Parish Council … Its Future
Posted by GC on Monday, 29th March 2010, 17:41
What do residents of Northwood consider the future holds for the Parish Council?
Since its inception the PC has in many people’s view achieved very little. If you look round the village there are beautiful flower beds, a marvellous play area in Venner Avenue,(which was 95% there to start with) and of course the much commented on Allotments.
But what else? Oh yes the Notice Board.
The vast percentage of the precept gathered from us the ratepayers, is spent on administration expenses. Yes the PC precept 2010/2011 has been reduced (a novelty in itself); this was only achieved because funds set aside to cover possible By Elections did not materialise, so the funds remained unused.
The act of not making provision of a General Purpose Fund was in my opinion an error. Even in our personal lives the prudent make funds available for that ‘Rainy Day’.
There is every likelihood that as the IOW Council is pressurised to reduce budgets they will hand down to PCs tasks and other functions where the cost will fall on the local precept. It is not so simple, to argue well instead of the IOW Council paying, we will locally through the precept, because these tasks etc. will require the PC to employ a work force, or use contract labour with all the attendant costs. So as the years add up these costs will escalate at an alarming rate.
With the forthcoming General Election, no matter who emerges eventual winner, ever-rising costs will cascade down to the ratepayers in PCs.
Small may be beautiful in many instances, but when it comes to being efficient and providing value for money, PCs must consider merging with neighbouring parishes (alien as this might seem to many).
I am aware that this topic has been discussed before, but this is how I see locally empowered parishes coming under enormous pressure to find funds just to stand still.
Who will represent the local view? Well currently Northwood has two IOW Councillors so we can rely on them to carry the local flag. Most other PCs have at least one IOW Councillor.
How do other residents see the future panning out?
We will soon have a great opportunity to ask potential parish councillors where they stand on these important questions; we can judge the direction Northwood will be taken in the next four years.
GC.
12 Responses to “Parish Council … Its Future”
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- - Friends of Northwood Cemetery
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Parish Council
Well said GC.
Its true if you carry the flag into battle these days you really need to keep an eye over your shoulder, just to make sure they are still following.
The world did have people that done it alone once but yes times have changed. Nobody likes a martyr these days, they normally have a bomb attached.
How many would have took the “kings shilling” years ago if we had the media coverage we have now. Cannon fodder is hard to get now and people have caught on its not just the few that should get the cream.
Stick to the Law as you say, use the power of debate and commonsense will shine through. I found through life if you take away the smoke and mirrors and trickery that our politicians and Leaders of opinion use on us all, its usually not the message you first receive and that’s life.
Not sure who made the comment but along the lines of: ‘I might not like your views, but I will defend your right to state them’… again apologies to the purists.
Regards
GC Northwood.
Hello SB Sir/Madam
With reference to your comment regarding ‘systems’ not being at fault, its the peoples lack of civic duty? Well that’s like saying there was nothing wrong with the Poll Tax…it was just a system! Not so I fear, the people spoke, loudly as I recall, and the system was changed.
Regarding the second part of your post relating to the ‘system being put in place to allow people to have their say in the running of their local community, quite right, that is exactly what I attempt to do. Many times I am attacked for travelling down the wrong route, or just wrong, that is also the price we pay for the British way of democracy.
And finally your comment that I should break the law and refuse to pay my council tax bill in full is an inane statement, which I cannot believe you said in a serious manner? History in the UK is littered with hero’s and heroines hung out to dry on the cross of martyrdom, because my friend when the time came and I was taken before the court where would all people who share similar views to yours be? Loneliness is a desolate bed fellow when you are waiting to have your head chopped off. When my 15 mins of ‘fame’ had been erased from the headlines, what then for me? A criminal record and a few transient friends who would soon fade away when my purpose was served. I think not.
If asked I will assist if able in the community I am proud to call home, but the prospect of running up a mountain dragging an anchor is not my idea of fun.
Yes it is possible to affect society without being a PC or MP or indeed any other local dignity, I am extremely proud to have the rights as a citizen in the British Isles, but without the rule of law this would be hellish place to live.
Regards
GC. Northwood
GC, I hear you complaining a lot about the system and yet you are (presumably) not putting yourself forward as a PC? Surely it is the lack of civic duty minded people that needs to be critisised and not a system that was put in place so that oridinary people could have a say in the running of their local community?
The fact that most of us are happy to sit back and let the others ‘do the work’ should be deplored.
If you feel sufficiently strongly about what you have said then just refuse to pay the PC part of the Council Tax and allow your view to be heard where it may make a difference.
SB
You miss my point of “proper elected” and its not a myth generated by the uninitiated, I can assure you its a fact if only the required number stand for “election” a ballot is not required and you get whats on the list, warts and all. Co-option that happens if seats are not filled at the election date is an even more bazaar way of “electing” people as they just appear later.
This does not stop me or others having an opinion that PCs could, and some do, end up with totally the wrong type of people making decisions that can change my way of life and I end up paying more each year for the privilege.
The Vicar of Dibley comedy series was not that far from reality.
GC, you obviously have very strong feelings about this issue (and others I am sure). You present yourself as eloquent and passionate. Surely you should stand as a Parish Councilor and change things ‘from the inside’?
Well only four residents put their names forward for the new four year term as Parish Councillors starting next month. Three from the first term, John Pullen, Colin Cramp and Paul Fuller plus Keith Clatworthy from Pallance Road who I was pleased to nominate.
Fortunately four makes the new Council quorate so they can co-opt four more to make the requisite eight Parish Councillors.
Anyone interested should contact Parish Clerk Barbara Herbert (email is barbara.herbert@sky.com) or come to our last Parish Meeting on Tuesday at 6.30pm in the hall at Northwood Primary School, Wyatts Lane.
A great disappointment that so few felt interested enough in their local community to give it a go but there it is. Anyway, perhaps as an election is again not necessary, people will volunteer for co-option.
As usual best wishes, Cllr. Roger Mazillius
The comments from the poster regarding getting back to the ‘Old Day’s when we had proper elected councillors through the ballot box’
This is again one of the myths that have been generated by the uninitiated, the ballot procedures carried out when the Northwood Parish Council was formed, was completely in accordance with all legal requirements.
The fact that no ballot actually took place was solely due to lack of candidates standing to trigger an election. Therefore the candidates who did stand were elected unopposed.
That said, I agree with the sentiments in the rest of the post regarding a change in the way local governance is carried out.
Power to the people
Thank you Anon poster,
I am confident that the main thread running through my post was that services and tasks will come cascading down from the Higher Council in order to meet budget targets etc; What will come to fruition, unfortunately for the residents in the various parish councils, are rises year on year. Currently having NO employee’s of their own they will have to employ these skills and of course the tools to carry out the job. This will bring enormous increase in costs, which will fall on the Community Charge payer, increasing year on year. End Game: Pay Up or loose the Amenity!
PC’s that resist the increased work load passed down will be informed ‘well if you don’t set it against the local precept, We(Big Higher Council) will set the costs ant way’. Money that has been set aside for local parish councils to spend on local amenities will be swallowed back into the coffers of County Hall.
The drive towards total empowering parishes commenced by Mrs M Thatcher when in power, solely to make local councillors take the flake and brickbats deflecting them away from the Tory party. Now that job is complete, watch the regime and financial direction change course.
In my opinion the solution is that ‘Clustered Parish Councils could indeed should, work together to counter the mountain of costs that are almost guaranteed to flow their way.
Working as a stronger body well managed is would be better able to stand the fiscal storm heading its way.
The current Higher Administration has had long enough to come up with solutions to to their budget woes, its time the Parish Councils took action to defend themselves.
Wake up folks ‘The Magic Mirrors’ show is back in town.
As with so many issues you are ‘sleep-walking to very high local costs’ Tories have hidden the important parts until after the Election, Question and Re-Question Candidates till they squeak.
Local Politics should ,in my opinion not be conducted under Party Political Banners, this way of conducting local issues serves poorly the people involved. The Yay sayers state this is the way forward, but and its a big but, ‘value for money and peoples needs and aspirations are never truly met.
Regards
GC. Northwood.
GC you are so right about things being given to the “Parish” to look after and then pay through the precept for extra admin and contractors.
If you look at other parish councils on the Island who have taken on toilets, grass cutting and rubbish collection just to name a few, they have all seen a massive rise in precept. Gurnard PC has had a 14% increase in the precept this year and the locals are not happy, not that I blame them. Why on earth do these PCs feel they need to get involved in the running of things that the IW council has the expertise and workforce to carry out. Perhaps it makes them feel a little more important or worthwhile or is it they just don’t realise they are being used?
Lets get back to a “local” council like Cowes Urban district days run by a group of proper elected councilors via the ballot box who look after an area the size of “old” Northwood parish.
GC old mucker, your laudable efforts have been, and will continue to be, in vain. There’s an old adage about ‘leading a horse to water, but not getting it to drink’ and so it is with your particular blog type posts. Some times mucker the questions you ask are not simplistic enough. Us ‘ere ‘skinners’ aint into multi-thinking, when we’ve made a decision about summat we stick with it through hell an high wata.
May your God be with you….Who ever he is?
Fallen Scribe
Well GC the lack of response to your post says it all, no one cares enough to throw in a view.
Give up mate, the head will hurt after a while!
Put your name up for an Allotment, if a new site is found. Several years ago I tried to move things along but failed..so will you.
Joe 90