Strasburg EU fact finding visit

A self financing visit to Strasburg to see how the EU debates on matters that comes before them, it was most interesting, and to see our own John Bowis MEP (a St James resident) lead the debate on shipping matters and oil pollution, backed up by an Italian MEP,it was fascinating, He was strong in debate and won the day getting the EU to investigate shipping laws and pollution.

So well done John

Visit to Luxemburg Court of Human Rights.

I had the opportunity to visit Luxemburg with some colleges in the year on a self financing fact finding trip, I sat in on a few cases to get the feel of the place, and I must say it was most impressive

We come away with a much better understanding of how it all works, and had the opportunity to speak to and question one of the Judges from the British contingent, who give us much valuable information on procedures within the system

Govenment under Fire

Gordon Brown and the government came under attack from former military top brass over the treatment of UK armed forces.

Five former chiefs of the defence staff warned of "blood on the floor" at the MoD because of inadequate funding.

Admiral Lord Boyce said the prime minister had treated the armed services with "contempt" and "disinterest".

'Lack of judgement'

The former defence chiefs spoke during a Lords debate, in which there were calls to improve levels of military funding.

Admiral Lord Boyce criticised a decision to give Des Browne the jobs of both defence secretary and Scottish secretary.

Lord Boyce said: "It is seen as an insult by our sailors, our soldiers and our airmen on the front line.

"And I know because I have reason to speak to them a lot. And it is certainly a demonstration of the disinterest and some might say contempt that the prime minister and his government has for our armed forces.

"And it shows an appalling lack of judgement at a time when our people are being killed and they are being maimed."

General Lord Guthrie blamed the prime minister for "the very serious situation we find the services in today".

Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig of Radley asked whether it was "immoral to commit forces that are underprepared and ill-equipped for their task?"

Further criticisms were levelled by Field Marshals Lord Bramall and Lord Inge.

They were later joined by Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert, who said "injudicious actions" by the prime minister had brought criticism on himself.

Lord Gilbert called Mr Brown's failure to thank troops in the Queen's Speech "quite extraordinary".

"I think it showed a great insensitivity not only to the morale of the troops but to their families as well," he told BBC Two's Newsnight programme.

The Lords' concerted action follows months of concern from organisations such as the Royal British Legion that the UK's armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded for the missions they are being asked to carry out in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They point out that during the early 1980s the government spent almost 5% of GDP on defence but today the figure is closer to 2.5%.

Fraudulent use of Blue Badges offices take a tough line

'Fake Blue Badges seized in joint operation'

A coordinated campaign run during August and October to clamp down on the fraudulent use of Blue (disabled) Badges in the Borough resulted in nine badges being seized by the Police.

Of the 55 motorists spoken to during the 'sweeps', 23 were found to be misusing their Blue Badges. All were issued with £100 Penalty Charge Notices and given a stern word of warning. Nine badges were also seized by Police, of which two were later found to be forgeries.

A number of areas were targeted in Kingston Town Centre where misuse of Blue Badges was thought to be a problem, including: Fife Road, Memorial Square, the Market Place, Fassett Road, Grove Crescent and Grove Lane. Patrols were also carried out around Chessington.

The joint operation involving Kingston Police, Kingston Council and NCP Services - the company responsible for parking enforcement in the Borough - has proven to be such a success that further sweeps have now been planned for December and the New Year.



Hope that the further sweeps planned over the next couple of months will act as a deterrent to those who have knowingly misused Blue Badges in the past. We also have plans to extend these sweeps across the Borough in the future."

Police Sergeant Matt Smith of the Grove Safer Neighbourhood Team added: "It is good to see Parking Attendants and PCSOs working together to make use of new powers that allow them to inspect Blue Badges. The joint operation sends out a strong message to the criminal element who are using a number of methods to produce and sell these badges illegally.

"Police are also proactively following up leads with regard to blue badges that have been reported stolen. One arrest has already been made and more are expected. The support of the community in this matter is, of course, always appreciated. If you have any information that can assist please contact Kingston Police Station on 020 8547 1212 or ring Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111."

Guidance on how Blue Badges should be used, along with maps locating Blue Badge parking facilities in Kingston, can be found at www.kingston.gov.uk/bluebadge.

Green Stratery

Green Strategy 28 07 2007

Thanks to Chris Hall and his other residents
it was nice for Cllr Mark Clark Cllr Howard Jones
and myself Cllr Ken Smith to be at the Green information
evening, we would like to say thank you for all your
hard work to improve your area, for the benefit of
all the youngsters

Dublin Trip

Dublin

I went on a self financed trip to Dublin and Belfast to see how they deal with crime, the trip took four days and it was no surprise to me to find that there are the same problems there as over here, the influx of migrant workers into Dublin as increased the city's numbers by 20% in four years, and with it problems, in the courts offenders for minor offences are asked to pay moneys to a charity or come back to court at a later date and be more heavily fined, the defendant stand on a carpet in front of the Magistrate in front of about 100 other defendants, no means testing here, you pay or else. Smoking, one women in Dublin who refused to put out her cigarette on the top of a bus was sent to jail for 7 days.
The IT in Belfast is second to none, and the court house magnificent.
The Photo is with the Governors of Montjoy Prison both ladies and the men's.

Our Policy on Waste

Our policy on waste collection have not changed to that in our manifesto, and that is we give full support to recycling, but do not agree to chips in bins (like the lib/Dems) nor do we agree with two weekly collections ( like the LIB/DEMS) nor to slop bins for food waste (like the LIB/DEMS).

But as I say we do agree with recycling .

Saturday 17th November

Saturday was spent in Tolworth Broadway with some colleges

Collecting signatures to Save Mental Health Service cuts,

Cllr Mary Clark as been instrumental in organising this agenda

And put a lot of work into it.

The closer of Springboard and eventual closer of Fuchsias Ward at Tolworth are of deep concern to all residents and is in my opinion a blow to all residents of Kingston.

Mary hopes to get around 2000 signatures, we had also spent the Saturday before in New Malden High Street, the response have been great, so thanks to you all.

Hobkirk House

Cllr Ken Smith St James Ward RBK

Conservative Cllrs and elderly residents protest outside Guildhall against the closure of Hobkirk House. The elderly day care centre will close due to Lib Dem social care cuts sweeping across the Borough.

12th June 2007

Out and About

I have been out knocking on doors over the past few weeks, asking your opinions by way of a questionnaire, it is a free post one that you can fill in at your leisure , if you are out I pop it in your letter box, its going to take me some time to cover the ward, but I will get there.
The owners of the BBC ground have feelers out about turning it into a cemetery, we have called or dropped in a leaflet in every house that surrounds the ground asking for views, so far we have had only 25 replay's, this also was a free post leaflet, it hard to judge your views from that small response,
The A3 roundabout is coursing long delays, its going to take months to finish, but it is the first major work done there for over 25 years. lets hope they finish ahead of time.
The Telephone box at the end of Blake's lane as again been vandalised, how many times is that in the past year ? the latest news is that it will be taken away for good.
More graffiti at Manor Park, the cost of cleaning it up is having a drain on our budgets, lets hope they can be caught.
With Christmas fast approaching its good sense NOT to leave presents under the tree and go off to work, remember the thieves like this time of year, so make it hard for them, keep them out of sight until the day.

Shocking?

The shocking thing is that we're no longer shocked. Yesterday, for the thirteenth consecutive year, the European Court of Auditors refused to approve the EU budget.

THE ZONE

I have just read THE ZONE, nice to know that local residents are working together to make the areas they live in a better place for their children to grow up in, and also ensuring that the Elderly are kept informed on local issues, may I wish the organisers every success, and hope they will increase the membership in 2008, I wish the organisers well and congratulate them on the time they give on this brilliant idea.

David backs English Mps only vote

David Cameron is to throw his weight behind the most radical shake-up of Parliament in more than a century by endorsing a plan to strip Scottish MPs of the right to vote on English matters at Westminster.

In a dramatic response to the growing English backlash against what the Tories perceive as unbalanced funding for Scotland, the Conservative leader will endorse a new report that would lead to Gordon Brown being banned from voting on legislation relating to English schools and hospitals.