Traffic Management Act

Well its here now, we as a council can 'do' you for illegal parking by remote control. Well actually we can't, because our cameras are not modern enough 'Yet'!

But we can start to get tough on the services who dig our roads up, and cause problems for people who want to get from 'A' to 'B'.

Let me know and I will attempt to get an answer to your road excavation problems

Turner Contemporary

According to the Times, the Russians are to be loaned a selection of Turner's works in a cultural exchange.

As is well known, I do not like his art much, but I do feel, that if the Russians can view it first hand, perhaps the people of East Kent could get a loan of some of his originals!

Me, I will stick with the most well known 'Turner'

Joint Transportation Board

Last night was the latest in the series. Matters discussed ranged from the new planned extension of the Thanet Way, via St Lukes Avenue in Ramsgate, to Hartsdown Road in Margate.

There is so much on the horizon, I just wish it would come yesterday!

If any of you need to know more, just ask myself or your ward councillor, I may not be able to get you an answer straight away, but it will come.

Terminal 5

Seems that BAA's luggage problems have emerged again at the new Heathrow Terminal. Are they ever going to get it right?

Rate Rises

Having just received my rates bill, (yes us councillors do have to pay them!) I notice that the Police/Fire/County,and District managed to keep their rises to the 5% or below region.

However, my illustrious parish council came in with a huge 14.1% rise. What do they spend their money on? I should know as I used to be a parish councillor, but was booted out in 1999. Back then we kept our rises to inflation.

I hasten to add I have no urge to again become a Parish Councillor, 8years was enough.

Planning Committee

A sudden outbreak of unity seemed to happen at Planning last evening, Lots of good debate, and common sense.

Seriously, the Planning Department at Thanet has been slated for being slow and unresponsive in the past, now the figures finally prove that it is quick and dealing with more applications than anywhere else in Kent (I think).

A new staff structure should speed things up even more, and if members continue to behave as they did last night, I think we will have something to be proud of.

Of course , in any planning matter there will be someone who is unhappy, but I do feel, that in Thanet, a fair hearing is available.

Local Youth

Today I became a victim of our local 'YOOF'

Driving along I was startled to be 'distracted' by a lump of 'Something' appearing on my windscreen.

Suddenly I associated this with the two 10 year olds on the pavement with a catapult type instrument.

Upon giving chase I saw two local kids busy wetting themselves because someone had caught them.

Upon speaking to their parents, I was pleased to see that they were going to get some parental discipline.

Should more of us be confronting these minor indiscretions, thus stopping greater problems in the future

The Budget

No, only a joke, everyone will be blogging about this!

Really, what should be done about the lad we are going to send back to Iran. You know, the one who is gay. Certain death awaits him at the hands of the government there. Should we send him back, or should we give him a safe haven?

Queen and Country

Should our kids swear their support to the queen, or should they just promise to be good citizens?

Troops In Uniform

Disgusting news today about the members of OUR ARMED FORCES being abused by members of the public because they were wearing uniform.

In my view, any complaint should be expressed at the ballot box, not at the brave people who carry out the wishes of our government, (which, of course, we can change every 5 years or less)

Europe

Ok, straight question, do we want a referendum on the treaty, or not?

School Places

Well did you get the place you wanted for your children,? If not what will you be doing? Is it fair? I'm too old to be part of this, but as a councillor I would like to help, but the government say that people with a political involvement cannot attend appeals!

Kent Freedom Pass

I was at a meeting of the Kent Transport Board yesterday, where the issue of the above pass was discussed.
This scheme has been trialed in Canterbury and Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells. 5,000 passes have been issued and over 100,000 trips per month have been made.

27% of users stated that the car was their previous form of transport to school.

The planned expansion of the scheme is as follows,

Scheme to be spread to Malling, Maidstone, Dover and Shepway in June 2008.

Thanet and Swale in January 2009.

Countywide in June 2009.

It is also planned to include companions for disabled young people and to waive the fee for low income families.

Network Rail

So NetworkRail have been 'fined' 14 million for the Xmas fun on the WestCoast Mainline. May be I am going mad, but this is a nationalised company, who's job is to keep the tracks safe, and improve them.

If so, 14 mill would have done a lot of track repairs. There are no private shareholders, just us 'Joe Public'.

What we have here is dear old Gordon taking back 14 million of our money to help budget his books, or maybe I'm wrong

Mortality

I was informed over the weekend of the death of someone I held in high regard.

I would not , probably, be welcome at the funeral, but would like to reflect on their life. Does our system make allowances for this type of situation, or should we make the facilities available for past friends/partners to express their grief away from the immediate family?

24hr Drinking

How do you all feel about the latest 'Daily Mail' scare about 24hr drinking, Does it cause a problem? Should it be stopped? or should we leave it alone and concentrate on other problems?

Green Waste

One of the largest post bags I have ever had is about the green waste collection.
As of the new financial year there will be a flat fee to join the scheme on an annual basis, but all residents will be able to do so. At present only a few get the scheme, but we all pay for it.

My mail tells me that 70% want the new scheme, 25% want the old scheme, and 5% want the scheme available to anyone, but funded by the rates.

What are your views?

Ps 1 letter was extremely rude.

Castro

So was he good or bad for his country? I do not really care what the rest of the world think of him, but his people seem to think the world of him!

Freedom Of Speech

So two of our more reactionary Bloggers are only allowing 'invited' readers/contributers.

If someone wants to take me to court over a comment made on this site, I will use the defence that I will remove any contributions that are ,in my view, inappropriate, as soon as I can. If it is my comment that causes problems, that is my fault and I will defend that as far as I can.

(ps I have no money or property in my name)

By all means carry on posting, just keep it fair.

The Budget

Once again the District Council Budget has been set.

As a previous member of the then ruling Labour Group, I was interested to hear their Leader propose a rise of 2.1% on the grounds that we should think of the ratepayers of Thanet!

This was the same individual who presided over a 11% rise in one year back in the late 90's,early 00's.
I am no financial wizard, but I do know that people want better services, how should we pay for them?