A section from my good friend Cllr Lindley

I’ve been a Councillor on Salford City Council since 2004, and every year on budget day, the Conservative group have tried to give something back to hard-pressed local residents by proposing real-terms cuts in Council Tax.

From the reaction of the Council’s Labour leadership, you would think that the four horsemen of the apocalypse were on call in the event that – god forbid – we might seek to give local people some value for money by way of a Council Tax freeze. One by one they rose to their feet to give dire predictions about the effect of a tax freeze on local services.

My i ask a question have you thought as the official opposition within Council if you firmly believe what you are saying is true then surely it must have been your job to impress on the Labour leadership the validity of your case?each of us as the chance to highlight our findings and our views,i for one welcome this move, we are coming out of recession and any form of stimulus must be welcome, Lets remember what this move could do to stimulate not just the local economy within your ward, but for all of us. Maybe we should take this move for what it is great news in what ever form. I would have thought in your position as PPC you would welcome any thing which helps the constituents you wish to vote for you. Don’t forget you can offer the world as your leader often does during this election. But someone as to pay.

Something i heard on the news on the way to work yesterday any views.

It relates to i think it was tesco but i am  not sure,it was banning people shopping in their Jim-jams. To be honest i agree why have people got to walk around in them? what is it to bloody lazy to get dressed? i sometimes wonder where we are going.,

Well don’t laugh but.

At 55 i have decided to do a St Patrick s day Drop– or Charity abseil at Manchester velodome for the Stroke Association. So if any one will sponsor me it would be greatly appreciated.

Busy day today again.

1. We have just been to see a friend of a certain Mr Berry. I would say it was a very productive meeting,thanks Roger.
2. City west put in a tenant yesterday and the kids decide that graffiti looks OK. Well it looks like fun and games on Monday.
3. Valley residents property gets surveyed on Tuesday.
4. And top off with Social Services.
5. Sadly we missed a walk about but it’s very few we have missed so looks like catchup on that one.

Found this on home for black politics any comments?

Tory seeks complete ban on non-EU migration

A leading Conservative has called for “effective measures” to slash non-European migration to Britain.

By Richard Sudan

Tory MP Philip Hollobone appeared to go further than his leader David Cameron, who called for the population of Britain to be capped at 70 million, but refused to spell out how this would be achieved.

In a Commons debate Hollobone demanded that immigration be cut by 75%, but admitted that Britain was unable to limit migration from European Union states.

The Kettering MP (pictured) said: “If we are to stop the UK’s population rising from 61 million today to 70 million in 2029, we will have to cut net immigration every year by 75 per cent.”

Cutting non-EU migration by that extent means effectively banning anyone from the Commonwealth and developing countries from entering the UK.

There are growing concerns about the Conservative stance on immigration and their views towards non-white migrants working in Britain.

The Tory justification for Cameron’s remarks is that if the population increases dramatically the costs of spending on public services would become too great. Cameron would like to see a net limit of 50,000 immigrants entering Britain a year, as he believes that at the current rate of growth the population would reach 70 million by 2026.

Ruffling these political feathers in the past would been political suicide, but with concern over the economy this issue has been given the lifeblood it needs to stoke an argument, which in essence strikes at the very core of underlying prejudices endemic in British politics.

MP’s have questioned Hollobone’s judgement asking how would such a policy be implemented. Would this mean under a Tory government highly qualified black and Asian people would not be allowed to enter Britain, while people from European countries would be arrive?

And what of people who have spouses living in Britain who wish to join their families? These observations merely scratch the surface of Cameron’s remarks the motives behind which remain unclear.

The notion of a population reaching 70 million only works if we take the maximum projections for population growth from 2005 – 2008 and assume this will be the same rate of population growth up until 2029.

What is worrying is that he could be pandering to right wing interests in order to score points. Without a serious justification, as it stands this is the only conclusion we can draw. This coupled with the continuing links the Tories maintain with Michael Kaminski’s far-right Latvian party are cause for concern.

First the sun tommorow the BBC and may the 6th the world god help us.

Fresh off my good friend Cllr Warmishams Blog.

Contacted about a huge mobile telephone mast being placed near Buille Hill High School. Residents opposed to it. Will support them.

John you better get down there quick before Eric and Ernie do

Cant you just see it close your eyes and see the two of them doing that silly dance, singing bring me sunshine.

Well today we look into getting dropped kerbs for disabled residents.

And thank you for the excellent help we have had. Credit where it’s due certain groups like to knock our officers, well it’s amazing what you can get if you ask politely work with them and listen to their advice. When the works done we will put out the pictures.

Has i had predicted 0% percent rise in the community charge.

The step was obvious it was the first time in three year’s that i had seen the move in the budget papers,so easy to predict. And i welcome the move anything that can put more money into the pockets of residents will in the long term stimulate local growth,if the move was set in motion on a national basis i would say we would see some more stimulus in the economy. But to say it will not effect front line services is i am afraid untrue. I am starting to see major structure changes in progress within the council . No i have no complaints, i have always felt the structures where top heavy within senior management i only hope people on the ground don’t floor feel the effects. Many departments are falling to put their budgets in order,in a major company there would be major changes at the top,in the council other areas cover the loss,i would say with such a big chunk of finance not coming into the council coffers things are going to very tight. And i predict job losses in the long run.

It’s been a busy day today all round.

I have spent most of the day on a course with Age concern, and the rest with Mole Junior working with residents sadly not from this ward helping with housing issues.It concerns me over the range of calls we are receiving on top of our normal workload.

We had a very interesting email early today out of the Blue,if all goes to plan i will update you next week.It relates to some serious casework we have been dealing with.

And Sadly back on to the valley to help residents. With luck the issue should be resolved by the 3rd of Feb fingers crossed.Concerned they are not getting enough support in the area. I am glad mole junior as set up a group to look into the problems.

Moles Cleared the backlog of oustanding issues we had today thank god he is around, credit to the guy when he starts there is no stopping him.

See what tomorrow brings.

Oh nearly forgot calls today over Bus tops to the GMPTE.and a meeting with residents to follow. Calling back tomorrow but it’s a 28day period to raise concerns and the lady on the phone seemed helpful.

Must be hard for these Liberal types who use the buses all the time, i bet it’s hard for them to act. i suppose it would be a little hypocritical or maybe not there is an election looming.

Looking forward to our meetings this month and the results.