The Front Page - Copy 59 ( Toilet Closure with DDC and DTC, Snow Problems)
2 January 2010
The once popular Cllr Nigel Collor is not currently flushed with the golden ochre of success. In fact he has plumbed the depths in the local popularity stakes because at a single stroke he managed to upset almost everyone. What did he do you ask? Well if you dont know already, he closed the public conveniences in the centre of town without consultation or warning, inconveniencing many. In an article in the Dover Mercury, Nigel appeared to place the blame on Dover Town Council, but rumblings on the grapevine suggest that the Town Council are furious with this.
Because the DDC are short of money, the idea was to shift these costly loos over to the Town Council, and they then as we understand it, would pass the extra cost onto the taxpayer. Some discussions had taken place between Paul Watkins, the Leader of Dover District Council, and the Town Council, but no real progress was made. The Town Council however want to seek feedback from the public first before they can make any move, which seems the legitimate way to go... as you can see in the press release below from them.
Nigel, not prepared to wait for all this consultation it seems, went ahead and closed the loos, hence the furore. People are angry, so much so that we have had possibly the fastest thread ever in our Forum section where it reached 9 powerful pages in a few short days. There have been calls for his Resignation. Nigel is a cabinet member at DDC and our representative at KCC.
The Picture shows Nigel Collor being interviewed on TV in happier times. PB.
Non-Members please post on the Open Letters Page.
.....................
Thanks for coverage re toilets. I think that you can see that we are attempting cooperative working with DDC. To that end, as you were previously informed, a TC resolution from November meeting promised a public consultation before end Jan 2010. All are welcome, as is maximum input of views, so that the Town Council can base difficult future decisions on the full will of the local electors. Dover District Council has already started closing local toilets, and other difficult economic decisions will be made soon, covering tourism, amongst other matters. So we need the views of the public at a public meeting.
This meeting is now set for 20th January, at 6pm, in the Council Chamber, at the Town Council.
The maximum coverage that you could give to publicisie this important event would be most welcome.
To that end, the following represents the relevant elements of the Mayor’s report to November’s full Town Council meeting.
The Mayor, Cllr Mrs Susan Jones, states:
My report today concentrates mainly on one subject - the devolution of services from the District Council.
It is now time for us as a Council to decide where our aspirations as a service provider lie. Our only Statutory obligation is to provide allotments but we have chosen to provide several other discretionary services which are of great benefit to the town, for example staging events, maintaining the War Memorial and providing the Christmas lights.
However it is the Government’s policy that other discretionary services be devolved down to the local level and this will happen over the next few years. The question is how we prepare for this extra responsibility.
Recently the District Council has admitted there will be a budget shortfall over the next three years and some services will be cut. It is our job now to debate if, when and how we take these services over for the benefit of those who pay the bill.
Though it is easy to use blame as a facet of our debate, the wishes of the taxpayer should be our priority. Accordingly, before any decisions are made I ask this Council to call a public meeting in January for this purpose.
Of course spending a penny is the most controversial of these topics. There are six toilets within the town; one on the seafront has recently been closed. There is much more information to be gathered before any proposals can be made and each facility will be considered on its own merits.
Providing a good tourism service and improving flower planting throughout the town have been highlighted in our Corporate Plan. Proposals being discussed in committee at the moment already go some way to maintaining these services from which the District has stated it will withdraw. The toilets in our town will be the next casualties and we must consult our constituents who will make their views known enabling us to consider what action the Town Council should be taking, if any. We must be prepared for them to tell us this is a service they want to be maintained if not improved. We have an obligation to the people of this town to carefully assess all the risks and benefits of the options over the next few months.
Within the discussions held, a request has been made by us that the District grants ownership of two non-statutory allotment sites and Whinless Down nature reserve to us. Subject to formalities they have agreed in principal to commence negotiations for the possible purchase of the sites. This will help us improve our services. End.
As you can see from this picture on the left the humble pedestrian comes a long way down the pecking order with regards to gritting. The roads are gritted in good order but the pavements are left unuseable, completely un-navigable. They are a quagmire of thick snow, slush, and hardened ice. Impossible to negotiate for the elderly and indeed for most people. You and I cannot get to the shops without being in imminent danger of going ass over elbow bigtime. A report earlier today said that commercial takings are down on account of it. So surely some kind of higher priority should be given to the humble pedestrian.
Picture on right shows snow plough/gritter on main road earlier today(Jan 8). PB.
Non-Members please post on the Open Letters Page.
The once popular Cllr Nigel Collor is not currently flushed with the golden ochre of success. In fact he has plumbed the depths in the local popularity stakes because at a single stroke he managed to upset almost everyone. What did he do you ask? Well if you dont know already, he closed the public conveniences in the centre of town without consultation or warning, inconveniencing many. In an article in the Dover Mercury, Nigel appeared to place the blame on Dover Town Council, but rumblings on the grapevine suggest that the Town Council are furious with this. Because the DDC are short of money, the idea was to shift these costly loos over to the Town Council, and they then as we understand it, would pass the extra cost onto the taxpayer. Some discussions had taken place between Paul Watkins, the Leader of Dover District Council, and the Town Council, but no real progress was made. The Town Council however want to seek feedback from the public first before they can make any move, which seems the legitimate way to go... as you can see in the press release below from them.
Nigel, not prepared to wait for all this consultation it seems, went ahead and closed the loos, hence the furore. People are angry, so much so that we have had possibly the fastest thread ever in our Forum section where it reached 9 powerful pages in a few short days. There have been calls for his Resignation. Nigel is a cabinet member at DDC and our representative at KCC.
The Picture shows Nigel Collor being interviewed on TV in happier times. PB.
Non-Members please post on the Open Letters Page.
.....................
Information through from Dover Town Council.....
Thanks for coverage re toilets. I think that you can see that we are attempting cooperative working with DDC. To that end, as you were previously informed, a TC resolution from November meeting promised a public consultation before end Jan 2010. All are welcome, as is maximum input of views, so that the Town Council can base difficult future decisions on the full will of the local electors. Dover District Council has already started closing local toilets, and other difficult economic decisions will be made soon, covering tourism, amongst other matters. So we need the views of the public at a public meeting.
This meeting is now set for 20th January, at 6pm, in the Council Chamber, at the Town Council.
The maximum coverage that you could give to publicisie this important event would be most welcome.
To that end, the following represents the relevant elements of the Mayor’s report to November’s full Town Council meeting.
The Mayor, Cllr Mrs Susan Jones, states:
My report today concentrates mainly on one subject - the devolution of services from the District Council.
It is now time for us as a Council to decide where our aspirations as a service provider lie. Our only Statutory obligation is to provide allotments but we have chosen to provide several other discretionary services which are of great benefit to the town, for example staging events, maintaining the War Memorial and providing the Christmas lights.
However it is the Government’s policy that other discretionary services be devolved down to the local level and this will happen over the next few years. The question is how we prepare for this extra responsibility.
Recently the District Council has admitted there will be a budget shortfall over the next three years and some services will be cut. It is our job now to debate if, when and how we take these services over for the benefit of those who pay the bill.
Though it is easy to use blame as a facet of our debate, the wishes of the taxpayer should be our priority. Accordingly, before any decisions are made I ask this Council to call a public meeting in January for this purpose.
Of course spending a penny is the most controversial of these topics. There are six toilets within the town; one on the seafront has recently been closed. There is much more information to be gathered before any proposals can be made and each facility will be considered on its own merits.
Providing a good tourism service and improving flower planting throughout the town have been highlighted in our Corporate Plan. Proposals being discussed in committee at the moment already go some way to maintaining these services from which the District has stated it will withdraw. The toilets in our town will be the next casualties and we must consult our constituents who will make their views known enabling us to consider what action the Town Council should be taking, if any. We must be prepared for them to tell us this is a service they want to be maintained if not improved. We have an obligation to the people of this town to carefully assess all the risks and benefits of the options over the next few months.
Within the discussions held, a request has been made by us that the District grants ownership of two non-statutory allotment sites and Whinless Down nature reserve to us. Subject to formalities they have agreed in principal to commence negotiations for the possible purchase of the sites. This will help us improve our services. End.
Picture on right shows snow plough/gritter on main road earlier today(Jan 8). PB.
Non-Members please post on the Open Letters Page.