Policy panel and Full Council

Another week with a collection of 'interesting' meetings - the Policy Panel being on Climate Change - at last this issue is being taken more seriously but for me still frustratingly slow - and disappointingly low turn out - 3 Greens and only about 8 other councillors - this is one of the most important issues and our local Council can and should be doing much, much more. This is an issue I will be pushing relentlessly - and as I noted after the meeting in response to a comment questioning climate change - even if we don't accept the overwhelming evidence about climate change then we still must act as oil is running out - we need to start significantly reducing our energy consumption and switch to renewables if we are to place Gloucestershire in a good economic position for the future.

It was Full Council this week - a pre meeting on Monday then the full one on Thursday - the highlight was the announcement and comments re Sheffie getting the MBE - a councillor who has served his ward and our community for many years - the rest of the discussions were mainly about the Best Value Performance Plan and audit....download the Plan from here:
http://www.stroud.gov.uk/docs/best_value_2006.asp

As is common and normal the Plan paints a wonderfully positive view of Stroud District - and there is much to be pleased about but there is also much that needs doing - I mentioned climate change earlier yet it barely gets a mention in the Plan.

And as for audit, as one councillor noted, the figures are now so complicated that only accountants can understand them - what use is that? Government needs to relook at how it balances the need for Councils to provide info and the need for that info to not be so complicated that no one can understand it!

The sell-off of Council housing led to much heated debate (see Citizen report) but at the end of the day the Labour Government must take the rap for forcing the consultation and proposed sell-off process on Councils. Our tenants have voted twice that they want our Council to continue to manage their homes. Interestingly a whopping 30% of Council housing rental goes back to central government rather than being invested locally. More of all this at a later date - need to cut some grass as it is a little cooler now!