From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
FOR A CHANGE I was a little early and I witnessed Geoffrey Woollard bending the
ear of Allen Alderson in a far corner of the room. Then they went out, only to
return several minutes later with very satisfied (smug may even be the word)
smiles - or were they smirks. Both certainly had "mission
accomplished" looks.
With Hazel being at an Education Seminar at the Grange, Allen batted first with ECDC affairs. He reported that, like most people and organizations, ECDC opposed the proposed bus cuts because they undermined its "sustainable strategy". He was shocked that CCC should even be considering something which would put more cars on the road and isolate the young. But there is good news because £750,000 is being made available in Cambridgeshire for grants of between £250 and £500 for non-profit organisations with an income less than £20,000 - the Youth Club and Burwell Tigers were singled out as worthy possibilities. Geoffrey raised the Travellers again - "why hadn't they left?" It seems that a person in one of the two families involved has developed a medical condition necessitating visits to Addenbrookes, which means there is no point in applying for a court order as any attempt to move any person in need of medical attention would be an infringement of its human rights. John Jordan summed it up by saying "The trouble with travellers is that they don't travel." (Well, I met some very nice travelers down the Fen and had a chat. But most unfortunately, my dog, a born-and-bred East Anglian dog, then went and POUNCED on the travellers dog, which was just minding its own business at the time. I left in a hurry. Editress)..
Allen, still being in the hot seat, was asked whether ECDC had invested any money in that ice block in the North Atlantic with its tiny 300,000 inhabitants. Nope, said Allen proudly, we have stashed it away elsewhere. Geoffrey asked why the rates are so high if there is so much spare cash. Allen explained that money must be kept in reserve for large items of expenditure planned over the next few years - such as a New Leisure Centre - AT ELY, or the replacement of an aging swimming pool - AT ELY.
ECDC is also considering whether to deliver at one time 52 bin bags to each household in order to save some money. This appeared to be sensible until I remembered that a member of another far off council was astonished that ANY bin bags were supplied at all. When you stop and think it is stupid to supply free bin bags. EVERYONE has their own supply of bin bags, especially those who put out three of four bags. How much does it cost ECDC to supply them? Come on Allen and Hazel - how much does it cost US?
Hazel Williams had arrived and made her contribution. She was equally enraged about the proposed bus cuts and in her opinion there was no need for CCC to make the proposed cut. Any sixth former who has just paid out £500 must feel pretty bitter about the duplicity of CCC, just as pension fund people felt and feel about the annual 5 billion raid by the duplicitous Mr Brown, who while seemingly currently being a financial hero, did not even realise that cutting the 10 pence tax level would harm those who paid the 10 pence tax. Would you buy a car from this man? Would you trust him to write out the invoice?
Back to reality. Mrs Williams had also recently attended a Fire Authority meeting and learned that the Government has said that Green Goddesses will no longer be available in the event of a firemen's strike. It seems the soldiers are elsewhere. The only solution appears to be to hire a private company which will have reserve firemen who have been trained in a college and who know how to use a regular fire engine. And it will all be very expensive.
Hazel is always very busy and she had also been at an Age Concern meeting which revealed that elderly men are the main problem. Geoffrey said that when he reached that state he would take the money, go on a cruise, and throw himself overboard. "Can that be soon Geoffrey" was the cry - and it wasn't a question. Hazel had also been to a Transport Meeting and mentioned a point which put everyone into a tither, until four minutes later Hazel admitted she had got it wrong and could her remarks be struck from the record. This is often easier said than done especially with those whose attention may have drifted at the vital moment of the admitted mistake. This error could remain around in the skirting boards for quite some time.
The £30,000 to be spent on the Mill Hill traffic scheme is losing £7,000 which has been taken for administration costs. Which of course resulted in more comments about the Quy traffic calming disaster and it was noted that some frustrated drivers have resorted to mounting the pavement and going round the wrong side of the barrier. Never has money been spent so effectively to create the largest amount of driver distress, anger and potential to commit a crime or a crash.
Finally we learned that the County and other councils have achieved so many government targets that a huge bonus has been paid, of which ECDC has received one million pounds. This is great. But is one of the future targets the completion of Parish Plans? Is this why Allen and Hazel and others support them? Come on Allen and Hazel - speak to the people. They are curious about your silence. How can you continue to ignore the question?
At 8.40 we were still on ECDC matters and Chairman John Covill insisted that the meeting move on. "But, but" protested one ECDC representative. The Chairman prevailed and did move on. Meanwhile illness had been in the air. Both Hazel Williams and John Jordan had pretty awful colds and were sitting each side of Allen. I began to hope that he would be alright until I realised that I had been sitting behind Allen, and even as I type I am beginning to snuffle,.
Everything now began to move more quickly, and the last Neighbourhood Panel meeting was discussed in some depth. Andrew Camps reported on the last meeting, with Asbos in Burwell being number one on the agenda as it appears they are a pretty rough lot down there, in spite of their Parish Plan. Speedwatch came next and Andrew revealed that it is designed for 30mph areas. So it will be of no use on Mill Hill. Peter Hart claimed it could still be used in 40mph areas, but using different criteria. Andrew said this was not the case. Geoffrey Woollard, who had been at four such meetings, quietly and reasonably, said that Neighbourhood Panels were not working well, had no statutory foundation, were in danger of taking over the role of the parish council, and that people could begin making complaints to the wrong body. Hazel disagreed and knew four people from Burwell who attended with complaints about hooligans. So?? Had they been to a Burwell PC meeting? Geoffrey thought it all unnecessary. Peter Hart went to his first one and thought it useful while Eric Day (also a first attendee) found it interesting and was especially pleased that one issue had been flagged - "that's the fourth time that has been flagged" said Geoffrey, and we began to get the picture. As Geoffrey, disinterestedly, has been to all meetings we may have to trust him on this and recognize Neighbourhood Panels as just another "talking shop".
There was another lurch forward with the meeting and Steve Kent-Phillips said he had been successful in obtaining a quote for tidying up the Village Hall driveway. After a discussion whether second and third quotes were required it was approved and John Jordan exclaimed "At last, a result tonight!".
This is a very happy note on which to close.