Rocke
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What a combative meeting that was ( most of it )Thursday and it's the quarterly Community Councils Liaison Group.
BGCBC representatives meet with the Borough's 4 CCs ( EV doesn't have one, not that it seems have to hurt it ). The Leader chairs it, Chief Exec sits in, the entire Executive, 5 Labour-nominated Members - and me.
We discuss matters that the CCs have agendered, get answers to questions and have our officers there to provide those answers and any other info required.
As you'll know I've been a bit wary, to say the least of CCs to say the least. However as a result of this meeting I've slightly changed my stance, as you'll see further on.
Local Service Boards.
These are bodies that have representatives from all the major public services providers - Councils, Health Board, Police, Civil Service etc.
They will oversee a co-ordinated and integrated approach to community services to ensure all public bodies and organisations pull together to the benefit of all citizens.
The detractors think it's just going to be Big Brother. Most of these bodies aren't accountable to the citizens of BG and indeed there's only 1 elected representative on there ( I suspect that Cllr McCarthy still hasn't got used to not being in the thick of things ).
The CCs want a say in LHBs.
Steve Bartlett ( Clerk Nantyglo & Blaina ) started off reminescent of what his 'glory days' must have been like, rising statesmanlike ( perhaps in the very seat he sat in in his days on the Council ) to pronounce that Community Councils were going to be given a bigger say in matters. Looks like he'd been at one of the Labour-led WAG's consultation exercises where they promise the audience exactly what the audience would like ( or rather what the audience thinks they're being promised ).
Cllr Rocke makes the comment that the Secretary of State and the paper he's quoted from are gone, old hat. This is just looking back rather than forward. The lowest level of representation open to everyone ( ie that everyone can elect ) is Borough Councillor, since EV doesn't have a CC, so how would you elect a rep for that town ?
Steve Bartlett says it's EV's fault that they don't have a CC.
( I'd say they're slightly richer for not having one, but still ).
A whole hour on this one, believe it or not.
Abertillery CC had requested an update on the Aberbeeg - Aber rail link and the background to it.
Lo and behold - a report that stated that in 2002 a decision was made NOT to go for Abertillery - Cardiff and EV - Newport but EV - Cardiff instead.
A number of reasons were given.
So, in 2002 ( were Steve and Graham Bartlett, along with Cllr McCarthy Councillors then I ask ? ) it should have been public knowledge that we weren't having one.
I point out about Network Rail's RUS which enabled me to discover - or is it uncover - that there isn't one until at least 2020. No excuse not to have known ( but as politicians plenty of excuse to keep the bad news at bay ).
Cllr McCarthy manages a timid 'Network Rail always were lukewarm'.
Lord knows what our representatives were then.
With enough fire you can bring anything to the boil.
Not too much confrontation but enough said ( and not ) to give me more of a handle on what went on here regarding the link.
The wheelie bin myth was well and truly shattered.
One of the CCs wanted to know had we done a geographical survey.
We've sent door-knockers all over the borough.
Cllr McCarthy wants to know at what cost - £2/door it seems, so he surmises £60,000.
Now, if this initiative pays off we're saving far more than that each year, so even that's money well spent. It also helps us to get things more right at the start, unlike what seems to have happened with street lighting ( aggghhhh, done it now ).
Now - read my fingers - NO HOUSEHOLD WILL BE FORCED TO HAVE A WHEELIE BIN.
That's what's been stated, that's what I believe and rest assured that if that isn't true I'll be right on the case.
If anyone wants a more detailed lowdown please feel free to start a thread and I'll provide all the info you want.
Well, it had to come and so here goes !
Street Lighting.
Now, you would have thought that they would all have been up in arms about this yet only Nantyglo & Blaina and Tredegar were.
Abertillery and Brynmawr did not raise it. ( Better not make comments in the press then had they ? ).
Talking of which, my letter must really have hit home.
They're all after me for what I said.
And yes, no-one would admit to not going on the walkabouts that I have.
Cue Cllr. McCarthy to inevitably put his foot in it.
His 'walkabouters' have discovered that Attlee Ave and Bridge St ( which one he didn't say - I would expect someone residing in the area to know most of the streets and where they are ) have their lights on but according to the schedule they should be off. He wanted to know if that was a fault.
Our officer in charge came out with a corker. He'll look into it and if they should be off he'll attend to it and give Cllr McCarthy ( and of course his Labour Group ) the credit.
So, people of Cwmtillery, when and if Cllr. McCarthy considers himself good and community-spirited enough to stand as a potential Councillor for your ward remember what I've said - Cllr. McCarthy, who's vehemently opposed to the street lighting switch-off has asked that it be investigated why some of your ward's lights are off.
Steve Bartlett starts off on one, not a happy bunny with what I've printed. I assume it's one of his councillors ( I say it like this because he, in common with other clerks it seems, appear to think that he runs the CC.
Believe it or not the 3 Clerks present are all ex-public office figures and all of them spoke instead of the councillors accompanying them. Who's wearing the trousers I ask ? ), oh yes, one of the Nantyglo & Blaina councillors who comments about something else in the letter.
S Bartlett complains about lighting in a lane to the rear of the Garn. Cllr Dally remarks that there's only one light at the end of the lane anyway.
I can understand the Clerk's mistake - he lives in Victoria ( that's the EV Victoria Cllr. McCarthy ) after all.
However, not to research your subject is a bit lazy isn't it.
Perhaps he's like to have me join him to see the effect the switch-off's having.
Cllr. Trollope's next to peddle the Labour switch-off mantra.
Praises the letter from the paramedic ( has she experienced it I ask ? ) and says it's common sense that there'll be problems.
'No' says I. It's common sense to see if there's a problem and possibly then what should be done.
3,00 people signed various petitions - does anyone seriously think there's been 3,000 people out on the streets after midnight in those parts of the borough that are affected.
Our councillor friend from N & B complained about anti-social behaviour and pointed out the assaults in Aber 2 weeks ago.
Cllr Rocke duly pointed out that they were well before midnight, and just in case the implications of that were lost on him I added that that meant street lights were on.
Further, they were in a place where the lights aren't switched off.
A lively debate that once again showed just how bereft of logic Labour's arguments are. I say 'Labour' because of course 2 of the Clerks are to my knowledge Labour members and I think most if not all of mthe CCs are Labour-led.
It also showed how politics have crept into what should be a straightforward working partnership between the Borough and the CCs.
I had an interesting conversation with what I consider a real person on the street, a die hard card carrier.
Following that I've altered my view slightly.
Instead of now regarding CCs as the last weapon of the party that's failed to optimise the benefits this borough has had and failed dismally to bring others we could have I now think that the problem is that they allow former politicians to rule them, instead of being the hired help they are.
It's time for Community Councillors to determine their local policy and to demonstrate they are in control.
Perhaps the next quarterly meeting will see a few more representatives of people in the street bringing their concerns to the table and us being to work together rather than having to fend off inane politicking.
I believe that CCs have a valuable role to play in providing feedback and helping the Council shape the future of their local areas and communities.
I live in hope.
Cheers.
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