Westborough Conservative candidate's immoderate language

This is the latest from Westborough's Conservative candidate, Daryl Peagram. He is not known for his measured prose, or accuracy.

http://westboroughconservatives.org/2016/02/25/council-take-bribe-from-developer-to-leave-poor-homeless/

COUNCIL TAKE BRIBE FROM DEVELOPER TO LEAVE POOR HOMELESS

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Daryl Peagram

Last month I took the unprecedented step of writing in the Echo calling on the whole town to support a Victoria ward Labour councillor. This was to block a developer’s attempt to renege on an affordable housing pledge for the flats being built in Victoria Avenue at Heath House.

I need not have bothered as the Indie-Labour led council has just taken a £417,000 legal bribe called a section 106 agreement to reduce the requirement from 84 to 52 affordable homes. That would only pay for three council flats leaving us 29 homes short.

If you want social justice you won’t find it with the current administration. When residents are being environmentally raped by speculators, a bung as lubrication is scant consolation.

Quite how he remains an official Conservative candidate is beyond me. He cares nought for the truth, and his scaremongering borders on the libellous on many occasions.

Aside from whether it is a Labour-led Council (the Leader is a member of the Independent Group), to suggest that the administration is taking a bribe is barmy. Quite what the developers think of being accused of raping residents is another thing.

Public transport and buses working party - February 22nd

The only agenda item was: C2C Timetable and Update on Progress. This was kicked off by a presentation from two representatives.

I asked a number of questions, particularly regarding ticket prices and seat availability. I asked about the tidiness of the land adjacent to their stations - Westcliff station has been a regular bugbear in this regard as it is seemingly a magnet for fly-tipping and rubbish.

The ticket price increases this year was 0.9% - above inflation. 

I also asked about timetabling, which had raised quite a few headlines owing to the number of protests. There have been 32 changes to the timetable since its introduction - which is a testament either to c2c's willingness to listen, or their ability to get it so wrong first time around.

There are currently 74 trains on the c2c line between Shoeburyness and London. These consist of four carriages, and 71 are in service at any one time.

There has been increased growth in passenger numbers. There is more housing planned which will see more passenger numbers. This will put a strain on the existing timetable. The solution is more carriages.

I asked about seat sizes as they are quite snug for adult men.

There were fourteen men present in the meeting, and one woman.

On the doorstep with Chris Vince

Chris Vince and Julian Ware-Lane

It was an interesting doorstep session. Milton ward is an interesting place for many reasons, not least because it is a straight Labour/Tory marginal. My victory four years was achieved with a mere 68 vote margin; last year we missed out by an even fewer 51 votes.

It was an interesting doorstep session. The usual topics came up: dog poo, parking, drug dealing, development. Some national issues too, such as Europe, immigration and the welfare state.

We had the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner candidate for Essex, Chris Vince, with us. He went down well with residents, and whilst many were unaware to start with the May 5th sees not just elections for councillors but also for the PCC then his presence was warmly welcomed.

Chris is definitely in it to win it, and is focussing on victory in May. We need a Labour Essex PCC to stand up to the Tory Government and its agenda for cutting Police numbers. It is obvious that another Tory PCC will go meekly along with whatever the Cameron Government wants, and this is not good for Milton's residents.

Protecting our young people

Essex Fire Authority 17th February

There were two interesting items in yesterday's meeting at Kelvedon Park, at least as far as I am concerned.

The first was the budget. A 1.9% increase was unanimously voted for. This equates to a total of £67.68 for a Band D Council Tax property.

Later, the Essex Police and Crime Commissioner gave a brief presentation and then answered questions. Nick Alston reflected on the potential merger of the EFA and Essex Police. The Essex County Fire & Rescue Service recently came under the control of the Home Office, which already has the Police under its wing.

Essex Police is struggling to meet demands, and there are public concerns over cuts. He is taking painful decisions, added Mr Alston, and he added that the cuts have been very severe over the last five years.

I spoke about public confidence, about violent crime. About how my ward is in an area that has the highest crime figures in all of Essex, often twice the number in the next closest area. We are seeing reduced services against a backdrop of a growing population.

I also said the merger should not just be about HR and payroll services, because any two organisations could join based on that limited criteria. I also said I regretted the politicisation of the Police. I also expressed cynicism about the cuts in general, stating my support for public services.

The Southend Labour slate for 5th May 2016

Here is a list of the seventeen candidates selected by the two constituency Labour Parties to contest the Southend-on-Sea Borough Council elections in May.

Belfairs                      Dave Alston
Blenheim Park                 Matt Dent
Chalkwell                     Taylor Barrall
Eastwood Park                 Elaine Wardrop
Kursaal                       Helen McDonald
Leigh                         Matt Zarb-Cousin
Milton                        Cllr Julian Ware-Lane
Prittlewell                   Mike Fieldhouse
Shoeburyness                  Maggie Kelly
Southchurch                   Ros Sanders
St Laurence                   Reg Copley
St Luke's                     Donna Richardson
Thorpe                        Rod Birks
Victoria                      Cllr Ian Gilbert
Westborough                   Cllr Anne Jones
West Leigh                    Ian Pope
West Shoebury                 Joseph Saunders

Five new candidates here (Barrall, Wardrop, McDonald, Richardson and Saunders). I am seeking to defend my slim majority. Southend Labour is defending three seats (Kursaal, Milton and Victoria), and the continuation of the Joint administration will depend, to some extent, on the success of our candiedates.

Also on May 5th is the Police Cdime Commissioner electionm, where the Labour candidate will be Chris Vince from Chelmsford.

Love your trade union

Co-operative Action Network

Here to spread the word about the Co-operative Party action network event on Wednesday in Chelmsford - it is free and all are welcome. Book a place here: Help us lead a new era of co-operative activism in Essex.

Rubbish work in Milton

On the rubbish trail again this weekend. A couple of fly-tipping sites reported. Where litter is dumped on the highway or on council land then the council (through its contractors) can clear. Rubbish on private land is a lot more problematic, although if it constitutes a health hazard then something can usually be done.

Of course, all litter is dumped by our neighbours, and the only real cure for fly-tipping is for all residents to recognise their civic responsibility to dispose of rubbish properly.