Shadow Cabinet Reshuffle

The shadow cabinet reshuffle carried out by Conservative Leader David Cameron has been an excellent exercise from my point of view.  I’m very pleased to see some very worthwhile changes being made, not least in the promotions of Chris Grayling, Eric Pickles and Mark Francois, but in the return of one of my all time favourite politicians, Ken Clarke to front-line politics.

Eric Pickles, the new Conservative Party Chairman is a plain-speaking “Northern Bloke”  from a solid working class family from West Yorkshire.  Mr. Pickles was born in Keighley, was educated at Leeds Polytechnic and is a former Bradford City Councillor.  Eric Pickles is extremely popular among grassroots Conservative activists because of his no-nonsense and plain speaking approach, and has a formidable reputation as a campaign manager and strategist.  Many in the party credit Eric with the immensely successful campaign in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, which saw the election of Edward Timpson MP, overturning a substantial Labour majority in the process.

Our new Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling is also a state-school educated straight-talking campaigner who has forced the government’s hand on a good number of occasions whilst shadowing James Purnell in the Work and Pensions brief.  Mr. Grayling is well known and greatly admired among Conservative activists for his cutting assessment of the government’s deeply flawed policies in a wide range of areas.   I have no doubt that Mr. Grayling will prove a very difficult and persistent opponent for the current Home Secretary Jacqui ”Jackboots”  Smith.

I am extremely happy that Ken Clarke, one of my all-time favourite politicians has returned to front-line politics.  I met Ken when he visited Boundary Mill during the 1997 election campaign, and was immediately impressed by his down to earth and “tell it how it is” manner.  Ken Clarke is a very wise man, and knows what not to do in political life, Ken knew how dire the consequenses of the so-called tax reforms on pension fund share transactions carried out by Gordon Brown shortly after Labour took office in 1997 would be for each and every investor.  He knew full well that it would be a grave mistake to remove tax relief of share transactions made by pension fund investment managers and refused to even consider the measure.  Ken repeatedly highlighted  the enormity of the damage such a move would make, and he has been consistently proven right.  Labour opposed each and every policy Ken advocated and introduced when he was in government, reversed them, and by a very curious twist of fate then re-introduced similar policies claiming them as their own.  High praise indeed for a man once blasted as “Jurassic Clarke” by our calamity of a Prime Minister.  Welcome back Ken!!

Nelson Town Council – 14th January

Nelson Town Council met in full session on Wednesday, 14th January to discuss a wide variety of issues facing the both the council and Nelson as a whole.

We heard from members of the public who are supporters of the Disabled Allotments Group at Hodge House, a group I would hope we may be able to support in future, with relation to ongoing funding for their invaluable community activities.

The main issue which was debated at the meeting was that of the Town Council’s Precept levy, the majority decision at the meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting on 17th December was to propose a levy of £10 per year on Band D properties.  This was opposed by some members as being excessive, however, taken into context, this works out at less than 20 pence per week for Band D properties, and is significantly below that level when applied to properties in Bands A through to C.  As a comparison, I must report that the Band D Precept levied by Brierfield Town Council is £16 per annum, and that charged by Barnoldswick Town Council is £26 per annum for a Band D property. 

At the meeting, some members spoke in favour of a nil precept, this would not permit the Town Council to begin setting up its contingency fund, and would have a serious impact on our being able to part finance community programmes we feel would actively benefit the quality of life in our town.  Certain members even proposed a named vote on the issue of the precept, which was soundly rejected by a good majority.   From my personal perspective, I’m generally not in favour of major tax rises upon local residents, but felt that we have to be able to become actively involved in the promotion of community projects for the benefit of Nelson as a whole.  That is the true and honest reason behind why my colleague, Cllr Tim Eyre and I voted for the precept as recommended by the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Town Council Planning Committee – 14th January

The Planning Committee of Nelson Town Council met on Wednesday, January 14th to consider a number of applications.  One, a community Gym on Every Street was approved without question.  Another, an “Agricultural Worker’s Dwelling” located off Back Lane in Southfield was sent back to the planning authority with a number of observations.  The committee viewed the proposed build as being a full-scale detatched residence, as the property is planned to have a double garage, conservatory and master bedroom with en-suite facilities among other features.  Councillors questioned the description of the property on account of the extensive facilities it is planned to feature, and the committee is pressing for the description of the property to be amended to 3-bedroom residence with double garage, which we feel more appropriate for the plans we had the opportunity of viewing.

Town Clerk Mr. Martin Harrison reported to the committee that the application for the proposed Waste Transfer Site planned for construction at the Fleet Street premises has now been withdrawn following widespread protest and disapproval from both local residents and both Borough and Town Councillors representing Bradley Ward.  I would like to thank fellow Town Councillor Sajid Ali for his tireless hard work on behalf of the residents of his ward and for compiling and presenting the most damning evidence I have ever seen in opposition to a planning application.  It was Cllr Ali’s evidence which persuaded your Town Councillors to recommend the whole proposal be rejected as completely unsuitable for its proposed location at last month’s meeting of the Committee.   The application was subsequently rejected out of hand by the Borough Council’s Nelson Area Committee and has been kicked very firmly into the long grass.

Happy New Year

I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone everywhere a very happy new year.  Best wishes, and I hope you have a very prosperous and enjoyable 2009.