Excellent morning yesterday listening to and watching presentations from seven groups - Youth Parliament, Germoe School, Young Carers, Penponds School, Illogan School, Volunteer Cornwall and Landrake Young Ladies.
Each of the presentations was well made demonstrating that youngesters are aware of issues, engaged with issues and able to put forward solutions.
The event was part of a programme of increasing (and boy does it need increasing) the attention given to seeking and understanding children's as part of the decision making process for those issues which effect them (and that is most issues) and ensuring that they understand the rationale for decisions when they are taken.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Public Consultation
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Cornwall Council: Services
Today's Cornwall Council Children, Education & Families ("CEF") Overview & Scrutiny Committee had a full agenda so it's thanks to the officers and councillors that we got through it so well without stinting on the discussions.
There is understandable concern that whilst the grant reductions to date, in the CEF arena, have been absorbed without too much difficulty - although it would be wrong to assume that there has not been a reduction in services or some lost jobs - the future range and number of cuts will not be known until after the Government's autumn spending review which takes place on 20 October.
As the Cornwall Council Cabinet develop their proposals to manage the funding cuts, whilst continuing on the overall journey of achieving value for money, there is a critical role for the Scrutiny Committees, whose memberships is over 50% of the councillors, to understand, challenge and, where appropriate, recommend alternative options in the implementation of the funding reductions. A strong scrutiny function can then inform the deliberations of the Full Council when it meets in November to decide on the emergency budget.
There is understandable concern that whilst the grant reductions to date, in the CEF arena, have been absorbed without too much difficulty - although it would be wrong to assume that there has not been a reduction in services or some lost jobs - the future range and number of cuts will not be known until after the Government's autumn spending review which takes place on 20 October.
As the Cornwall Council Cabinet develop their proposals to manage the funding cuts, whilst continuing on the overall journey of achieving value for money, there is a critical role for the Scrutiny Committees, whose memberships is over 50% of the councillors, to understand, challenge and, where appropriate, recommend alternative options in the implementation of the funding reductions. A strong scrutiny function can then inform the deliberations of the Full Council when it meets in November to decide on the emergency budget.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Cornwall Council: Good Progress
It was good to hear at yesterday's Cornwall Council Cabinet meeting of the very real progress being made in moving Cornwall Council towards being a top class council. This will benefit everyone in Cornwall, as quality services are delivered at lowest possible cost.
The details are that Cornwall Council has achieved the second best performance standards of all those councils who moved to unitary status in 2009. There was already clear evidence that performance standards across the Council have been improving however it is particularly gratifying to have independent confirmation of the progress made since the Conservatives, working alongside the Independents, took control of Cornwall Council in 2009.
The independent report was prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers who provide a benchmarking service to a number of Councils to allow performance to be compared.
This positive performance result sits alongside continued effective management of the Cornwall Council budget which is on track to deliver well over £50m of savings in the current financial year. These savings comprise the initial Cornwall Council target of £40m savings in 2010/2011 (which were needed to keep the council tax increase low) plus the subsequent additional savings required from the reduction in Government grants. Whilst the latest forecast is of a small overspend this primarily arises from the effect of the Government grants reduction and there is every expectation that the budget will be back in line before the financial year comes to a close.
Further savings arising from the rationalisation of Cornwall Council’s office property will be achieved by the adoption of modern working practices. This will reduce the number of offices which the Council needs to occupy. There will be some short-term costs, especially regarding refurbishments of offices in Dolceath Avenue, Camborne, and New County Hall, Truro to allow more staff to be based in these locations however overall the changes will achieve significant long-term savings.
Much remains to be done. The current performance improvements, whilst welcome, are not any reason to reduce the efforts to make further substantial improvements.
The details are that Cornwall Council has achieved the second best performance standards of all those councils who moved to unitary status in 2009. There was already clear evidence that performance standards across the Council have been improving however it is particularly gratifying to have independent confirmation of the progress made since the Conservatives, working alongside the Independents, took control of Cornwall Council in 2009.
The independent report was prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers who provide a benchmarking service to a number of Councils to allow performance to be compared.
This positive performance result sits alongside continued effective management of the Cornwall Council budget which is on track to deliver well over £50m of savings in the current financial year. These savings comprise the initial Cornwall Council target of £40m savings in 2010/2011 (which were needed to keep the council tax increase low) plus the subsequent additional savings required from the reduction in Government grants. Whilst the latest forecast is of a small overspend this primarily arises from the effect of the Government grants reduction and there is every expectation that the budget will be back in line before the financial year comes to a close.
Further savings arising from the rationalisation of Cornwall Council’s office property will be achieved by the adoption of modern working practices. This will reduce the number of offices which the Council needs to occupy. There will be some short-term costs, especially regarding refurbishments of offices in Dolceath Avenue, Camborne, and New County Hall, Truro to allow more staff to be based in these locations however overall the changes will achieve significant long-term savings.
Much remains to be done. The current performance improvements, whilst welcome, are not any reason to reduce the efforts to make further substantial improvements.
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