Some thoughts
Post Elections ...
It
is hoped that the City Council will at last have learned one simple
lesson given by the people - if you don't listen to your electorate,
they will get rid of you.
These are quotes from the Prime Minister:
"We have lessons to learn".
"My job is to listen ...".
"We will learn the lessons. We will reflect on what has happened".
It is a great pity that the P.M. used the word "listen" and not the word "hear", but it is a start!
These quotes from Harriet Harman, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, speaking to John Pienaar, BBC Political Editor, on Radio Five, 02/05/08:
"There are things about running the Government that the people don't like - they feel left out. Not taken proper account of".
"The whole government has been galvanised to act differently. We recognise that our report card has been marked at a very low level".
"We have to have much more humility".
"We have to be getting out more - not on one-off consultation exercises, but spending regular time talking to people about the way in which they see the impact of Government policy on their lives. We've got to see the people of this country as a great asset, and source of advice and guidance to us - not on a once-off basis, but on a continuing basis".
"People feel the government's not listening to them - what they elected us for is not actually being done in practice".
Our hope is that the City Council's leaders will take heed of what their national leaders are saying!
1st May 2008
Rumour has it that the Council is talking
to Port Vale FC about a possible take-over of Dimensions.
On principle, we would be campaign against this move - no matter how the Council try to disguise their actions, it would still be the privatisation of Council facilities.
On principle, we would be campaign against this move - no matter how the Council try to disguise their actions, it would still be the privatisation of Council facilities.
The following
appeared in The
Sentinel on 6th March 2008:
Edinburgh businessman Pat Munro is behind a £5m attempt to buy Port Vale.
Munro, who owns a plumbing business, has turned to Vale after failing with three bids to buy Scottish Premier League side Hearts.
He is understood to be preparing the £5m offer following an approach to Vale.
However, the Vale board will treat the bid with caution until they are certain of whether the offer can be backed up with funds, who else is involved, and what their intentions are for the club.
Munro told The Sentinel there were other people involved in his bid, but he is remaining guarded about the details at this point.
However, he has revealed if the offer is successful he plans to redevelop Vale Park.
He said: "If we get the deal done we are looking to speak to the council about acquiring land to build a hotel, a shopping mall and a residential village. It would regenerate the area which would give a lot of employment.
"We would have to discuss it with the council. It is a very delicate position at the moment. These deals have to be right for everyone involved."
"acquiring land to build a hotel, a shopping mall and a residential village". The only open land near to Port Vale is the old Sneyd Brickworks - which is Community-use greenspace. The thought that this complex of hotel, shopping mall and residential village might also include a sports complex has crossed several minds.
May we suggest to Mr Munro that he discusses any plans with the Community before he takes them to the Council.
Dimensions petition form available here
Please download, get it signed, and return it to:
Live & Learn Land
187-189 Hamil Road
Burslem
ST6 1AP
Edinburgh businessman Pat Munro is behind a £5m attempt to buy Port Vale.
Munro, who owns a plumbing business, has turned to Vale after failing with three bids to buy Scottish Premier League side Hearts.
He is understood to be preparing the £5m offer following an approach to Vale.
However, the Vale board will treat the bid with caution until they are certain of whether the offer can be backed up with funds, who else is involved, and what their intentions are for the club.
Munro told The Sentinel there were other people involved in his bid, but he is remaining guarded about the details at this point.
However, he has revealed if the offer is successful he plans to redevelop Vale Park.
He said: "If we get the deal done we are looking to speak to the council about acquiring land to build a hotel, a shopping mall and a residential village. It would regenerate the area which would give a lot of employment.
"We would have to discuss it with the council. It is a very delicate position at the moment. These deals have to be right for everyone involved."
"acquiring land to build a hotel, a shopping mall and a residential village". The only open land near to Port Vale is the old Sneyd Brickworks - which is Community-use greenspace. The thought that this complex of hotel, shopping mall and residential village might also include a sports complex has crossed several minds.
May we suggest to Mr Munro that he discusses any plans with the Community before he takes them to the Council.
Dimensions petition form available here
Please download, get it signed, and return it to:
Live & Learn Land
187-189 Hamil Road
Burslem
ST6 1AP
The City of Stoke-on-Trent Corporate Plan Feb 2008 promises:
"Engaging with our customers, listening to people and empowering communities is a major part of determining the council’s priorities".
"We are also doing a lot of work to encourage people to feel part of their community, take pride in their neighbourhoods and get involved in decisions that affect their lives".
Well, they haven't engaged with the community at all with this one, but
- we will make them listen,
- we will be empowered.
We promise that we will get involved in decisions that
affect our lives.
Dimensions petition form available here
Please download, get it signed, and return it to:
Live & Learn Land
187-189 Hamil Road
Burslem
ST6 1AP
Please download, get it signed, and return it to:
Live & Learn Land
187-189 Hamil Road
Burslem
ST6 1AP
 |
|
| Dimensions petition form available here |
| Please
download, get it
signed, and return it to: Live & Learn Land 187-189 Hamil Road Burslem ST6 1AP |
Dimensions
Leisure Centre
Scotia Road, Burslem
Scotia Road, Burslem
Dimensions petition form available here
Please download, get it signed, and return it to:
SoDS
Live & Learn Land
187-189 Hamil Road
Burslem
ST6 1AP
Please download, get it signed, and return it to:
SoDS
Live & Learn Land
187-189 Hamil Road
Burslem
ST6 1AP
The Council, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to save money by closing a well-used community facility. The splash pool at Dimensions is not considered to be a full blown swimming pool, so is deemed to be expendable. What has not been taken into account is the fact that Stoke-on-Trent is full of canals and water-filled marl holes. Children, for their own safety, have to learn to swim somewhere. A shallow, warm pool is ideal.
The Dimensions logo, pictured above, says "fun for the entire family". The entire family, in case the Council has forgotten includes babies and toddlers. But the Council does have a track record in not living up to its own slogans.
Councillor Mohammed Pervez, the Council's portfolio holder for Community Services, is quoted as saying (The Sentinel, 25/02/08) "One thing that needs to be stressed is that we are considering closing the splash pool, not the whole of the Dimensions Leisure Centre. We have been losing money with the splash pool, and it is in need of refurbishment which would require significant investment. The council is required to provide swimming facilities, but this is a splash pool. You have to question whether the city council should be providing this service. There are many similar facilities nearby such as in Tunstall and at Fenton Manor. By closing the Dimensions splash pool we would also be protecting the future of these council-run swimming pools".
We are questioning whether
the Council should be providing this service.
Our answer is an
unequivocable
"Yes".
"Yes".
We also contend the Councillor's assertion that there are many similar facilities nearby. The only other comparable facility in the City is at Waterworld, which is privately owned. The admission prices at Waterworld are high. In a City where 80% of the population earn £25,000 or less (ONS data), a facility that the general public can afford to regularly access is a necessity. The higher echelons of the Council may not like to be reminded that they are well into the 20% of top earners in the City, and that their conception of "affordable" may not be the same as that of the majority.
We consider that the Council is wasting money by employing people at salaries far in excess of those of the majority of the population of Stoke-on-Trent. We also consider that the nine members of the Elected Mayor's Cabinet should be offering their expertise gratis, in the service of the electorate, instead of claiming at least £7,500 each per annum. The money saved by changing this remuneration policy could be used to keep public facilities open and maintained.
Accordingly, a petition demanding that the Council reconsider is being circulated. It states:
"We, the undersigned, Citizens of Stoke-on-Trent, object in the strongest possible terms to the City Council’s plan to close the Splash Pool at Dimensions Leisure Centre for an annual saving of £60,000. We cannot understand the removal of this facility from public use on financial grounds while the Council is hiring personnel such as the Head of Public Relations and Communications at an excessive salary of £75,000 p.a., or employing nine Councillors in the Elected Mayor’s Cabinet at least at an extra £7,500 p.a. each. We demand that the Council reconsider its budget priorities".
Please sign this petition. A copy can be found here. Any signed copies can be returned to the Hands on Haywood High Community Group at 187 Hamil Road, Burslem, ST6 1AP.
Thank you for your
support.