Today, I met with Surrey County Council officers outside Moorhouse School on Mill Lane in Hurst Green for a site meeting to discuss a new pavement and parking restrictions.
At the moment commuter parking and a lack of pavement makes it very dangerous for pedestrians to walk from Hurst Green road onto Mill Lane and towards Mill Shaw. After a number of years of campaigning on behalf of local residents by Oxted South Conservatives the County Council are shortly to build a new footpath to connect the School to the pavement that starts by Mill Shaw and new 'curfew' parking restrictions will help curb commuter parking, without impacting too much on local residents to make walking (and driving) at the junction a lot safer. The pavement should be installed at half term and the yellow line could come even sooner than that.
Monday 26 January 2009
Housing
At Full-Council last week we debated and I strongly supported a Lib-Dem motion (credit where its due) requesting that the Government unfetter local councils on Housing, by giving local people the power to decide on how best to provide housing support in their local communities. We may disagree on which powers we might use or measures we would take, but it should be for local people to decide.
At the moment this Labour government via an unfair 'Negative Subsidy' (i.e. additional tax) regime take money away from TDC's Housing Department. Tandridge’s 2,686 tenants pay £10.3 million a year in rent, but £3.7 million of this is taken by the Government. This will rise to nearly £3.9 million in 2009/2010. A better funding system is needed to help local councils meet the national housing affordability crisis and to ensure homes are made decent.
Along with the the minimal grant given to TDC from Government it is just one more example of how poorly it treats people who live outside its heartlands - despite the fact that decent housing in the South-East is a lot more costly than in say the North East and people on low incomes.
The motion was passed unanimously.
At the moment this Labour government via an unfair 'Negative Subsidy' (i.e. additional tax) regime take money away from TDC's Housing Department. Tandridge’s 2,686 tenants pay £10.3 million a year in rent, but £3.7 million of this is taken by the Government. This will rise to nearly £3.9 million in 2009/2010. A better funding system is needed to help local councils meet the national housing affordability crisis and to ensure homes are made decent.
Along with the the minimal grant given to TDC from Government it is just one more example of how poorly it treats people who live outside its heartlands - despite the fact that decent housing in the South-East is a lot more costly than in say the North East and people on low incomes.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Weekly Recycling Now District-wide
Oxted South may have had it for well over a year, but now Tandridge's Weekly Recycling Services is to be rolled out to all households.
The change means another 19,000 households will start to get their recycling collected every week and be able to recycle plastic bottles. Residents in flats with communal recycling facilities and banks will continue with the current collection service.
Last year residents helped collect more recycling than ever before, increasing the amount of waste recycled to 29%. This included:
2,240 tonnes of glass.
6,660 tonnes of newspapers, other paper and card.
200 tonnes of food and drink cans.
50 tonnes of plastics drinks bottles - that’s around 1.5 million bottles.
All the materials are sent to companies in the UK for recycling.
Residents who want to order boxes and bags should contact Amenity Services on 01883 732988, via the 24 hour automated telephone information service on 08459 400 472, online at http://www.tandridge.gov.uk/ or by e-mail to amenityservices@tandridge.gov.uk.
This means that despite entering an economic downturn, Tandridge has been able to roll-out weekly recycling, alongside a weekly refuse collection to all residents.
The change means another 19,000 households will start to get their recycling collected every week and be able to recycle plastic bottles. Residents in flats with communal recycling facilities and banks will continue with the current collection service.
Last year residents helped collect more recycling than ever before, increasing the amount of waste recycled to 29%. This included:
2,240 tonnes of glass.
6,660 tonnes of newspapers, other paper and card.
200 tonnes of food and drink cans.
50 tonnes of plastics drinks bottles - that’s around 1.5 million bottles.
All the materials are sent to companies in the UK for recycling.
Residents who want to order boxes and bags should contact Amenity Services on 01883 732988, via the 24 hour automated telephone information service on 08459 400 472, online at http://www.tandridge.gov.uk/ or by e-mail to amenityservices@tandridge.gov.uk.
This means that despite entering an economic downturn, Tandridge has been able to roll-out weekly recycling, alongside a weekly refuse collection to all residents.
Thursday 22 January 2009
Crime in Tandridge
Two bits of news locally.
First, I heard last night about some recent attempts at breaking in to homes on Rockfield Road and Rockfield Close in Oxted. I believe Police think that there is gang attempting to steal cars by taking car keys from hallway tables and the like. Having a burgular alarm may not deter them, so keep keys out of sight and easy reach.
Second there was a raid on a Cash-In-Transit deliver to Tesco in Caterham, yesterday morning. Police said they believe the same men carried out a robbery outside NatWest at The Green, Warlingham, on Tuesday. Apparently two guards were injured and a large amount of money was stolen.
If, as I think it is highly likely, that either or both of these gangs were from outside of the area this just illustrates why Surrey Police needs to be treated differently from a rural Force when it comes to funding.
First, I heard last night about some recent attempts at breaking in to homes on Rockfield Road and Rockfield Close in Oxted. I believe Police think that there is gang attempting to steal cars by taking car keys from hallway tables and the like. Having a burgular alarm may not deter them, so keep keys out of sight and easy reach.
Second there was a raid on a Cash-In-Transit deliver to Tesco in Caterham, yesterday morning. Police said they believe the same men carried out a robbery outside NatWest at The Green, Warlingham, on Tuesday. Apparently two guards were injured and a large amount of money was stolen.
If, as I think it is highly likely, that either or both of these gangs were from outside of the area this just illustrates why Surrey Police needs to be treated differently from a rural Force when it comes to funding.
Thursday 15 January 2009
Highways and Street Lighting
I met with Surrey Highways yesterday (along with a fellow councillors, District, County and Parish).
On a positive note a lot of progress has been made in repairing pot holes across Oxted South and was report that the broken paving slabs outside the Londis shop on the Hurst Green road will be replaced with tarmac.
The most interesting aspect (although deeply depressing) was that the County Council have absolutely no leverage over EDF Energy in connecting and repairing electrical connections for street lights. If EDF refuse to act, there are no sanctions that can be taken against them. And this situation is enshrined in legislation. We are all therefore at the mercy of EDF for our street lighting.... The lack of lights on the footbridge connecting Nunnappleton way and Pollards Oak road will unfortunately carry on for some time.
On a positive note a lot of progress has been made in repairing pot holes across Oxted South and was report that the broken paving slabs outside the Londis shop on the Hurst Green road will be replaced with tarmac.
The most interesting aspect (although deeply depressing) was that the County Council have absolutely no leverage over EDF Energy in connecting and repairing electrical connections for street lights. If EDF refuse to act, there are no sanctions that can be taken against them. And this situation is enshrined in legislation. We are all therefore at the mercy of EDF for our street lighting.... The lack of lights on the footbridge connecting Nunnappleton way and Pollards Oak road will unfortunately carry on for some time.
More Social Housing
Tonight the Development Control Committee will be discussing an application to build social housing on some dilapidated garages and unused council land at the back of the Pollards Oak Road shops.
This application was first proposed last year and whilst a great idea in principle had the major drawback that it would have blocked off a well used footpath connecting the railway station with the iron footbridge connecting Pollards Oak Road Shops with Nunappleton Way. Because of this I strongly opposed the application and it was withdrawn. I am happy to say that an application has now been submitted which retains the pathway. I very much hope (and expect) it will now be approved.
This application was first proposed last year and whilst a great idea in principle had the major drawback that it would have blocked off a well used footpath connecting the railway station with the iron footbridge connecting Pollards Oak Road Shops with Nunappleton Way. Because of this I strongly opposed the application and it was withdrawn. I am happy to say that an application has now been submitted which retains the pathway. I very much hope (and expect) it will now be approved.
Policeman Impresses
Last Thursday night, the 'Temporary' Chief Constable of Surrey came to address the Council.
He explained why the the funding settlement for the Force is so unfair. No other force has so much of its crime originating from outside its borders - nearly 50% of crime is imported from London, Kent, Hampshire or the Thames Valley. Surrey has the UK's two largest airports on its borders, M25, M23 and M3 running through it and faces a very real terrorist threat, but is still funded like a rural county constabulary.
What was so refreshing though was his response to Whitehall diktats. He has decided to throw out the targets imposed by the Home Office, but instead concentrating on making Surrey residents feel more secure and tackle the major crimes (not the ones that might allow a swift rise up the league tables). Surrey Police are also gathering intelligence about criminals operating outside of the county in order to be prepared wen they come in.
This appeared to me as Policing as it should be and a very refreshing contrast to the attitude taken in London, where the Met has become the enforcement arm of New Labour. I very much hope our Temporary Chief Constable becomes a permanent one.
He explained why the the funding settlement for the Force is so unfair. No other force has so much of its crime originating from outside its borders - nearly 50% of crime is imported from London, Kent, Hampshire or the Thames Valley. Surrey has the UK's two largest airports on its borders, M25, M23 and M3 running through it and faces a very real terrorist threat, but is still funded like a rural county constabulary.
What was so refreshing though was his response to Whitehall diktats. He has decided to throw out the targets imposed by the Home Office, but instead concentrating on making Surrey residents feel more secure and tackle the major crimes (not the ones that might allow a swift rise up the league tables). Surrey Police are also gathering intelligence about criminals operating outside of the county in order to be prepared wen they come in.
This appeared to me as Policing as it should be and a very refreshing contrast to the attitude taken in London, where the Met has become the enforcement arm of New Labour. I very much hope our Temporary Chief Constable becomes a permanent one.
Wednesday 7 January 2009
Lib Dems Soft on those who refuse to pay Council Tax
The Liberal Democrats are apparently calling for Councils to let off people who don't pay their Council Tax. This I think is wrong. While Councils should (and in TDC's case do) try to work with and support residents who have got into financial difficulties to ensure that they can pay off any arrears in a manageable way, there has to be a sanction for the very small minority of taxpayers who refuse to pay or refuse to talk to the council or about why they cannot pay. It is not fair to the vast majority who pay in full and on time, not to chase up people who do not do so.
Tuesday 6 January 2009
Labour wants to tax rubbish collection
I have just become aware of yet another decision taken by this government that if implemented will further increase the tax burden on hard pressed residents, for no benefit. Eric Pickles, Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary has said that 'This is just another cynical Labour attempt to tax families more by stealth, but with a thick coat of greenwash. The Government should be working instead with councils to help extend recycling collections, and make it easier for all households to go green'.
At the end of November, laws which allow the Government to impose new charges for household rubbish collections received Royal Assent. Ministers have confirmed that the Office of National Statistics will classify these new charges as a tax. Although bin taxes will be trialled in a series of so-called pilots, the small print of the legislation allows the Secretary of State to roll out and impose the taxes on all local authorities by Order, without any vote in Parliament.
Official technical documents reveal that the bin taxes will take one of four forms:
• Bin bag tax: Households must pay for special bin bags. Rubbish not placed in a paid-for bag will not be collected.
• Bin size tax: Households will be charged for the size of their bin; with families requiring a bigger bin paying the most.
• Weekly collection tax: Households needing a weekly rubbish collection will pay an extra charge.
• Bin chip tax: Households will receive a bill based on the weight of the contents of their bin, with microchips in the bin feeding through to a central billing database.
These taxes will increase taxes on families (who already tend to pay higher council taxes); will raise the overall tax burden due to the costs of levying and enforcing a new tax; and will harm the environment by fuelling fly-tipping and backyard burning.
Local Conservatives will fight these plans.
At the end of November, laws which allow the Government to impose new charges for household rubbish collections received Royal Assent. Ministers have confirmed that the Office of National Statistics will classify these new charges as a tax. Although bin taxes will be trialled in a series of so-called pilots, the small print of the legislation allows the Secretary of State to roll out and impose the taxes on all local authorities by Order, without any vote in Parliament.
Official technical documents reveal that the bin taxes will take one of four forms:
• Bin bag tax: Households must pay for special bin bags. Rubbish not placed in a paid-for bag will not be collected.
• Bin size tax: Households will be charged for the size of their bin; with families requiring a bigger bin paying the most.
• Weekly collection tax: Households needing a weekly rubbish collection will pay an extra charge.
• Bin chip tax: Households will receive a bill based on the weight of the contents of their bin, with microchips in the bin feeding through to a central billing database.
These taxes will increase taxes on families (who already tend to pay higher council taxes); will raise the overall tax burden due to the costs of levying and enforcing a new tax; and will harm the environment by fuelling fly-tipping and backyard burning.
Local Conservatives will fight these plans.
Thursday 1 January 2009
Happy New Year
I would like to wish all readers and especially those who live in Oxted, Hurst Green, Broadham Green and Merle Common a very Happy New Year.
There are some very big economic and political questions facing us all this year, nationally locally and in our every day lives. Hopefully the answers will become apparent during the year.
There are some very big economic and political questions facing us all this year, nationally locally and in our every day lives. Hopefully the answers will become apparent during the year.
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