It’s great having a partner with a university background. He writes some kicking letters. And of course it’s great to have someone to confide in.It’s a great job being a councillor when you win but it taste pretty bad when you loose. It’s hard some days ,one case closes and one more opens and some are distressing, but it sets you up for the fight. Losing track now of how many we deal with in a week. Sometimes i wish i could give up work to give it 7 days a week but sadly we all have to live. One day we might see some changes in the rules. Until then it’s carry on regardless.
Daily Archives: July 15, 2009
Policy statement easy to pull apart but what do we offer in return
It always amazes me at council to see the slow and painful pleasure certain individuals take in pulling apart policy But have the total lack of ability to offer realistic alternatives.It confounds me sometimes that if the shoe was on the other foot what would certain people do? you can argue till your blue in the face that what the other person is saying is wrong but then to sit back with a smirk and offer nothing in return is ludicrous. i suppose being in a third party on the back benches takes any pressure of me. But i would hope if ever i was put in a position i could at least answer.
Funny to hear the Tories talk of taking over the council today.
Well if there is a complete meltdown in the labour vote. We sink back to the days of Bob Boyd then the Tories will take the town hall. But i look at seats like Irwell Riverside, yes i no it’s Labour but if you have the Blears fiasco and Labour in Freefall and you still crawl in behind the BNP, well you have got no chance. And Today i think Normans seen the Light,
What happens when the tories leave leafy worsley?
I sat through a debate today over the YOS move from encombe place. I took no part in the debate it would have been unfair to comment on something that i personly had no part in. The work in this area was done by other Liberal Democrat members, if my view was requested it was there.But i watched the Tories and i really had a concern that for the official opposition did they really have a clue. I could of course be wrong it is only my observations. But did any of them no where encombe place was? was i the only one to still think it was the school dentist?
On a less serious note.
It was amusing to see a certain councillors face. When the suggestion of using Walden Library for the Yos center if the motion was defeated. If only i had my camera…
Looking on epolitix what do you think? strong Lib Dem policy we need it.
Time to value common sense
Liberal Democrat Norman Baker MP sets out the case for his Personal Responsibility Bill, which is being introduced in the Commons on Wednesday.
I am introducing the Personal Responsibility Bill. The aim of this Bill is simple: it is to place upon all of us as individuals a greater responsibility for the consequences of our actions.
The value placed by society on someone having common sense and being accountable for their actions is, in my view, too small. Taking responsibility for our own actions is of the utmost importance, and this should be reflected in legislation and then applied by the courts. The aim of this Bill is to recognise this specifically in the area of recovering compensation for personal injuries.
My Bill would do this by making two reforms. In the workplace, employers are legally obliged to provide a safe working environment for their workers. This is quite correct and prevents workers being exposed to dangerous situations and working practices.
However, this legislation should not exist to compensate people in situations where they could have avoided harm simply by exercising some common sense. My Bill proposes to amend the law to prevent the imposition of liability on an employer where harm to a person could have been averted by the exercise of common sense by that person.
Moreover, in personal injury cases, where the claimant is deemed to have contributed to the harm suffered, the amount of damages recoverable by the claimant is reduced proportionately by the amount of the harm for which they were responsible. So if a person is judged to be 40 per cent responsible for an incident which causes harm to them, they will only receive 60 per cent of the compensation that they would normally receive.
However, in a situation where an incident could have been avoided by the claimant exercising their common sense then there should be no compensation awarded to that claimant. My Bill proposes an amendment to the law to this effect.
This Bill is not designed to prevent people claiming compensation who have been injured through no fault of their own, but will aim to prevent ridiculous claims such as people suing for falling out of a window when under the influence of alcohol or for injuries suffered when attempting to board a moving bus.
We must all be responsible for our own actions. I believe that these proposals, if enacted, would reduce the numbers of unmeritorious personal injury claims by encouraging people to take greater responsibility for their actions. This is an important step to increasing civic responsibilities more widely, and is a vital part of a much-needed progression towards valuing civil liberties, rights and responsibilities more throughout society.
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Perhaps we could look at a fixed site? what do you say John
Councillors consider plans for ice rink at Elland Road, Leeds
Published by Hannah Wooderson for 24dash.com in Local Government
Wednesday 15th July 2009 – 5:03pm
Councillors consider plans for ice rink at Elland Road, LeedsProposals to build an ice-rink at Elland Road will be considered by senior councillors next week.
At a meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board on Wednesday 22 July, councillors will consider an approach from one of the country’s biggest ice rink operators to build a rink at the Elland Road site near the football stadium.
Although in it’s early stages, the proposal could help kick-start a master plan to regenerate that part of south Leeds and facilitate an early start to work on the western end of a new loop road which would relieve traffic congestion on Elland Road.
The new road will also strengthen Leeds’s bid to secure Host City status for the World Cup 2018 as it would form part of the environmental improvements needed around the Elland Road site to meet the criteria to host matches.
The ice rink operator currently operates 8 ice rinks across the UK and runs educational sessions for schools at off-peak times. The Leeds proposal would be available for ‘pay-as-you-skate’ customers and the venue could have a resident ice hockey team with up to 2000 seats for spectators.
Councillor Andrew Carter, Leeds City Council’s executive board member with responsibility for city development, said: “Although this is only a proposal, even at this early stage the benefits that such a development will bring to south Leeds and the wider city are clear.
“It will kick-start our plans to regenerate the Elland Road site, bring jobs to the area and a permanent city ice rink will fill one of the few remaining gaps in the city’s sporting infrastructure, at no cost to the council. In the middle of a recession, it is also a welcome opportunity for investment in an area of the city which has long been identified as being in need of regeneration. The proposals certainly merit careful consideration.”
If it goes ahead, the ice rink development, which will have its own dedicated parking, could kick-start redevelopment which would ultimately provide 2,750 parking spaces, the new loop road and a new bus terminus and park and ride facility.
Members of the council’s executive board will be asked to approve the proposals from the applicant and grant the company a period of six months exclusivity to progress its ideas for the development.
The full report will be presented to the Leeds City Council’s executive board on Wednesday 22 July. The meeting begins at 1pm and will be held at the Leeds Civic Hall. Advance copies of the report are available by calling the council press office on 0113 2243602.
One issue this week as caused me great concern.
Debt management for our residents lack of advice, or help. This week i have dealt with a case relevant to community charge and the use of bailiffs. I really feel it is urgent that this council looks closely to the calibre of staff we are using. We must offer help advice and give people time to come out of this recession. I have witnessed home reposes ion, and bailiffs who have little morals when chasing money, this is not what i entered politics for. We are tasked to help and i will carry on the fight for what i believe to be the injustices that seem so common within our society.
Good NEWS for residents of maldon crescent.
After the Gas Pipe Layers went through the mains cable connecting the street lights. Urban vision are going to repair it as an emergency’s and bill the Gas company? not bad after two months but thanks any way.
Well today the Labour cabinet work plan was discussed
The document was broken into sections, with an overall theme to get us out of recession?
The document offered nothing of real creative stimulus only a basic work plan, i offered my support in broad terms to a range of ideas that need implementation urgently. And who ever created the plan we must work together as groups to see the succesfull outcomes. I ask the plan be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis to see if it’s overall outcomes are bearing fruit.
