After spending quite a while deliberating over a decision of whether or not to grant planning permission on a dwelling in 1/2 an acre of land in a rural village,  we then moved on whether to grant permission to 295 new homes in Red Lodge. 

I was concerned at the number of spaces for parking.  It is not that I am a great car lover , its because if you move to Red Lodge then the car is going to be your main mode of transport.  I have seen from what has already been built that there is much parking on verges and pavements.  The proposals seemed to be about 60-70 spaces short in my view,  the plans were passed anyway.

At the end of a long planning meeting.  We were told that we were going to be briefed on 2 issues.  The man from the press was duly ejected by the officers as apparently it was no longer a meeting.

We were then given a report on how Conservative controlled Forest Heath has allowed a 10 metre eyesore mast to go up on Exning Road by the Leisure Centre because they forgot to determine the application in time.  The mast is sighted I believe on Conservative Controlled Suffolk County Council land. 

However apart from huff and puff all we can do is put pressure on  O2 to remove their mast apparently (great guidance I must say).   I certainly hope we can do more than that.   Pressure must be put on the landowners - I believe the county to make sure the mast is removed and procedures must be tightened this doesn’t happen again. 

This evening I had to sit through full council whilst the Conservatives argued amongst themselves over the response that Forest Heath should draw up to the Government’s request for the Boundary Committee to look into local Government in Suffolk.

The three way split in their ranks ranging from - a) Only Tories should be allowed to have any input to b) a desire to get the best for the residents of the district (which got the Lib Dem support) were both defeated by c) The usual let the the officers decide and we’ll agree with what they say majority.

I have now been on this council three months and not once outside planning in Newmarket have I seen the independents vote against an officer recommendation.  I promise to report back when they do. 

My view has always been that, I am put on the Council by the electors to challenge and ask questions of what the Council is doing and represent the people not the Council.  It seems that this is an old-fashioned view of what a councillor should be about.

So now we know, after all the unintelligiable budget meetings for each committee.  Not being able to compare like with like year on year, the Tories are putting the Council tax up by 3.6% for Forest Heath.  

I must congratulate the residents who elected me in November as every forecast and paper that came from Conservative controlled Forest Heath before then indicated a 4.99% increase.    There’s nothing like an election defeat to focus the mind on how you are spending local people’s money I suppose.

Another update on the Leisure Centre and another meeting in secret for Conservative controlled Forest Heath.

As the only Liberal Democrat on the Committee, the vote to take the report in secret was a pretty decisive 11-1.  The Independents supporting the secrecy.

 Nobody will be surprised to hear that the costs have risen once again and that the rise is a minimum of seven figures.  I heard a rumour that the British Olympic Committee are using the cost rises at Newmarket Leisure Centre as a role model for their construction costs at Stratford.  Apparently, the Conservatives aren’t at fault, Forest Heath isn’t at fault for this overspend and much delayed project. I suppose they won’t claim the credit when the centre opens either then!

 However, They do have a date for opening of August 2008, so hoorah for that.

Now 2 and a half months, since my election and have managed to attend a couple of meetings for two of the the three parishes I represent and as usual for Suffolk, friendly they are too.  

At a Parish Council meeting before I get a chance to present my district Council report, I get a chance to hear what the local Constabulary have been up to in the parish since their last meeting. 

At Barton Mills over the last month there were no crimes to report (no change since last meeting).  I still await my first reported crime.  The police did warn of complacency though, as there is a gang stealing the ever more valuable commodity - heating oil - across Suffolk.   So watch out for that brazen gang touring the streets of Suffolk  stealing heating oil, not a commodity that I think is easy to steal!