31 December 2009

What do they stand for?

Having received what can be assumed to be the first batch of election literature, this has made me wonder how any candidate could convince me that theirs was a 'safe pair of hands'. Its a tough ask because we have plenty of experience, both locally and nationally, of politicians and representatives seeking our vote then executing their own individual and exclusive agendas.

Whilst its very comforting and seductive to read that someone 'cares about the community', what is much more important, after the charade of the last few years, is whether or not candidates (when elected) understand the rules governing their activities as councillors.

Who will set the standards of behaviour within the 'new' Town Council, especially when so many councillors will be completely new to the work of being a councillor and unused to their new responsibilities?

What point is there in a 'code of conduct' if it isn't understood, respected and enforced? The 'conflicts of interest' that were so evident within the Council pre 27th October went unaddressed by any of the then councillors or by the Town Clerk. There was an almost complete absence of competitive tendering with regard to the so called 'community hall' project (predicted in public by the then Chair of the Council, Cllr Keenan in November of 2006) and that went unaddressed by any of the then councillors or by the Town Clerk.

The 'experienced' councillors, Neale and Harrison, cannot be relied upon to set the highest standards of conduct because they turned a blind eye to the activities which were commonplace within the Council pre 27th October. Sadly, the same can be said for the Council's 'responsible officer', the Town Clerk, Roger Calderwood.

So our new councillors, when elected, will be very much on their own, inexperienced and without any guidance as to how they should behave. In such a circumstance, it will be hard to blame any of them if they get it wrong and it will be in the interests of the rump of the old Council, Messers Neale, Harrison and the Town Clerk, to allow them to make mistakes which could be then interpreted as the new councillors sharing the low standards of the previous administration.

So when I read about candidates 'caring for the community', it gives me little comfort. What I hope is that the successful candidates, when elected, will seek out sources of credible advice such as the National Association of Local Councils, and ensure that Somerton Town Council affiliates to that organisation and signs up to its standards. I hope that the successful candidates, when elected, will read the code of conduct and take it seriously. I hope that, when elected, the successful candidates will appreciate that declaring interests in the Register of Members Interests isn't the 'optional activity' that the Town Clerk currently believes it to be.

The forthcoming election will only be a very faltering first step along a road littered with obstacles. It is going to take real courage for the new councillors to challenge to poor standards of behaviour embraced by the previous administration. I hope that they have the courage.

Till next time.

Niall

30 December 2009

Somerton Town Council in breach of Freedom of Information Legislation - Yes, really.

A rather extensive letter from the Office of The Information Commissioner awaited my return home yesterday. Dated 17th December 2009, it is a 'Decision Notice' where the Commissioner has found against Somerton Town Council in the matter of Freedom of Information requests made of the Council going back to May of 2009. Its a reasonably comprehensive finding and leaves little doubt that Somerton Town Council is in breach of the FoI legislation.

Obviously the matter may not stop here as I'm quite sure that our Town Clerk, Roger 'the dodger' Calderwood, along with the rump of the Canvinite Council, Messers Neale and Harrison, may still seek to blow more taxpayer's money taking more legal opinions about how to obstruct the law. But, there again, it isn't their money - its the good old taxpayers so why should they worry?

This one may well run and run but, sadly, Somerton Town Council won't be able to be the first Town Council to receive a 'criminal caution' over such a matter - that honour goes to Cardinham Parish Council. But maybe Somerton Town Council could be the second.

Tick - tock.

Niall

16 December 2009

All around the world




14 December 2009

All around the world





12 December 2009

Trust and politics. Mutually exclusive?


This morning a real letter dropped through my letterbox from our local MP, David Heath. Its an interesting letter and it shows, quite clearly, that David, like many other politicians, isn't listening. The message that comes across so loudly from every corner of this country is that the electorate do not feel represented yet our MP's still want us to tell them what to do. Maybe they think that writing a letter like this one (see below) will convince us that they are really listening. But what good is listening if they go off and do what they want to do irrespective of the views of the electorate?

David Heath is a pretty average MP and I'm not singling him out for specific criticism but his letter illustrates the problem that we face. At the end of the day our politicians want to see our views and needs through the lens of their agenda. Until that changes then nothing will change. The politicians are, in fact, the problem.

Till next time.

Niall

9 December 2009

Different hall - same rubbish


Since Muck&Brass shot to national and international fame (thanks to the 'Somerton Suiciders') I've been receiving a steady stream of similar stories from across the country. Its been interesting to hear these stories and see where they are similar and where they are different from the Somerton experience. So far there are a small number of specific and obvious similarities and they are that offending Councils are, commonly, a) secretive, b) exclusive, c) do not consult and d) are assisted in these efforts by a Town Clerk who supports those activities.

I'm also struck by the degree of frustration felt by many individuals who put huge amounts of effort into seeking redress only to discover that the various agencies who are meant to regulate such situations (Monitoring Officers, Local Government Ombudsman, Standards Board etc., etc., blah, blah) tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to taking action. It seems that unless you can establish obvious corruption and then present it, neatly tied up with a big pink bow, then the so called 'regulators' tend to be rather reluctant to 'regulate'.

However, the muckandbrass formula of humour, mixed in with a dollop of ridicule and more than a hint of lampoon, does seem to be quite effective in these circumstances and its a recipe that I hope others will emulate. Clearly there is a significant degree of disatisfaction across the country with our elected representatives and its equally clear that the checks and balances that are meant to regulate such situations quite simply don't work. That being the case, it would seem that those of us who wish to stand up and be counted should display the same flagrant disregard for the rules and conventions of our democracy that these delinquent councils display.

Till next time, may your God protect you from those who don't.

Niall

7 December 2009

Candidates list.


Candidates for the current vacancies on Somerton's Town Council are:

AUSTIN, Paul Anthony - 44 Parklands Way, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6JG
BANKS, Ashley Victor - Ash Trees, Northfield, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6SL
BOTTOMLEY, Steven - Hunters Lodge, Catsgore, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7HX
BROOM, Shane - 27 St Cleers Way, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6QZ - New Person, Fresh Ideas, Better Future
CHAMBERS, Margaret Ruth - 6 May Pole Knap, Somerton, TA11 6HR - Working With The Whole Community
CLARKE, Pauline - 55 Pinewood, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6JR
COOK, Jane - 3 Badgers Cross Lane, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7JB
Davies, Barrie Thomas - 5 Lawrence Close, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6TG
FRASER-HOPEWELL, Michael George - The School House, West End, Somerton, TA11 6RW - A Vote For Common Sense
GOESSEN, Gerard - Withdrawn
HOGHTON, Alison Margaret - Keepers Cottage, Midney, Somerton, TA11 7HR
HURLEY, Judith - Riverside, Pesters Lane, Somerton, TA11 7AB
JOTCHAM, Tony - Sanantone, Cedar Grove, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6LJ
LANGMAID, Nancy Georgina - 32 Highfield Way, Somerton, TA11 6SQ
MEDLEY, Vic - Five Farthings, 7 Behind Berry, Somerton, Somerset - Professional Accountant
MILDON, Sam - 12 St Cleers Orchard, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6QT
RAYBOULD, Brian Walter - 17 Waverley, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6SH
SPEARMAN, Peter John - 17 Ivyleaf Road, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6RP
STANDEN, Sue - 2 King Ina Road, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6JX
THOMAS, Phil - Lingmell, 5 Forge Corner, West End, Somerton, TA11 6RW - Helping Local People Work Together
WATTS, John - Wren Cottage, Vicarage Lane, Somerton, TA11 7NQ

This information is as provided by South Somerset District Council.
If there are any inaccuracies, please contact muckandbrass@googlemail.com immediately.

A virtual envelope (Its an Onion pt 2)

This one dropped through my virtual mailbox earlier today.



The Badger's Cross development seems to have had surprising supporters before it became public.

Niall

5 December 2009

A better use of the money

I'm no great supporter of our Afghanistan adventure but the fact is that our armed forces are out there and they deserve at least the same level of support that we have given to our banks and bankers. This got me to thinking about the truly obscene waste of taxpayer's money that is represented by the Tin Dunny and how it could be put to better use, if we had any choice in the matter. How many SA80 rifles (including SUSAT sight) could Somerton provide if it didn't own the Dunny (claimed value £1.3M).

The answer is one thousand, four hundred and ninety four and a quarter (and I hope that they are all there if you manage to count them).

So, if we could choose, which would be of more benefit right now, the Tin Dunny or 1,494.25 SA80 rifles. And the only inconvenience would be that the Town Clerk would have to return to the Parish Rooms and become available once again.

But we don't have the choice, do we?

Niall

3 December 2009

Its an onion.........

The Badger's Cross story keeps on turning up surprises. Another envelope (not brown) dropped through the letterbox a couple of days ago and it contained the letter which is reproduced below.


The heading makes it clear that this is a planning response to a pre-application enquiry regarding moving part of Westcombe Waste's operation to Badger's Cross. The planning response to this enquiry is a categorical 'NO' so why should the latest application be any different? The location is the same. The roads are the same. The use is the same, even to thepoint of now suggesting the inclusion of this facility on the site.

Add to that the fact that Somerton isn't exactly begging for a relocated HWRC and that Somerset Waste Partnership didn't instigate the current application but went along for the ride because the applicant made it financially tasty. Then, of course, there is the fact that sinking £600k of taxpayer's funds into this unecessary installation will divert much needed funds from other locations in Somerset where there is factual need (Frome, Yeovil etc). All of the aforementioned make a good argument for Badger's Cross not happening.

So where is the argument that supports the Badger's Cross application? The answer is simple. It lies in the control of the estate roads at Bancombe Road Industrial Estate.

Till next time, may your God go with you (even to the HWRC).

Niall