My personal response to Suffolk CC's Library Consultation

This is my personal response to the Suffolk County Council library consultation.

James Hargrave Personal Response to Library Consultation

Second Election Leaflet Published: My Election Pledges

I have published my second District Council election leaflet which will be delivered in the run up to the elections on Thursday 5th May. In the leaflet I make five pledges if elected to represent Stradbroke, Laxfield and Wilby I will:

1. Be a strong voice for Stradbroke, Laxfield and Wilby 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

2. Work closely with Stradbroke, Laxfield and Wilby Parish Councils and support decision making at a parish level wherever possible

3. 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

4. Ensure that information is provided to the people of Stradbroke and Laxfield about the the District Council through parish magazines, the Stradbroke Laxfield and Wilby parish websites and through my own Blog

5. Hold regular advice surgeries in Stradbroke, Laxfield and Wilby to help local people with questions and help get problems with District and County services resolved

You can see the full leaflet below:

JamesHargraveElection2011No2

Petitions to Save Suffolk Libraries with more than 19 000 signatures handed to Suffolk CC

Me handing a petition to Cllr Judy Terry

Petitions from libraries across Suffolk with more than 19 000 signatures were handed in to Cllr Judy Terry, Portfolio Holder for Libraries at Endeavour House this morning.

More than 20 representatives from libraries across Suffolk together with opposition councillors from both the Lib Dem and Labour groups converged on Endeavour House to hand in the petitions and to send a strong message to Suffolk County Council as the library consultation comes to an end.

Cllr Judy Terry seemed unwilling to come and receive the petitions at first but after chants of "Judy Terry Come on Down" and a trip to Reception she eventually appeared. As you can see from the video (on way) she did seem to be indicating that the strength of feeling had been acknowledged and that "we would be surprised" at what their plans are. She struggled to answer the questions put by protesters eventually telling Cllr Kathy Pollard (Lib Dem Group Leader) and the protesters in a patronising way that we "didn't understand" their plans which was met with derision from those present!

This table shows the petitions handed in:

	Paper	Online	Total
Aldeburgh	1200		1200
ALL Libraries		722	722
Bungay	1202	56	1258
Debenham	828	149	977
Hadleigh	59		59
Ipswich County	3945		3945
Ipswich Labour	1600		1600
Kesgrave	45	265	310
Leiston	759	181	940
Oulton Broad	1229	22	1251
Rosehill	3128	469	3597
Saxmundham	1703	147	1850
Stradbroke	700	100	800
Woodbridge	578		578
TOTAL	16976	2111	19087

Petitions in italics previously handed in but representatives at handover

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

UPDATE 1425 values altered to include missed out Online petitions from Rosehill and split between Hadleigh and Ipswich Central petitions