Marsh Lane Watch
Surface water on the road has totally disappeared but still plenty on the verge and adjoining part of my property. The grill on the far side of the road shows water level very high. There must be a blocked culvert. No visit from County highways. I will have to chase up.
Overview and Scrutiny that I chair heard presentations from directors of CFT and PHG that revealed a most successful year to December 31, 2010 with well supported productions and exhibitions and ever growing activities in the local community. Both were concerned at the anticipated cut in public funding from the Arts Council England and other sources, notably WSCC. Fortunately they have a guaranteed fixed contribution from CDC for eight years. We have cause to be very pleased with our investments in these two organisations that have an important economic impact and contribute a great deal to the community. They have become international as well as national and local institutions. Let's hope County sees its way to a smaller cut than officers have recommended.
Chichester Careline that provides emergency support to some 2000 in the district is to be retained in house and not sold off as was planned last summer. With a surplus in the current financial year it will be able to update its IT services and build its marketing effort probably in association with some local authorities. It now has an improved management structure and a better focused officer direction. It is the only similar service in the county that has its own installed equipment supported by in house monitoring. I have been keen supporter since I became a member and I am delighted to see it on an upward path.
Nature's Way Foods proposal for a mega packhouse (NM/10/03529/ful) to support its rapidly expanding lettuce and salad business got unanimous approval at the meeting of Development Control (South). I spoke against purely on grounds of the size of the footprint (more than three times that of the packhouse that will be to its west, built some 10 years ago), and of the dominance in the landscape. This was in the hope of securing more effective screening to the south and east that was neglected when the first packhouse was built. I am not sure whether I got that message across.
Talked to a planning officer about an application (O/10/05635/cou) to transfer a homeopathic veterinary clinic at Madam Green Farm, Oving from Westbourne so as to shorten the journey for many of its existing clients. More sympathy for this one than for the Montessori School application that was to be based at Woodhorn and I said I would red card it if officers planned to refuse. This might in fact go through without my further involvement.
Talked to a planning officer about application to put more dwellings on two plots at Merston Pheasantries (O/10/05398/ful and O/10/05397/ful) that was opposed by Oving Parish Council on grounds of over development. In fact it is likely that Environmental Health will recommend refusal on grounds of non compliance with site conditions. This too may not need to go to committee.
Full Council spent what seemed ages debating the case for closing public toilets at West Itchenor which would save the Council the grand sum of about £8K per annum. It was not a great demonstration of the role of Full Council. The Parkinson observation re nuclear power stations and bicycle sheds came to mind. it was most unsatisfactory to have to debate an issue for which the staff work had not been completed. Members of the public of whom there were a few present would not have been impressed.
Attended CHSG Talent Show organised by PTA. A great evening with excellent and very promising voice, dancing and gymnastic performances. Well done the PTA.
Walked around North Mundham and Runcton to review potential sites for affordable housing.
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Marsh Lane Watch
Torrential and persistent rain has left a great deal of surface water on the road and in the case of my property significant flooding of the verge and road and part of the adjoining garden. I have not seen water to this depth along the verge since the 1994 floods. I wonder if a culvert is blocked. I reported to County Highways on January 11 but seeing the amount of flooding elsewhere I doubt if I shall get priority. But credit to Highways they got back promptly to ask if we needed sandbags to hold the water back. Thankfully we are not at that stage and hope not to be.
Labour regained the Oldham constituency but the LibDem vote held up which was a relief to Nick Clegg and his colleagues. No real surprise. The government rarely gains a seat in a by election so soon after taking power, especially where unpopular measures have been announced.
Good flow of potential applicants for the Gribble Lane development at Oving. There may have been as many as 30 for the 10 properties. The purpose of the event at the Jubilee Hall was for interested people to register by documentary evidence their connection to the parish. This will not give them any advantage over other potential applicants when the bidding takes place but it will remove the need when considering their application to validate their connection. The housing units will be advertised for rent in the January 28 issue of Homemove.
Oving Parish Council decides to object to two applications to increase the number of plots at Merston Pheasanteries, Green Lane, Bognor Road, on grounds of over development. (O/10/05398/FUL, and O/10/05397/FUL). That decision should result in the applications coming to committee which would be highly desirable as this site needs to be given very close attention, given its record of enforcement.
Government squeeze on school budgets will make life difficult for us at Chichester High School for Girls as at all schools. We will have to find savings of at least 10 per cent over the next four years and capital budgets have been slashed. I was elected chairman of the Governors' Finance and Premises Committee, the hot seat.
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I announce my plans to retire from the District Council on May 4 after eight years. Time for a younger person to take on the role. Reflections on my term of service nearer the time.
North Mundham Parish Council. We welcomed reporter from the Observer, Lewis Brown. We need from now on to be on our guard as to what we say.
The first meeting of the Affordable Housing Working Party met on December 9. Some potential sites were discussed. Three of the working party including myself will be looking at some on the ground on January 21.
Sotto voce some progress is being made on a solution to the church clock and its effect on sleeping patterns at Fletcher House
Unanimous and unsolicited congratulations to the District Council for its waste collection service that has operated without interruption over the Christmas break and in the cold spell, unlike in some other authorities.
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Thoughts on 2011
It is going to be a very difficult year for many people in this country and many in this district.
We shall be seeing the first effects of public sector cuts on employment. Local government leaders will not be able to avoid cuts in services. Estimates for national unemployment vary. The upper estimate is for about nine per cent, up from today's 7.9 per cent, or 2.7 million.
Inflation will rise with VAT increase, rising energy costs and rising loan charges.
The plans to reorganise the health service in favour of local GP consortia commissioning will lead to turbulence and disruption at the point of service.
Plans for changes in education, more academies, free schools, English baccalaureate etc will add to headteachers' already excessive workload.
The 'Big Society' idea, while to be commended for seeking to bring voluntary organisation into service provision, has hardly started and will have to confront the inherent difficulty of building workable partnerships and ensuring proper local accountability.
Overall, this government's decision to solve the national budget deficit in one parliament and to front load the cuts, will transform many areas of public life and few for the better. Labour's more gradualist approach would have been better.
As far as Chichester District Council is concerned, its best hope for major savings and minimising cuts is to get serious about partnerships with other authorities especially County.
On the political front, the LibDems face a terrible year. They will be penalised at the May elections because of the volte face on tuition fees, never mind whether the increase is a good idea or not, and if, as I suspect, the Chancellor's economic and monetary policies begin to bite on employment by then, the LibDems will share the blame.
However at ward level, the outcome can be determined by awareness of local issues, evidence of responsive action, and thorough campaigning. There is all to play for.
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