You only have to read the current headlines to get an idea that people have had enough of our 'leaders' keeping their snouts firmly in the trough. David Cameron has promised to cut down on the fat cat culture although I fear that despite saying all the right things his actions may not be as positive.
At local level it seems the frustrations are just the same, the arrogance of our council leaders has intensified with their disregard for the city's views on the incinerator; Vivien Pengelly wrote a letter to the Herald only this week stating that the incinerator decision was not based on party politics yet of the 12 voting members on the planning committee the 7 that voted in favour were all Conservative and the 5 that voted against were all Labour - statistically that is one hell of a coincidence.
Within a week of announcing the go ahead for the incinerator Plymouth City Council launched it's housing consultation which apparently aims to make Plymouth one of Europe's finest seaside cities and create the best living conditions for Plymouth residents; Not quite sure how they hope to achieve this with no airport, a crumbling waterfront, an embarrassing bus station and poor train links, oh, and the incinerator.
Also emerging this week is the introduction of the council's take on the Sexual Encounter Establishment Licensing that has come about as a result of the Policing and Crime Bill 2009. Ironically the Herald report on this was entitled 'Plymouth People to get power to block sex clubs' - I look forward to the day when the people of Plymouth are genuinely empowered and not ignored and ridiculed. I wrote last year about my concerns about the legislations and how they would be interpreted and I share those same concerns today as the legislation proposed by Plymouth City Council fails to clearly identify the difference between pole dancing as a recreational and sporting activity and pole/exotic dancing that is used as a pre-cursor to a sexual act.
In all honesty I think the people of Plymouth would rather see time and money being spent on some of the cities more pressing issues, at a time of cuts to frontline services I am sure the council could schedule its priorities a little more effectively? Here are some of the comments from the Herald article on the S.E.E. proposals:
At local level it seems the frustrations are just the same, the arrogance of our council leaders has intensified with their disregard for the city's views on the incinerator; Vivien Pengelly wrote a letter to the Herald only this week stating that the incinerator decision was not based on party politics yet of the 12 voting members on the planning committee the 7 that voted in favour were all Conservative and the 5 that voted against were all Labour - statistically that is one hell of a coincidence.
Within a week of announcing the go ahead for the incinerator Plymouth City Council launched it's housing consultation which apparently aims to make Plymouth one of Europe's finest seaside cities and create the best living conditions for Plymouth residents; Not quite sure how they hope to achieve this with no airport, a crumbling waterfront, an embarrassing bus station and poor train links, oh, and the incinerator.
Also emerging this week is the introduction of the council's take on the Sexual Encounter Establishment Licensing that has come about as a result of the Policing and Crime Bill 2009. Ironically the Herald report on this was entitled 'Plymouth People to get power to block sex clubs' - I look forward to the day when the people of Plymouth are genuinely empowered and not ignored and ridiculed. I wrote last year about my concerns about the legislations and how they would be interpreted and I share those same concerns today as the legislation proposed by Plymouth City Council fails to clearly identify the difference between pole dancing as a recreational and sporting activity and pole/exotic dancing that is used as a pre-cursor to a sexual act.
In all honesty I think the people of Plymouth would rather see time and money being spent on some of the cities more pressing issues, at a time of cuts to frontline services I am sure the council could schedule its priorities a little more effectively? Here are some of the comments from the Herald article on the S.E.E. proposals:
They don't get paid - PCC you do and you don't listen!!”
"RESIDENTS could have much wider grounds to object; Under the new legislation, however, residents are able to object to licence applications on much wider grounds – for example, if they feel a club is not in keeping with the character of the local area or is too close to a school or church; It covers issues such as hours of opening, health and safety requirements; we have consulted with residents' groups and associations"
Just like you did with the incinerator proposal...even after a 6,000+ petition, hundreds of objections you still IGNORED us. The incinerator site is too close to homes and schools, the hours of opening are not acceptable, health and safety still a grey area due to research still being carried out....consulted with us-that means nothing!
Bet these clubs employ more people than an operational incinerator and are probably monitored more stringently.
Double standards again in this 'fair' city!”
“Last time I looked (oops) these places weren't open during the school day, and if you took a bible you could be catered for, and there were lots of interested parties.
There are far more alleged illegal sex acts committed outside of these places than within.
One particular brand of church has been in court worldwide over this.
Keep your curtains closed if you don't want to see who frequents these places - unless it is your fed-up partner of course! :)”
Anyway back to the point in hand - we have been seriously let down by the current conservative administration - the same administration that have refused to take pay cuts at a time when they are happy to cut front-line services. Just read some of my previous blogs to get more examples of the council's failings:
Vivien Pengelly is missing the point, Have they lost the plot, incinerator is wrong, angry.
I do not think we should have to wait till the May elections to get rid of those who are letting us down. If Vivien Pengelly and her cronies really cared about Plymouth they would do the right thing and resign now - preferably without a golden handshake.
Stay Healthy,