Sunday, 12 February 2012
This week
I have been on leave from Council work this week although I have not been idle. House decorating took up three days and I am pleased to say ceilings and walls are looking pristine. Just a few flecks that need tidying up and the odd wall to be wallpapered once 'she who shall be obeyed' has chosen the stuff. I also attended a board meeting of my company in Bedfordshire and experienced the delight of digging the car out of the snow in order to get back home. Yesterday an almost full house at the Conservative group policy meeting which I am delighted to say included all the County Councillors and all the Port Folio holders. A full and frank exchange took place on all key themes with special attention made to the Core Strategy and it's make up. I am pleased to report group approved the approach we are taking to this very important matter so tomorrow I can pass this to Officers for action. We are at budget time and I can report that we will again freeze Council Tax and take the governments incentive to do so, however we should all be aware that if inflation continues at a pace all we are doing is building a problem for tomorrow and whilst I can see clear water for the next two years just, after that it becomes very murky indeed. We are doing everything we can to reduce costs and increase income but there is the distinct possibility that we will not be able to continue this without a careful review of our core income stream which is the element we get from the residents Council Tax which includes County, Police, and Fire. These are very tough economic times which will require tough decision making in the near future. I will making that clear at the forthcoming roadshows at Grange and Highcliffe. Our direction is to encourage, enable, growth in our total economy leading to greater employment and opportunity. This may change the perspective of Christchurch as a predominantly retirement area to a vibrant commercial ambiance but still retaining the charm and elegance we have all become used to. Exciting times indeed.
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1 comment:
Hello Ray,
I came to your well attended road show at Somerford on Wednesday and enjoyed the presentation by yourself and your team, my main issues as a Somerford resident are Over development on the estate, myself along with Christine,Julie and other members of the Somerford Community Partnership are working hard to stop Soverign Twynham and other developers ruining the charachter of our lovely estate which we take great pride in,we must protect Scotts Green from Soverigns ghastly plans to turn it in to a modern day ghetto,if this is allowed to go ahead how long before they build on Marmion Green and all the other spots of land on the estate where our children play,and their plans to demolish our much used and loved community centre to build themselves a head office , Soverigns arrogence knows no bounds , they even called Somerford the 'SoverignTwynham Estate' in their letter to me when they held a public exhibition about their plans a couple of years ago,also a number of infill developments have popped up on the estate, indeed my next door neigbour has divided their back garden and built a house in it ruining the enviroment and our enjoyment and privacy in our garden.
Dog Fouling is a huge problem, i walk my two dogs most days down Southey Road and along the front green up to purewell, i must aviod at least 15 poos on a daily basis the same amount as the number of people who have been fined in the whole of the town in the last year!More must be done this is at best unsightly and at worst a health hazzard to our children whilst their is still green space for them to play on on the estate!
Your support is vital to help, us keep Somerford a good place to live.
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