Yesterday Southampton was bathed in beautiful sunshine, at a weekend, for the first time in a very long time. You will be pleased to know that for the majority of that day I was sat in a room with Labour candidates and fellow Southampton Councillors. A room without a window.
Over the past months, we have been meeting up regularly to discuss ideas and strategies for delivery post May 2012. Yesterday we met together to pull apart those ideas and test those ideas to destruction. It was an emotive and rewarding day as we battled to come up with solutions to the fiscal challenge ahead of us. But yesterday was not just about money, it was about crystalising those ways in which we would be doing things differently from the current Council. We won't have all the answers, and some of our answers may be a difficult to implement, but make no mistake - our choices will be different and they will be fairer.
I am proud of the hard work and effort of my friends and colleagues. We are putting in place those plans which we feel can take back our city. Now is not the time to make public those plans, but we are waiting and planning to turn our city around.
We don't have the numbers yet. We can and do challenge the tory-led council, but time and time again they simply have more Councillors than us. That is why we are trying hard to recruit more members, more activists, more Councillors. There are many ways you can get involved - there are opportunities for all. We need your help. Help us to help everyone.
So where say do you stand on the following two issues. Specifically what would the Labour group do differently in terms of a positive policy.
ReplyDelete- The current strikes ? How would you marry the demands of the unions for fair pay with those of ordinary council tax payers for low council tax and good services ?
- The complex issues around Southampton nightlife. How would you balance my legitimate desire for a takeaway after midnight on the way home from a pub/club on Bedford Place with those of police and local residents for a quiet life.
These two issues concern me as a politically aware single white male. They are complex enough that the Labour Group could develop distinctive policies for the issues involved.
As far as I can see neither of the big two parties has even the slightest intent of addressing my concerns or aspirations. Both are focussed on the narrow supposed middle ground of baby boomer property owners whose NIMBY attitudes blight our cityscape and whose socially conservative views dominate local media. This results in a good 80% of the potential electorate at local elections who like me either don't vote at all or do so with a heavy heart knowing it is a choice between the lesser of two evils.
If you don't want to discuss this in public happy to do it privately.
Shaw - always happy to discuss rational questions in an open and honest way.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the current strike, you talk of fairness and value for money as being mutually exclusive. They are not. I believe that we can fund a fairly paid and crucially a motivated workforce, whilst providing better value for money. In terms of higher Council Tax, I do not believe that the new Localism Bill will allow flexibility for the Council to increase the payment from the general public. It will be centralised decision making on local council tax levels. There are three ways in which to manage funding at the council: reduce costs, raise charges and find new money. Crucially the third option has in no way been properly examined by the political or administrative leaders of the council.
Indeed, as a civilian members of staff for the Constabulary I am fully sighted on (as you rightly stated) the complex issues of the night-time economy. Again, if you are a responsible adult, purchasing food from a responsible seller then there is no issue. The problems arise if you are not a responsible citizen or the vendor is similarly not. In this case my preference would be a utilitarian answer.
You will be pleased to know that a significant amount of time and effort is being focused onto the financial challenge which may face us next year. The night-time economy will also be considered as a part of our direction of travel on the economic regeneration of our city.
In terms of addressing your concerns or aspirations, I personally have often reached out to you, but I also believe that you are now a Green Party member. I can also confirm that my hard work on the doorstep is not populist, but rather based on my own held principles.
Additionally the reason the majority of voters do not engage at times of election is a little more complex than your version.
As I always try to engage, perhaps you could answer me some questions?
a. Did you really join the Green Party and attempt to stand against me at the last election as you threatened to do so?
b. Do you correspond to other councillors and elected officials in the same way that you do with myself?
c. Does any political party meet your current needs? Has any political party ever met your needs?
d. Perhaps you should put your money where your mouth is and join a party / stand as an independent and try to convince others of the merits of your arguement?