Now It's 6 and welcome

Completely forgotten from last month, was the sixth birthday of the blog which was first started in 2005.

Whilst not all the topics covered may be interesting, I do hope that readers of the blog will find the contents useful and if you have suggestion for topics or issues that should be covered please let me know.

Completely unrelated, (but somehow connected in a way) this week has seen the launch of the Cllr Caitlin Bisknell's leaders blog on the borough council website. You can read it by going to : http://www.highpeak.gov.uk/council/leadersblog/

Lastly just in case it's not always 100% clear, all views expressed on the blog, are only the views of myself and should not unless expressly stated be considered the views of any of the bodies I am involved with.

Words of wisdom ? - to new councillor's

One of my occasional opposition blog read's, and listed on the blog list as a blog from the dark side (policy wise at least) is Richard Kemp, the leader of the Lib Dems at the Local Government Association and a councillor in Liverpool.


Eagle eyed locals may recognise the name of Richard Kemp from back in the early days of some of the single regeneration work that happened on Gamesley a few years ago, which is partly one of the reasons why he makes the read list.

Anyway enough of the back ground and on to the post itself, its a post titled "some advice to new councillors", and on the whole I would agree with the majority of the advice it offers, and whilst I can't quite go along with the final point of advice to "treat MP's with the disrespect they deserve", I certainly agree with the sentiment that they are from a talking organisation, where as councillors are from a doing organisation.

Total Politics Blog Poll 2010

Well the votes are now in for this year's total politics annual blog poll, and a big thank you to those of you who have voted for the blog, as I'm up 14 places from last years 26 to just outside the top ten at number 12 this year.


As with last year's poll there's still a few blogging councillors from the north that make the list, with the Cllr Tim blog, from Cllr Tim Cheetham over the hill in Barnsley gaining a few places to finish at number 8 in this years list,  Salford Conservative Councillor Iain Lindley’s blog retains the number 14 spot he held last year, and Liverpool Labour / Co-operative Councillor Louise Baldock is a new entry at number 15, along with Stockport Lib Dem Councillor Iain Robert who joins the list at number 29.


The whole of the list is available by clicking here.


Once again many thanks for those who have voted for the blog, particularly as the majority of the stories are very locally based, and as always if you think there is an issue I should be covering let me know either by leaving a comment on the post or by clicking the get in touch link above.

Vote for me - Total Politics Blog Poll

It’s that time of year again, it’s time for the annual total politics blog poll, and whilst I don’t expect to come anywhere near the top, it’s nice to appear on the list, so if you enjoy reading this blog please vote for it !

To vote, you need to send an email to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com following the rules below.

1. You must vote for your ten favourite blogs and ranks them from 1 (your favourite) to 10 (your tenth favourite).
2. Your votes must be ranked from 1 to 10. Any votes which do not have rankings will not be counted.
3. You MUST include at least FIVE blogs in your list, but please list ten if you can. If you include fewer than five, your vote will not count.
4. Email your vote to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com
5. Only vote once.
6. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents or based on UK politics are eligible. No blog will be excluded from voting.
7. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name
8. All votes must be received by midnight on 31 July 2010. Any votes received after that date will not count.
For further details on the poll, go to : http://www.totalpolitics.com/magazine_detail.php?id=963

Now as per the rules I’m not including who I’ll be voting for, but for some suggestions try the Labour or from the dark side blog list’s on the right hand side, and please vote for me !

Is this the end of bypass 2.0 ?

Reports in the news today and elsewhere are advising that Roy Oldham, the longtime Labour leader of Tameside Council has been deposed by the Labour Group in Tameside.

The group which met today has decided that after 30 years, someone new at the helm was needed and the group has chosen Droylsden East Councillor Kieran Quinn as Leader and Dukinfield Councillor John Taylor as Deputy Leader.

Now whilst this decision may not have to much effect in general for the High Peak, it could potentially have an effect on the proposal's for bypass 2.0, a scheme which like the original bypass has being spearheaded in a number of places by Roy as leader, to possible a greater extent than it maybe now, by a new leader from a different area of Tameside.

It will be interesting to see what happens the proposals now as it will be also be interesting to see what the public's initial response has been to the initial public consultation on the bypass 2.0 strategy.

And it’s good bye from him !

James Purnell of fake photo fame, and MP of neighbouring CLP Stalybridge and Hyde, has surprised and shocked many with his decision to stand down at the forthcoming general election.

From my own point of view I have mixed views on his announcement, whilst I didn’t like some of the things he did during his time as a minister, some of his recent comments including his speech last Monday and the associated launch of the essay collection ‘We mean power’, led you to think there was a glimmer of good things to come in the future.

Reaction elsewhere has been more mixed from the glad to see him go such as blogging councillor Bob Piper, to shock from nearby blogging Labour locals Adam White and Vicky Heywood  to annoyance from Tom Harris MP and finally almost melancholy from Tom Watson MP

Most thoughts now turn to who comes next, which unfortunately due to the timing of Purnells’s announcement (if the process goes as per some of the guidelines I’m aware of) in terms of democracy within the local party, will see them having a limited say in the process of selecting there next candidate.

I expect there will be pressure from above for an all women shortlist given that the other two seats in the Tameside area have male candidates, which if they do could bring a surprise opportunity for daughter to follow father with Lord Pendry’s daughter still been a local in the area.

If instead it’s an open process I’m sure there will be much local interest with I imagine a number of the current Tameside Councillor’s looking to take over, including near neighbour (ward wise) and former vice chair of Labour Students Jonny Reynolds.

Blog Action Day – Climate Change

Today (15^th October) is blog action day, a day when blogger’s across the world aim to spark discussion and awareness of serious and important issues.

This year the topic is climate change, and in the run up to December’s Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, a whole range of government figures have joined in the blogging action, from a special post from the Prime Minster on the Number 10 website to the Foreign Offices Climate Conversations which is drawing together a number of climate change bloggers from the foreign office including the foreign secretary David Miliband.

Now whilst these are examples of high level involvement of trying to raise awareness of climate change issues, you can take small steps to get involved and take actions yourself.

The act on Copenhagen website asks you to sign up and support the British governments aims for a climate deal, to do so or find out more go to : http://www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk/en/subscribe

For more practical steps specifically around cutting your carbon emissions goto : http://www.1010uk.org

Councillor Development

Over the years, I’ve attended a variety of training courses all with the intention of improving local councillors so we are better able to perform our duties.

Over the hill in Barnsley on Cllr Tim Cheetham’s blog, (www.cllrtim.blogspot.com) he raises a few questions on the issue, if you are interested, please go along and have your say.

Total Politics - UK blog poll

As mentioned a few weeks ago, voting was taking place for the annual total politics blog poll.

Well the polls have now close and the first of the results are now in, and in the councillor blog section for the first time I have made the top 30 reaching no 26 on the list.

Blogging councillors in the north get a few mentions with the Bickerstaff record, the blog of West Lancashire Councillor Paul Cotterill taking the number two spot, the Cllr Tim blog of Cllr Tim Cheetham from Barnsley taking the number 11 spot, and whilst I may not agree with some of the content Salford Conservative Councillor Iain Lindley’s blog coming in at number 14.

A special mention for Cllr Luke Akehurst from Hackney who once again topped the poll despite what must have been a very trying year so far, with the majority of the time spent in hospital.

Many thanks to those that voted for me, and if I had realised in advance I would have used this post for the 1000th post on the blog, instead it will do for the first of the next 1000 !

Total Politics Blog Poll

Whilst I don’t expect to come anywhere near the top, it’s time for the annual total politics blog poll, so if you enjoy reading this blog please vote for it.

To vote, you need to send an email to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com following the rules below.

1. You must vote for your ten favourite blogs and ranks them from 1 (your favourite) to 10 (your tenth favourite).
2. Your votes must be ranked from 1 to 10. Any votes which do not have rankings will not be counted.
3. You MUST include ten blogs. If you include fewer than ten your vote will not count.
4. Email your vote to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com
5. Only vote once.
6. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents are eligible or based on UK politics are eligible.
7. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name
8. All votes must be received by midnight on 31 July 2009. Any votes received after that date will not count.

For further details on the poll, go to : http://www.totalpolitics.com/blogs/index.php/2009/07/16/the-total-politics-blog-poll-2009

Now as per the rules I’m not including who I’ll be voting for, but some suggestions will appear on the blog list, which will appear shortly !

10p Tax Rate

As flagged up in a number of places I have to agree with the concerns been raised over the effect of last year abolition of the 10p tax rate which came into effect with the start of the new tax year.

Whilst many of the changes to the tax system will have the desired effect, there is a potential 5.3 million low paid workers who will be likely to be left worst off with the change and the changes to the tax credit system according to the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group will not balance the loss due to a large number of those been effected been paid workers without children and those in work and under 25.

As such I hope that the Government / Chancellor of the Exchequer can find a way in the near future to either reverse this change or to compensate these low paid workers upon who this change could have a huge impact affected by what I hope is an unfortunate consequence of the changes to the tax system.

Woodhead Tunnel

Following on from a first flag of the issue in July, and it been raised in a whole host of other places since then, it is good to see that there is now a campaign group running to Save the Woodhead Tunnel which will have a meeting to get people involved in the Campaign this Tuesday (18th December) evening.

The campaign also has a website at http://savethewoodheadtunnel.blogspot.com which list's 4 things you can do to help the campaign which are :

"1. Keep visiting the save the Woodhead Tunnel website and sign the 10 Downing Street online petition to re-open the route.
2. Write to National Grid asking them to reconsider their decision and back the re-opening of the tunnel for rail: National Grid, Lakeside House, The Lakes, Northampton NN4 7SN
3. Get involved in the Save the Woodhead Tunnel Campaign and help make your voice heard - send us an email if you want to find out more, including details of forthcoming meetings. Download our leaflet here & print off copies for distribution to as many people as you can.
4. Write to Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Transport asking her to save the route (Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR) & write to your MP to ask them to sign Graham Stringer MP's Early Day Motion number 459."

The last point on the list of the things you can do to help with regards to the Early Day Motion has already been done by local MP Tom Levitt, and also marks the second good thing that I have seen done in recent week by Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer who started the early day motion in Parliament.

The meeting take place this Tuesday evening at 7.00pm in Glossop's Bredbury House, please go along and attend the meeting if you can, unfortunately I can't due to it clashing with the Christmas Full Council Meeting which also take place tonight, but I am sure from the various places that have flagged the issue up there will be a good attendance.

Wren Nest Mill

As reported on local news, there has been a massive fire at Wren Nest Mill, which has recently been converted to flats, details of the fire are available at Glossop.com and Bread and Circuses.

Glossop Leisure Centre has been opened during the day as an emergency rest centre and the following details have been released by the council :

Wren’s Nest Mill Incident Update
Derbyshire County Council, High Peak Borough Council, Derbyshire Fire and Police are working together & have set up an emergency help line for affected residents.
Emergency Helpline - 01663 752099
Or call at Glossop Leisure Centre open until 8pm as a rest centre.

Wrens Nest Mill will be unavailable for resident access for the rest of the day. The fire service will be giving a progress briefing at Glossop Leisure Centre 6pm Friday 6th April and an update 11am Saturday 7th April.

The Police in association with the property management company will be handling the security of the building through out the day and will be maintaining a presence throughout the night

Comments

It would appear that by not publishing a comment from anti bypass campaigners, I might have caused offence, given my apparent lack of a right to reply.

However, that is not the intention / the case, and whilst I welcome and do publish comments, I usually will only do so when the comment has come from a 'named person' rather than a 'pen name' / anonymously.

The only exception to this been, as is the case with fellow Glossopdale blogger 'bread and circuses' where there is a ‘valid’ reason for the 'commentator' remaining anonymous.

Petition for DC Stephen Oake

Spotted on fellow Labour and former Glossopdale resident Suzanne’s blog, is a request to get people to (as per copied post below) to sign up to the petition that is current been run to reverse the decision on awarding a posthumous George Cross to DC Stephen Oake’s.

I am trying to gain momentum through the blogging community for a Petition asking the Prime Minister to reverse his decision not to posthumously award D.C. Stephen Oake the George Cross.

Stephen was stabbed to death during a terrorist raid in Manchester in 2003. His selfless actions, which resulted in the loss of his life, undoubtedly saved the lives of his colleagues who were on the raid with him

You can read more about D.C. Stephen Oake on the Manchester Evening News website.

Please do take 5 mins to sign this petition. You can follow the link below to sign up.
Also if you are a fellow blogger please create a link from your blog to the petition.

Many thanks

Suzanne

"The recent decision by the George Cross Committee not to award a posthumous George Cross to D.C Stephen Oake has outraged many in UK society. Many press commentaries have included the views of members of the general public who are disgusted at this outrageous decision. Indeed, many current and former members of the police service are considering returning their own medals in protest at the decision.

This decision has come at a time when the UK is facing a challenge unseen since the Second World War. It is also a time when more and more elements of the criminal fraternity are prepared to arm themselves, and we are seeing greater numbers of police officers being injured or killed as a consequence of this.

We petition the Prime Minister to intervene in this case and reverse this decision. This award will honour this brave and dedicated officer’s memory. It will show his family that the ultimate sacrifice he made has not been forgotten by his colleagues and those he was sworn to protect. It may also go some way towards improving the morale of a traditionally un-armed service that continues to serve the public with skill, dedication and determination in such trying times."

If at all possible please take the time to sign up to the petition, click here to go to it