Strange that at a time when there are so many important issues to be addressed that the next meeting of Cornwall Council has to deal with a motion on the status of the Chairman. As the motion merely restates what is already the agreed position it does beg the question as to whether the motion is a good use of councillors time.
Also odd that the motion assumes that Cornwall Council will be represented at Lands End and RNAS Culdrose when, of course, the decisions as to who to invite will rest with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. Some councillors seem to assume that Cornwall Council is so important that there is no question it will be invited to send representatives.
I was under the impression that it is bad manners to expect an invitation and to be pleased if one is received.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Lib Dems: Still keen on spending Taxpayers' Money
I understand from a journalist that Cornwall's Lib Dems have issued a press release attacking the decision to put out for review future options for Cornwall Newquay Airport. They are quoted to me as having called the decision evidence of a 'fire sale'.
I sincerely hope that the journalist is mistaken as otherwise it would mean that the Lib Dems:
I sincerely hope that the journalist is mistaken as otherwise it would mean that the Lib Dems:
- May have read into a Cornwall Council press release something that is not contained within it,
- Are not supportive of reviewing Cornwall Council's cost base,
- Are not supportive of optimising the value of the Airport to the Cornish economy and the creation of jobs,
- Have learn nothing from their financial management of Cornwall County Council as evidenced in the damning reports from the Audit Commission,
- Continue to believe that money grows on trees or at least feel it right to spend taxpayers money without exercising financial prudence.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Liberal Democrats: Friends of Cornwall?
I confess I'd put aside the awful state of affairs that the Cornwall Council Conservative/Independent Administration inherited from the Liberal Democrats following the electorate's very sensible decision to boot them out of power from New County Hall in 2009. However the awfulness of the Lib Dem legacy came rushing back into focus when I read the press release from Stephen Gilbert MP (St Austell and Newquay) on his opposition to the budget allocated to the Olympic Torch Relay.
To recap; the Lib Dems performance in Cornwall County Council amassed a sizeable collection of 'red flags'. That was the Administration that botched the transfer of Newquay Airport from the RAF leading to its closure and was responsible for putting the Fire Brigade and Childrens' safeguarding into interventions. Those failures being only the tip of an iceberg of inept political leadership.
The Newquay Airport fiasco was not a 'one off' but rather evidence of an appalling lack of attention to risk management. Soultions to all of these problems, and many more besides, have kept the current Administration busy whilst, at the same time, it has introduced fiscal prudence and set the Council on a journey to sustainable superior performance as already recognised in reports from various external auditing bodies and nominations for awards.
I'm sure that most of us want to live in a economically successful County rather than one which, for too long, has failed to achieve its potential. To me having Objective 1 and, more recently, Convergence status are not badges of honour bur rather symbols of failure.
I had mistakenly believed that all politicians, irrespective of their beliefs, would want to see Cornwall and its people prosper. Initially when I read Stephen Gilbert's comments I regarded him as a lone voice which, with a few minutes consideration, all other members of the Lib Dems would want to disassociate themselves from. But no, the opportunity to put Cornwall down, again, has proved too strong for some of them to avoid.
The Olympic Torch Relay provides a unique opportunity to promote Cornwall to national, European and worldwide audiences. The budgeted cost, of which over 50% is for road closures, security, first aid support and other necessary expenditures, will be in line with the costs which other Counties, and indeed Cities, will have to bear if they are on the Torch's route. However, unlike them we are the starting point for the relay on Great Britain which, being a Saturday, enables us to reach not only people outside Cornwall but also the majority of the Cornish population.
The economic benefits hold out the prospect of being enormous, particularly well-timed as the Relay is at the beginning of the peak holiday season. Coincidentally I met someone yesterday who is involved with the ticket office at the Lost Gardens of Heligan who reported that following last week's television programme on the Gardens, attendance has rocketted from both Cornish and non-Cornish visitors. Even without any detailed consideration of figures it does not take a genius to extrapolate that effect across Cornwall when we appear on television news programmes, Sunday papers and other media outlets. The benefits have every likelihood of lasting a long time and, rather than diverting the initial budget elsewhere to front-line services, we instead have the prospect of leveraging that budget into something far more significant to the long term advantage of Cornwall Council's front-line services.
The week ahead of the Torch Relay is Cornwall Business Week. By attracting targetted journalists to come and experience the economic renaissance which is taking place in Cornwall, such as Wave Hub, Superfast Broadband, Combined Universities, Innovation Centres, Marine Energy Park, Heartlands, can be expected not just to extol Cornwall as a tourist destination but also as a suitable base for businesses and jobs.
Whilst I'm disappointed by Stephen Gilbert's comments they do, unfortunately, seem to fit into a pattern whereby some Lib Dems 'talk Cornwall down'. Hopefully there are more strategically minded Lib Dems who will correct this view.
To recap; the Lib Dems performance in Cornwall County Council amassed a sizeable collection of 'red flags'. That was the Administration that botched the transfer of Newquay Airport from the RAF leading to its closure and was responsible for putting the Fire Brigade and Childrens' safeguarding into interventions. Those failures being only the tip of an iceberg of inept political leadership.
The Newquay Airport fiasco was not a 'one off' but rather evidence of an appalling lack of attention to risk management. Soultions to all of these problems, and many more besides, have kept the current Administration busy whilst, at the same time, it has introduced fiscal prudence and set the Council on a journey to sustainable superior performance as already recognised in reports from various external auditing bodies and nominations for awards.
I'm sure that most of us want to live in a economically successful County rather than one which, for too long, has failed to achieve its potential. To me having Objective 1 and, more recently, Convergence status are not badges of honour bur rather symbols of failure.
I had mistakenly believed that all politicians, irrespective of their beliefs, would want to see Cornwall and its people prosper. Initially when I read Stephen Gilbert's comments I regarded him as a lone voice which, with a few minutes consideration, all other members of the Lib Dems would want to disassociate themselves from. But no, the opportunity to put Cornwall down, again, has proved too strong for some of them to avoid.
The Olympic Torch Relay provides a unique opportunity to promote Cornwall to national, European and worldwide audiences. The budgeted cost, of which over 50% is for road closures, security, first aid support and other necessary expenditures, will be in line with the costs which other Counties, and indeed Cities, will have to bear if they are on the Torch's route. However, unlike them we are the starting point for the relay on Great Britain which, being a Saturday, enables us to reach not only people outside Cornwall but also the majority of the Cornish population.
The economic benefits hold out the prospect of being enormous, particularly well-timed as the Relay is at the beginning of the peak holiday season. Coincidentally I met someone yesterday who is involved with the ticket office at the Lost Gardens of Heligan who reported that following last week's television programme on the Gardens, attendance has rocketted from both Cornish and non-Cornish visitors. Even without any detailed consideration of figures it does not take a genius to extrapolate that effect across Cornwall when we appear on television news programmes, Sunday papers and other media outlets. The benefits have every likelihood of lasting a long time and, rather than diverting the initial budget elsewhere to front-line services, we instead have the prospect of leveraging that budget into something far more significant to the long term advantage of Cornwall Council's front-line services.
The week ahead of the Torch Relay is Cornwall Business Week. By attracting targetted journalists to come and experience the economic renaissance which is taking place in Cornwall, such as Wave Hub, Superfast Broadband, Combined Universities, Innovation Centres, Marine Energy Park, Heartlands, can be expected not just to extol Cornwall as a tourist destination but also as a suitable base for businesses and jobs.
Whilst I'm disappointed by Stephen Gilbert's comments they do, unfortunately, seem to fit into a pattern whereby some Lib Dems 'talk Cornwall down'. Hopefully there are more strategically minded Lib Dems who will correct this view.
Friday, 19 August 2011
Port of Falmouth and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Whilst the publicity surrounding the Chancellor's visit to Cornwall focused on the economic and job prospects arising from the successful bid for an Enterprise Zone at Newquay airport, he also gave time to understand the opportunities that the implementation of the Falmouth Harbour Masterplan would create. The Masterplan identifies hundreds of new jobs and a major boost to the Cornish economy, including marine renewable energy developments and an increase in cruise liner tourists who would have opportunities to travel to attractions across Cornwall.
Attending the meeting were Sarah Newton MP, Peter Childs and Mike Reynolds of A&P Falmouth, Mark Samson of the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and myself.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Perranwell Station and the Financial Times
The story so far; copies of the FT were noticeable by their absence in the Perranwell Stores last weekend so a request to the FT for explanation has produced this response:
Thanks for letting us know: we are investigating what may have happened, generally this outlet receives around 7 copies at the weeekend. We certainly didn't do anything here to stop that, I suspect a packing error by our wholesaler but we will find out.
I note also from the figures that sales of the FT Mon-Fri at this shop are rarer than a Cornish suntan this year. Can't interest you in a print subscription, I suppose??
Martin Ashford
UK Circulation Director
Thanks for letting us know: we are investigating what may have happened, generally this outlet receives around 7 copies at the weeekend. We certainly didn't do anything here to stop that, I suspect a packing error by our wholesaler but we will find out.
I note also from the figures that sales of the FT Mon-Fri at this shop are rarer than a Cornish suntan this year. Can't interest you in a print subscription, I suppose??
Martin Ashford
UK Circulation Director
Thursday, 7 July 2011
The Strange Case of the Missing Opposition
For some time I've puzzled as to why the Lib Dems in Cornwall Council are not providing strong opposition. They are clearly an intelligent group of people who, like councillors of all political beliefs, are committed and passionate about their communities and the overall good of Cornwall.
Despite all the changes being made in Cornwall Council, which I regard as positive for Cornwall although I accept that some have a different view, the Lib Dems have restricted themselves to, in effect, saying "we disagree" without proposing alternative courses of action. Twice they have voted against the annual budgets and on both occasions have not tabled alternatives.
I've come to the conclusion that their focus on being negative reflects an overwhelming desire to avoid facing difficult decisions. They appear to have no strategy and are therefore forced into being tactical. They are good at expressing negative views on individual items of policy although generally without proposing alternatives.
They made a 'song and dance' over a tourism tax, even though it was not part of Cornwall Council policy, yet failed until it was dragged out of them to acknowledge that a hotel tax is one of their official policies! As is often the case, they took the line that they do not support their own Party's national policy. Will the real Lib Dems please stand up!
Currently it feels as if the Conservative/Independent administration is like one of those wagon trains you see in Western movies. It has a sense of purpose and direction and although it will suffer a few losses to marauding native North America people (aka Lib Dems) is not being seriously hampered in its strategic objective of reaching its destination.
A focus on tactical issues, without an overarching strategy, does leave you vulnerable to supporting far more than the budget will allow. This suggests why they are, nationally, increasingly seeking to take over Labour's mantle as the high tax Party. It appears that they want to retain the 50% income tax rate for higher earners, charge higher rates on lower incomes and, in the Coalition negotiations, insisted on increasing capital gains tax from 18% to 28% without reinstating any reliefs. This places them firmly as the Party who want to increase the tax burden on the middle class which would harm the international competitive position of the UK to the detriment of all, including those paid the least.
Despite all the changes being made in Cornwall Council, which I regard as positive for Cornwall although I accept that some have a different view, the Lib Dems have restricted themselves to, in effect, saying "we disagree" without proposing alternative courses of action. Twice they have voted against the annual budgets and on both occasions have not tabled alternatives.
I've come to the conclusion that their focus on being negative reflects an overwhelming desire to avoid facing difficult decisions. They appear to have no strategy and are therefore forced into being tactical. They are good at expressing negative views on individual items of policy although generally without proposing alternatives.
They made a 'song and dance' over a tourism tax, even though it was not part of Cornwall Council policy, yet failed until it was dragged out of them to acknowledge that a hotel tax is one of their official policies! As is often the case, they took the line that they do not support their own Party's national policy. Will the real Lib Dems please stand up!
Currently it feels as if the Conservative/Independent administration is like one of those wagon trains you see in Western movies. It has a sense of purpose and direction and although it will suffer a few losses to marauding native North America people (aka Lib Dems) is not being seriously hampered in its strategic objective of reaching its destination.
A focus on tactical issues, without an overarching strategy, does leave you vulnerable to supporting far more than the budget will allow. This suggests why they are, nationally, increasingly seeking to take over Labour's mantle as the high tax Party. It appears that they want to retain the 50% income tax rate for higher earners, charge higher rates on lower incomes and, in the Coalition negotiations, insisted on increasing capital gains tax from 18% to 28% without reinstating any reliefs. This places them firmly as the Party who want to increase the tax burden on the middle class which would harm the international competitive position of the UK to the detriment of all, including those paid the least.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Cornwall's Rail Services
Whilst we will need to influence the next rail franchise for future rail services, following First Great Western's decision to exercise a contractual option to terminate early the existing franchise, to ensure reliability, affordability and frequency of trains the good news is that rail travel is making an increased contribution to journeys within Cornwall. Also the plans to secure faster services between Cornwall and London remain on course.
Cornwall's branch line network saw journey numbers increase by 6.3% (over 2009) to 1.69m in 2010 with early indications of further substantial increase in 2011.
For details see appendix 4 to http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=3140&T=10
Cornwall's branch line network saw journey numbers increase by 6.3% (over 2009) to 1.69m in 2010 with early indications of further substantial increase in 2011.
For details see appendix 4 to http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=3140&T=10
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