And wasn't it just !
Even Mr. Hanney would have been proud of me.
Tuesday morning and it's Licencing.
Only taxi drivers on the menu ( not literally ) and yet again we have someone who wants a new licence not turning up. We've now started getting a little tougher on this and since it was this applicant's 2nd time their application has been thrown out and that's cost them part of their application fee.
Because of the nature of it ie. some cases take much longer than others, and you never know until its started, because sometimes Members are more probing, we ask all applicants to turn up at Meeting start time ( usually 11:00 ). Unfortunately if the first application takes forever then the others are waiting around.
The 2nd applicant we saw came in at somewhere around 12, and the 3rd one had been waiting nearly 1.5 hours.
They were happy with their outcomes though.
In the afternoon ( yep, took the opportunity to sample the canteen fare our employees have to endure, which is actually OK ) we had our Ed & Leis. Scrutiny and what is becoming the usual haranguing and snidey remarks that are known as 'political banter'. I really would like people to come and see how Members manage to make debates vibrant.
Anyway, the highlight of the meeting was a presentation by the manager of Brynbach Park on what's been done to the place over the past years, what it's become and how it's becoming recognised nationally - and I'm talking the UK, not just Wales.
Is it possible that we could do the same to The Lakes and its surrounds ?
Wednesday and it's Regeneration and Housing.
Yes, road conditions, the local economy and poor conditions and/or tenants.
Jeremiah would have loved to be on this committee.
Anyway, a good presentation by Phil Hackling on anti-social behaviour of tenants and what can be done and what we do about it.
The Council has - believe it or not - 7 or 8 pieces of legislation that it can act under in order to curb the nuisance caused.
Regrettably that also means that disruptive tenants also have 7 or 8 pieces of legislation that they can use as a shield.
The number of evictions last year was in single figures. As was said at the meeting, what Judge is going to throw a woman with 3 children of school age out onto the streets ? And if they are then the Homelessness Act comes into play.
However, there has been success in some aspects. But it's a long drawn-out process. For example, if there's noisy neighbours then it's 2 weeks of filling in diary sheets, forwarding to Env. Health for monitoring equipment to be installed for a few days, more letters etc. - and if the nuisance stops during this process when it starts again, so does the whole process.
Nightmare.
After Housing 's ills comes............wait for it........ switching off of street lighting !!
Ta-ra !! Cue for the Lamentations of the Labour Group.
We've been given the criteria for NOT switching off - road junctions, observations from the Police, residential areas etc. but that doesn't stop them being brought up again.
What we haven't been given is a list of which places in our Wards will be affected.
I think that's daft. Most of the debate will obviousl;y be around misconceptions as to where the lights go off, so surely the best way to keep things to a minimum and absolutely focussed on the issue is to give Members the info ?
Anyway, back to Lamentations. 'What about anti-social behaviour around where vulnerable people are ?' Cllr. McCarthy cites an avenue in Swffryd where there's allegedly 'around 40 young people gathering in the evening'. Other Labour Members ( once they've stopped biting at each other regarding the simple common courtesy of not talking when someone's speaking ) mention concerns about vandalism, thefts etc.
Then yours truly gets to have his say.
A significant - if not substantial - amount of burglaries and thefts from property occur during daylight hours.
Cllr. McCarthy's troublesome youngsters in Swffryd ( why is it always some other Members' environs, not his own ? ) are out in the evening, presumably tucked up in bed by midnight.
How much ASB goes on after the midnight hour ?
Oh yes - and the switch-off starts ...you've guessed, at MIDNIGHT.
So these arguments are either muck-raking or plain ill-considered.
I mention Torfaen - anyone seen bad press about them, despite theirs being in place for some months now ?
( I've been travelling back from work for the past couple of months and the Hafodrynys Rd is in darkness, but the old road isn't ).
'We're not Torfaen, and we don't want to be' is a response.
Then I point out a saying in my profession - 'never be first, or second but a close third'. You let someone else dive in, wait for a second one to test the water further and then exploit new methods.
Well, Torfaen doesn't seem to be a catastrophe, so why suppose our switch-off will be ?
That's been a trend of the opposition group - throw up all manner of unsubstantiated possibilities, making them out to be probabilities and hope there'll be a knee-jerk reaction, or significant public reaction. And we don't seem too clever at building cases and putting them to the public based on hard facts.
Finally I mention that '1 hour before dawn' for the switch-on wouldn't be as efficient and helpful as looking at 5:30am or so.
That's because those on Days and Nights would be travelling to/from work unlit during the winter, since 1 hour before dawn in Dec is 7am.
Also, in Summer we don't need them switched back on - it's getting light at 5 now.
We'd probably save even more energy this way.
Lots of writing by the officer responsible, so I hope it'll be taken on board.
Wednesday night and Delwyn and me joined PCSO Dave at the monthly meeting of Penybont Residents and Tenants. We finally made it, after a year of trying ( Mark was away on business btw ).
We put an idea forward for dealing with Penybont Rd's traffic problems, which the good people will mull over and let us know next month.
We're also hoping to provide details of the switch-off, something we'll be doing in every Cwmtillery Ward neighbourhood.
Thursday morning, up bright and early for a 10:00 meetiing of Full Council, regarding Boundary changes.
You might recall me explaining a bit about the process of tweaking ward boundaries to maintain equality in representation.
The Council had to formally reply to the Local Govt. Boundary Commission's proposals on Friday, hence the meeting.
It started with a lively debate about whether to include Blaenant Ind. Estate in Nantyglo or Brynmawr.
Tredegar had a good one about proposals to move 300+ voters between Sirhowy and Georgetown.
Anyway, the one I'm concerned with ( I don't interfere in others' wards unless it's Abertillery town centre which affects us all ) is the proposal to integrate Bourneville and put the whole hamlet into Cwmtillery Ward.
Seems I'm not the only one.
There in the public gallery is - the Clerk to Abertillery Community Council, the Leader of that toothless tiger, and a member of it.
( Sorry - that's the Labour-dominated CC. No - that's the failed and/or unambitious Labour-dominated CC, since it seems one only wseeks membership if they've either failed to become a real councillor or don't have plans to be a real representative of the people ).
Yes, you've guessed - I'm unhappy about them.
The last time I got crossed I got very combative and I just might seek to get rid of Labour's 3rd team in our town and area.
They've organised a meeting at Bourneville ( open only to invited people it seems, since no Blaina Member was invited apparently - mind you only one of them turned up for this debate ), they've forwarded a 97-signature petition ( same old Labour ploy - the petition ) and they've been writing letters in support.
Nothing of substance mind you, just 'we want all of Bourneville'.
Anyhow, the real power is with the real Council, who are debating whether to support the Commission's proposals.
Cue the real representative of the people, no party to prop up, no pole to climb.
'Cllr. Rocke' says Madam Mayor.
And so - first, Bourneville is a hamlet ie. a community without a church, a community within the Parish of Cwmtillery.
Historically wards came about from parishes etc.
Next, geographically the Community Hall ( roughly the centre of Bourneville ) is around 80 yards closer to the nearest house in Abertillery Rd. Blaina than it is to the closest property in Arrail View - and that's by road.
So pseudo-religiously it's Cwmtillery, geographically next to nothing between Cwmtillery and Blaina.
However, the main issue is simply this - IT'S THE PEOPLE'S BOURNEVILLE, NOT ANYONE OR ANYTHING ELSE'S.
In our ( Delwyn, Mark and me ) meetings with them whenever the matter comes up they have indicated - quite strongly - that they wish to be fully integrated and into Cwmtillery.
That's it then, my job is to convey their feelings and to do my utmost to ensure it gets supported.
I'd like to think that Cllr. McCarthy's contribution was insignificant ( Lord knows what he was doing, apart from supporting his 3rd team perhaps ), my having done enough, so much that it didn't need a vote. There was a concensus.
It was helped by the fact that no Blaina Member gave an alternative proposal and that nothing was submitted by Nantyglo & Blaina Town Council.
It'll come as no surprise that I believe Bourneville residents are very perceptive when it comes to who they want to represent them.
I'm waiting for anyone ( or thing ) to try to take credit for it.
Roll on 2012 - we'll see then.
Friday - Special Finance, Performance and Monitoring.
This is the committee I've attended least, due to the timing of it. I should attend more, since it's the perfect place for number-crunching, information overload and radical thinking - the perfect challenge.
And it was just such a case.
A review of complaints received and actions taken.
One really good example is that we've had a complaint regarding how a bereavement was handled, benefits-wise. Result - our officers are now developing a 'bereavement pack' which will no doubt deal sensitively with such circumstances and provide helpful advice which will help everyone avoid whatever circumstances led to the complaint.
Then a member states that the numbers don't add up.
Apparently they called about gritting a number of times but only 1 complaint is logged.
After a few minutes of to-ing and fro-ing I ask a simple question - the information sheets state 'Complaint', so surely this means where the Complaints procedure has been invoked ?
A call to collect some rubbish isn't a complaint, but a call to say that it's been 2 weeks since the council was asked to do so, and it's still there, will be a complaint.
Similarly with gritting - if a road's not gritted (yet) it's not a complaint to say it hasn't been, but it would be if the road wasn't gritted subsequent to the call.
Think I managed to get it through.
Couple of other bits and pieces.
Cwmnant field has passed its FAW inspection. Hopefully Bluebirds can get the points they need and our town will once again have a Welsh League team. ( Congrats to them for winning the County Cup on Sat, btw ).
Got a few tricky housing problems to sort out.
It does stagger me how long it takes and hhow far things have to go to get some action to prevent tenants being harrassed, just as Phil said in his presentation.
I've also been very busy putting the finishing touches to the plan to ease the traffic problems around Station Hill.
One nice bit of news - the Executive is to consider a plan to enable the Ebbw Vach Trail Group get a cycleway from Six Bells to Aberbeeg.
This is what I mentioned a few months ago - no railway planned until at least 2020, so why miss a chance to enhance our area.
( This has been accepted on the report as well ).
I'm happy it's been picked up on and that we are showing we won't get caught out.
After all, Abertillery Community Council asked in The Gazette some months back where the railway was.
Well, your real Councillor found out, using exactly the same tools and processes available to them and the previous administration.
The difference now is that my senior partners are prepared to do something in the interim, irrespective of any misconception about what will happen to the pie-in-the-sky rail link.
I bet they'll continue to push hard for something after 2020 though, not take it lying down.
Sorry this has been a long one but rather than split it up I though it might give a true reflection of what I've done for your money this week, especially since I can't afford a second home in Ebbw Vale.
Cheers.
hedleymccarthy
Re: A full week that was
[quote="Rocke"]
Cllr. McCarthy's troublesome youngsters in Swffryd ( why is it always some other Members' environs, not his own ? )
How silly of me I thought Swffryd was in my ward [/b]
Rocke
Re: A full week that was
[quote="hedleymccarthy"]
Rocke wrote:
Cllr. McCarthy's troublesome youngsters in Swffryd ( why is it always some other Members' environs, not his own ? )
How silly of me I thought Swffryd was in my ward [/b]
That's why I used the word 'environs'.
Cllr. McCarthy doesn't live in Swffryd, but another of his ward colleagues does, one who has been decorated with an MBE for his contribution to the community.
I hardly think Cllr. Dennis Hughes would be so remiss as to not make representations regarding the community he lives in, if he thought there were major issues.
No doubt he will if he feels that the schedule for 'your' Ward has repercussions for his neighbourhood.
hedleymccarthy
This is the sort of nonsense that is so admired by your many devoted fans, perhaps one of them will nominate you for a gong
Dai 6
Re: A full week that was
[quote="Rocke"]
hedleymccarthy wrote:
Rocke wrote:
Cllr. McCarthy's troublesome youngsters in Swffryd ( why is it always some other Members' environs, not his own ? )
How silly of me I thought Swffryd was in my ward [/b]
That's why I used the word 'environs'.
Cllr. McCarthy doesn't live in Swffryd, but another of his ward colleagues does, one who has been decorated with an MBE for his contribution to the community.
I hardly think Cllr. Dennis Hughes would be so remiss as to not make representations regarding the community he lives in, if he thought there were major issues.
Den Hughes has done a lot more than just make representations - as Hedley well knows. Den rolls up his sleeves and pitches in, at the community centre for one, and has done a hellof a lot for the youngsters in the area.
Hedley, your jibe about "gongs" sounds a little bitter. I for one would happily nominate you for an honour. Then you could begin every speech with "when i was awarded *****", which would at least give us all a rest from "when i was leader"
On reflection, you do deserve recognition for "services to democracy". After all, democracy has really had a boost since your time as leader
martyn142
hedleymccarthy wrote:
This is the sort of nonsense that is so admired by your many devoted fans,
You call them fans Hedley. Others would call them voters.
hedleymccarthy
I'm beginning to think you've been educated beyond your intelligence Martyn.
martyn142
Oh I think I've got a bit more intelligence to fall back on Hedley. I hardly ever use it
Rocke
hedleymccarthy wrote:
This is the sort of nonsense that is so admired by your many devoted fans, perhaps one of them will nominate you for a gong
Tsk, tsk !
Never give away the fact that you've been out-manoeuvred.
It doesn't look good when applying to be an AM.
Haven't you realised by now that each first salvo is in fact me throwing out the groundbait waiting for the inevitable ill-considered bite.
If you can't handle a mere rookie like me Lord help you when and if you tangle with Trish Law.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, H.Q. ?
Bryn Trefil
Sour grapes... he does not have a fan club of his own
[/b]
