Our Reporter NOT at the Parish Council Meeting
HOW CAN YOU BE AT A MEETING when the date is changed at the very last minute
[Eds note: The Crier did have the new date but wasn't out in time for this
to be much use! See letters and page 8]. Our ECDC and CCC representatives were
not told either so one wonders what went on and was voted through when the
usual watchdogs were not in attendance. The rumour is that they all went off to
the celebrated Parish Councillor's Valentine's Ball. I'm not
convinced this is true.
Perchance, however, this is a blessing because it does allow me to take up a point raised after the January Meeting when the desireability of a Parish Plan was again proposed. I suggested that the Report on the Parish Plan which appeared in the February 2007 Crier "should be reproduced when copy is a bit short". Copy is short this month - so here it is.
After the initial formalities Jo Fitzpatrick from ACRE addressed the meeting about "Parish Plans" - an initiative (gosh, how that word sends shivers down the spine) controlled by DEFRA (does this give any confidence) which "gives everyone a chance to say what they think about the social, economic and environmental issues affecting their community." Even better. "Parish Plans are holistic in scope." Well, that's alright then. There was a long discussion and while no report can give the full details, here goes.
A rural white paper was printed in November 2000 to help create "a vibrant countryside". Initially, so Hazel Williams said, many completed Parish Plans were just left on the shelf - well, that's a surprise. But all this has changed and there is now a big drive to complete as many as possible. It seems that just over a third in East Cambridgeshire have either completed or are completing the Plan. Lode and Bulbeck are just starting while the Burwell has had 80% of its completed Plan approved or actioned. Hazel was not asked what the items were.
DEFRA is going to hand out £1,500 to every participating village. Initially a village working party would be set up comprising a maximum of 2 PC members and representatives from a variety of organisations in the village. Hazel stressed that this would have to be a real working party and a lot of work and application was required. For £75 we would buy software containing up to 300 questions which would form a basis for a questionnaire circulated to the whole village.
Steve asked why the PC needed a Parish Plan if it is happy it represents village views. Hazel asked "how do you know this for certain?" She explained that the Plan would give an opportunity for those who never go to any event, who never take part in anything, who never read the local magazine, who are shy, or who just commute into Cambridge or elsewhere, drive home and never come out - it would give all these good people a chance to express an opinion. One example she gave was that 60% of Coton knew nothing about the Parish Council. Geoffrey jumped up at this point and said the difference between Coton and Swaffham Prior is that "the Crier rams information about the PC down people's throats."
It transpires that the Plan will include all personal details such as the number of people living in each house, how many cars, age, and possibly such details as eating habits, sex, sporting activities - at which point a noticeable caution began to creep into the PC. We know the government would like an electronic tab on everyone and is this just a backdoor entrance? "So it's a kind of census?"asked Sandra Ginn. "Sort of"came the answer.
Steve asked what the £1,500 was for and would it cover all the costs. It was intended to cover the printing costs and the approximate £1,000 for the analysis which was strongly recommended should be carried out by one of a number of professional companies. It was suggested that this would make the analysis impartial and make it much easier to obtain grants. I could not follow the argument here as we could well have someone in the village with the skills to do this. Probably DEFRA wanted the information in a format suitable for merging with all the other information the Government is amassing about us. Or was it just a gentle warning/threat - "Do as we say or you won't get any funding."
And so it went on. The PC would only be liable for 5% of the cost which under examination from Steve could be £3,000 - £3,500. Geoffrey suggested leaving the decision until after the May election as it would give the new PC four years to reach a decision. Jo said the PC had only until March 2008 by which time any money from DEFRA will have had to be paid out.
After the meeting I read a handout provided by ACRE. As often with an offer there is a sting in the tail. There is probably enough money to fund 1,000 parish councils throughout the country and it is "first come first served". Also it is a maximum of £1,500 and could be less. £1,500 multiplied by 1,000 could amount to one and a half million pounds and our Gordon could trumpet that the government had spent this amount on creating local "visions"for rural communities. Of this sum two thirds, or £1 million, would go to the information analysts which convinces me the whole scheme was drawn up by management consultants some of whom have been ripping off our public services for years.
The final sting is that:-
"Working with the community in the preparation of a 'Parish or Town Plan'is also one of the criteria needed to meet the new Quality Parish Council status developed to strengthen the most local tier of government." Does our Parish Council know this?
Editors'Comment
a) We have more things to do in life than sit on working parties for Gratuitous Government Initiatives.
b) We are not filling in 300 question questionnaires for anybody.
c) We elected our Parish Councillors to make Parish Plans.