Today’s Sun newspaper carries a special centre page spread investigating the extent of youth unemployment across the UK.
It includes such statements as 94% of school leavers think it will be hard to get job matching qualifications, along with the figure of 925,000 young people across the UK being unemployed, reported as the second highest in Europe.
The article makes little mention of the government’s plans to tackle this, with just a single line about the future jobs funds instead preferring to give greater sway to Conservative Shadow Works and Pensions Secretary Theresa May, who comments that the “Conservatives have pledged more help for all young people unemployed for six months or more, backed up by hundreds of thousands of new apprenticeships and training opportunities”.
Fine words you might say, but consider that against local action in the High Peak where the Conservatives are in charge of the borough council, where there bid to the future jobs fund will create just 2 new apprentices, as opposed to nearby Labour controlled Bolsover whose bid will employ 105 people in apprenticeships across the Council and in public and voluntary sector organisations - fine words and neat sound bytes but very little action.
Showing posts with label Conservatives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conservatives. Show all posts
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Unemployment issue
Within the local papers last week there was a number of comments from the council’s executive member for Social and Community Development about the government lack of action in tackling unemployment and how his party will do better if elected, but interestingly perhaps there was very little comment on the actions (or lack of them) that are been done by council in response to the issue and in particular about the lack of an application from the council to the future jobs fund.
Regular reader may remember that earlier this year at the February council meeting in respond to concerns raised by local councillors the council’s executive announced the formation of a youth unemployment task force to work with the various agencies involved to address this issue.
A plan was then put together on measures that could be done to tackle this including things like a job fare and better access to training however many months on many of these suggested initiatives are still exactly that just suggested initiatives with little or no progress, and while the fine plans been espoused on what they would do if they took over the Government may be welcomed by some the action locally where they are in control doesn’t match up to those fine words.
Regular reader may remember that earlier this year at the February council meeting in respond to concerns raised by local councillors the council’s executive announced the formation of a youth unemployment task force to work with the various agencies involved to address this issue.
A plan was then put together on measures that could be done to tackle this including things like a job fare and better access to training however many months on many of these suggested initiatives are still exactly that just suggested initiatives with little or no progress, and while the fine plans been espoused on what they would do if they took over the Government may be welcomed by some the action locally where they are in control doesn’t match up to those fine words.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Cllr Tony Bingham
My deepest sympathies to the family of Blackbrook Ward Conservative Councillor Tony Bingham who has passed away.
Whilst Tony was a relative new councillor (elected in 2007) he had made an impact on the council with his recent election to the post of Mayor of the Borough in May this year.
During his time on the council he has served on a number of committee's, including the Environment Select and Audit and Regulatory both of which I am also a member and during the time on those committees he has made a number of useful contributions.
Details for the funeral will be posted when available.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Cllr Cynthia Mitchell
My deepest sympathies to the family of Tintwistle Conservative Ward Councillor Cynthia Mitchell who has passed away yesterday.
Whilst Cynthia was a relative new councillor (elected in 2007) and from the ‘other side’ politically, she had long been involved in housing issues from the days of the tenant panels to the various bodies that have replaced them, and she fought hard for local residents first both within Hadfield where she lived and elsewhere in the borough. That spirit continued when she moved to Tintwistle and I’m sure her loss will be deeply felt by those that knew her.
During her time on the council she had served on a number of committee, including Development Control with the other Cllr Mckeown, and most recently as deputy Mayor of the borough a post she took over in May this year.
Details for the funeral will be posted when available.
Monday, 1 September 2008
How Happy are you ?
Well given the current economic troubles you may not be sure but according to a recent research report presented to the Royal Geographical Society, High Peak along with our partners on some areas of work Derbyshire Dales currently feature just over half way down the list of areas in the UK with a ranking of 149th out of 273.
This is in contrast to our near neighbours in Staffordshire Moorlands with whom the Council share a Chief Executive who rank just outside the top 10 at number 11 on the list. Perhaps this may be one of areas where we will be looking for expertises from our neighbours?
The research which was conducted by the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield, used data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), which includes questions on happiness, education and so on along with details from the Census.
The survey featured in the Daily Mirror (amongst other places) and listed the happiest place in the UK to be Powys, with Edinburgh been apparently the most miserable place in Britain.
Interesting noting the recent suggestions by a Conservative think tank that we should abandon the North and all move south, 8 out of the top 10 happiest districts in the Country are in Scotland or the North.
The full list is available by clicking here
This is in contrast to our near neighbours in Staffordshire Moorlands with whom the Council share a Chief Executive who rank just outside the top 10 at number 11 on the list. Perhaps this may be one of areas where we will be looking for expertises from our neighbours?
The research which was conducted by the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield, used data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), which includes questions on happiness, education and so on along with details from the Census.
The survey featured in the Daily Mirror (amongst other places) and listed the happiest place in the UK to be Powys, with Edinburgh been apparently the most miserable place in Britain.
Interesting noting the recent suggestions by a Conservative think tank that we should abandon the North and all move south, 8 out of the top 10 happiest districts in the Country are in Scotland or the North.
The full list is available by clicking here
Monday, 28 April 2008
Trouble at the top …
Change at the top for the Conservative Group on High Peak Borough Council following the resignation of Current Group and Council Leader John Faulkner.
The official reason quoted for his resignation is personal reasons, however rumours abound that all is not well within the Conservative Group perhaps even amongst John’s own colleagues from Buxton who may have helped him to step down.
Cllr Faulkner will remain in place until the annual meeting of the council on the 13th May when the new leader of the council will be put in place; early thoughts are that possibly Cllr Tony Ashton the current deputy leader will make the move to the top job.
The official reason quoted for his resignation is personal reasons, however rumours abound that all is not well within the Conservative Group perhaps even amongst John’s own colleagues from Buxton who may have helped him to step down.
Cllr Faulkner will remain in place until the annual meeting of the council on the 13th May when the new leader of the council will be put in place; early thoughts are that possibly Cllr Tony Ashton the current deputy leader will make the move to the top job.
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
and then there were 3...
Earlier this month, this post reported on the recent happening with the Conservative Group on the Council.
Well now the two former conservative members have decided rather than joining either the existing independents group or the High Peak Independents, to form there own Buxton Independents group.
Now whilst this doesn’t necessarily mean any changes to the council at current, could this be a statement of intent for the forthcoming Borough elections ?
Well now the two former conservative members have decided rather than joining either the existing independents group or the High Peak Independents, to form there own Buxton Independents group.
Now whilst this doesn’t necessarily mean any changes to the council at current, could this be a statement of intent for the forthcoming Borough elections ?
Sunday, 7 January 2007
Christmas Spirit !
As reported previously, Tuesday 19th December saw the pre Christmas Council Meeting.
The majority of the Council supported the motion on fairtrade, with a number of members from the various political groups speaking in favour.
However not everyone in attendance at the meeting was full of ‘Christmas spirit’ with rumour’s going round about troubles in the Conservative group.
The rumour, which has now been confirmed in this week’s Buxton Advertiser was that Cllr Alan Wells the leader of the Conservative Group and Deputy Leader of the council had effectively been sacked from the Conservative Group / Party, following a summons to a meeting of the Buxton West Branch of the Conservative Association to answer a grievance.
From the report in the paper, the grievance to which he was summoned to answer was effectively over his stance supporting the proposals for the food hall, something that as executive member in charge of this area he had taken the lead on.
The meeting apparently did not go well and after finding out that following the meeting he would probably not be selected as a candidate for the next elections Alan resigned from the Conservative Party, closely followed by his partner Cllr Glennis Kirk (Executive member for the Environment).
Interestingly his ward colleague Cllr John Faulkner, the only one of the Conservatives to vote in favour of the food hall, is not only facing no sanction from his local branch, but has also taken his former colleagues job as leader of the Conservative group !
Overall it is likely the departure of these two former top Tories will have little effect on the council as they are been allowed to keep there jobs until the elections in May.
The majority of the Council supported the motion on fairtrade, with a number of members from the various political groups speaking in favour.
However not everyone in attendance at the meeting was full of ‘Christmas spirit’ with rumour’s going round about troubles in the Conservative group.
The rumour, which has now been confirmed in this week’s Buxton Advertiser was that Cllr Alan Wells the leader of the Conservative Group and Deputy Leader of the council had effectively been sacked from the Conservative Group / Party, following a summons to a meeting of the Buxton West Branch of the Conservative Association to answer a grievance.
From the report in the paper, the grievance to which he was summoned to answer was effectively over his stance supporting the proposals for the food hall, something that as executive member in charge of this area he had taken the lead on.
The meeting apparently did not go well and after finding out that following the meeting he would probably not be selected as a candidate for the next elections Alan resigned from the Conservative Party, closely followed by his partner Cllr Glennis Kirk (Executive member for the Environment).
Interestingly his ward colleague Cllr John Faulkner, the only one of the Conservatives to vote in favour of the food hall, is not only facing no sanction from his local branch, but has also taken his former colleagues job as leader of the Conservative group !
Overall it is likely the departure of these two former top Tories will have little effect on the council as they are been allowed to keep there jobs until the elections in May.
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