How cool is that man?

I met Richard Carr today, the still fairly new Chief Executive of Central Beds Council who had invited all Councillors to one of a series of drop-ins on a get-to-know-you basis.

Although I'd voted against his appointment on a matter of principle owing to his mega remuneration package (one of two Councillors so doing), that was six months ago at my first Council meeting. Today, I went to meet him with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised on a number of counts.

1. He grasped at once why I'm concerned about the lack of free sports facilities such as BMX-skate parks for our young people in Barton-le-Clay and in Bushmead. He showed concern about the risk of them becoming disaffected if left to hang around. He's aware that as a society we're becoming less tolerant of young people.

2. He engaged with our issue of poor parking arrangements in the centre of Barton-le-Clay and asked that I give him a few days to approach key people before I take action.

3. He listened to the issues surrounding the Youth Hut, unused for a couple of years now in the centre of Barton-le-Clay and made notes about the ideas being mooted.

4. He undertook to discuss with the Council Chairman my proposal that we should be neutral where matters of faith are concerned and either have no prayers before Council meetings (my preference) or ensure that we are even-handed when inviting spokespeople from other faiths. (Since my arrival last June, only Christian spokespeople have led prayers.)

5. He laughs easily, a cross between a belly laugh and a chortle; most infectious. Sounds just like Tim How (of Majestic Wine Warehouse fame) of whom a work colleague said, on hearing him speak at a conference, "How cool is that man?"

I'll need some more time to see how cool Richard Carr may be. Meanwhile, I look forward to some help in getting resource behind these much needed projects and to hearing more of that laugh.

Other projects for the Barton-le-Clay ward: east-west public transport and cycle routes; more public waste bins; public loos. What else would you like to add to our wish list?

Wannabe BMX biker-park boys

They're not stupid, the young lads who hang around our streets on their bikes.

Certainly, the ones I met this morning in Bushmead were just the opposite.

Sharp-eyed ("What are you doing, knocking on doors?"; this as I canvassed my way round Chalkdown).

Cocky ("Hello Eileen!", shouted the unofficial leader, as he caught sight of one of the lovely elderly neighbours I'd been speaking to; she ignored the, presumably, over-familiar call in front of others).

But above all bored.

"Do you have a BMX park?", I asked. "Not one for miles", they groaned, "though we have asked Luton Borough Council to put one in Bushmead Park".

It's the same everywhere in my ward. Barton's boys are equally bursting with energy and bored out of their brains at this time of year, when the weather makes it impossible for them to go off over the hills on their bikes, even if their parents allowed them to.

It was great to see the dozen or so 12-14 year olds out and about in Bushmead with their mates, in the fresh air, even on such a sullen January day. Much better than being stuck at home in front of a computer game. They deserve something more than the zippo that Councils and the property developers have provided young people with.

I gave them my contact details and asked them to get a parent to call me if they wanted to help with the project, because that's what I think is needed: a push from the parents and a pull from the public sector, people such as me and those working in youth services in Central Beds and Luton Borough Council.

It's about time that local Councils, starting with Central Bedfordshire Council, and other bodies that claim to have an interest in our communities, earmarked some money to go towards the project. We're letting these young people down; they don't want to hang around the streets any more than locals want to see them hanging around.

After all, the bored young biker lads of Barton and Bushmead are worth it.

Want to help with the Barton-le-Clay BMX-park project? Or indeed get one going for Bushmead? Then please e-mail me at janet.nunn@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk using the heading 'Barton BMX' or 'Bushmead BMX' to get involved. Thank you.

Why do people do what they do?

On this day, one year after US President Obama's inauguration, I was asked what my motivation was for offering to be on a particular committee. The answer was so obvious (to me) that the question rather threw me. (I hope my eyebrows didn't betray this.)

To make a difference in a positive direction. Wouldn't anyone? Doesn't everyone? Look at Obama.

But of course, motivations are more complex than that. People do things to get them out of the house, for example; to give them status in their community; to give their life meaning; because they think they should; because they've been flattered or coerced into offering or accepting; because they think it would be fun.

So now I want to think about my motivations, to prioritise my ideas and thoughts about the committee, and know the answer to the question, if there's no direction of travel, just a state of being, is that good enough?

Local initiative to keep us safe

Did you go to the Council offices at Chicksands tonight? Part-ay! Well, nearly.

It was a Central Bedfordshire 'Keeping our communities safe' initiative, open to all from 6pm to 9pm with stalls laid out by the police, NHS, Fire Authority, etc, etc.

Most useful contact: CAN Community Drug workers and their 'space d' programme to offer support and info to family and friends concerned about someone's drug or alcohol use: Linda 07817 313 446 or Gary 07950 301 426
Most timely leaflet: Crown Prosecution Service flyer on 'Householders and the use of force against intruders'
Most cool dudes: the two NHS guys, expert on flu, swine or otherwise
Most helpful helper: police informer Andrew Lane
Most welcoming, smiley face: Sherry Pugh, a local lass working the Pay Back stand, a reassuring initiative that recovers assets from criminals to feed back into local communities.

Sincere thanks to Sharon Glenister at the Barton-le-Clay Perfect Pets pet shop for kindly agreeing to put a large poster up advertising the event in her shop window. Thanks also to the Chemist Shop for offering if only I'd had A5 size ones (fair enough - I'll tell the Council). Not so great from the Co-op, who don't usually put up posters, apparently:-(

Conservation area consultations

It seems it's time for the Council to consult on conservation areas again. Every three years or so.

The one for Barton-le-Clay is proposing an extension to incorporate the Green at the junction of Manor Road and Bedford Road, with Lime Close cuddling the other two sides. Check it out on the Central Beds website, under Conservation area. (It denies knowing about Barton-le-Clay, but if you ask for Streatley, it pops up on that same page with a pdf attachment. You can complete a short questionnaire on-line, which is handy given that the deadline is looming: 8 Feb.)


There were no changes proposed to the Streatley conservation area, luckily, since I got notification of that less than 10 days before the afternoon exhibition at Streatley; its deadline for comment closed 16 January.

Welcome to Janet Nunn's Barton le Clay blog

I'm now fulfilling one of my new year's resolutions, as one of Barton le Clay's two Liberal Democrat members of Central Bedfordshire Council. by setting up my blog.

I plan to use the blog to let people in Barton le Clay, Bushmead, Sharpenhoe, Streatley and Sundon, who make up our ward, know what's going in in the area, what the council is doing and what the local issues are that affect them.

The blog will give you a chance to come back to me and let me know what's affecting your life and what you need from your council and, especially, from your councillors.

Thank you for taking the time to read what's on this blog. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.