Police texting

So now , instead of junk mail we are to get junk texts from the dear old Kent Police. (page 2 Thanet Times).

One stated message that those dear old folk in blue will be sending us is '' Don't advertise your phone to thieves, keep it safe keep it hidden''.

Question , what is the first thing you do when you get a text message? YOU GET YOUR PHONE OUT' of course all the scrotes who nick phones will obligingly look the other way won't they.

Shock News Tory Councillor supports Brown

Well it had to happen. I am declaring my support for Gordon Brown as Leader of the Labour Party!

Why, well to be honest, I want to get David Cameron into number 10.

The best chance to get Mr Cameron elected as Prime Minister is to keep Gordon as Leader of the Red Corner.

That way the conservative party needs to spend no money, and no time electioneering to take over as the governing party.

Just imagine how easy it would be if the Conservative Party really tried. (As we will) I'm not taking the p*** out of the electorate, just 'Outing' a long term 'Sleeper' that the Conservatives have 'placed' in the Labour Party. ie Gordon B.

Energy Prices people out of their lives

In the last few days I have noticed a marked increase in my post of letters from some of my older constituents who are very worried about possible and actual increases in heating costs.

I know that my role as a District Councillor does not give me much opportunity to help, other than to liase with the Benefits Agency, but In reality, is the price of keeping warm in the coming winter going to be this Government's 'Poll Tax'.

Unfortunately for them, they don't seem able to have much control over the welfare of the needy of our country.

Temporary interruption to service

I may be off for a few days, but nothing serious (shame some of you may say) but I have a couple of family problems to sort out, so aside from scheduled meetings, I am exercising my right to have a life.

I will still be watching so beware

TRIPE

No not the bovine type, but the written word.

Elsewhere on the strange world that is the internet, people are refering to how local councillors can have some form of employment and serve on specific types of committee.

I have been on the council for 13 years plus now, and have represented wards in all our major towns, does that mean I am qualified to speak or not when an item from one of those towns comes to planning.(bit of a pointless discussion,now, because as chair of planning I should not express a view during the debate, and as some of you will notice, I rarely vote, unless there is a tied vote, then its my responsibility to do so).

I am sorry, but my previous employment covers Police/Fire/ Media/ and agriculture, so should I refrain, as a councillor from having a view on those matters?

Some councillors have a past and present in education, shop keeping, security, building, homemaking, Health, oh the list is endless.

My point is that Councillors make up nearly all sectors of society, and are there to represent their constituents,(even if they did not vote for them). I have always tried to do that, and am pretty sure that most other councillors, of whatever political party, have done the same.

Some of the comments I have seen on the web make me sure that those individuals would not be able to vote on some of the issues that are current. Strange then that they seem to want to alienate the very councillors who's support they want.

But this , of course, is the way that society is going, elect someone, and when they try and take into account ALL views, castigate them for not agreeing with one side or the other.

I am pretty sure that I speak on behalf of a great majority of the 56 councillors who represent Thanet, when I say that we are all here to do as best we can for the community as a whole, not to further our own interests!

Inflation

Pleased to see that local authority workers in Thanet are not on strike.

However, the bubble seems to have burst in regard to inflation. the accepted rate seems to vary between 1.2% to 5.6%. I suspect it may be even higher.

Fuel continues to rise, despite Mr Darlings announcement that the fuel duty escalator will not apply in october. Food also is on the rise, and energy prices are also on the up.

Does our 'Government' not realise that we have to pay the bills, or are they so cosseted that it escapes them that the people are hurting.

Gardens to visit

Over the last couple of weeks I have had a chance to visit some of the attractions of East Kent. I have been amazed by what we have to offer.

to pick out a few,
The gardens at Northdown Park. (avoid the dog walkers and their leavings)
South Foreland Lighthouse,(stupendous views).
The gardens at St Margarets, (but does contain some very 'Dodgy' arty stuff)
Mt Ephraim Gardens near Faversham (brilliant for kids, and a credit to those who tend it)
and finally, The Gate at Marshside, (check out the food((and the beer))).

Just goes to show, Kent has got it all.

A word of caution, avoid the Kent show like the plague, £17.50 per adult, and on Sunday 3hours to leave the car park.

David Davies

Well, as suspected he regained his 'seat'. Was it worth it? IMHO no. Whilst a matter of principle, it has not helped on the 42 day debate.

I support the man for his principles, but have to question his judgement.

On a lower income ? Vote for anyone but Labour

I never thought I would see the day when the title of this post could be true.

Dental Charges/New Contract, 10p tax band, Fuel Duty, Road Tax, Food prices, Electric and Gas prices, Mortgage rates, Mortgage availability, and to cap all that, most peoples main asset (their House) is falling in value.

Where has the Labour Party gone? or where is it going?

Food Waste

We all waste abot £8..40p worth of food each week according to our 'Prime Minister' .

Like most of you I saw an item in my newspaper today listing the menu he had to choose from at the G8 summit.

At the prices charged at Gordon Ramsey's nosh bars, he had only to leave half of his 'Smoked salmon and Sea urchin 'Bread surprise style' to have achieved this at one sitting.

Looking at the other courses, it gets potentially worse.

Last night I left nothing of my cheese omlette, home grown courgette and mangetoute rissotto, with kenyan beans, with a tomato dressing. (all home grown except for the cheese and the gas to cook it).

I suppose thats a bit like carbon offset, I cancelled out his waste.

Sport

As a habitual avoider of anything 'sporty', (excluding pub games , cricket and formula 1) All I need is a cracking game of skittles to make my season complete. British success in motor racing (please) Kent at last in a cricketing final, and England not in the last football fest.

Local Developement Framework

Formerly we had a local plan, it ran for 11 years and was constantly being updated. Now Central Government has told us we must change and have an LDF. In simple terms, a loose leaf file that can be constantly updated.

The mind boggles at how these civil servants think up these stunning ideas.

The new document will be 'Slimmer' but have huge wedges of supporting documentation!

I do know that 5 of us councillors will be working on this for a year or so.