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Sound on!
Wednesday 19 November 2014
Saturday 8 November 2014
Central Bedfordshire Council: Questions About Stray Dogs
Q1. How much is the budget that covers everything in dealing with stray
dogs?
Q2. Do you sanction the act of your dog warden/s (or any person contracted to deal with stray dogs) to collect unwanted dogs from the owners property, as opposed to when they are actually straying?
Monday 13 October 2014
State of Palestine: Time it was recognised
On Monday 13th October, the House of Commons will be debating a motion which calls for the UK Parliament to recognise the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel. This will give rightful legitimacy to the State of Palestine and its right to self-determination.
To finally have a workable two-State solution, then this has to involve two recognised and legitimate States within the negotiation process. The UK recognised Israel in 1950, and did not ask Palestinian permission to do so. The UK Government has the power to recognise Palestine now, upholding basic rights and freedoms for all people in the region.
Statehood cannot be conditional, it must not be part of the peace process but an intrinsic right for the Palestinian people with Israel having no say over another people's right to self-determination.
Palestine has acquired the attributes of a State, it has the functioning institutions worthy of a State as recognised by the IMF and the World Bank, and is ready for statehood. Its borders are still subject to negotiation, as indeed are Israel's borders but recognising Israel in the 1950's was not subject to negotiation and neither should recognition of Palestine.
The time to recognise Palestine is now.
The right of a people to choose its own destiny is an intrinsic, irrefutable human right. Recognition of Palestine as a State is an indispensable stage in a peaceful two-State solution.
If they me you feel passionately about this issue then please contact your local MP to make sure they attend the debate and speak up for Palestinian recognition. You can do this easily by clicking on this link http://act.palestinecampaign.org/lobby/Palestine.
(The text above has been adapted from a letter by David Ward, Member of Parliament for Bradford East. I have long been of the view that Palestinians have legitimate long-standing grievances.)
Update: MPs voted to chose to recognise the state of Palestine by 274 votes for recognition to only 12 votes against recognition. 13/10/2014
Tuesday 30 September 2014
Student Fees: Tuition Fees Must Go
One reason I left the LibDems in 2014 (and go Independent) was their position in Government, when, in league with the Conservatives, they agreed to INCREASE tuition fees! Grrr !!
Monday 22 September 2014
Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulation 2014
from BATPC.
The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 came into effect in August 2014. This piece of legislation has amended relevant parts of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to increase the rights of members of the press and public to film, audio-record, take photographs, and use social media of any kind such as tweeting and blogging, and posting on Facebook and YouTube to report the proceedings of all council meetings that are open to the public.
Unlike before, as far as parish and town councils are concerned, no prior permission is required as such to carry out this activity, but any person wishing to film or audio-record a public meeting is advised to let the council know their intention so that the necessary arrangements can be made. There has always been an obligation for a council to make arrangements for the press to make and file reports; the new rules underline the importance of accommodating reporting by members of the public too. So the emphasis has changed from councils having the choice of whether or not their meetings were filmed to the new position where councils have an obligation to provide reasonable facilities for members of the public to report on council meetings. To ensure minimum disruption to meetings councils may consider agreeing a simple protocol for members of the public wishing to exercise these rights, which might include publication of wi-fi codes and guidance on whether electronic equipment may be plugged into sockets in the meeting room.
DCLG has re-issued its publication Open and accountable local government – A guide for the press and public on attending and reporting meetings of local government. Part 4 of the guide is entitled Access to meetings and documents of parish and town councils and sets out in detail the increased rights of members of the public.
The Chairman has procedural authority in a meeting and the new rules do not prevent the Chairman from excluding any person from a meeting as necessary in order to maintain order prevent genuine disruption to a meeting.
This affects local government bodies in England. See gov.uk
Sunday 14 September 2014
Flags: So, If Scotland Does Go Independent, What Will Our New Flag Look Like?
Just for fun, I had a look at what we have now, and what we could have.
Here's the familiar Union Jack flag.
This is a union of various flags. Firstly, the flag of St Patrick (Ireland).
Secondly, the flag of St George (England), a red cross on a white background, associated with Saint George since the time of the crusades.
Thirdly, the flag of St Andrew (Scotland), also known as Saint Andrew's Cross or the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland.
So, if Scotland goes, we could have a new flag. Take away the blue background of Scotland, and the white diagonal cross and that leaves us with this:
Boring! But, hang on, what about the flag of St David, for Wales? I don't buy the argument that we should incorporate Welsh dragons; we'd then have to think about English lions, and anyway my theme deals with Saints. Well, here is St David's flag, a national flag for Wales.
So, let's incorporate that, leaving us with something like this:
So, that would give us our new union flag! That would look something like this:
Much better! What do you think?
So, after first writing this, I see another suggested flag posted on the Mirror.co.uk web site:
I like in a way as it gives the St George cross more prominence. But the Cornish white cross is missing!
Here's the familiar Union Jack flag.
This is a union of various flags. Firstly, the flag of St Patrick (Ireland).
Thirdly, the flag of St Andrew (Scotland), also known as Saint Andrew's Cross or the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland.
So, if Scotland goes, we could have a new flag. Take away the blue background of Scotland, and the white diagonal cross and that leaves us with this:
Boring! But, hang on, what about the flag of St David, for Wales? I don't buy the argument that we should incorporate Welsh dragons; we'd then have to think about English lions, and anyway my theme deals with Saints. Well, here is St David's flag, a national flag for Wales.
So, let's incorporate that, leaving us with something like this:
Ah, one more thought! Cornwall. Often pushing for independence, but how about making the people of Cornwall feel more welcome, by incorporating Saint Piran's Cross, also known as the Flag of Cornwall. A centred white cross on a black background.
So, that would give us our new union flag! That would look something like this:
 |
| A new flag for a new union? |
So, after first writing this, I see another suggested flag posted on the Mirror.co.uk web site:
I like in a way as it gives the St George cross more prominence. But the Cornish white cross is missing!
Wednesday 10 September 2014
Politics: Just For the Record ...
Last Friday I wrote to cancel my membership in the Liberal Democrats.
If I do stand again next May, it will be as an Independent.
If I do stand again next May, it will be as an Independent.
Thursday 17 July 2014
Saturday 28 June 2014
Hostility Towards Travellers?
I replied, “My observation is that hostility is greatest the closer the travellers are housed to residents. The hostility rises in proportion to any associated anti-social behaviour, such as urinating in public, the greater the perceived sound of the traveller's generator, and the correlation of local minor crime to the arrival of the traveller. So, if you were to lose your house and take to the caravan, take care where you park, toilet, and keep away from areas likely to be affected by crime and you'll minimise the danger of being an outcast.”
Tuesday 22 April 2014
Politics: Can You Really Have An Independent Party?
On his blog, Executive CBC Councillor Richard Stay this week has a pop at Independents, and the fact that Central Bedfordshire Council's former Labour councillor Julian Murray is collecting a bonus (worth £902 in 2012/13) for being the leader of the second largest party on the Council.
It's certainly something that rankles with rank-and file members of all political parties, the fact that they declare themselves Independent, and then hold "group" meetings to decide on strategy etc.
But I do sense an air of distrust about Cllr Stay's own allowance 'fortune'.
He should tell us more about his own special responsibility allowance - its a role shrouded in mystery that is something known as External Affairs for which he was paid £10,423.13 in 2012/13; and that goes on top of his Travel (£2,618.45), Subsistence (£498.73), and standard councillor and ICT allowances.
It's certainly something that rankles with rank-and file members of all political parties, the fact that they declare themselves Independent, and then hold "group" meetings to decide on strategy etc.
But I do sense an air of distrust about Cllr Stay's own allowance 'fortune'.
He should tell us more about his own special responsibility allowance - its a role shrouded in mystery that is something known as External Affairs for which he was paid £10,423.13 in 2012/13; and that goes on top of his Travel (£2,618.45), Subsistence (£498.73), and standard councillor and ICT allowances.
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