Muzzled? No way.

I'm 'Annoyed of Wrecclesham' today, following an email last night that gave instruction not to engage in any kind of debate on the issue that I posted about yesterday.

Here are my reasons why I just don't get that attitude:

1. We don't live in a Stalinist state.
2. We do live in a constitutional monarchy, with a representational democratic political process.
3. It is foolish to assume that the council meeting tonight will contain all (i.e. pre meeting debate is fantastically important to sort out the right answers, as well as the chamber) the necessary debate (both in quality and quantity) to produce the best decision.
4. It is arrogant to assume that the opposition is not able to spot benefits that we as the group in power, have missed.
5. It is condescending to assume that all Tory councillors are unable to be clear and precise in their communications, and confident enough in what they've said, to defend themselves if necessary.

Can you tell how annoyed I am?

Finally, how does a Tory group with a majority - that's right, a majority - of 45, get so scared of openess?

Blink and you missed it

That's the quickest AGM I've ever been to. Probably a reflection of the skills of our chairman, fellow councillor John Ward, and also the agenda being mostly compiled of business / admin items.

Anyway, it was a only a little over 30 minutes long, and there were no questions from the floor! That was the bit that surprised me.

I'm also pleased as on a Sunday I'm really loathe to attend political meetings. It's a family day for us, and from now on I'm going to follow the example of our MP, Jeremy, who keeps it a private day.

Aspirational Thinking

Last night we had our pre-council meeting for the group of Conservative councillors. We always (as I'm certain do the Lib Dems) review the agenda of the council meeting, as well as discuss matters relating to our policies and procedures. And normaly that's literally it.



... Which - because most council meetings are really the revisiting for full council approval of decisions recommended by the other committees of the past 6 weeks - can sometimes be a tad labourious.

However, I was delighted that last night's meeting was much more aspirational. The topic of the credit crunch and the effect it is having on residents of the borough and their families, was very much at the front of everyone's minds, and much was said on how we can help more effectively. I whole heartedly agree.

PPPC

Great news. One of our Waverley Councillors has been selected by the constituency party of Preston, in Lancashire, to be the Conservative Party candidate at the next general election.

Currently held by Labour, with a majority of around 8,500 (due to boundary changes), this is eminently winnable.

Quiz Night

Just back from one of the highlights of the South West Farnham Branch of the South West Surrey Conservative Association's annual events calendar - the Curry Supper, at the Rowledge Village Hall.

We snuck in a bottle of our own wine (along with apple juice for Rach), bought two strips of raffle tickets and won nothing (although I did have a beady eye on a silver gilded photo frame, honest), but, did manage to come a respectable third in the quiz.

Embarrassingly though, our table didn't so well on the 5 'Local' questions. So, for your excitement and testing of your local knowledge, here are the questions, with answers posted next Saturday:

(1) What relation was the Bishop of Winchester (Henri de Blois) to King Stephen?
(2) Who wore the sleeping cap that can be seen in the Museum of Farnham?
(3) What is the date of St. Peter's Day?
(4) What sport is represented on the Wrecclesham sign at the top of Riverdale?
(5) What was made on the site which is now occupied by the trading estate on Wrecclesham Road?

How many councillors does it take to make a borough?

The answer is 57. No, wait, 45. Oops, no, 35.

And so, I was educated last night, when it came to light that not all councils have the same number of councillors, and indeed, Waverley has a significant number more than others.

This was raised almost as a passing remark last night, at our Conservative group meeting, which we always hold prior to the council meeting itself, (which is tonight). We review the agenda, and debate any issues as required, and ensure an appropriate level of understanding about each recommendation in each set of minutes.

So, when discussing ‘Value for Money’ (a term employed to describe a broad set of initiatives to save council resources, and to improve council services), it was pointed out that councillors (by dint of their numbers) could save money by simply losing some of them!

Well, it’s not that simple of course. But it is doable. And I for one would be entirely happy investigating it. It would require the Boundary Commission to conduct a review, and then the measures to be voted upon.

One councillor suggested that we should “put our hands up if we were prepared to stand down”, in the belief that if turkeys don’t vote for Christmas, then neither would we vote ourselves out of a role. But, in my case, this councillor was mistaken. I would be very happy to have an independent review conducted, and, if I happened to lose my seat, well, I’d be deeply disappointed, as I enjoy and feel privileged to serve. But, if it’s right, then it’s right. My end goal is right goods and services from the council to residents, and if fewer councillors helps the cog wheels of local government go round, then I’d be for it.

The [Technical] Luddite

A councillor colleague of mine has broken through her 'luddite' (her word, not mine) approach to computers, and launches her own website. Please visit and check it out.

http://www.nerissawarneroneill.co.uk/

Reasons to be cheerful

ONE
The summer BBQ of the South West Farnham branch of the local Conservative Party was excellent. We were blessed with great weather, great food, and good company. Our 13 month old son reveled in the massive garden including climbing frame and slide, and a toy car just his size. I was more focussed on the fantastic desserts - but then again, so was he!

TWO
A three minute conversation with someone made my day. Vicariously it began to heal what is presently a difficult situation, and whilst the relationships won't be immediately fully restored, I feel a corner has been turned, and I'm immensely grateful.

THREE
An emotional service at church tonight, when a Venezuelan lady was baptised, and during her testimony beforehand, very tearfully thanked the church for being her extended family, as with no biological family present, we were her friends, and her fellowship. Tears of sadness mingled with tears of joy.

Interview with Jeremy Hunt MP

Jeremy Hunt is MP for South West Surrey, and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Read his parliamentary biography here. Visit his website. Read his blog.

(1) How has your shadow cabinet role been going recently?

I am lucky enough to have been given a very wide-ranging and interesting brief, with many areas that really strike a chord with the public. It's a busy time - there's on-going work to ensure the 2012 Olympics deliver a genuine sporting legacy; restoring the National Lottery to its original four pllars so more funding goes to arts, sports, heritage and charities; and looking at the future of broadcasting.

(2) When was the last time you visited the borough ward of Wrecclesham and Rowledge, and why were you there?

I was in Rowledge last Friday to inspect the red phone box there. Around half of the BT payphones in Waverley, including 33 traditional red boxes, are under threat of being removed so I am fighting to save them. I have set up a petition on my website, which I would urge people to sign if they want to save their local red phone box and I will be meeting with BT next week.
The same day, I visited Farnham Pottery in Wrecclesham, where I had a delicious blueberry cake at Smith & Causey’s tea room!

(3) I've been viewing your new YouTube channel videos. Have you had much feedback about them?

I have been really pleased with the response I got to my venture onto YouTube. I think it's a fun way to get a sometimes serious point across and it reaches lots of people that I might not normally communicate with – my video about this year's budget has been watched 1141 times so far! I was especially pleased to get emails from some of my younger constituents saying that they liked what I was doing.

(4) Blogs that comment on the national political scene are now common - how important do you believe blogs will become for more local issues and communities?

I am a strong believer in localism so I think local blogs can play a really important role in local communities by providing a forum for discussion, a portal to local information and a way of holding elected persons to account. I think your blog is leading the way in Waverley and I hope other areas and other councillors will follow suit.

(5) How do you balance your own opinion on issues, in cases where the majority view of your constituents is the opposite?

I think you must vote with your conscience, even if you believe that a majority of your constituents have a different view. Although that circumstance does not often arise, I think that when people vote for me they are putting their trust in me to make judgements on their behalf on the basis of the facts and the issues as I understand them. Ultimately, the way our democracy works - rightly in my opinion – is that if people disagree with me over too many issues they have the power to take those decisions out of my hands when a General Election comes.

(6) You've demonstrated an unusual level of openness in your letters to the Herald, and other means such as YouTube. Do you have a particular approach to communications that you can outline?

I am keen to embrace new modes of communication, so that I can reach and engage as wide a group of people as possible. I especially like the interactivity that new media offers: I believe that the way to restore trust in politics and politicians is by moving from one-way communication to two-way interactive communication. I want my constituents to know what I am doing and thinking (and to be able to respond) so launched my blog and YouTube page to make that a bit more entertaining and accessible to them.

(7) The Waverley website is hosting a poll to discover residents' favourite places in the borough - for where would you vote?

My favourite place is sitting in my living room in Red Lion Lane looking out over the meadows and the tower of St. Andrew's Church - when the sun is shining!

(8) Do you have a creed that you live by, and can you summarise it in 3 sentences?

Victor Frankl, the Holocaust survivor, said that happiness is not something that can be pursued, but it ensues when you devote yourself to a cause that is greater than yourself. I think that's not a bad philosophy, even if it's sometimes hard to live up to.

(9) Why did you want to be an MP?

I grew up in a happy family in a lovely Surrey village - a great start in life that many people do not have. So I always felt the need for a part of my life to be devoted to public service in one way or another. Being an MP gives me the opportunity to do that and I consider it to be a great privilege.

(10) What's your favourite coffee?

I have a decaf filter coffee for breakfast and then a regular supply of cappuccinos throughout the day. By lunchtime I am on caffeine overload!

Helliday

Today's been a little holiday, erecting a new fence at home. However, it started off with a somewhat (understatement of the year) difficult conversation with a fellow councillor. I'm aware that it doesn't often appear that any kind of meaningful debate occurs in the main council meetings these days, but I assure you, we don't always see eye to eye!

Oops....

.... found out today that I had forgotten to book my places for the local conservatives Spring Buffet. It's in my diary, but that's obviously not a guarantee that I sorted out the tickets. I must do it this weekend.

What it also reminds me is that the only way that local political parties continue to survive is by way of their membership, and fund raising events throughout the year. And I should note, in the kindest possible way, that the membership profile of the local party needs much change in order to fairly represent the various age groups in our villages. Around the country Conservative Future is strong and active, but here in Wrecclesham and Rowledge, we see very few young people involved in the party.

If you've ever thought about getting politically involved, as a local member, or national, and wanting to get together with similarly minded young people at bigger events, there are plenty of ways to get started.

Do email me if you want to know more. I'm always happy to meet up over a coffee, and I know activists in most groups in the Conservative Party, in whose direction I can point.

Budget Response from Jeremy Hunt

Our MP has created a 'channel' on YouTube recently, and today's he's used it to issue his own response to the latest budget, in particular, its effect on the residents of South West Surrey.

Jeremy Hunt's YouTube Channel
(Click the play button in the middle of the picture)

If only for the summer BBQ...

Receiving some agenda papers by email this morning has prompted me to post about the local conservatives in South West Farnham. We're called a 'branch' of the local constituency party, and have a committee made up of about 10 of the over 100 members locally.

However, we punch above our weight! :-) During elections we get out and knock at least once on all the doors in the area, we send literature to all the homes so that everyone knows what we are actively doing, and (most importantly some might say), we hold fund raising events throughout the year that have garnered something of a reputation in the constituency.

Especially the Summer BBQ!

Held on a Sunday lunchtime and afternoon in July each year (13th in 2008), it inevitably turns out wonderful, and usually attracts over 130 people. Local councillors can of course be found behind the barbecue itself, and the bar... and eating and drinking the contents of the barbecue and bar.

If you are interested in helping us out in our campaigning on local issues, and getting to know like minded people, do email me or go to the South West Surrey constituency website. We'd love to hear from you, especially if you're under 60!

ConservativeHome.com

Yesterday I was in London on business, and in the late afternoon, before catching the train home, I caught up with the two editors of the leading political blog of the UK, ConservativeHome.com.

Tim Montgomerie and Sam Coates are passionate about their role as the voice of grassroots activists in Westiminster, and punch way beyond their weight in whatever subject they engage.

If you want to know about the latest thinking of party members, including MPs and members of the shadow cabinet, or information about selection of candidates for seats, and especially to read the very best of challenges to the status quo of our government, this is a great place to start.

I could list lots of other blogs here too, but actually, if you visit Tim and Sam's site, you'll find them all there - http://www.conservativehome.com/