes in the face of cuts. That would alienate the public against us. I won't support irresponsible strikes. But don't worry, I haven't gone all Tory on you. I still support a living wage, I want to tax the banks and the country to the hilt but my answer to immigration is not a cap but less flexible labour markets and stronger workers' rights.

"So, look, I am the new kid on the block right, I am not like that bonkers awkward Scottish bloke who came before me. And I am an optimist. This is my new dividing line with the Tories. David Cameron is a miserable pessimist who believes that biggest issue facing the country is the deficit. I am an optimist who will cut spending but don’t know how. I am an optimist who can lead Labour's new, new left wing generation to second place at the next election.

"And yes, I am not Forrest Gump. I do not believe that life is like a box of chocolates..."

Official: Comrade Anne is back!

2010-09-28T22:29:00.000+01:00

Not content with getting another good kicking by the electorate once again in Shoeburyness in May, it seems that the failed Comrade Anne is making her upteenth attempt to get elected in Shoeburyness in the May 2011 local elections.

It appears that she still hasn't learn't her lesson of thinking that she can say what she likes without any scrutiny. Over at her shoeburynews website Comrade Anne is leading the campaign for the trees in Eagle Way to be pruned back.

Noble you may ask, but back in January when trees were hard pruned in North Shoebury Road, in the Yellow Advertiser she posed as a neighbouring West Shoebury councillor campaigning about the un-necessary chopping down of trees!

When will she ever learn?

No " AV....I wonder if Red Ed supports

2010-09-28T22:20:00.000+01:00

Labour Mp Tom Harris on his blog displays this poster which is arguably the best rebuttal to the AV voting system that I have seen to date

Intrestingly though, there is no mention of the use of AV to elect Red ED as the Labour party leader. I wonder which way Red Ed will vote on 5th May?

Big Brother's Little Brother? You Decide

2010-09-24T15:11:00.000+01:00

You can't help but feel that David Milliband is sat their today rueing the day that he diddn't stab Gordon in the back when he had the chance.

Suddenly the race to be the next Labour leader got interesting. The late-in-the-game switch to Ed as favourite has been aided in no small part by the fact it was left-wing Red Ken beating right-wing Blarite Oona for the Labour Mayoral Candidate - a miniature version of the national race.

This morning the Guardian is reporting that Jim Murphy, one of David Miliband’s two campaign managers, attended a meeting with members of the Ed Milband camp to map out how they would handle Saturday’s leadership result in the event of Red Ed winning.

Red Ken and Red Ed? Looks like Labour are going to bypass Hague and have their IDS moment in Opposition!

Labour Binges....Then Their Councillors Run Away

2010-09-23T16:40:00.000+01:00

As one of their departing ministers accurately put it - there is no more money left. As the previous Government went on its spending binge nearly puuting the country into ruin it seems that all local councils the lenght and bredth of the country will be feeling the squeeze in the next round of local government funding.

We are approaching the stage where local authorities are starting to put their budgets together and Southend is no different.

Over the years opposition councillors very rarely get involved in the budget process, preferring to oppose budgets without offering any alternatives.

This year a number of member workshops have been planned for all councillors to have their input into having a good look at what the council does, should we still be doing it, can we do things in a different way and where can savings be made.

Sadly, but predictably, the Labour group have declined to participate but there dicision has been heavily criticised in the local press. As the party responsible for potentially savage cuts all around the country, they owe it to the residents of Southend to play their part in ensuring that any cuts are as painless as possible.

Instead they have chosen to bury their heads in the sand and try to blame all the cuts on those nasty tories. Well this time it won't wash. Their decision has effectively left Victoria Ward without no representation a fact that I am sure will not be lost on May 5 2011.

Quiet Time During the Summer? Not in West Shoebury...

2010-09-21T12:05:00.000+01:00

Whilst the summer recess may seem a quiet period for many councillors, work has been continuing in West Shoebury. Here is an update of some of the work that has been happening:

Shoebury Common

I attended an on-site meeting with the ward councillors to look at some of the issues regarding Shoebury Common Beach. Already, new flags have been placed by the entrance and further works are planned and will keep you posted.

Bench on Corner of Watson Close

Finally, I have been able to have this removed permanently which became a magnet for youths to congregate late at night. The bench is in storage whilst a more suitable location can be found.

Improved Street Lights

During my election campaign, I pressed the council for improved street lighting in some of the most poorly lit areas. Good news: New lighting and lamp posts have been installed in Waterloo Road

No Drinking Zone

This has now gone live in the 4 Rivers and surrounding areas on the 31st August. I am also pleased that this is a year round measure.

Turpins Tyres Site

A planning application for a smart block of flats have been agreed by the council’s planning department for this site. It is anticipated that work will start in the spring.

Street Surgery

The popular street surgery was back during the summer and was well attended by local residents. Further dates will be announced shortly.

Newsletters

The popular Shoebury News was delivered to over 4,000 homes informing residents of the latest news across Shoebury. We will also be launching our annual residents survey this Saturday.