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.
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