From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
Never Mind!
AFTER THE USUAL 'APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE' Geoffrey Woollard turned to our
CCC representative Hazel Williams, said he sympathized with Hazel's
husband, Alan Williams, and that he thought Mr Williams had made a mistake
because one "should never resign on principle". That's a
statement that needs a bit of thought. The Alan Williams in question is a
leading Ely magistrate who resigned because he refused to impose what he called
a "morally wrong"surcharge of £15 on minor offences fines to help the
victims of crime. Hazel gave what was in effect an exclusive interview (via the
PC) to the Crier by revealing that Mr Williams was happy to uphold the law but
he wasn't going to collect taxes for the government. Incidentally, though
the money raised is intended to help victims of crime, there is nothing in the
legislation requiring it to be used that way. What do you think will happen to
the money - Olympics? Hazel also revealed that while 21 days notice of any
change in law had to be given to magistrates, the that first Ely magistrates
heard about it was the day they went to court. The government is reported to
have said "we know it ought to be 21 days but never mind.""NEVER
MIND!!!"and this from a government which continues to impose meddlesome
restrictions and requirements on all levels of society. "Never
Mind"indeed.
As soon as "Matters Arising"came up Geoffrey launched himself into the High Street Signs Affair like a steam rocket. Pressure had been applied to ECDC - and the ECDC Chief Executive together with Mr Hobbes, Chairman of the Council, had made a visit to look at the Signs. No-one from the PC attended but Geoffrey recounted what he had been told by an interested third party. There is always the danger of third hand reports becoming Chinese Whispers, so the following must be treated with some caution. The ECDC Top Brass agreed there had been a muddle, and they also considered or agreed to removing what the PC thought were three surplus signs. The PC had also noted several road numbering anomalies (including Laundry Cottage and the Station) and demanded these should be sorted out at the same time. If anyone thinks that she or he is an anomaly please let our Chairman John Covill know and he will do his best to sort you out. Recently, over the last seven weeks, I have come across a more relaxed view of road numbers in other villages. I was delivering to some-one in Bulbeck and asked for the house number. "Oh, I don't bother with one"and told me how to find him. The same happened with another Bulbeck resident - "I don't have a number.""What's the name of the house then?""That won't help you either" and told me how to find him. Bottisham was no better. I needed the address of an institution for someone else to write to, and asked for the number and street name. "Oh, we don't do those - just put Bottisham".
Geoffrey, always anxious to make Karen earn her money, proposed writing a "letter demanding that the surplus signs be removed and an enquiry made into the numbering anomalies."You can't, he was told, as 'Matters Arising'is for information only. The only way a letter could be proposed and written was to include it in "Items for the Next Agenda", discuss it again at the next meeting and then send it. The government of course would have said "NEVER MIND, just send it now."
Allen Alderson saved the day by saying he would be briefly mentioning the Signs in his report and the letter could be proposed at that point. Thank goodness there is no war on.
In her CCC role Hazel Williams reported that the National Trust wanted to put cattle grids on Straight Drove in Reach to keep in the Konic Ponies and Highland Cattle which the NT wants to introduce. There are objections from local people - not only horse riders , but also walkers, dog owners and parents as there are few who wish to tangle with the above beasts. Geoffrey, who as we well know has residual doubts about the vision of the NT, said he appreciated that the aim is to "make it like it used to be", but to do this by importing Konic Ponies from Poland and Highland Cattle from Scotland was "Potty". The Chairman who on the whole supports NT ambitions thought the NT this time was going too far, as did Allen in his ECDC report who proposed that the NT should bend and erect fencing to contain the animals.
A few tit bits. There are only eight candidates for our Parish Council so yet again there will be no election - the Treasurer was delighted as this saved £750, but there will be a fierce contest for the ECDC election as three exceptional candidates are standing; the Lode Star Festival may not happen, the Water Tower site was sold prior to the auction, there may be a new 'Model Code of Conduct Order'(petty bureaucrats must be kept employed), and the Year-End Financial Summary was presented with 100% accuracy by Steve Kent-Phillips who passed around his spreadsheets - which amazed all. Geoffrey confessed to not having a clue saying that in his earlier career it was all written out by hand. "So it is today"said Karen, as she whisked out her huge beautifully hand-written ledger. A great feeling of peace and security settled over the meeting, knowing that this at least remained the same.