The 'Hard Choices' public consultation evening meetings in Penzance, Saltash, St Austell and Bude last week were, given the lack of large numbers of attendees due to the short notice, a start in a process that should be continued; namely Cornwall Councillors holding meetings across the Duchy to seek the views of the local population. This activity should not cut across the existing local activities of Cornwall Councillors but rather provide an opportunity for groups of Councillors, against the background of issues which to greater or lesser extent effect the entire Duchy, to seek the views of more representative samples of the population.
One noticeable absence from the meetings was people under the age of 40 (my apology if you were there and are under 40!). I don't recall any children or young people attending. The absence of children and young people, or rather more likely finding better ways to engage with them, will be addressed at meetings I'm attending over the next few days organised by Cornwall Council and voluntary partners. These meetings will be centred on and led by children and young people as part of the programme to achieve in Cornwall real meaning for the 'giving a voice to the child' initiative.
Sunday 17 October 2010
Saturday 9 October 2010
Cuts are OK but.....
Given the amount of Media space devoted to the wails of those on 40% income tax who will lose child benefit you could be forgiven for believing that everyone is in favour of Government spending reductions unless the cuts directly effect them. Maybe the wails of anguish simply reflect the ability of some of the more articulate members of society to get their voices heard.
Perhaps a simple definition of spending reductions is that they must and will hurt; the challenge being to minimise the pain and to shelter the more vunerable members of society from the effects of the cuts. There is only so much that can be achieved by efficiency savings, and even then it probably means some people losing their jobs, before the effects touch others. There seems a world of difference between giving up something which you can live without when compared with keeping in place services which, literally, are a matter of life and death. So 'ring-fencing' the NHS from having to introduce front line service cuts, whilst expecting efficiency gains, is a logical way forward.
I'm not looking forward to 20% VAT or having to wait until I'm 66 to receive a State pension. However I'm prepared to accept that my modest financial loss is for the overall good. My loss is immaterial alongside those who will lose their jobs and have to find new employment. I've been there and done that and, at the time, it is a traumatic experience.
Perhaps a simple definition of spending reductions is that they must and will hurt; the challenge being to minimise the pain and to shelter the more vunerable members of society from the effects of the cuts. There is only so much that can be achieved by efficiency savings, and even then it probably means some people losing their jobs, before the effects touch others. There seems a world of difference between giving up something which you can live without when compared with keeping in place services which, literally, are a matter of life and death. So 'ring-fencing' the NHS from having to introduce front line service cuts, whilst expecting efficiency gains, is a logical way forward.
I'm not looking forward to 20% VAT or having to wait until I'm 66 to receive a State pension. However I'm prepared to accept that my modest financial loss is for the overall good. My loss is immaterial alongside those who will lose their jobs and have to find new employment. I've been there and done that and, at the time, it is a traumatic experience.
Sunday 3 October 2010
Cornwall's Budget: Everyone's Responsibility
Just 17 days to go now before the Coalition Government's spending plans are made public. Everyone can have their say as to where they think the changes in Cornwall should be made: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=25332
There are plans afoot - congratulations to Cllr. John Keeling, in his role as chair of the Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee, for taking the lead here - for councillors to attend evening public meetings across Cornwall to directly hear the views of the public. I understand meetings are being arranged for the North, South, East and West of the Duchy.
It has to be emphasised that the Cornwall Council's budget proposals are exactly that; proposals which are first subject to scrutiny by the scrutiny committees (consisting of 72 councillors, i.e. well over 50% of all Cornwall councillors) and then to consideration and debate by the full Council. The scrutiny process will test the budget proposals for fairness, appropriateness and value for money. If councillors, by majority by scrutiny committee, consider that the proposals can be improved then their recommendations will inform both the Cabinet and the full Council when it considers the budget proposals.
The budget only moves forward into effect should over 50% of the councillors who attend the full Council meeting positively vote for it.
There are plans afoot - congratulations to Cllr. John Keeling, in his role as chair of the Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee, for taking the lead here - for councillors to attend evening public meetings across Cornwall to directly hear the views of the public. I understand meetings are being arranged for the North, South, East and West of the Duchy.
It has to be emphasised that the Cornwall Council's budget proposals are exactly that; proposals which are first subject to scrutiny by the scrutiny committees (consisting of 72 councillors, i.e. well over 50% of all Cornwall councillors) and then to consideration and debate by the full Council. The scrutiny process will test the budget proposals for fairness, appropriateness and value for money. If councillors, by majority by scrutiny committee, consider that the proposals can be improved then their recommendations will inform both the Cabinet and the full Council when it considers the budget proposals.
The budget only moves forward into effect should over 50% of the councillors who attend the full Council meeting positively vote for it.
Friday 1 October 2010
Personal Debt
If personal debt was regarded as a disease such as typhoid then the scale of it in Cornwall would justify 'moving heaven and earth' to eradicate it; this was the gist of a presentation given yesterday by Cornwall's Citizens Advice Bureau to six Cornwall councillors.
The number of families and individuals with unmanageable debts should be of major concern to policy makers. There is likely to be very appreciable increase in the numbers as the effects of the 'age of asterity' gather pace.
What can be done? A three point programme is the way forward:
1. Get the issue given the priority it demands by policymakers.
2. Educate those at risk of their rights.
3. Promote responsible borrowings.
The CAB presentation is part of an on-going evidence gathering activity about poverty in Cornwall.
The implications of excessive personal debts are profound and range across family stability, child poverty, mental health and community viability, to name just a few.
The number of families and individuals with unmanageable debts should be of major concern to policy makers. There is likely to be very appreciable increase in the numbers as the effects of the 'age of asterity' gather pace.
What can be done? A three point programme is the way forward:
1. Get the issue given the priority it demands by policymakers.
2. Educate those at risk of their rights.
3. Promote responsible borrowings.
The CAB presentation is part of an on-going evidence gathering activity about poverty in Cornwall.
The implications of excessive personal debts are profound and range across family stability, child poverty, mental health and community viability, to name just a few.
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