Shadow Chancellor condemns "ideological" library cuts as Judy Terry claims more libraries may open!

Ed Balls the Labour Shadow Chancellor has been visiting Rosehill library in Suffolk today presumably to help the Labour district council campaign in Ipswich. 

The BBC report that he said of the cuts:

I fear that in Suffolk they [the county council] seem to be embracing this ideological desire to get public services out of the way entirely with a bit more relish than most people expected," he said.

Most people who depend upon libraries would say 'I don't want it to be a lottery depending on whether people are willing to volunteer to keep them open.

This doesn't surprise me and I agree with this view but the response of Cllr Judy Terry, Portfolio Holder for Libraries is bizzare even by the standards of Suffolk County Council, she replies:

It may be that some close, but has anyone actually thought that we may open some libraries?

Well no, I don't think that anybody has thought that Suffolk County Council plan to open more libraries. This is probably because they issued a consultation document warning in Cllr Terry's own words:

However, should responses to the consultation prove disappointing, it is imperative that we make the necessary savings, meaning that we may have to close 29 libraries.

So why on earth would anyone reading this consultation think new libraries would be opened? Even if they were opened Suffolk have made it clear they don't want to run them so I do not understand the use of "we" here unless Cllr Terry is planning to run them personally?

Two Horse Race for District Council in Stradbroke and Laxfield

Nominations have closed for the Mid Suffolk District Council elections and you can see a full list of candidates on the Mid Suffolk Website

Here in Stradbroke and Laxfield there are two candidates. Myself standing for the Liberal Democrats and the sitting councillor Stuart Gemmill standing as an independent. On the Council Stuart sits as a member of the "Conservative and Independent Group" who are currently in control of Mid Suffolk District Council.

A total of 128 candidates are standing for the 40 available seats across Mid Suffolk with only one candidate elected without a contest, as Rachel Eburne for the Green Part was the only person nominated for the Haughley and Wetherden ward (which she won from the Conservatives in a by-election last year).

The current composition of the Council is 24 Conservative and Independents, 10 Liberal Democrats, and 6 in the Suffolk Together, Green and Independent group.

37 out of the current 40 councillors are seeking re-election.

The election will be held on Thursday 5th May and polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. The referendum on use of "Alternative Vote" for parliamentary elections will take place on the same day but as I blogged earlier there will be no elections in Stradbroke and Laxfield for Parish Councillors as they have all been elected unopposed.

There is still time up until Thursday 14th April to Register to Vote or to request a Postal Vote click the links or call the elections team at Mid Suffolk on 01449 724672.

There is an interesting Wikipedia page on Mid Suffolk Election Results showing who has held the Council over the years and by-election results.

Stradbroke and Laxfield Parish Councils Elected Unopposed

Both Stradbroke and Laxfield Parish Councils have been elected unopposed as you can see from the Nominatons on Mid Suffolk District Council's website.

Stradbroke Parish Council - 12 Nominations for 13 seats

Stuart James GEMMILL
James Edward HARGRAVE
Gerald Walter JENKINS
Maureen JOHN
Ann KERR
Oliver LAST
Velda Kathleen LUMMIS
Mark William PEACOCK
Michael Thomas READMAN
Michael John SMITH
Peter Donald SMITH
Nick STONES

Laxfield Parish Council - 11 Nominations for 11 Seats

Wendy Lillian ABBOTT
Lisa Jayne AUCHTERLONIE
Alastair CLARKE
Kevin John COOK
Mary Philippa GAGG
Sally Glynis LARKE
Tony OAKES
Derek William WATKINS
Jenny WATT
Ian Reginald WILLIAMS
Timothy John WOOLNOUGH

Guy McGregor enters County Council Leadership Race

Guy McGregor receiving a petition of more than 750
local residents to Save Stradbroke Library

Local Conservative County Councillor Guy McGregor who is the county councillor for Stradbroke and Laxfield has put himself forward as the third candidate in the race to succeed Jeremy Pembroke as leader of Suffolk County Council who resigned last week.

Today's EADT reports that McGregor is presenting himself as a "compromise" candidate between Mark Bee and Colin Noble. Guy says:

I think it is important that we stop and think what the people of Suffolk want before we start coming up with too many radical ideas.
I would rather we ran the council as the people of Suffolk want it to be run rather than trying to impress ministers in London.

All of this sounds fantastic and is what many of us have been saying for months. However it is the exact opposite of the way Guy McGregor has been behaving.

Challenged to support Stradbroke Library Guy McGregor refused to sign the petition in support of keeping the library open. He has not provided any support to the campaign to keep the library open preferring to support the planned experimental "divestment" of Stradbroke and Eye libraries as part of a plan that cabinet colleague Judy Terry boasts has the support of ministers in London. This despite being handed a petition of more than 750 local residents, 60% of the population.

I might have missed it but when did the people of Suffolk get asked if we wanted the tip in Eye closed or the eXplore card that provides discounted travel for young people withdrawn?

In the video below you can see local resident Richard Pierce-Saunderson talking to GuyMcGregor and challenging him to listen to the people of Suffolk on issues such as Stradbroke library and the salaries of senior Council Officials. I wonder if he has changed his mind since this video was made?

You can also watch the second part of this video on You Tube

why I am standing at the District Council elections as a Lib Dem Candidate

People don't really notice local government. Until it goes badly wrong that is. That is what has happened in Suffolk over the past year to two years and currently local government has a high profile but for all the wrong reasons. We now have an out of control County Council and there are two years until the elections. Public services are being cut and the council appears to be being run by an unelected and overpaid Chief Executive.

But there are elections to the District Councils in Suffolk this May and whilst these elections won't stop the cuts and out of control behavior of our County Council the results will send a message to the Conservative administration. District councillors can help to stand up strongly against the cuts and campaign for services to be kept in our local villages.

District Councils are responsible for many important local services and decisions such as planning, refuse collection, licensing, housing and leisure centres that make a difference to people's daily lives. This is not the stuff of high party politics but the councillors are all part of political groups and currently the Conservative and Independent Group is in control of the council with 24 seats,  Greens and Suffolk Together have 6 seats and the Liberal Democrats 10.

So I have decided to stand for election to the District Council as a Lib Dem candidate. I will publish a full election leaflet shortly but if elected I will:

• Act as a strong voice for all the people of Stradbroke and Laxfield in defending public services provided by the District Council and campaign actively against cuts to vital village services such as libraries, post offices, medical services, transport links and youth services
• Work closely with both Stradbroke Parish Council (which I have just been elected to) and Laxfield Parish Council and support decision making at a parish level wherever possible
• Work to ensure that the planned merger between Mid Suffolk and Babergh District provides value for money for council tax payers and continues to maintain local accountability
• Work to ensure that the joint venture company "Customer Service Direct" owned by BT, Mid Suffolk and Suffolk County Council provides value for money
• Work to support affordable housing whilst maintaining the character of Stradbroke and Laxfield
• Ensure that information is provided to the people of Stradbroke and Laxfield about the the District Council through parish magazines, the Stradbroke and Laxfield parish websites and through my own Blog

If you would like to help me in my campaign please Contact Me. Any help would be appreciated and you don't have to be a Lib Dem member or anything to help out.

Stradbroke Primary School's "Outstanding" Ofsted Report!

Stradbroke Primary School where I have been the Chair of Governors for the past 4 years was inspected by Ofsted recently. The inspection report has been released today and I am delighted to be able to say that we have been judged to be "outstanding" which is the highest category.

This is a huge achievement for the school and I would like to congratulate Mrs Melanie Barrow the Headteacher and all the staff of the school. What makes an outstanding school is outstanding staff teaching and supporting outstanding lessons and that is just what the school has.

The report says:

Stradbroke Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is an outstanding school. It has improved considerably since its last inspection owing to the relentless drive of the headteacher, whose dynamic and innovative leadership has built a very strong team of outstanding staff...Parents and carers are delighted with the work of the school. One, speaking for many, said, ‘Mrs Barrow and her team never stay still! The school isalways moving forward and the children are excited and ‘pumped’ about school and learning, week in, week out. That is an accomplishment indeed!’ 

The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Lessons inspire the pupils because they are fully involved in their learning, work is pitched precisely to meet their needs and there is a high level of challenge.

In respect of the way the school is governed the report says:

The senior leadership team is constantly looking for solutions rather than finding problems, and they are joined in this by the highly effective governing body, whose strategic view has placed the school on a firm financial footing and whose expertise has supported all aspects of the school’s development. Governors display considerable levels of challenge, like everybody else,expecting the best from the school’s leaders.

Melanie Barrow, Headteacher of the School commented in a letter to parents today:

This really is a very significant and important achievement. It is validation that we have a high performing and successful school and it is one which I am very proud to be Headteacher of. As the report states “Stradbroke Primary is an Outstanding school”.

There is a copy of the full report attached below for you to read or download. Please see the Stradbroke Primary School website for more about the school.



View Report on Scribd

Save Suffolk Libraries March

Saturday 2nd April saw hundreds of people take to the streets of Ipswich to march to Save Suffolk Libraries. People came from all over the county to join the march organised by Rosehill Readers against the planned "divestment" of library services by Suffolk County Council. This could see libraries closed or outsourced.

Video

Consultation

There is still nearly a month to reply to Suffolk County Council's consultation just fill in Section 7 (What do you think about our overall proposals for the library service?)  if you want to have your say but don't want to offer to run your local library! It's OK just to fill this part in. The consultation closes on 30th April.

You might also want to complete section 1 (What library services do you want in future for your community?). If you like the services that are currently provided just say so!

You can also see Suffolk County Council's consultation documentation and read my blog post Ten Reasons why the Suffolk Library Consultation is Flawed

Petition

If you have't already signed a paper or online version of the Save All Suffolk Libraries petition and live, work or study in Suffolk please sign the petition now!

Photos


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Links

My Speech at the Save Suffolk Libraries March
Rosehill Readers Blog Post
Flickr Photoset (selected photos as above)
Flickr Photoset (all photos)
Anglia TV Report