Spotlight on Chineham Newsletter - Spring 2001
Out of Touch!
By the time you read this, the prime minister is likely to have confirmed the date of the general election. Either way, county council elections are scheduled for 7 June 2001.
The question is, what is the value of the county council? Certainly, central government is continuing to undermine the powers of local government – started by Margaret Thatcher, but driven forward by Tony Blair. Over half the county council’s expenditure is on education yet the current government has set a firm course for more centralised education funding and general interference. In principle this is wrong, (no electoral mandate exists for such a change). That said, it is currently very difficult to argue in favour of our county council, as presently administered.
One of the current mantras of Whitehall is "Best Value". This is about all aspects of the local government decision-making processes and especially how our council tax payments are spent. One of the overriding criteria is that of consultation. Yet does that happen in any meaningful way?
Take a few current topics:
• Chineham Incinerator, (still misleadingly being described as an Energy from Waste Plant, as if power generation were its principal purpose).
• Leylandii or similar tall screen planting at incinerator. (Refused by the county council as they deemed such to be merely "weeds").
• A meaningful Burner Liaison Panel.
• Consideration of replacement traffic lights at Thornhill Way. (Only last minute local involvement.)
• Speed limits on A33 through Chineham, (section to become 50mph!!!).
• School catchment areas.
• Changes to structure of administration of the county council.
Public contribution to debate on these issues has been far from encouraged, and where it has occurred, the likes of County Councillor Dudley Keep, have shown no reluctance to disregard the normal democratic practices in the conduct of meetings, (votes, for instance, being invariably excluded). The expense to the public purse does also not appear to trouble Cllr Keep in choosing to fly to Leeds on behalf of the BEST Panel (Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport!!!) when seriously cheaper and more environmentally friendly modes are readily available. Yet he continues as Chairman of several very important county committees.
So when the county council elections are held, do please exercise your democratic right to vote. Who is elected can make quite a big difference. Unfortunately as a Chineham resident, you will not be able to show a preference for or against Cllr Keep as he "represents" another county division. Sadly, our current representative Hazel Vanbergen is not seeking re-election. This is a great shame, since despite being a member of the ruling political party, she has frequently shown great independence. Thank you Hazel. Meanwhile, fellow residents, do try to make sure that whoever you vote for is likely to put the interests of residents before that of party or self!
Smoulderings
Construction of the replacement incinerator is well under way. Although this probably means that it will eventually start its pollution charged purpose; nothing is certain. You need only to visit the Basingstoke Burner Action Campaign web site (http://bbac.netpark-ltd.co.uk) to see that substantial scientific evidence against such installations is mounting rapidly and several European governments (inevitably not yet our own) are having misgiving about this particular "solution" to waste management.
Parlez Vouz Français?
Talking of "management", Spotlight is a very internationalistic publication but has difficulty in understanding why the balance of French involvement in this project, right down to the security staff, is so high. Could not more local staff be employed? Does - for instance - a French security man really understand local custom and practice, let alone English Law, to the same extent as would a local? This is not the right way to integrate.
Meanwhile Hampshire Waste Services are seeking the county council’s agreement to 24 hour working on site because the project has fallen behind. Even more bizarre is that seemingly any penalty payments arising have to be met by Hampshire County Council (us). If you have questions about this topic, do get in touch with the parish council’s representative on the "liaison" panel Chris Tomblin via the Parish Clerk on 474500.
What protection can we expect from the Environment Agency when it is so happy to fill our atmosphere with dioxins from burning slaughtered animals and seeks to play down the undoubted hazards?
---oOo---
|
