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Tuesday, 21 October, 2008
| Chairman's View of Party Conference |
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I thought that this year’s Party Conference in Birmingham was a great success and the main points to strike me were:-
¶David Cameron is clearly a strong Leader.
·There has been a policy decision to present the Conservatives as an alternative government and therefore to set out their potential policies. If Labour want to pinch them it will be perfectly clear that they have done so.
¸The financial turmoil we are in was a clear distraction from the Conference so far as the outside world was concerned but David Cameron and George Osborne dealt with it professionally and with dignity, both making excellent speeches.
¹There have been great efforts to make the Conservatives more compassionate and to examine in depth the problems in what they call A Broken Society. The work is admirable but there is some danger of over egging the Broken Society epithet.
ºThe selection of young Prospective Parliamentary Candidates who spoke was of a high standard, including some first class women with whom any comparison with Blair’s Babes would be invidious.
The plans and proposals at 2 above are set out in detail in pamphlets including “Reconstruction - Plan for a strong economy” and “Renewal - Plan for a better NHS” copies of which and Executive Summaries can be obtained from Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).
| Conservatives Chosing Team for Unitary Elections |
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This is the name of the Unitary Authority which will be established for Wiltshire, succeeding the present County Council and four District Councils.
The latter will cease on 31st March 2009 and elections for the Wiltshire Council will be on 4 June 2009, the same day as the European Elections (see over). Overall in Wiltshire the present 250 councillors will be replaced by 98 all in single seat electoral divisions. Our Association has 19 divisions and we are currently in the process of selecting Conservative candidates to fight all these seats.
This is proving in some ways to be a sad process since it inevitably means that a number of present councillors who have excellent records of involvement in and with their local communities will not succeed. Our Executive Council has appointed a Selection Committee from its membership comprising the following: me (Chairman), Penny Brown (Deputy Chairman Political), –Dirk Russell (Agent) and Cllr Caroline Morrison (Deputy Chairman – Membership) to arrange the selections including special general meetings of the local membership should there be two applications for the same division. The process has just concluded for Winterslow and Alderbury & Whiteparish and is being organised for Bourne & Woodford Valley Division. By the middle of November all the candidates will have been selected.
Contested Selections
Winterslow – Selected on: 15 Oct
Alderbury & Whiteparish – Selected: 22 Oct
Bourne & WoodfordValley – Selection: 4 Nov
Uncontested Selections
Amesbury East
Amesbury West
Bemerton
Downton & Ebble Valley
Fisherton & Bemerton Village
Fovant & Chalke Valley
Harnham
Landford & Redlynch
Laverstock
St Mark & Bishopdown
St Francis & Stratford
St Paul
St Edmund & Milford
St Martin & Cathedral
Till & WylyeValley
Wilton & LowerWylyeValley
| Salisbury Agent Becomes County Agent |
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On 1 October, our Agent, Dirk Russell, was appointed as the Group Agent for Wiltshire.
Since the boundary changes came into effect the Association teamed up with the new South West Wiltshire Association, which was born out of the former Westbury Constituency and the western wards of Salisbury. Dirk ran the District Council elections for both Salisbury and West Wiltshire from the Morrison Hall (88 candidates in total). Although we lost control in Salisbury, the local Conservatives took control of West Wiltshire for the first time in 20 years. He has been heavily engaged with South West Wiltshire especially with two by-election wins in former LibDem wards in Trowbridge.
Dirk has key responsibility for the Wiltshire Council elections and, in particular, for running the campaign for Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones (aka The Black Farmer) in the key battleground seat of Chippenham.
This constituency is the fifth seat of Wiltshire, created in the boundary changes. Thrasher & Rallings, professors at the University of Plymouth, have calculated that this seat would be LibDem if the votes are the same as they were in the last general election.
Dirk will be working two days a week from the offices just outside of Chippenham whilst three days a week in Salisbury.
I would urge everyone to offer assistance for the Chippenham campaign as the LibDems are working hard to win this seat and we must not allow them to gain a foothold in our county.
| European Elections - Set for 4 June |
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The elections to the European Parliament are to be held on 4 June 2009.
I think it is fair to suggest that there has been some apathy about these elections in the past. However, provided we elect the right candidates it is they who are at the forefront in trying to help negotiate and agree policies which take account of the British interest. As Brussels expands its scope this role becomes increasing important.
The six Conservative candidates for the South West Region, in order of priority (dictated by prior selection by senior officers throughout the Region e.g. me) are:-
1. Giles Chichester MEP; 2. Julie Girling; 3. Ashley Fox; 4. Michael Dolley; 5. Don Collier; 6. Zehra Zaidi
Giles Chichester has been unequivocally cleared of the accusations of impropriety in his funding arrangements and I have seen a letter from the Secretary General of the EU stating this.
| Robert Key Celebrates 25 years as Salisbury MP |
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On 20 September the Association held a “Thank You” party for Robert Key to celebrate 25 years as our Member of Parliament. He was presented with an engraved Victorian Silver bowl, whilst his wife, Sue, was presented with a bouquet of flowers. The presentation was made on behalf of the Association by the President, Lord Margadale of Islay (left).
Robert is the longest serving MP for Salisbury since the great Reform Act which abolished the Rotten Boroughs. Including the Rotten Borough of Old Sarum, he is the third longest serving MP.
In January Robert will be presented with a water colour, especially commissioned by local Artist, Bill Toop.
Tuesday, 17 June, 2008
| Harnham Conservatives' In Touch |
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The Conservative Party ready for Government
Results in London Mayoral elections, the the recent Parliamentary by-election in Crewe and Nantwich together with successive opinion polls, are showing that the Conservative Party is well on target to win the next General Election. Analysis of the polls shows that this is not just a mid-term protest vote.
David Cameron is proving that there is a real connection with his policies and the electorate – what a contrast with a socialist government that has run out of steam, energy and sustainable ideas.
ICM poll 7 June 2008:
Conservatives: 42%
Labour: 26%
LibDems: 21%
| Harnham Conservatives' In Touch: Parking Charges Go Up |
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Parking Charges
Desperate for money, the Council has hiked parking charges up to 150% to raise an extra £300,000. Shops, City Hall, the Play House and central businesses are particularly hardest hit. No wonder retailers are either closing or seek to move out of town.
| County Cllr mary Douglas Street Surgeries |
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On the Street and in the Library!
If you see someone walking along your street gazing intently at each window as she passes, do not be alarmed! It is probably your County Councillor, Mary Douglas, holding a Street Surgery...
She delivers an invitation to every home in a street, offering to call at your door at a specified time. If you would like Mary to call, simply put the card in your window. For Mary, this is a good way to make it easy for you to contact her - by coming to where you are, in your own home, but also respecting your privacy. She aims to visit every home during her 4-year term.
Mary also runs monthly surgeries on the first Saturday of each month, in Salisbury Library from 11am to noon, when you come into town to do your shopping. Mary says, ‘Do please come and see me, even if you have no complaints. I have been elected to serve you, so come along and let me know what you think!’
| County Cllr mary Douglas: Children, Community, Culture |
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Mary Douglas – Children, Community, Culture
Your Conservative County Councillor has been busy across the County as well as in Salisbury.
When she was first elected, in May 2005, Mary was appointed to the Cabinet with responsibility for Children and Families. A year later, Mary was given joint responsibility for Community Services for older people and people with disabilities; the promotion of good mental health; community planning and libraries.
She is now leading a new focus on Culture, including libraries and heritage, the arts, and sport. These activities can make a real difference to individuals and to communities, building confidence and social skills and bringing together people from different backgrounds in a way that nothing else can. Mary is delighted with this opportunity, and is working hard to promote those things which make life enjoyable…
| County Cllr mary Douglas: Election Pledges Update |
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Mary has a webpage on the Wiltshire Community Web www.wiltshirecommunityweb.com and also on the Salisbury Conservative Association’s "Blog" - www.salisburyconservatives.com. She produces the community newsletter, In Touch. Mary holds monthly surgeries in the library, as well as regular ‘Street Surgeries’.st century, and so retain its unique character.
Election Pledges - Progress so far…
On her election in May 2005, Mary Douglas made several pledges. After 3 years in post, she is reviewing her progress so far…
1. Listen to you and respond promptly
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2. Respond Promptly
Wyndham Road Children’s Home
At the request of a local resident, Mary has met recently with the managers of the children’s home in Wyndham Road and is working to improve the communication with their neighbours.
3. Respond Promptly - Lorries
At the request of another local resident, Mary has arranged for a new sign to be put up at the junction of Endless Street and Chipper Lane to prevent lorries getting stuck in Wyndham Road.
4. Respond Promptly - Better access for Motorised wheelchairs
An elderly lady in Milford has contacted Mary to express concern that many pavements in the city centre are not suitable for motorised wheelchairs. Mary has set up a meeting with the highways department, to take place when the resident has fully recovered from a recent stay in hospital.
5. Respond Promptly - Boy-racers
On receiving a complaint that ‘boy-racers’ were speeding late at night on Wain-a-Long Road, some 6 nights out of 7, Mary alerted the local police who agreed to keep watch and take action.
6. Footpath from Pauls Dene to St Mark’s, at the St Mark’s end
This is now completed and is very popular with school children and local walkers.
7. Value elderly people and work to provide the services they deserve
Mary has introduced more choice and variety in the community meals available. There was concern about this change but there has been very positive feedback from those receiving the new service.
The increasing percentage of our population who are ‘elderly’ is a challenge and also a great opportunity for us all. Mary is keen to encourage elderly people to share their wisdom and experience with other parts of the community. She is also working to ensure that vulnerable elderly people are cared for, as much as possible, within the communities they know and love. This is not solely the job of ‘local government’. It is a responsibility we all share.
8. Help young people to aim high through our excellent schools
Since her election, Mary has visited every school in her division. She greatly values the excellent work done in our local schools, and longs to stop unnecessary government interference in this.
9. Introduce 20 mph zones
These are in the Local Transport
Plan as Requested Schemes.
10. Support effective crime reduction initiatives, making our streets safer
As Cabinet member for Community Services, Mary was responsible for Community Safety county-wide, discussing with senior management of the Police, Fire, Ambulance and Health how best to work together to make our communities safe places in which to live and work.
Mary has met several times with the local Neighbourhood Policing Teams in her division. Neighbourhood policing is a real opportunity for local people to take responsibility for their own community, rather than just ‘leaving it to the experts’. It will also encourage all the agencies and organisations, who work in an area, to do so in a joined-up way!
11. Love our historic City and be passionate about safeguarding Wiltshire’s heritage
Mary is on the Steering Group for the Vision for Salisbury and is passionate to see Salisbury take its place in the 21
Her current role as Cabinet member for Culture offers further opportunities to fulfil this pledge…
| County Cllr mary Douglas: Towards the new Wiltshire Council |
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Blog copy goes here
Paving the Way for a new Council
The County Council and the four District Councils are working hard to ensure that, when the new Council opens for business in May 2009, you, the customer, will receive an excellent service.
This process of becoming one Council is being overseen by Councillors from all five authorities: two from each District Council (eight in total), and the eight Cabinet Members and Leader from the County Council. This ‘Implementation Executive’ currently meets monthly and the meetings are open to the public. As a Cabinet Member, Mary Douglas is on this Executive.
Salisbury City Council
Salisbury city is the only part of Wiltshire without a parish council. The bid for a Wiltshire Unitary Council included a proposal to set up a Salisbury City Council, which is basically a parish council for a city.
New Ward Boundaries
The new Council will have about 98 councillors – to replace the 49 County and 195 District councillors currently serving Wiltshire. So the ward boundaries need to change. After consulting District and Parish councillors, the County Council has submitted a proposal to the national Boundary Com-mittee, who make the final decision on where the boundaries will be. Their formal response is awaited.
Senior appointments to the new Wiltshire Council
The top team of Corporate Directors for the new Council is now in place and the second teir is currently being appointed. All new senior appointments are being offered first to the staff of the five councils.
Monday, 16 June, 2008
| Harnham Conservatives' In Touch: LibDems = Labour |
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LibDems = Labour
Our District Council is run by a coalition of 19 LibDems and 10 Labour councillors. Labour has seized key Cabinet posts reducing the LibDems to lobby fodder. So now the Council’s policies have a Labour bias.
This spendaholic Admin-istration has sprayed money on pet projects; only later did it realise that such recklessness has to be paid for.
This "spend-then-tax" app-roach echoes Brown/Darling policy as tax grabbers.
Sunday, 15 June, 2008
| Harnham Conservatives' In Touch: LibDems run out of spin |
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Have the LibDems run out of steam and spin?
Here in Salisbury, the wheels have come off the present Administration’s bandwagon with Bourne Hill now costing over £20M for a smaller building not able to house all the Council staff. This is a long cry from their manifesto pledge:
"We will cancel the plan if the Liberal Democrats win."
The new Wiltshire Council, which is replacing the County and four District councils, needs more space for the Council staff.
The irony is that the original Bourne Hill plan would have housed all the staff at just £15.4M.
So, up to £5M down the drain by the LibDem/Labour unholy alliance in only one year, what a record!! One LibDem Councillor has been so disillusioned that he has left the Administration and crossed the floor and is now an Independent councillor.
Saturday, 14 June, 2008
| Harnham Conservatives' In Touch: People Power |
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Housing Plans
Widespread anger at the Council weak reaction to Whitehall plans to build 12,400 houses in south Wiltshire (6,000 in Salisbury!) has forced a humiliating U-turn for further consultation. Is it now too late to prevent huge housing developments along the Netherhampton and Odstock roads? Will Churchfields be moved to the Netherhampton Road?
This Council has been too ready to accept government dictation on this, but the Cabinet Member for housing is a Labour Councillor!
| County Cllr mary Douglas: LibDems have betrayed the trust |
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Mary Douglas writes –
The LibDems came to power on the back of a promise; a promise they have not kept.
The promise broadcast so loudly in our streets last May was clear: ‘Stop Bourne Hill, vote Liberal Democrat!’ Many people did vote Liberal Democrat. They have not stopped Bourne Hill.
Instead, they engaged in a public consultation. Yes, it is a good thing to consult the public on important matters. But the ultimate public consultation is an election. The election was fought and won primarily on the issue of Bourne Hill. What part of being elected on a promise to ’Stop Bourne Hill’ did they not understand?
We all know that this is a complex project and that to stop it has serious consequences. If they knew the consequences before they made their promise, they should keep that promise. And if they did not know the consequences, they should not have made the promise.
It is public knowledge that the Liberal Democrats did know, before the election
The consequences of stopping Bourne Hill. The Acting Chief Executive, David Crook, sent a letter dated 27 April 2007 to ‘All members of the Liberal Democrat Group’ and he ‘copied it to candidates for information’. In the letter he reminded them that he had:
‘warned that simple cancellation of the contract would mean that around £5m of capital expenditure already incurred… would switch to a revenue charge and effectively make the council bankrupt’.
The LibDems knew the consequences.
The LibDems did not keep that promise.
The LibDems made the promise.
It is a betrayal of trust.
The decision to build a scaled-down version of the proposed District Council offices at Bourne Hill is not just a matter of getting less for more money.
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