The County Show

When I saw the weather forecast a few days ago it was obvious that the County Show was being held this week! What a tragedy for the organisers who always put so much effort and hard work into organising this annual event only to choose, yet again, a damp cold miserable day for the opening day.

Jill Hood and I went down to cast our eyes over the 'foodie' stallholders who may be interested in coming to Stone in October for the Food and Drink Festival and we were very favourably received. We left application forms with many of the stallholders and are confident that most of them will be coming up to Stone to be in the Gourmet Food tent on Westbridge Park.

I just hope that tomorrow is a drier and warmer day for the last day of the Show

The wine press is returned

Last summer the vines in the beer garden at the Swan public house produced an abundance of grapes and Brian Blundell decided to try and produce wine from them. To do so, we borrowed a traditional wine press from Halfpenny Green Vineyards near Wolverhampton, one of our regulars on our monthly Farmers' Markets.

The harvesting of the grapes and the pressing of the grape juice caused a lot of interest and was used to publicise the Food and Drink Festival. However since that time the press has stood in the Swan's back yard. So today Brian, John Moss, Jill and Steve Hood and I hitched up a trailer onto my car and returned it to Halfpenny Green where it now stands proudly outside their shop and restaurant.

Brian then decided we should return by the scenic route so we didn't get back until early evening! As always on these sort of trips, you see things which remind you of issues back in Stone. A row of recycling bins contained within a metal frame with padlocked bars across the front - no more overturned bins there! And a section of road outside the railway station at Bridgnorth painted in yellow cross hatching and signed 'Coach parking only' - the solution to persuading coach operators to bring day trips to Stone. perhaps?

So not entirely a day without Stone's well being in our thoughts!

A Night Off - well not quite!

No politics or F&D meetings tonight so Janet and I decided to go down to St. John's Church Hall for the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust meeting. We've been members of the SWT for many years and try to get to as many meetings as possible. Over the years we've heard some fascinating talks and seen some lovely slides. ( My mother is still recovering from a talk we took her to some years ago about 'How to sex a Hover Fly'!).

Tonight's talk was all about recycling and was given by Mark Parkinson a waste management officer from Staffordshire County Council. Although he used a Powerpoint presentation (ugh!) he did provide some very interesting facts and figures. For example, the best performing district councils in Staffordshire on recycling are Lichfield, Tamworth, Cannock and South Staffs and, guess what, - they all have fortnightly wheely bin collections. Stafford's contract with Biffa is subject to retendering so I've no doubt that fortnightly collections are on their way to your house! I've no problem with that - our bin is rarely full at present and often only goes out fortnightly anyway.

Although it was a night off, I came away with my thoughts on waste collection cycles, recycling, composting etc. and all with a heightened sense of relevance in view of the fact that I have been appointed to the Borough Council's environment committee which will be so much involved with these issues.

An interesting evening

This evening I went down to Stafford to be given a conducted tour of the Borough Council's Contact Centre. This is the 'call centre' which deals with most of the incoming calls to the Council. The centre has computer software and back office facilities that enables the staff in the centre to deal with most enquiries within moments of a call being answered. I was very impressed by the enthusiasm of the staff and by the efficiency of the systems.

Afterwards we attended a 'Welcome' meeting at which David Rawlins explained, for the benefit of new councillors, how the Council 'worked'. Heads of departments introduced themselves and explained their areas of responsibility. I'm sure it will take a little time for it all to sink in but everyone seemed friendly and keen to help.

And as we left we were asked to take with us our own large plastic envelope full of even more reading matter! I'd been warned by a former councillor to expect a continuous deluge of paperwork - it's obviously started!

A well chaired Planning meeting

Last night we held the first Planning Meeting of the new Town Council. The Town Council has no planning powers but is consulted upon every planning application in the town. This gives all councillors the opportunity to express comments and to voice any concerns expressed by residents. But how much notice is ever taken by planningh officers or Borough Councillors down at Stafford is a matter for conjecture!

There were several items that caused some debate. A further application to erect a large house in the grounds of a house in Pingle Lane again raised several objections as did an application to upgrade the mobile phone mast on the Shell service station at Walton.

The meeting was chaired superbly by Steve Brookes - probabaly the best chaired meeting I've ever attended as a Town Councillor. There's no doubt in my mind that he'll make a superb Chairman.

How's this for a good idea?

I've seen them on the Continent and in America but never in this country. Recycling bins on the pavement in Dartmouth next to normal litter bins. So you can dispose of paper and cardboard in one, glass and cans in another and normal litter in the third. And they were being used quite well.

Would they work in Stone?

My first Borough Council meeting

I missed to Borough Council Mayor Making meeting last week due to being down in Devon so last night's 'Appointments' meeting was my first proper meeting of the Borough Council. The Borough hold their full Council meetings in the County Council chamber in Martin Stret at Stafford - and very impressive it is too!

Feeling very much the new boy, I sat and watched the Mayor go through the agenda in a much more formal way than we do it at Town Council! Much more dignified and so efficient. And if he so much as strayed from the procedure he had tha Chief Executive and the Principal Legal officer on hand to put him right.

I think I may have unwittingly been a party to a move that clearly upset the Labour group! I had been asked to propose our group leader Barry Stamp as Chairman of one of the Committees who was upagainst a Labour nominee. When it came to vote, the conservative group voted for Barry so he was elected! From the muttered comments from the Labour benches it appeared they were not expecting that outcome! Oh well, I'm sure it won't be the first time I tread on a few toes!

At the end of the meeting, David Rawlins the Chief Executive announced that it was intention to retire next year. I have met David on several occasions and have always found him to be very helpful and friendly.

A fantastic Music Festival

Where do I start? Another wonderful weekend down in Dartmouth for their annual Music Festival. I keep saying it - but Stone really must try and organise one like it.

We travelled down last Wednesday (after a delayed start- who locked his keys in the car then?) and arrived in beautiful sunshine late afternoon. And the weather continued to be sunny and hot for the whole stay. After spending two days acting like a normal couple of tourists (Castle Drogo, a river cruise to Agatha Christie's summer house, Greenway) it was down to the serious business of enjoying a music festival!

Take it from me, this is a fantastic event. Over 120 different groups, bands, artists etc playing in venues across the town. A choice of probably ten gigs to choose from at any one time and all but a handful are free of charge. Every type of music imaginable - opera, funk, choral, rock, blues, jazz, didgeridoo (I'm not joking!), brass band, blue grass, folk - the list just goes on and on. And all the time I was thinking about how we could do the same in Stone.

I know we have several people in our 'independent' group who are keen to do something along these lines so I'm sure we'll be discussing the possibilities very soon!

Mayor Making

Tonight was the first meeting of the new Town Council - always intended as a purely formal affair to elect the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and other committee positions for the forthcoming year.

In the event most appointments went smoothly enough. Philip Leason was appointed Mayor and Debbie Wakefield, the sole Labour councilllor on the council, was elected Deputy Mayor. Both are experienced councillors and will bring dignity and decorum to their posts. After some of the problems of previous years it is important that we re-establish dignity to these positions.

The only area of contention came when the Tories nominated Cllr. Michael Carey for the post of Chairman of the Planning Committee against our nominee Steve Brookes. In a rather undignified spectacle, Cllr. Carey even spoke in favour of his own attributes for the job! If any of the new councillors had been wavering (which I'm sure they weren't) his little discourse obviously brought them back into the fold! Steve was elected!

The rest of the appointments went through without any major upsets and then it was all over.

The new Mayor had provided (out of his own pocket) a buffet with a glass of wine and we spent the rest of the evening enjoying his hospitality.

Then it was back home and for an early start tomorrow. Jill and I have a meeting in Sandbach with a potential F&D sponsor and then Jan and I are off to Dartmouth in the caravan for our annual pilgrimage to the Dart Music Festival - so no more blogging till I get back next week!

Woodman, spare those trees!

Last Tuesday I received a panic phone call. Workmen with chain saws had cut down one tree in a line of mature conifers along the rear boundary of houses in Newcastle Road backing onto the new development on the old Fairy site. The resident was naturally alarmed that the rest of the row of trees were at risk of being cut down.

So after looking at the problem from the resident's garden I immediately drove round and onto the site. Eventually the site agent appeared and spoke to me but was, I thought, rather reticent when I asked him if the other trees were at risk of being cut down. He was obviously not too happy with discussing the plans with me but did agree not to carry out any further work until I had spoken with the planners at Stafford. So when I got home I sent an email to the planners detailing the problem and indicating that I would phone next day.

Well, am I impressed with Stafford?! Next day a phone call immediately identified the officer involved. She was not at her desk but I was promised a call back as soon as she got back. Within minutes I received the return call and was told that enforcement officers were already out visiting the site and that I would be contacted upon their return. Sure enough, later in the day I had another call. The site manager had been seen and it was agreed that the remaining trees were to be retained. The tree already felled had been correctly removed in accordance with the Planning Permission to make way for a cycle track. The officers had also checked with the site manager that all the other 'tree requirements' on the plan were being complied with. And I was also promised a copy of the relevant plan in case of any further enquiries.

Yes, I am impressed! The copy plan arrived this morning and the resident who first contacted me is more than happy with the outcome. I love happy endings!

A Busy Weekend

Yesterday looked a rather easy day in the diary but I should know by now that there's no such thing! I popped into town in the morning with a very short shopping list and spent nearly the whole day there! Janet always complains that when I go to town I'm there for the day and that the only solution would be for me to wear a false beard and moustache! Even then I'm sure everyone would ask me why I was wearing a false beard and moustache!

Seriously I love meeting people in town. It's the best way of keeping the finger on the pulse of town life. So I've no complaints about stopping for a chat - even if it delays my return with the shopping bag. And don't assume I enjoy shopping! I don't but anything for a quiet life!

Last night Jan and I tried to be in two places at once and somehow succeeded. First we went up to Oulton Village Hall where the Oulton Church fundraising committee were putting on a Royal Evening. Roast beef, Yorkshire pud and veg plus pudding and then a viewing of the Helen Mirram film 'The Queen'. We had bought tickets a month ago so we went and enjoyed the meal and took our leave just after coffee. The committee do a fantastic job for church funds and we always support them when we can. The idea of an evening with a meal and a film started last year when they organised an Italian Evening with a pasta meal followed by a showing of Michael Caine's 'Italian Job'. Great fun and a sure way to pack the hall.

Then it was off to Steve Brookes' house for a celebration get together of the independent group. Steve was Chairman of the Tory party but resigned a couple of months ago in disgust at the manner in which the local party was being run. Since which time he has joined the independents and was elected to the Town Council for my ward. Steve will be a real asset to us. And he certainly knows how to entertain! Thanks Steve!

Today it was more Food and Drink Festival business. We had received an invitation to apply for discounted tickets for a 'Taste of Staffordshire' day at Uttoxeter Racecourse. It looked like an interesting day out particularly as the blurb promised a marquee displaying local produce. So Jill and her husband Steve and Janet and I put the umbrellas in the car and went across to Uttoxeter. What a disappointment. Obviously the continuous rain didn't help but the marquee only contained half a dozen poor stallholders doing next to no business.

And when I spoke to the one food stall of interest - selling a wonderful open display of olives and garlic- I was told that he would love to come to Stone but had been told that Stafford Borough's Environmental Health Officer will not let him sell from open bowls even when protected by 'sneeze screens'. I'm aware of this problem. This stallholder has sold his wares at Leek, Uttoxteter, Newcastle, Lichfield and Cannock - all in Staffordshire - with no objection from other local authorities EHO's. This is a problem which clearly needs to be resolved. Customers love to see the all the different olives in open bowls and if it can be done elsewhere in the County why not in Stone? A job for me next week!

And we didn't have much better luck on the horses, either! So we came home before the last race feeling rather damp and disappointed.

A rather long day!

In addition to my political activities, I spend an enormous amount of time on my other passion - the Stone Food and Drink Festival of which I am honoured to be the Chairman. We started the Festival three years ago and have never looked back since! The whole thing is organised by a fantastic group of people and everyone just lives breathes and sleeps 'Food and Drink'.

This morning our administrator, Jill Hood and I had a meeting with Louise and Georgina Pickford from the Heart of England Fine Food organisation who are very heavily involved with us in providing the demonstration kitchen in the Crown Hotel ballroom. We've signed up three TV celebrity chefs - Mary Berry, James Tanner and Paul Rankin - and Louise and Georgina will be pulling it all together behind the scenes with them and our own local chefs.We covered a lot of ground and came away confident that all the back room arrangements are in good hands.

Then this afternoon another F&D meeting - this time with Dave Dugmore and his team who are organising the Real Ale Trail. We were delighted to be able to hand over the responsibility for this event to Dave and he has certainly taken to the job with gusto! He's visited every pub (some twice!) to ensure that standards are up to scratch and has the nitty gritty details well under control. This event is always very popular and I'm sure that this year it will be even more successful.

And then this evening Janet and I went down to the Station to a Libdem film show. We had previously arranged to show the Al Gore film 'An Inconvenient Truth' about global warming a couple of months ago but had to cancel it due to heavy snowfall! Tonight the weather was kinder and a good turn out watched a very thought provoking and worrying documentary. I am very concerned that my three gorgeous grandchildren are going to live in a very different and dangerous world unless the major powers in the world treat this issue as the most urgent item on their agenda.

My first group meeting

Another trip to Stafford tonight for a Liberal Democrat group meeting. Barry Stamp announced that two independent borough councillors, John Russell and Philip Leason, would be affiliating themselves to our group. Accordingly we discussed the nominations for scrutiny committee places which are to be discussed in full council next week.

It will be good to have this loose working arrangement with John and Philip. The Libdem group does not have a party whip so there is no question of them prejudicing their independent status. John was previously a Liberal Democrat councillor but stood this time as a 'Save the Green Belt' candidate. He is a leading member of the Staffordshire branch of CPRE and is anxious to promote his very sincerely held and strong views. Philip was one of the Tories who were treated so shoddily by the Stone Tory party. He stood as an independent candidate for the Walton ward and was, of course, one of the Stones Independent Voice candidates who were elected to the Town Council.

I am looking forward to my time on the Borough. I think we are in for some interesting times ahead.

All signed up!

This morning I popped down to Stafford to sign my Declaration in front of David Rawlins, the Chief Executive at the Borough Council. He was very kind in welcoming me, having been aware that I have failed to get elected to the Borough on two previous occasions. Afterwards I was introduced to a few members of the staff by my good friend Barry Stamp, leader of the Libdem Group, and then down the corridor for some mug shots for security passes etc. I must say I felt rather like a new boy at a new school - I'm sure I will eventually find my way around the building!

This evening the Stone Independent Voice group met in Stone Station to hold a debrief on the elections. An almost full turn out and it was good to see candidates who did not get elected there. They are all committed to staying with us and helping out whenever they can. I'm sure we'll benefit from their energy and enthusiasm even though they are not on the Council. What a brilliant crew!

First succesful casework.

During the election campaign I was contacted by a lady who was worried sick at having had a telephone bill foe several hundreds of pounds for repairs to her telephone line for which she didn't feel responsible. I went to see her and she told me how she had been trying for weeks to get someone to sort out the problem.

She explained that several weeks ago the houses in her street, including hers, were having refurbishments carried out including roof repairs. The work was being carried out by contractors for Stafford and Rural Homes. When her roof was being repaired the contractors damaged the phone line leading into her house. She'd complained to everyone - the contractors, Stafford and Rural, BT, another councillor - but no one had been able to solve the problem. She'd been without her land line for almost a m,month and was having to use her mobile - an added cost.

I wrote a letter to Stafford and Rural and received an acknowledgement promising a reply by today. And sure enough in this morning's post was a letter from Stafford and Rural offering apologies to my complainant and confirming that the contractors will be paying the bill.

A good result but why didn't someone sort the problem out earlier?

The Local Election results

Last week was probably the most exciting, politically speaking, of my life! I stood as a candidate in two local elections - one for Stone Town Council and the other for Stafford Borough Council.

Let's deal with the easiest first. Four years ago I was stood for the Borough but lost by a handful of votes. I was elected to the Town Council and have been very active there ever since. So I was reasonably confident that I might get elected to the Borough this time. For reasons which will become apparent in a moment, quite a lot of election literature was delivered during the campaign but I only delivered one leaflet for the Borough election. Nevertheless, when the results were announced at the count last Friday I was very relieved to have been elected, after a recount, by a margin of 13 votes!

The Town Council elections were, however, very different this time round! Over the last four years, the Town Council has been bogged down in party politics - all instigated by a handful of Tory control freaks. They won control of the Town Council four years ago with an 11 - 7 majority but managed to throw it all away by alienating three of their own members who jumped ship eighteen months ago and voted with the opposition to oust the Tories from control!

So, for the last eighteen months, the Town Council was run by an alliance of non Tories and, although I say it myself, we did a very good job of it. So much so, that as the election approached, several of us decided to stand for election on a non party political ticket. Much to our amazement, we were approached by local people who had never been involved in town council affairs before wanting to join us.

So, to cut a long story short, eighteen of our candidates put themselves forward as Stones Independent Voice and embarked upon one of the most frantic and professional campaigns I've ever been involved in. What a fantastic group of people we have! And when the results were finally announced, we had won ten seats to the Tories seven and one for Labour.

So Stone Town Council is now to be run by independent councillors - all of whom have pledged to put aside political allegiances and work for the benefit of the town. I am very excited at the prospect of being part of an energetic and vibrant team of people who all want to get things done in the town. Look out Stone!

Welcome to my new blog!

Some of you will probably know I started blogging in 2003 and built up a few years postings. Unfortunately, I allowed the blog to become out of date and for the last twelve months I haven't managed one posting. But that's all going to change!

I am now determined to start my regular blog again in view of the fact that yesterday the electors of Stonefield and Christchurch ward elected me as a Borough Councillor and re-elected me as a Town Councillor.

I believe that it will be important to keep the residents of the ward fully up to date with what is happening in the Town Council Chamber and down at Stafford - so I shall be posting to this blog on a fairly regular basis.

I intend to create a website as well for the more formal announcements but this blog will be more of an online diary. Any coments would be much appreciated.

Incidentally, I am starting this new blog from scratch so many of my first postings will probabaly involve explaining a little past history. Please be patient!