Tainted Mayor

One well-informed local fears the Mayorship may become sullied and diminished by politicisation. It's hard not to agree. I'm not thrilled at voting becoming a redundant sham, come to that...

The Precious Leader does seem to be rubbing people up the wrong way in his recent press statements. Fair comment from Mrs Berridge in her letter, though - the Lord Mayor is a figurehead, a ceremonial position, and emphatically civic and apolitical. The CCC website says:

The Lord Mayor is elected by the City Councillors at the Annual Council Meeting in May and becomes chairman of the Council, the most senior member of the civic office and the principal representative of the City and District on important occasions.

The word 'elected' does rather suggest to me the free exercise of choice by the eligible constituency, which doesn't seem to have been the case this time round. Jonji-il Bi has shown his willingness to fight tooth and nail at the drop of a hat, as evidenced by his 'absolutely disgraceful' outburst. I do hope he will fight to defend the Lord Mayorship from the taint of politics, otherwise who knows where we might end up - politically partial Council Officers? Heaven forbid!

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Don’t taint Lord Mayor with partisan politics

In the May 6th edition of your newspaper you report Cllr John Gilbey as saying that non-Conservative councillors had not supported the role of Lord Mayor and had failed to attend civic functions like the Lord Mayor’s Ball (Anger Over ‘Lack Of Consultation’ For Lord Mayor Choice, Gazette, May 6).

I take exception to that accusation. As the wife of a Lib Dem city councillor, I have worked this past civic year as a member of the Lady Mayoress’s charity fundraising team and have attended a number of civic occasions with or without my husband. Since my husband is councillor for the same ward as the current Lord Mayor, Cllr Harry Cragg, we made a special effort his year to attend the Lord Mayor’s Ball and brought a table of 12 people to the event.

We believed we were attending a civic, not a political, function that evening. It has often been stressed that the role of Lord Mayor is a neutral, non-political one. It seems that Cllr Gilbey wishes to taint a high civic office with the air of partisan politics, which can only be detrimental to the post.

Janet Berridge, Birch Road, Canterbury

HB Gazette letters 13th May 2010

Freedom from choice

Nice to be Mayor, to be Mayor, nice!The next Lord Mayor is a shoo-in. Of course. And not everybody's happy about it. Of course.

So, the Canterbury City Conservatives have "arranged" a smooth transition from one Lord Mayor to the next. Please don't be surprised or disappointed by the absence of consultation - it seems to be their style. They may have a grudging admiration for the Soviet era ballots with 99% turnout and 100% agreement. I expect the North Korean style of compulsory consistent consensus is an inspiration to our own Precious Leader, Jonji-il Bi. But when it comes down to it, is anyone bothered which councillors fill the roles of Lord Mayor and Sheriff? Wouldn't it be smarter to choose the most photogenic and media-savvy people from the district, regardless of whether they're councillors?

Anger over lack of consultation for Lord Mayor choice

Tory councillor Pat Todd has been nominated to take on the role of Lord Mayor for a second time. An email sent to all council members this week by leader Cllr John Gilbey stated that Cllr Todd is in line for the prestigious civic job, a post he previously held in 2006/7. Another Tory councillor, Northgate representative Sally Pickersgill, has also been nominated as the new Sheriff of Canterbury.

The pair are expected to be voted in by the Conservative-controlled council at its annual meeting at the Guildhall on May 12, replacing Cllrs Harry Cragg and Gabrielle Davis. But Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Alex Perkins is angry that opposition councillors have again been ‘frozen out’ of the selection process. He said:

"I’ve got nothing against Pat. He’s a good bloke who did a fine job last time he was Lord Mayor. But yet again we’ve not been consulted and instead had this presidential style announcement via email by the council leader. It’s very wrong because there are other councillors who would have liked to have been offered the opportunity."

Labour group leader Cllr Julia Seath said:

"There are only two Labour members on the council and as it happens neither of us are interested. Cllr Todd is a very likeable and capable councillor but he has done it before and it would have been nice to see perhaps a long-serving Liberal Democrat member have the chance. But I’m not surprised. How the Conservatives have handled it has become a bit par for the course with them."

Cllr Gilbey said the group had started the selection process some months ago because they did not want it to clash with the general election. He said that neither opposition groups had contacted him about any of their potential candidates and he accused them of not supporting the role of Lord Mayor by failing to attend civic functions like the Lord Mayor’s ball. He said:

"They very rarely turn up and it’s really poor because it’s about recognising the importance of the office of Lord Mayor as much as the individual. Pat was the only one in the group who was really keen and there is no precedent which says he can’t serve a second term. We know he is very capable and a safe pair of hands and that’s what the position needs because it carries significant responsibilities. We had three candidates for Sheriff from the group but the vote went to Cllr Pickersgill who I am sure will do a good job."

HB Gazette 6th May 2010

Don't return to sender

CCC recently upgraded their email system with the result that councillors get fewer emails. Unfortunately, it's not spam and suchlike that is being winnowed out, but emails with mis-spelt addresses - they just get trashed.

In the olden days, with the previous email system, if you sent an email to joe.loggs@canterbury.gov.uk in the hope of contacting Councillor Joe Bloggs, you would get an automatic message saying that your message couldn't be delivered (known as an NDR - Non-Delivery Receipt). That way you would know that something was wrong, and you would probably be able to figure it out, and eventually get it right. However, the new system doesn't send these helpful NDR messages. So you send your message to joe.loggs and having no reason to think otherwise, believe that your councillor has got your message and is now springing into action.

It gets worse:  it wouldn't be terribly difficult to automatically route these mis-spelt messages into 'check these' file, and have a human being scan through them daily or weekly. But no, these mis-addressed emails are instantly destroyed, so there's no chance of them ever getting through. In the physical world this is like the Royal Mail shredding any letter that is mis-spelt, mis-addressed or even mis-punctuated. The Council have come up with a short-term fix (see below) which simply involves all of us doing a little bit more work, and Customer Services presumably doing quite a bit more work.

Every IT department has its own special mix of considerations and constraints - in banking it's security, in the stock market it's 'up-time'. What CCC's IT department must not lose sight of is that their special duty is to help, not hinder, local democracy.

Befriend our Museum

If you want to save Herne Bay Museum, it's time to make your voice heard. That's the message from campaigners, who are hoping to set up a Friends group to fight for the museum's future.

Crucial meetings with council bosses are due to take place in the next few weeks and campaign spokesman David Cross said it was vital to demonstrate the strength of feeling for the service. Officials still plan to use it as an "education space", rather than a public museum. Mr Cross, who used to work at the museum, said:

"It is hard to read the council at the moment. They are trying to put together a proposal which squares the circle and pleases everyone, which will be very difficult. Our next move is to form a Friends organisation so we have an official body to negotiate with the council. Then they can see how seriously people in Herne Bay take this threat."

Initial meetings have already taken place. Officials told Mr Cross they believed the museum had to either focus on visitors, or residents and school groups. But he disagrees with their conclusions:

"It is crucial schools can still walk their pupils to the museum and still keep a measure of drop-in public access. I refuse to accept a display about the bouncing bomb isn't equally of interest to local children learning about their town, and people coming here to visit. The same applies to the Roman displays and to the items dug out of the sand. The museum is for everyone."

The museum was earmarked for closure in this year's budget debates, but given a year's stay of execution by council bosses, after thousands of people signed petitions calling for it to stay open.

Canterbury City councillor Darren Ellis announced at a meeting of the ruling executive committee on Thursday that consultation with interested groups had started. The announcement sparked a wave of concern among campaigners, who feared time was running out. But Mr Ellis, who is responsible for museums, told the Times a final decision would not be made until the end of the year. He praised the idea of a Friends group, but ruled out a proposal to run the museum with volunteers to save costs. He said:

"The idea is the museum should be more of an education space, but we are not saying 100 per cent that is what we are going to do. It is a process which could run into next year."

HB Times 22nd Apr 2010

To get involved with the Friends of Herne Bay Museum, or to find out more, please contact the Membership Secretary at: MuseumFriends@HerneBayMatters.com

CCC Officers: Who's Who

Reporting to the Chief Executive (April 2010)

Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive

Jim McDonald

• Procurement
• HR Client

Finance

Ian Cooke

• Finance

Legal and Democratic

Mark Ellender

• Democratic Services
• Legal
• Elections and ERO

Strategic Director

Velia Coffey

Culture and Enterprise

Janice McGuinness

• Museums
• Arts & Events
• Sports Development
• Active Life
• Cultural Policy
• Marlowe Theatre
• Economic Development
• Tourism
• Markets
• Town Centre Management
• International

Communications

Celia Glynn-Williams

• Press
• Marketing
• Internal Communications
• Customer Services Client
• Web and Intranet Development Client
• Civic Team
• Sponsorship
• Advertising

ICT and Customer Services

Angela Waite

• ICT
• Customer Services Operation

Housing, Community Safety & Environmental Services

Larissa Laing

• Housing Landlord
• Supported Housing
• Housing Options & Interventions
• Community Safety
• Environmental Protection
• Commercial Health
• Street Scene
• Parking Enforcement
• Asset Management [Housing]
• Licensing

Community Development and Outdoor Leisure

Suzi Wakeham

• Community Development
• Neighbourhood Development
• Community Services
• Community Assets [Westgate: Kings: Horsebridge: Whitstable Castle]
• Outdoor Leisure
• Foreshore
• Beach Huts

Strategic Director

David Reed

Policy and Improvement

Mark Bursnell

• Corporate Policy
• Scrutiny
• Performance
• Corporate Projects
• Consultation

Planning and Regeneration

Ian Brown

• Planning Policy
• Conservation and Countryside including Arboricultural
• Development Control
• Building Control
• Planning Enforcement
• Transport & Parking Strategy
• Housing Strategic Policy & Enabling
• Land Charges

Property and Engineering

Malcolm Burgess

• Estates & Valuation
• Whitstable Harbour
• Engineers
• Facilities Management
• Building Maintenance
• Architects’ Projects

Revenues and Benefits

Andrew Stevens

• Benefits
  Local Taxation



Sell Museum to pay for Pier?

The report from Humberts Leisure angers the Museum campaigners, and doesn't please the Pier campaigners.

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Debate welcome on Pier future

Herne Bay’s Museum and Kings Hall should be sold off to pay for the redevelopment of town’s pier, a new report has suggested. The document, which was written for the city council by consultants Humberts Leisure at a cost of £10,000 reveals few developers are interested in working on the pier and suggests local firms may be the only hope.

The consultants recommend demolishing the pavilion building and using the empty pier structure as a performance or events space. A cafe, shops and entertainment venue could replace the hall, and collections in the museum could be relocated to the new pier.

The report said the museum building may be worth as much as £200,000. Council spokesman Rob Davies stressed no decision has been taken as yet to accept the report’s recommendations - which are likely to outrage campaigners still reeling from their failed fight to stop funding cutbacks to the museum. Campaigner Linda O’Carroll said:

“This suggests the council had no intention of saving Herne Bay museum and their review of its future counts for nothing. But we will continue to fight and at the moment we are investigating a lottery grant to help secure its future.”

The consultants admit redeveloping the pier will be expensive, and the council may need to find new ways of raising cash to fund the project - such as providing more beach huts along the seafront. Other suggestions include running an indoor children’s play centre and a Victorian-themed children’s ride, offering studios to artists and creating a water sports base. Proposals for a cinema, bowling alley and housing were ruled out. The consultants did not rule out connecting the two ends of the pier with an aerial ride of cable car-like pods.

The report concludes council should explore a long-term vision for the pier, “with a view to the reconstruction or restoration of the pier to its original length, or in a new form, in the longer term”. Councillors have agreed to move the sports facilities to Herne Bay High School and the Herons Leisure Centre site. Cllr Peter Lee, who chairs the town's regeneration panel, said:

“I welcome the publication of this report as the next step towards the regeneration of the pier. Subject to the relocation of the sports facilities, the report demonstrates that the pier has a significant future as an important visitor attraction at the heart of the town’s seafront. The report sets out positive and realistic options for consideration and I look forward to the debate in the town before the council takes any decisions.”

HB Times 2010-02-25

£20k down a small hole

Just to quickly refresh your memory, dear reader, we are living in times of budget cuts and belt-tightening. There has been widespread local coverage of Canterbury City Council slashing, cutting, trimming and salami slicing. In the expectation that their central funding will be reduced, CCC has been wielding the knife on all but the biggest projects.

It came as an unwelcome surprise to me that CCC was proposing to make a £20,000 "contribution to hospitality for the Open Golf Tournament at Sandwich". (For the benefit of our international readers, the town of Sandwich has its own Town Council, and falls within the realm of Dover District Council. In terms of the semi-feudal world of local government funding, it is completely separate from Canterbury City Council: only 12 miles from Canterbury, but it may as well be in France.)

The clearest explanation of the rationale behind the outlay that I've been able to find comes from the Council Leader, Cllr Gilbey:

The Leader said that the £20,000 contribution for The Open golf tournament in 2011 was not a grant and that it never had been. He indicated that, like the situation for the 2012 Olympics in London, the whole of the district would benefit from the event and that we would expect every hotel in the district to be fully booked. The Leader emphasised that the £20,000 was available, if required, for the council to take full advantage of the event. He pointed out that it would be used for things like promotions to make sure we achieved the maximum benefit for the businesses, homes and people of the District, as we did when The Open golf tournament last came to Kent.

Schmoozing in the posh seats, by the sounds of it. News of this £20k-worth of largesse has been widely met with incredulity and anger, and unsurprisingly it came up in the recent budget "debate" in the form of a don't-be-evil-be-good ambush from the LibDems:

It was proposed by Councillor A Perkins and seconded by Councillor Dixey that the council cancel the £20,000 contribution to the Open Golf at Sandwich and use that money to reinstate £20,000 of the funding withdrawn from Age Concern and Northgate Over 60’s. (Revenue neutral).

The foregoing amendment was declared LOST. I'm not particularly surprised, but I am thoroughly disgusted. As luck would have it, this was one of the shamefully rare occasions when the vote was actually recorded, so we (the paying punters) get to find out who did what:

For the amendment:
Councillors Berridge, Bright, Calvert-Mindell, Dixey, Dye, M Flaherty, R Flaherty, Flanagan, Hando, Linfield, MacCaul, Matthews, Parsons, A Perkins, Staley, Vickers, Vye and Wratten (18)

Against the amendment:
Councillors Anderson, Austin, Bissett, Davis, Doyle, Ellis, Fisher, Gilbey, Harrison, Mrs Law, Lee, McCabe, McMahan, Patterson, J Perkins, Pickersgill, Samper, Sharp, Sonnex, A Taylor, H Taylor, Thomas, Todd, Vickery-Jones and Windsor (25)

Abstained from voting:
Councillors Cragg and Reuby (2)

Absent from the meeting:
Councillors Carnell, Eden-Green, Parry, Seath and Steed (5)

You may want to ask any or all of those who voted against the motion why they did as they did, or you may want to share an opinion with them. Here's a who's who and where and how:

Anderson Conservative, North Nailbourne, john.anderson@canterbury.gov.uk
Austin Conservative, Sturry North, tony.austin@canterbury.gov.uk
Bissett Conservative, Herne and Broomfield, evelyn.bissett@canterbury.gov.uk
Davis Conservative, Reculver, gabrielle.davis@canterbury.gov.uk
Doyle Conservative, Chartham and Stone Street, rosemary.doyle@canterbury.gov.uk
Ellis Conservative, Northgate, darren.ellis@canterbury.gov.uk
Fisher Conservative, Tankerton, martin.fisher@canterbury.gov.uk
Gilbey Conservative, Blean Forest, john.gilbey@canterbury.gov.uk
Harrison Conservative, Tankerton, jeanne.harrison@canterbury.gov.uk
Mrs Law Conservative, Seasalter, jean.law@canterbury.gov.uk
Lee Conservative, West Bay, peter.lee@canterbury.gov.uk
McCabe Conservative, Blean Forest, hazel.mccabe@canterbury.gov.uk
McMahan Conservative, West Bay, vincent.mcmahan@canterbury.gov.uk
Patterson Conservative, Chartham and Stone Street, mike.patterson@canterbury.gov.uk
J Perkins Conservative, Gorrell, jackie.perkins@canterbury.gov.uk
Pickersgill Conservative, Northgate, sally.pickersgill@canterbury.gov.uk
Samper Conservative, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, jenny.samper@canterbury.gov.uk
Sharp Conservative, Seasalter, mike.sharp@canterbury.gov.uk
Sonnex Conservative, Herne and Broomfield, sharron.sonnex@canterbury.gov.uk
A Taylor Conservative, Reculver, ann.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk
H Taylor Conservative, Sturry South, heather.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk
Thomas Conservative, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, ian.thomas@canterbury.gov.uk
Todd Conservative, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, pat.todd@canterbury.gov.uk
Vickery-Jones Conservative, Herne and Broomfield, peter.vickeryjones@canterbury.gov.uk
Windsor Conservative, Seasalter, cyril.windsor@canterbury.gov.uk

HB Councillors, by Ward

Full contact details...

If you're not sure which Ward you're in, visit: www.canterbury.gov.uk/whatward.php

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Reculver

Gabrielle Davis (Conservative)

21 Sea View Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 6JB
01227 367 426
gabrielle.davis@canterbury.gov.uk

Gillian Reuby (Conservative)

Northernlights
King Edward Avenue
HERNE BAY
CT6 6EA
01227 366 081
gillian.reuby@canterbury.gov.uk

Ann Taylor (Conservative)

33 West Hill Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 8HG
01227 367 852
ann.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk

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Heron

Robert Bright (Liberal Democrat)

63 William Street
HERNE BAY
CT6 5NR
01227 366 550
robert.bright@canterbury.gov.uk

Ron Flaherty (Liberal Democrat)

Dillon House
35 Central Parade
HERNE BAY
CT6 5HX
01227 365 757
ron.flaherty@canterbury.gov.uk

Ken Hando (Liberal Democrat)

3 The Paddocks
Beltinge
HERNE BAY
CT6 6QX
01227 363 334
ken.hando@canterbury.gov.uk

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Greenhill and Eddington

Margaret Flaherty (Liberal Democrat)

35 Central Parade
HERNE BAY
CT6 5HX
01227 365 757
margaret.flaherty@canterbury.gov.uk

Roger Matthews (Independent)

Flat 1
42 Beltinge Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 6BU
01227 366 950
roger.matthews@canterbury.gov.uk

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Herne and Broomfield

Evelyn Bissett (Conservative)

45 Mill View Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 7JF
01227 363 693
evelyn.bissett@canterbury.gov.uk

Sharron Sonnex (Conservative)

6 Rye Walk
HERNE BAY
CT6 7XD
01227 369 994
sharron.sonnex@canterbury.gov.uk

Peter Vickery-Jones (Conservative)

71 Grand Drive
HERNE BAY
CT6 8JS
07931 314 111
peter.vickeryjones@canterbury.gov.uk

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West Bay

Peter Lee (Conservative)

12 Sunningdale Walk
HERNE BAY
CT6 7TR
07831 582 473
peter.lee@canterbury.gov.uk

Vince McMahan (Conservative)

68 Cornwall Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 7SX
01227 742 606
vincent.mcmahan@canterbury.gov.uk

Non-HB Councillors

Full contact details...

John Anderson
Con: North Nailbourne:
Aunt Betsy's Cottage
7 Dering Road
Bridge
CANTERBURY
CT4 5NA
01227 830 260
john.anderson@canterbury.gov.uk

Tony Austin
Con: Sturry North:
The Purlins
Black Robin Lane
Kingston
CANTERBURY
CT4 6HR
01227 830 131
tony.austin@canterbury.gov.uk

Michael Berridge
LibDem: St Stephens:
3 Birch Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 3BS
01227 470 027
michael.berridge@canterbury.gov.uk

Jo Calvert-Mindell
LibDem: St Stephens:
29 Longmeadow Way
CANTERBURY
CT2 7DG
0779 265 6225
jo.calvertmindell@canterbury.gov.uk

Paul Carnell
Con: Gorrell:
Flat 5
18 Tankerton Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2AB
01227 770 498
paul.carnell@canterbury.gov.uk

Harry Cragg
Lord Mayor
Con: St Stephens:
60 St Stephens Hill
CANTERBURY
CT2 7AR
01227 760 869
harry.cragg@canterbury.gov.uk

Michael Dixey
LibDem: Harbledown:
Linden House
Linden Grove
CANTERBURY
CT2 8AB
01227 456 626
michael.dixey@canterbury.gov.uk

Rosemary Doyle
Con: Chartham and Stone Street:
16 Richdore Road
Waltham
CANTERBURY
CT4 5SJ
01227 700 296
rosemary.doyle@canterbury.gov.uk

Stephen Dye
LibDem: Westgate:
24 St Lawrence Court
St Lawrence Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 3EY
stephen.dye@canterbury.gov.uk

Nick Eden-Green
LibDem: Wincheap:
16 Dane John
CANTERBURY
CT1 2QU
01227 470 416
nick.edengreen@canterbury.gov.uk

Darren Ellis
Con: Northgate:
68 Field Avenue
CANTERBURY
CT1 1TR
01227 463 501
darren.ellis@canterbury.gov.uk

Martin Fisher
Con: Tankerton:
15 Queens Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2JE
01227 266 021
martin.fisher@canterbury.gov.uk

James Flanagan
LibDem: Westgate:
11 Fitzroy Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2LG
01227 750 146
james.flanagan@canterbury.gov.uk

John Gilbey
Leader of the Council
Con: Blean Forest:
Brambley Hedge
Black Robin Lane
Kingston
CANTERBURY
CT4 6HR
01227 830 138
john.gilbey@canterbury.gov.uk

Jeanne Harrison
Con: Tankerton:
4 Tower Hill
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2BW
01227 273 570
jeanne.harrison@canterbury.gov.uk

Jean Law
Con: Seasalter:
29 Alexandra Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4LR
01227 265 021
jean.law@canterbury.gov.uk

Ida Linfield
LibDem: Westgate:
93 The Street
Boughton-under-Blean
FAVERSHAM
ME13 9BG
01227 750 146
ida.linfield@canterbury.gov.uk

Charlotte MacCaul
LibDem: Wincheap:
66 Strangers Lane
CANTERBURY
CT1 3XG
01227 764 714
charlotte.maccaul@canterbury.gov.uk

Hazel McCabe MBE
Con: Blean Forest:
Little Well Farm
Fleets Lane
Tyler Hill
CANTERBURY
CT2 9NA
01227 471 352
hazel.mccabe@canterbury.gov.uk

Carolyn Parry
Con: Marshside:
Walnut Tree Farm
Highstead
Chislet
CANTERBURY
CT3 4LX
01227 860 600
carolyn.parry@canterbury.gov.uk

Adam Parsons
LibDem: Barton:
c/o Lib Dem Office
Canterbury City Council
Military Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 1YW
adam.parsons@canterbury.gov.uk

Mike Patterson
Con: Chartham and Stone Street:
Ashfield Farm
Waddenhall
Petham
CANTERBURY
CT4 5PX
01227 700 624
mike.patterson@canterbury.gov.uk

Alex Perkins
LibDem: Wincheap:
21 Cambridge Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 3QG
alex.perkins@canterbury.gov.uk

Jackie Perkins
Con: Gorrell:
41 Douglas Avenue
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1RW
01227 263 790
jackie.perkins@canterbury.gov.uk

Sally Pickersgill
Con: Northgate:
39 Abbey Gardens
CANTERBURY
CT2 7EU
01227 459 227
sally.pickersgill@canterbury.gov.uk

Jennifer Samper
Con: Chestfield and Swalecliffe:
Smeeds Farm
Church Street
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1PJ
01227 272 666
jenny.samper@canterbury.gov.uk

Julia Seath
Lab: Harbour:
Brockway
Clifton Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1DQ
01227 273 467
julia.seath@canterbury.gov.uk

Mike Sharp
Con: Seasalter:
84 Borstal Hill
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4NZ
01227 770 538
mike.sharp@canterbury.gov.uk

Brian Staley
LibDem: Little Stour:
Littlebourne Nurseries
Littlebourne
CANTERBURY
CT3 1UP
01227 721 315
brian.staley@canterbury.gov.uk

Michael Steed
LibDem: Barton:
Nethersole House
36 Dover Street
Canterbury
CT1 3HQ
01227 479166
michael.steed@canterbury.gov.uk

Heather Taylor
Con: Sturry North:
18 McCarthy Avenue
Sturry
CANTERBURY
CT2 0PE
01227 710 134
heather.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk

Ian Thomas
Con: Chestfield and Swalecliffe:
37 Elmwood Close
Swalecliffe
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2QR
01227 793 057
ian.thomas@canterbury.gov.uk

Pat Todd
Con: Chestfield and Swalecliffe:
60 Sherwood Drive
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4PH
01227 276 396
pat.todd@canterbury.gov.uk

Paula Vickers
LibDem: Barton:
c/o Liberal Democrat Office
Military Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 1YW
01227 455 147
Paula.vickers@canterbury.gov.uk

Martin Vye
LibDem: Barham Downs:
The Dacha
Patrixbourne Road
Bridge
CANTERBURY
CT4 5BL
01227 831 820
martin.vye@kent.gov.uk

Cyril Windsor
Con: Seasalter:
9 Martindown Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4PX
01227 272 369
cyril.windsor@canterbury.gov.uk

John Wratten
Lab: Harbour:
14 Cornwallis Circle
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1DU
01227 261 109
john.wratten@canterbury.gov.uk


Roger Gale MP
North Thanet Conservative Association
215a Canterbury Road
Birchington
Kent
CT7 9AH
House of Commons Phone: 020 7219 4087
House of Commons Fax: 020 7219 6828
Constituency Phone: 01843 848588
Constituency Fax: 01843 844856
Parliament email: galerj@parliament.uk
Website: www.rogergale.com



The official story

Here's what the feudal overlords in Canterbury say:

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For those in search of traditional seaside magic, you will find it in Herne Bay. Two miles of splendid seafront offer seaside favourites in the shape of candyfloss, ice cream parlours, cafés, friendly pubs and fish and chip bars. Great beaches lined with brightly coloured beach huts reflect the great character of this seaside town.  Sporting enthusiasts including rowers, yachtsmen and jet ski riders pursue their passion in Herne Bay's waters adding a thrilling dimension to natural marine qualities.

To the east, the ancient sandstone cliffs of nearby Reculver and the imposing 12th century Reculver towers and Roman fort provide an imposing backdrop and the beaches here provide a haven for those looking for a peaceful hideaway.

The seafront has some interesting Victorian architecture and in the spring and summer months the town's beauty is enhanced by the seafront gardens, bringing floral colour to visitors who pass the clock tower and bandstand. In recent years, the bandstand has become a venue for those who enjoy café culture and it is also a focal point for summer concerts, other musical events and children's entertainment.

All seaside towns have events that celebrate their identity and Herne Bay is no exception. Classic car shows, Italian and Continental markets, carnivals and the Herne Bay Festival are just some of the variety of events that take place throughout the year.

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I hate to quibble, but I don't think I've ever seen candyfloss in Herne Bay. I should get out more, obviously.

21st century Canterbury

As KCC unveiled its vision for the next 20 years Canterbury City Council has been doing the same. It has begun a six-week public consultation on its Local Development Framework, which should take the district to 2030. Bosses at the city council say the district is at a crossroads and a “window of opportunity” exists to shape it for the next 30 years. Officers have spent the past two years working on the first draft of the 120-page Local Development Framework.

It discusses plans for 10,200 homes, slip roads on the A2, university expansions - and a marina for the coast. Architect Peter Jackson has long been a campaigner for a marina at Whitstable and put together his own plans for a £16 million development in 2006. Council planning policy manager Adrian Verrell said:

“There is a shortfall of marina provision along the north Kent coast. Whitstable is likely to be the preferred option although traffic impacts are likely to be a major concern for the town centre. A new marina at Herne Bay may contribute to the regeneration agenda but this was not supported during the recent public consultation. However, Herne Bay has well-documented economic and social problems. A marina has the potential to provide jobs, strengthen tourism and provide a publicly accessible 'green space'."

The biggest challenge is to find space for 10,200 new homes. Planners have already allocated 6,000 which leaves 4,000 to find. The Council has broken this down to 3,200 in Canterbury (mainly in the south or south-west with limited infill in larger villages); 400 in Herne Bay and 400 in Whitstable. It is anticipated 70 per cent will be houses for families with 30 percent as flats. Mr Verrell warned:

“The housing stock does not offer sufficient choice to meet current needs. There is a need for family homes if we wish to attract a young, economically active population. The issue is likely to get worse as the population increases and we feel they impact of the high-speed rail link to London.”

He said houses are in short supply partly because of the number of second homeowners in Whitstable and the need for student accommodation in Canterbury. The University of Kent has said it will need 38,000 square metres for classrooms and 500 more student flats. Canterbury Christ Church University will need 13,400 square metres of space and accommodation for 300 students. Canterbury already has 25,000 students in higher education. More than 29 per cent of the area’s population is aged 16 to 34 - higher than the county average of 23 per cent. Kent and Canterbury Hospital has announced ambitious plans for its site which could lead to more traffic congestion.

The Framework calls for the completion of junctions on the A2 at Bridge, Wincheap and Harbledown and is investigating a fourth park and ride service. Planners are in talks with Southern Water to ensure sewers will cope and SouthEast Water has plans to flood Broad Oak to create a new reservoir.

Herne Bay Times 4th Feb 2010

Wall of silence

The council taxpayers of Herne Bay have just received a reassuring message from the city council. Apparently the town’s museum is not being closed after all - it just will not be open to members of the public! Talk about semantic gibberish!

As a concerned council taxpayer, I wrote to some 16 Conservative Canterbury city councillors in early December, expressing my opposition to the proposal to close the Herne Bay Museum as part of the 2010/11 budget cuts. I asked the councillors concerned to consider alternative methods of making the necessary savings and urged those representing the town to put the interests of the community before those of their political party.

Out of all those councillors contacted, only two - Ann Taylor and Peter Vickery-Jones - have had the decency to come back to me on this matter. The remaining 14 have not even deigned to acknowledge receipt of my correspondence! They might not agree with my sentiments concerning Herne Bay Museum, but surely common courtesy dictates some sort of response - if only to say that my comments would be given further consideration.

I am not a political animal and, accordingly have no particular party axe to grind. I deliberately targeted the Conservatives for the simple reason that they are currently the controlling party on the city council and, as such, form the executive which dictates policy. As a retired local government officer who served a number of local authorities in Kent for more then 30 years, I have never had a particularly high opinion of elected members in general. Some are hard-working and do have the best interests of their local community in mind, but many would appear to be there only for their own personal egos.

Their failure to reply to correspondence would only seem to indicate their complete unwillingness to discuss matters with concerned council taxpayers and has most certainly done nothing to enhance my opinion of them. For most people, pursuing a sporting interest, hobby or pastime costs money Councillors have chosen their particular pastime as being local politics. Why should other members of the community subsidise them in the pursuit of this chosen hobby?

Are the council taxpayers of Canterbury City Council getting value for money for the majority of their elected representatives? Council leader Cllr John Gilbey has been quoted in the local Press as being of the opinion that the number of elected members sitting on the Canterbury City Council is excessive and I, for one, fully agree.

An immediate reduction by say some 20 members (with the resultant reduction in associated allowances and expenses) would save council taxpayers somewhere between £100,000 and £150,000 per annum - a not inconsiderable amount and certainly much more than the projected annual savings on the whole of the city’s museum services budget.

I wrote to chief executive Colin Carmichael more than two weeks ago expressing my frustration at having received no response from city councillors. To date I have not received any response from him either on this matter! Have other readers encountered a similar wall of silence from Canterbury City Council?

John Fishpool, Herne Bay
HB Gazette letters, 4th Feb 2010

Gilbey in fighting mood

A retired teacher from Harrogate has joined the fight to save Herne Bay Museum. Linda O'Carroll has set up a special page on the web encyclopedia Wikipedia and has approached the National Lottery for how to get a grant. She said:

"Although I live in Harrogate I grew up in Herne Bay in the 1950s and 60s and regard it as my museum. I was shocked to read that the city council wants to close it. It is a slap in the face for all Herne Bay people."

The council wants to close the William Street building to the general public to save costs and has plans to open up the ground floor to take school parties by appointment. But Linda said:

"Lottery staff have told me the Museum is an extremely likely case and that if successful would get full funding for its needs over the next five years. That the application would cost the council nothing. The Sheriff of Canterbury (Cllr Gabrielle Davis) is researching this but the application must be submitted as soon as possible."

She has also uploaded edited highlights of the council Executive debate to Youtube. She said: "It is an eye-opener." It includes leader Cllr John Gilbey saying:

"You just wonder if they have got any interest in the issues other than the big ticket ones that get them in the paper. It's really disgraceful. It's absolutely disgraceful that they can't see what this council is doing. But we will fight that. We will fight it tooth and nail to show them what we are doing. No question. After what we have seen this evening you wonder if they have any interest in the big issue other than getting into the newspaper."

Cllr Gilbey said later he had not meant to cause offence or single out any one group of campaigners. The Tory leader said:

"What I said was not about Herne Bay. It was about all of the protestors, all the people in there. The moment it was over they got up and walked out and didn't stay for the capital budget which is all about the building projects and other work we are doing. All the good news was in the capital budget. Of course we get frustrated – we just wonder if they have any interest in anything beyond their own little campaign and any understanding about everything else we have to do."

From: thisiskent

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Gilbey wants to fight... What? Blindness? Any protestor?

Hmmm... I do get the impression that Cllr Gilbey would prefer some version of democracy that involved much less interference from the general public, who selfishly focus on what affects them. Hopefully he's pleased about the YouTube coverage giving us all an opportunity to see some of what the Council does. I agree whole-heartedly that it is "absolutely disgraceful that [we] can't see what [our] council is doing". The vast majority of votes are carried on a show of hands, with no record whatsoever of how each councillor has voted. I think that's disgraceful, but easily fixed: a simple electronic voting system would let us see very clearly what our councillors are doing.

The resolute defenders of the Museum have set up their own little Museum-o-Vision channel on YouTube here.

Gale's View: Town Centre

It has been a long and frustrating time in coming but at last serious proposals for the re-development of the centre of Herne Bay are out in the open.  We need a good mix of high-quality retail, leisure facilities and residential accommodation in the heart of the community to keep the town alive night and day; and I believe that these plans warrant and deserve the backing of the town.

We either see the continuation of the drift towards out-of-town shopping that has blighted other town centre retail outlets or we give support to an imaginative and creative plan that will breathe life into a seaside town that, if we are honest, has for historical reasons never really enjoyed the benefits of a "town centre". The creation of such a focal point will not only prove to be a magnet in itself but will help to revitalise business for those outlets that are, particularly at present, having a difficult time in the High Street and in Mortimer Street.

The proposed developer, Denne Construction, have a good track record (they are, by the way, one of the Kent companies that have blazed a trail in the creation of construction trade apprenticeships) and if Canterbury City Council gives this project the go-ahead then I think that we shall live to witness the realisation of a dream (see 1980s editions of the Gazette!) that some of us have adhered to for a long time.

The present Council's ambitions for the town have, following wide public consultation, been impeded by a government moving of goal posts and consequent delays in the approval and implementation of a cohesive local plan. We are, I think, now getting back on track and if we can dovetail the development of the Market and William Street Car Park sites with the regeneration of the pier and other improvements planned for the waterfront then in relatively short order, and notwithstanding a dire national economic situation, The Bay is going to be a very exciting place to be.

Roger Gale M.P. (November 25th 2009)

The ninth iffiest Pier?

Herne Bay pier is among 10 across England and Wales that have been identified as being at serious risk of demolition or collapse. The report from the National Piers Society, placed the town's iconic structure at number nine in a top 10 which also includes Hastings and Brighton West piers in neighbouring East Sussex. But staunch defenders of Herne Bay Pier's future have dismissed the survey as pure conjecture. Graham Cooper, chairman of the Herne Bay Pier Trust, said:

"There's absolutely no scientific basis for this. It's purely based on public opinion and we or the city council have not been contacted to ask what we think. The pier structure itself is not at risk of decay or collapse but, of course, the pier head is. The Pier Trust is here to make plans for regeneration and to look at ways of changing it for the future. Canterbury City Council have already engaged consultants to look into future uses."

The National Piers Society believe this week's list illustrates the continued decline of the landmarks across England and Wales. A total of 101 piers were all built between 1814 and 1957 and now just over half of those remain, with 10 closed to the public. Society spokesman Anthony Wills feels the future is mixed. He said:

"It depends on whether piers can rebrand themselves and on what kind of state they've got into. Most important is whether or not the owners, be they private or the local authority, are continually investing and maintaining the structure, rather than just looking at the money-making aspects above the decking."

Hopes are high for Herne Bay pier's future, with Mr Cooper confident it can survive after the relocation of the Pier Pavilion sports centre next year. He added:

"This survey hasn't really taken any context into account. Herne Bay pier is in council hands, not private ownership and if the will is there, which it is, then something can be done. There's 100 per cent commitment from both the trust and the city council to improve the structure for future generations."

Kentish Gazette 2nd Sep 2009

Gale's View: Blacksole Bridge

Blacksole Bridge has become an accident waiting to happen.  That is not only my view, it is a concern shared by the Bay's three County Councillors, David Hirst, Jean Law and Alan Marsh, and also by many of the City Councillors representing the Town.

The development of  new housing between the bridge and the Thanet Way, the opening of the Harvester pub and a new hotel and the re-location of the driving test centre - of which more in a moment - have led to a dangerous mix of increased pedestrian and motor traffic.  It is for precisely this reason that when the City Council granted planning consent for the development of Blacksole Farm it attached a condition requiring the construction of a footbridge alongside the road bridge over the railway.

The developer now wishes to have the planning condition lifted and traffic lights installed instead.  The reasons for this are not difficult to see: a footbridge will be expensive and traffic lights, installed by the Highways Department, will be cheaper.  Lights will not, though, make provision for the pedestrians and cyclists who now daily cross the railway at this point. I hope and believe that the Highways Authority (Kent County Council) and the Planning Authority (Canterbury City Council) will use all of the powers at their several and collective disposal to resist a cheapskate option that will not solve the problem.

I take no pleasure at all in saying that unless the footbridge is constructed in the immediate future we shall find ourselves faced with a serious injury or death.

Part of the traffic problem has been caused by the Driving Test Centre on Altira Park.  It was clear at the time that the proposal was mooted that the Driving Standards Agency was determined to blunder ahead without sufficient attention to the possible consequences for local car and pedestrian traffic.  Neither was any attention paid to the environmental impact of the additional mileage and cost incurred by instructors and candidates having to travel to Herne Bay from Canterbury and Margate to, first, learn the routes and then take the test.

In a parliamentary question tabled in November 2008 I asked the Department for Transport what estimate had been made of the effect of multi-purpose practical driving test centres on levels of (a) car and motorcycle mileage and (b) carbon dioxide emissions. The Ministerial answer from this Government was "none".  So much for "green government"!  Parliamentary correspondence on this issue has revealed that not only in the Bay but nationwide the opening of "Multipurpose Test Centres" has led to increased mileage and emissions, increased costs for those seeking to take and pass their driving tests and, as in the Bay, roads in the area clogged up by crawling learner drivers.

We have all, at one time or another, had to bear L-plates on our cars and have had to stutter through the gears and stall on hill-starts and three-point turns and have nothing but sympathy for those preparing, at vast expense, to put themselves through this ordeal.  I also have huge admiration for those brave men and women who, daily, take their lives in their hands as they coach nervous learners.  I do not believe, though, that the concentration of all of this effort at a Centre on a business park on a roundabout off a flyover adjacent to a busy dual carriageway and approached by a narrow one-lane road over a railway bridge on a sharp bend leading to a very busy pub is necessarily the best choice of site.  I wonder what genius dreamed up this lunacy and why nobody within the planning authority recognised, as some of us did at the time, that this might just not be a clever idea!

The air is now thick with the sound of chickens coming home to roost.

Roger Gale M.P. (May 27th 2009)

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Visit www.SaveHillborough.info for more

Herne Bay councillor charged with corruption

Canterbury city councillor Roger Matthews has been charged with corruption.  The 57-year-old, who represents Greenhill and Eddington ward in Herne Bay, has also been suspended from the Liberal Democrat Group following the shock news.  He is due to appear before magistrates on Thursday, March 26 alongside Herne Bay Golf Club owner Julian Brealy. Matthews said he plans to plead not guilty and will "have his day before judge and jury" at crown court.  

The father-of-two, who has lost his seat on the planning committee as a result of the charge, was arrested last July following an early-morning raid on his home in Beltinge Road.  Both Matthews and 50-year-old Brealy, who lives in Mandarin Lane, Herne Bay, were charged under the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889, which relates to the acceptance of gifts and hospitality by councillors.  Speaking outside a council meeting just hours after leaving the police station on Tuesday, Matthews told of his "complete surprise" at being charged.  He said:

"I don't believe I've done anything wrong. I was honestly surprised to be charged and will clear my name in court. I will be pleading my innocence so the case will go to crown court where QCs and barristers will inevitably be involved. Unfortunately the people picking up the bill will be the state. The only people making money out of this are those in the legal profession."

Although not disclosing the exact allegation he faces, self-employed property manager Matthews confirmed it relates to his time on the planning committee. He said:

"I have never favoured anyone in a planning decision and never would. Some people may not be happy with some decision and that's when they start stirring the mud - and mud sticks. I'm not a dishonest man. I may bend at times, but I'm not dishonest. Loads of people have been interviewed by police, both councillors and former councillors. I haven't kept a low-profile . When you start sticking your head above the council parapet people start shooting at you. There are 15 or so members on the planning committee so I don't see how one man's vote or views can affect a decision. To the police I'm just a feather in their cap."

Matthews was elected as a councillor for Herne and Broomfield in 1995 and again in 1999. In 2003 he was elected to represent Greenhill and Eddington after Herne and Broomfield was split in two.  As a result of his suspension from the Liberal Democrat Group, Matthews has lost his seats on the planning, audit and overview and scrutiny committees.  They are due to be reallocated at a council meeting on Thursday, March 19.  Matthews can still represent his ward at full council and Herne Bay member's meetings, but only as an independent councillor.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Alex Perkins said:

"While Cllr Matthews can, if he wishes, remain a city councillor, henceforth he is not and cannot describe himself as a Liberal Democrat and no longer speaks for or represents the Liberal Democrats. He will now face a court to explain his actions and it would therefore be quite wrong for me to make any comment other than to reiterate that Roger has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat Group and from the party. I would urge everyone to remember that being charged with an offence is not the same as being found guilty of one."

Leader of the council Cllr John Gilbey said:

"It is most unfortunate that it has come to this. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. When I've seen Roger over the last few months he has seemed more and more confident, as if the whole thing had blown over or he knew something we didn't. It is my understanding that a lot of people were talked to by police but I wasn't personally interviewed. Roger is entitled to his day in court - and in this country we pride ourselves that anyone charged is innocent until proven guilty."

Brealy, the managing director of Hollamby Estates, Heron Helicopters and Herne Bay Golf Club, spent £1.5 million last year building lagoons to cut the risk of flooding in Herne Bay.  He will appear alongside Matthews at Maidstone Magistrates Court on March 26.  The Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 states:

• The acceptance of gifts and/or hospitality by councillors and staff must be treated with extreme caution.
• On each occasion a judgement must be made between causing offence by refusal and risking improper conduct by acceptance.
• Gifts offered to a councillor or to staff should be declined if they know or suspect the giver has, or seeks business, with the council.

thisiskent 11th Mar 2009

Muse. Um.

Here's a very British gem: the Herne Bay Museum.

Fearless and fervent, my woman and I swarmed into the Museum to see what we could find out about The Downs of yesteryear. The place is a treasure trove! If you haven't been recently, pop in and saunter around. From fossil teeth to bouncing bombs, they've got all sorts of goodies on permanent display.

There are also temporary exhibitions - all the ones I've seen have been well worth a good peer. Currently it's 'Inventions', with a few kids' own ideas: "a friendly robot to bring me sweets".

Met up with Craig Bowen who looks after the tardis-full of stuff filed upstairs, like a collie looks after a flock of sheep. He's actually divided between several museums, with Canterbury getting the lion's share of him (hope we get the useful bits!). Enthusiastic and very helpful, as was the nice lady on the front desk.

There's an almost magical, other-worldly, time-slip quality about the archives, as seems to happen when the present is dedicated to the past, so it didn't seem out of place when a paternal Victorian figure stepped through the mist of time into our little tardis, brooding and reserved. He looked like someone's long-lost great-uncle Septimus, and muttered 'pas devant les enfants', so we took the hint and scarpered.

I like the Museum a lot. It's a delightful and poignant venture, burnished by the care and love invested in it, and handsomely repays the time you spend there. Long may it thrive and prosper. I would hate to see it fall prey to the unthinking short-term destructive greed that was directed at the Visitor Information Centre. For instance.

A golden opportunity missed

Disappointing. Unsurprising. Recoverable.

CCC voted down the opportunity to flaunt themselves as 21st century cyber-starlets (see Radio Sausage). The world is a marginally less glitzy place as a result.

More to the point, they voted down the opportunity to let their constituents see them in action. Internet access is becoming much more widespread, and is almost universal among the 'young' (anyone who runs for a bus). These are the very people who must be engaged in the democratic process if we are to stand the slightest chance of not going down the constitutional toilet, as a district, a county and a nation.

In the hope it will make some difference, I am emailing ALL the Councillors a link to the Radio Sausage post, in which I offer to prop up Western democracy single-handed. With luck, we may get some interesting and productive comments.

Councillors: I mean it. I am very worried that you have become so enmeshed in process, procedure and petty politics that you have lost sight of your purpose. You must actively seek out, and then represent, the wishes of your constituents. This takes involvement and commitment from everyone. There is an absolute need for widespread involvement in a vibrant and transparent local democracy.

You won't earmark a few tens (or hundreds?) of pounds to increase accessibility and participation. Out of a budget of millions. That is shameful.

Mappa Monday

Dear Reader, give yourself a treat and check out this map. It is jam-packed with facts and fun.

Just the other day, I quizzed CCC about the Herne Bay Conservation Area. I had heard people (well, estate agents) talking about it, but had no clear idea of where exactly it was. Quick as a flash One-Of-Those-Planning-People came back with a couple of great links. One of them links to this excellent map of the Canterbury District Local Plan. The left hand side of the screen explains how it all works.

This is a detailed, zoomable map of the whole CCC fiefdom, showing conservation areas, cycle routes, flood zones, offices nodes (huh?), ancient monuments, open spaces, regeneration zones, etc, etc. There's an associated Local Plan document that spells it all out in words of English. Words, pictures - whatever works for you.

I don't know if every District Council has one of these maps, or if CCC are blazing a trail. If it's the latter, congratulations, people: a great piece of mapping.