Thank you, fellow Bartonians, for voting on Thursday and in particular for those 456 of you who voted for me, your local Lib Dem candidate.
Sadly for me, it wasn't enough. I came in second after Ian Shingler, a former Lib Dem councillor and Bartonian, who is now your independent representative on the council.
I have enjoyed my two years on Central Beds Council enormously. It gave me a good insight into and understanding of public service in general and the internal workings of this unitary authority in particular. The work to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness will continue and I shall follow its progress and continue my blog.
As for the casework I have been privileged to be involved with, I shall hand it over to Ian openly and with my best wishes for the next four years of his tenure.
Election results were:
Ian Shingler Independent 615
Janet Nunn Lib Dem 456
Martin Hawkins Con 406
Lyndon Davison-Williams Independent 225
Michael Wingrove Labour 137
Mr Wildman UKIP 88
Friday, 6 May 2011
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Stephen Fry worth a one minute watch on AV
Take a look at this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J31QkzWmmUc because it's worth it:-)
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Plannng application for marquee at the Grove
Central Beds Council received a planning application for the erection of a marquee for weddings and corporate events on land to the rear of The Grove, Barton Road, Pulloxhill, Reference: CB/11/00235/FULL. The application was registered on 28th January and is now under consideration, having been through a formal consultation period. In line with the relevant legislation a notice detailing the application was erected close to the site.
All planning applications are published on the Council's website. The links to the application in question are as follows:
Planning application: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373786.
Design and access statement: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373798
Site plans: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373795
CBC say that, "All relevant planning issues will be taken into account in making a final decision."
CBC say that both Pulloxhill and Barton Parish Councils were consulted, although the site is wholly within Pulloxhill Parish. Barton Parish Council claim they were not consulted; I expect this will be discussed at their next meeting on Monday 9 May.
All planning applications are published on the Council's website. The links to the application in question are as follows:
Planning application: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373786.
Design and access statement: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373798
Site plans: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373795
CBC say that, "All relevant planning issues will be taken into account in making a final decision."
CBC say that both Pulloxhill and Barton Parish Councils were consulted, although the site is wholly within Pulloxhill Parish. Barton Parish Council claim they were not consulted; I expect this will be discussed at their next meeting on Monday 9 May.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
PwC blagging for Central Beds Tories
The mid-Beds Tory glossy distributed in my ward has had serious money thrown at it and not just for the printing.
No less a source than Pricewaterhouse Cooper's (PwC) has been quoted as saying that Central Beds gave better "Value for Money" service delivery in 2010/11 than Bedford, MK and Luton (while curiously calling only Luton "our geographical neighbours").
Anyone who has ever worked with PwC will know precisely what happened here. As business consultants, PwC would have been paid to devise a methodology that would spit out the desired answer first thought of. And they'll have charged through the nose for it.
Good luck to PwC, say I, for fleecing the Tories. But you don't fool me and I hope it won't fool most of the voters on 5 May.
The best indicator on value for money is how we each, as constituents, feel about the Council tax we pay. Mine is two-fifths, getting on for half, of my mortgage (which has less than 10 years to run), and is the third biggest outlay in our household budget.
Do take a look at my blog 10 April to see how Central Beds Council tax is dearer than that of our three neighbours, like for like (Band D charges).
The old adage, "All fur coat and no knickers" springs to mind for how the Tories have chosen to spend their money at this time on this PR spin-piece. It would be funny if I weren't a Central Beds tax payer.
No less a source than Pricewaterhouse Cooper's (PwC) has been quoted as saying that Central Beds gave better "Value for Money" service delivery in 2010/11 than Bedford, MK and Luton (while curiously calling only Luton "our geographical neighbours").
Anyone who has ever worked with PwC will know precisely what happened here. As business consultants, PwC would have been paid to devise a methodology that would spit out the desired answer first thought of. And they'll have charged through the nose for it.
Good luck to PwC, say I, for fleecing the Tories. But you don't fool me and I hope it won't fool most of the voters on 5 May.
The best indicator on value for money is how we each, as constituents, feel about the Council tax we pay. Mine is two-fifths, getting on for half, of my mortgage (which has less than 10 years to run), and is the third biggest outlay in our household budget.
Do take a look at my blog 10 April to see how Central Beds Council tax is dearer than that of our three neighbours, like for like (Band D charges).
The old adage, "All fur coat and no knickers" springs to mind for how the Tories have chosen to spend their money at this time on this PR spin-piece. It would be funny if I weren't a Central Beds tax payer.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Central Beds Council tax 2010-11: no excuse
These are Band D Council Tax figures for 2010-11:
Central Bedfordshire (Tory) £1615
Bedford (Lib Dem) £1538*
Aylesbury Vale (Tory) £1492
South Northants (Tory) £1448
Northampton (Lib Dem Borough Council) £1445
Most Councils will be levying a zero percent increase for 2011-12, since they get 2.5% more from the government if they do.
*Lib Dem Bedford are reducing their Council Tax this year. Both Bedford and Central Bedfordshire took over from the expensive Tory-run County Council.
Message for Tory-run Central Bedfordshire Council: it needs to try harder to cut costs.
Central Bedfordshire (Tory) £1615
Bedford (Lib Dem) £1538*
Aylesbury Vale (Tory) £1492
South Northants (Tory) £1448
Northampton (Lib Dem Borough Council) £1445
Most Councils will be levying a zero percent increase for 2011-12, since they get 2.5% more from the government if they do.
*Lib Dem Bedford are reducing their Council Tax this year. Both Bedford and Central Bedfordshire took over from the expensive Tory-run County Council.
Message for Tory-run Central Bedfordshire Council: it needs to try harder to cut costs.
Can we please get an energyshare project going near me?
I love the idea of this project and just had to respond positively and share it with you. I've signed up as Janet.Nunn with post code here in Barton-le-Clay and hope to get a group going. I plan on doing the energy audit over one of the upcoming bank holiday weekends.
"Please could you help us let people in your area know about the energyshare grant fund which has just launched with up to £500,000 for community renewable energy projects? We’re calling for communities across the UK to register their interest . It would be great if you could you help us spread the word by forwarding this on to any contacts you have or putting us in touch with the most appropriate team in your local authority.
energyshare is a 100% renewable energy community giving everyone in the UK the opportunity to get involved in sourcing, using, and generating your own renewable energy.
This is just the beginning. energyshare’s founding partners, River Cottage and British Gas are committed to finding more funding. As a start British Gas are committed to distributing a further £3m to community renewable projects through the energyshare fund over the next 3 years. By getting involved in energyshare you can help decide which projects get funded.
We’ve got lots of other features on the site for households and communities, including case studies on the site of really successful community projects like Woolsery Community Hall who have cut their running costs by 90%, and MOZES where each household is saving an estimated 20% / year on their energy bills!
Please forward this on to anyone you think might be interested. We hope to see you on www.energyshare.com soon!"
For any more information please contact: Emily.oliver@keofilms.com / t: +44 (0) 20 7490 3580 / m: +44 (0) 7970 658 682
"Please could you help us let people in your area know about the energyshare grant fund which has just launched with up to £500,000 for community renewable energy projects? We’re calling for communities across the UK to register their interest . It would be great if you could you help us spread the word by forwarding this on to any contacts you have or putting us in touch with the most appropriate team in your local authority.
energyshare is a 100% renewable energy community giving everyone in the UK the opportunity to get involved in sourcing, using, and generating your own renewable energy.
This is just the beginning. energyshare’s founding partners, River Cottage and British Gas are committed to finding more funding. As a start British Gas are committed to distributing a further £3m to community renewable projects through the energyshare fund over the next 3 years. By getting involved in energyshare you can help decide which projects get funded.
We’ve got lots of other features on the site for households and communities, including case studies on the site of really successful community projects like Woolsery Community Hall who have cut their running costs by 90%, and MOZES where each household is saving an estimated 20% / year on their energy bills!
Please forward this on to anyone you think might be interested. We hope to see you on www.energyshare.com soon!"
For any more information please contact: Emily.oliver@keofilms.com / t: +44 (0) 20 7490 3580 / m: +44 (0) 7970 658 682
Highway repair plans in Barton ward 2011-14
Residents and frequent users of Manor Road in Barton-le-Clay will send a cheer up at the news that the road is due for re-surfacing this next year. Two years ago, I was told by an elderly neighbour that it hadn't been done in 20 years (I can corroborate the 17 years I've lived here), so run up the flag!
STREATLEY ROAD (RURAL) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Surface Dressing Barton Sundon 7 X £13,700 2011-12
COMMON LANE STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton Sundon 7 X £23,166 2011-12
HARLINGTON ROAD & CHURCH ROAD (URBAN AREA) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE B & C Roads Resurfacing Sundon £77,077 2011-12
SHARPENHOE ROAD (SERVICE ROAD) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £16,445 2011-12
MANOR ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing
Barton £121,550 2011-12
OLD ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £70,642 2013-14
Streatley Rd DRAINAGE Drainage Drainage
Barton £70,642 date t.b.c.
STREATLEY ROAD (RURAL) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Surface Dressing Barton Sundon 7 X £13,700 2011-12
COMMON LANE STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton Sundon 7 X £23,166 2011-12
HARLINGTON ROAD & CHURCH ROAD (URBAN AREA) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE B & C Roads Resurfacing Sundon £77,077 2011-12
SHARPENHOE ROAD (SERVICE ROAD) STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £16,445 2011-12
MANOR ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing
Barton £121,550 2011-12
OLD ROAD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE Non-Principal Roads Resurfacing Barton £70,642 2013-14
Streatley Rd DRAINAGE Drainage Drainage
Barton £70,642 date t.b.c.
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