Nothing much to report. Most canvassing in Oxted South has been suspended for the Easter Break, but will resume on Monday.
The official start of the campaign was signalled on Tuesday with the publication of the Notice of Election. In Tandridge there will be 14 seats (out of a total of 42) up for grabs from across the district. Candidates have until 4 April to get their nomination forms properly signed and witnessed.
Saturday 29 March 2008
Distraction Burglary in Oxted
Two relatively rare incidents of serious crime in the area seem to have occured in the past couple of weeks.
Surrey Police have warned residents to be on their guard after a distraction burglary in Oxted on 18 March. Follow this link for details.
Also I have heard a report that the One-Stop on the Holland Road in Hurst Green was robbed last night. I will post any more details if I get any. Residents with any information on crimes taking place in Surrey should contact the police on 0845 125 2222 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Surrey Police have warned residents to be on their guard after a distraction burglary in Oxted on 18 March. Follow this link for details.
Also I have heard a report that the One-Stop on the Holland Road in Hurst Green was robbed last night. I will post any more details if I get any. Residents with any information on crimes taking place in Surrey should contact the police on 0845 125 2222 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Friday 28 March 2008
Core Strategy / 650 houses planned for Oxted
On 3rd April the Government Inspector appointed to examine Tandridge's draft Core Strategy and rule on its 'soundness' will hold an exploratory meeting at the Council Offices.
The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the Inspectors initial concerns with the plan an to agree a way forward. That meeting will not decide on the 'soundness' of the document (my understanding is ) but one of four outcomes will be reached
Ahead of this meeting two issues have arisen in relation to the plan.
1) The Government Office for the South East have written to the Council indicating that they have some concerns with the plan. This is very unfortunate given the lengths the Council has gone to to ensure that they were consulted on the drafting at an earlier stage.
2) Two local developers have made a series of objections to the plan including proposing specific Green Belt sites, one of which in Oxted for 650 homes be included within the draft Strategy. This is opposed by the Council.
This latter issue has prompted considerable objection from residents in the North of Oxted and they have formed the Oxted and Limpsfield Residents Group to fight this proposal. I very much applaud the action in local residents in opposing this and I hope the Inspector will conclude over the course of the examination process that that the motives of the developers in proposing specific sites have everything to do with narrow commercial self interest and little to do with the housing needs of the district over the next 15 years. The key will be to keep the pressure on this up over the next couple of years.
However, in my view it is the former issue that has the capacity to derail the whole process and again shows the degree of unhelpful meddling by central government officials in the decisions of locally elected councillors and their officers who are better able to understand the needs of the area. If this can be resolved the calls of the developers are much more likely to fall on deaf ears.
The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the Inspectors initial concerns with the plan an to agree a way forward. That meeting will not decide on the 'soundness' of the document (my understanding is ) but one of four outcomes will be reached
- His initial concerns will be resolved and the process will proceed
- His concerns will not be resolved at this stage but the process will still proceed
- The examination will be suspended while further work on the Core Strategy takes place
- The Inspector will indicate that the Government may want to withdraw the Core Strategy for a formal resubmission in due course.
Ahead of this meeting two issues have arisen in relation to the plan.
1) The Government Office for the South East have written to the Council indicating that they have some concerns with the plan. This is very unfortunate given the lengths the Council has gone to to ensure that they were consulted on the drafting at an earlier stage.
2) Two local developers have made a series of objections to the plan including proposing specific Green Belt sites, one of which in Oxted for 650 homes be included within the draft Strategy. This is opposed by the Council.
This latter issue has prompted considerable objection from residents in the North of Oxted and they have formed the Oxted and Limpsfield Residents Group to fight this proposal. I very much applaud the action in local residents in opposing this and I hope the Inspector will conclude over the course of the examination process that that the motives of the developers in proposing specific sites have everything to do with narrow commercial self interest and little to do with the housing needs of the district over the next 15 years. The key will be to keep the pressure on this up over the next couple of years.
However, in my view it is the former issue that has the capacity to derail the whole process and again shows the degree of unhelpful meddling by central government officials in the decisions of locally elected councillors and their officers who are better able to understand the needs of the area. If this can be resolved the calls of the developers are much more likely to fall on deaf ears.
Thursday 27 March 2008
Surrey Police Authority - Council Tax CAPPED
The Government have announced their intention to cap Surrey Police's 9.7% council tax increase in 2008. Should Surrey Police be capped, the force may have to conduct a £600,000 re-billing exercise to change the coming financial year’s council tax bills. Alternatively, reductions could be made for 2009/10. The costs of any re-billing would be met by the Police, although it would be Tandridge which would have to carry it out. Surrey Police's increase compares to Tandridge's below inflation increase of 3.9% and Surrey County Council's increase of 4.8%.
To see Surrey Police's response to the Government's threat click here.
I think it is disgraceful that Surrey Police's central government funding is so paltry that they have had to resort to this.
To see Surrey Police's response to the Government's threat click here.
I think it is disgraceful that Surrey Police's central government funding is so paltry that they have had to resort to this.
Water Water everywhere, if you are prepared to pay
Sutton and East Surrey Water have written saying that over the next couple of years they plan to approach all residents who have a swimming pool or who use a garden sprinkler in the Oxted area to get them to install a water meter.
I think it is broadly right that we should pay for our water by use, given we do for all other types of utility and metering should cause wastage of water to fall as people will be more inclined to get that leaky tap fixed. But there has to be a return.
We know that if we need electricity, petrol or gas we can have some as long as we are prepared to pay. The same must be true for water. Water companies must invest to ensure that they have enough supplies to meet long hot summers even if the winters are also dry.
I think it is broadly right that we should pay for our water by use, given we do for all other types of utility and metering should cause wastage of water to fall as people will be more inclined to get that leaky tap fixed. But there has to be a return.
We know that if we need electricity, petrol or gas we can have some as long as we are prepared to pay. The same must be true for water. Water companies must invest to ensure that they have enough supplies to meet long hot summers even if the winters are also dry.
Saturday 22 March 2008
£10 MILLION to be spent on affordable housing in Tandridge.
Yes that's £10 whole million for 240 new homes across the district over the next four years. Superb news, and I know I am a little late on commenting on this one, (see the BBC's coverage) but it is a superb achievement for Conservative Tandridge.
Just so we are not to be accused of New Labour type spinning of constantly re-annoucing existing spending , that amount is is made up of a grant of £7.4million from the Housing Corporation announced last week for 195 homes oer the next three years together with £2.5million in the current financial year for 40 new homes.
And Oxted South is set to be one of the locations in Tandridge which will benefit from affordable homes, with two schemes already in an advanced stage of planning, which if approved will provide more than 20 new homes for local people.
Just so we are not to be accused of New Labour type spinning of constantly re-annoucing existing spending , that amount is is made up of a grant of £7.4million from the Housing Corporation announced last week for 195 homes oer the next three years together with £2.5million in the current financial year for 40 new homes.
And Oxted South is set to be one of the locations in Tandridge which will benefit from affordable homes, with two schemes already in an advanced stage of planning, which if approved will provide more than 20 new homes for local people.
Cameron's cycle faux pas
I am not going to condone David Cameron for breaking traffic laws. As both a pedestrian and a motorist (as well as at times a fellow cyclist) it is incredibly frustrating when people on bikes jump red lights.
However on a positive note, the Mirror's covert surveillance demonstrates that Cameron's commitment to a green and healthy form of transport wasn't just for the cameras!
However on a positive note, the Mirror's covert surveillance demonstrates that Cameron's commitment to a green and healthy form of transport wasn't just for the cameras!
Tuesday 18 March 2008
Canvassing - Week 1 Round-Up
Given the constraints of daylight, (i.e. it is hard to canvass after dark and before the clocks go forward the sun is setting before most people get home from work), the first week was very successful. There was a positive reception on the doorstep to the houses we called at and we will follow up later in the campaign on residents to whom we delivered Liz's election address.
It really does help when a candidate has lived and really contributed to a community for such a long time ( 42 years in Liz's case).
It really does help when a candidate has lived and really contributed to a community for such a long time ( 42 years in Liz's case).
Sunday 16 March 2008
One Nation Conservatism
Below is an extract from a speech made by David Cameron this weekend. It illustrates why I am a Conservative:
"More flexible working. Extending parental leave. Corporate responsibility. More NHS health visitors. I know what some of you might be thinking. All this family-friendly stuff he's going on about: it's not really very Conservative, is it? Let me tell you why I think it's not just Conservative, but it's seriously Conservative.
If we Conservatives are serious when we say we want a smaller state and lower taxes, we have to have a serious plan for making it happen. And the truth is this: you won't end up with sustainably lower taxes unless you cut the real costs of government. And the real costs of government are the social problems that cause public spending, and the state, to grow and grow. And the whole point is that we Conservatives know that government cannot solve these problems on its own. So when, for example, we discuss this with business, here is the argument I will make. You in business - you want the same things I want: less tax, less red tape. I want to help you cut your costs, the costs imposed by government. But to do that, you're going to have to help me cut my costs - the costs on society imposed by some of the things that business does.
That's why this family-friendly stuff is Conservative - seriously Conservative. It's about solving our social problems for the long term. Reducing demands on the state. And showing that the way to do it is through social responsibility, not state control."
"More flexible working. Extending parental leave. Corporate responsibility. More NHS health visitors. I know what some of you might be thinking. All this family-friendly stuff he's going on about: it's not really very Conservative, is it? Let me tell you why I think it's not just Conservative, but it's seriously Conservative.
If we Conservatives are serious when we say we want a smaller state and lower taxes, we have to have a serious plan for making it happen. And the truth is this: you won't end up with sustainably lower taxes unless you cut the real costs of government. And the real costs of government are the social problems that cause public spending, and the state, to grow and grow. And the whole point is that we Conservatives know that government cannot solve these problems on its own. So when, for example, we discuss this with business, here is the argument I will make. You in business - you want the same things I want: less tax, less red tape. I want to help you cut your costs, the costs imposed by government. But to do that, you're going to have to help me cut my costs - the costs on society imposed by some of the things that business does.
That's why this family-friendly stuff is Conservative - seriously Conservative. It's about solving our social problems for the long term. Reducing demands on the state. And showing that the way to do it is through social responsibility, not state control."
Church Website
St John's Church in Hurst Green, where I worship, has just launched a 'beta' version of its new website.
For those interested follow this link.
For those interested follow this link.
First Day Canvassing
In the end bad weather caused Thursday night's canvassing to be called off, so we went out yesterday morning to make up for lost time. Canvassing is a very helpful discipline for a Councillor as it makes sure that you get to go round the whole of your patch at least once a year (clearly I get out and about but it is hard to ensure that I go round all the roads in the ward and this makes sure I do so in a structured way). On Saturday we visited a couple of roads in a newish development.
Three things struck me as interesting 1 - where is everyone at 10am on a Saturday?, an awful lot of people were clearly up and out already; 2 - a brand new children's play area had been completed since my last visit, in my view a great resource; 3 - the level of turnover seems much higher than in the ward as a whole with a number of properties with estate agents' boards outside and residents having changed since the last visit, despite people on the doorstep saying how much they like the area.
Those residents who were in seemed very happy with the area and unusually there were absolutely no issues to follow up.
Three things struck me as interesting 1 - where is everyone at 10am on a Saturday?, an awful lot of people were clearly up and out already; 2 - a brand new children's play area had been completed since my last visit, in my view a great resource; 3 - the level of turnover seems much higher than in the ward as a whole with a number of properties with estate agents' boards outside and residents having changed since the last visit, despite people on the doorstep saying how much they like the area.
Those residents who were in seemed very happy with the area and unusually there were absolutely no issues to follow up.
Thursday 13 March 2008
And we're off..
Last night Oxted South Conservatives fired the starting gun for this year's council election campaign. From tonight we will be out on the doorsteps asking residents what they think about the Council, to discuss any issues of concern and ask voters to support Liz Parker in her campaign for re-election on 1 May.
Budget Blues
With taxes up and borrowing Darling's budget did little to prepare us for the possible recession heading our way. We have been very fortunate over the past 14 years that a set of tough decisions made in the early 1990s combined with a great deal of luck have kept the UK economy continually growing. However Labour have done nothing to prepare for the bad times, so if we do hit recession over the next few years I expect it could get quite miserable.
Tuesday 11 March 2008
In Touch
To read about about how Tandridge District Council have improved services despite a lower than inflation increase in council tax and about the re-adoption of Liz Parker, as the candidate for the 2008 election in Oxted South as well as the rest of our spring In Touch, click here:
Fall of the Governor, Fall of a President
I don't normally blog about international issues.
Firstly because I don't have anything original to say and secondly because they don't have direct relevance to day to day life on Oxted. But i thought I would comment on two tonight.
First, that of Elliot Spitzer, NY Governor. Now I believe that all human beings are fallible and I also believe that politicians deserve a private life. However, when a politician commits a crime or campaigns on the moral high ground I think they become fair game. And Governor Spitzer has certainly fallen off his pedestal in a big way. For a man who made his reputation trashing those of others he must have been off his rocker to have thought he could get away with being connected to a Vice-ring. Makes the peccadillo's of Ministers in the Major back-to-basics years look very very minor indeed.
Second, that of a Presidential race. I write not about the US election, which is fascinating an has captured British (at least British press) imagination like no other I remember, but that of Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe looks to face his first serious challenge since independence, that of a former rising star in Zanu-PF. I have little doubt he will prevail as the Police state apparatus at his disposal combined with a divided opposition will work in his favour - but it does give some hope that that awful regime may be in its sunset years (although unfortunately not yet its dying days).
Firstly because I don't have anything original to say and secondly because they don't have direct relevance to day to day life on Oxted. But i thought I would comment on two tonight.
First, that of Elliot Spitzer, NY Governor. Now I believe that all human beings are fallible and I also believe that politicians deserve a private life. However, when a politician commits a crime or campaigns on the moral high ground I think they become fair game. And Governor Spitzer has certainly fallen off his pedestal in a big way. For a man who made his reputation trashing those of others he must have been off his rocker to have thought he could get away with being connected to a Vice-ring. Makes the peccadillo's of Ministers in the Major back-to-basics years look very very minor indeed.
Second, that of a Presidential race. I write not about the US election, which is fascinating an has captured British (at least British press) imagination like no other I remember, but that of Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe looks to face his first serious challenge since independence, that of a former rising star in Zanu-PF. I have little doubt he will prevail as the Police state apparatus at his disposal combined with a divided opposition will work in his favour - but it does give some hope that that awful regime may be in its sunset years (although unfortunately not yet its dying days).
Tuesday 4 March 2008
Benefit Fraud - Together we can crack it.
On Friday 22 February at Redhill Magistrates’ Court, a Mill Lane resident in Hurst Green was found guilty of benefit fraud, given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay the Council’s costs of £472. By claiming she did not live with a partner, the resident defrauded the Council of housing benefit of £6,888 and council tax benefit of £835 for three years.
In July 2005, May 2006 and June 2007, she signed an official form stating she did not have a partner living with her, which was untrue. She claimed her joint tenant was just a friend/flatmate, although she did have joint bank accounts with him.
Following a review of single claimants, the guilty resident's benefit was suspended in June 2007 and the Council started an investigation. In August 2007 she attended an interview under caution at the Council and admitted she did live with her partner. The Council decided to prosecute. She is now paying the money she wrongly claimed back.
The message to residents facing financial problems is to seek help at an early stage avoid a court appearence and a criminal record. The Council has a special Fraud Hotline - 01883 732971, which can be used to report suspected benefit fraud. All calls are treated confidentially.
In July 2005, May 2006 and June 2007, she signed an official form stating she did not have a partner living with her, which was untrue. She claimed her joint tenant was just a friend/flatmate, although she did have joint bank accounts with him.
Following a review of single claimants, the guilty resident's benefit was suspended in June 2007 and the Council started an investigation. In August 2007 she attended an interview under caution at the Council and admitted she did live with her partner. The Council decided to prosecute. She is now paying the money she wrongly claimed back.
The message to residents facing financial problems is to seek help at an early stage avoid a court appearence and a criminal record. The Council has a special Fraud Hotline - 01883 732971, which can be used to report suspected benefit fraud. All calls are treated confidentially.
Play Time
Over the next few years, Tandridge District Council wants to improve children's playgrounds, but first it wants to find out how residents would like to see the playgrounds develop.
Every year RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) assesses the Council’s playgrounds to identify any worn or dangerous equipment, parts and play surfaces. A recent report shows as many as 75 individual pieces of equipment may need replacing within the next few years. So now is a good time to shape the future of playgrounds. I'd be especially keen to hear from Oxted South residents about what they think about the playgrounds in Hurst Green.
Until 31 May the Council is carrying out a survey to get people’s views and to find out what sort of equipment they really want to use. For a copy of the questionnaire please e-mail play@tandridge.gov.uk, or fill it in online at www.tandridge.gov.uk/consultation.
Every year RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) assesses the Council’s playgrounds to identify any worn or dangerous equipment, parts and play surfaces. A recent report shows as many as 75 individual pieces of equipment may need replacing within the next few years. So now is a good time to shape the future of playgrounds. I'd be especially keen to hear from Oxted South residents about what they think about the playgrounds in Hurst Green.
Until 31 May the Council is carrying out a survey to get people’s views and to find out what sort of equipment they really want to use. For a copy of the questionnaire please e-mail play@tandridge.gov.uk, or fill it in online at www.tandridge.gov.uk/consultation.
Saturday 1 March 2008
Busy Busy
Ten days is a long time in which not to post a blog entry, so apologies. Life and work have been extremely busy.
After the excitement of full council two weeks ago Wednesday saw a return to Council as normal as the Planning and Environment Committee discussed the government's latest bureaucratic wheeze (long lists of validation criteria for online planning applications) and we agreed to a slimmed down set of key performance indicators focussing on service deivery. Thursday followed with a very useful teach in on planning enforcement, what the Council's powers are and how they should be best exercised to prevent unauthorised development blighting the disrict and last night was had our group annual dinner, which was held at the lovely Tandridge Golf Club.
After the excitement of full council two weeks ago Wednesday saw a return to Council as normal as the Planning and Environment Committee discussed the government's latest bureaucratic wheeze (long lists of validation criteria for online planning applications) and we agreed to a slimmed down set of key performance indicators focussing on service deivery. Thursday followed with a very useful teach in on planning enforcement, what the Council's powers are and how they should be best exercised to prevent unauthorised development blighting the disrict and last night was had our group annual dinner, which was held at the lovely Tandridge Golf Club.
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