DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Good post Chris. The town hall is a great example of how we are being sold short of our resources.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
I always enjoy reading your postings Chris.First point discussions have taken place with Dover town Council re playareas my understanding they were not interesed in taking any over.The one at Barwick Road very good excample.The Town Hall I recall back in the eighties when DDC spent alot of money on repairs to the roof ,in fact the Chairman at that time climbed onto the roof and the Director of Planning and Tec Services held her handbag.Now if we could put the Council Tax up to 10%we could do lots more.I hear you all screaming NO NO
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
I don't mind you putting my council tax up as long as you give us something for it. The fact is we seem to pay more and get less.
The fact that we have to rely on Lottery grants for essential resources like play areas just makes the whole thing even worse. It's amazing that amount that the average person contributes through playing the national lottery more than makes up the deficit in council tax. It's unbelievable that people are taxed in this way without question, playing on peoples greed and in many cases desperation.
If every parent in Dover handed over their lottery money for the last few months we could have had this park twice over. And then we are patronised by the powers that be saying "look what we've done for you, surely you can't be upset by other parks closing"
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
DT1,
I quite agree with a lot you have said .I have been in politics for a long time and its quite scandellous that we have to rely on lottery bids etc.The council has to each year make gershon savings,pension costs have gone up and we now have to administrate the licence system.We have an anti social behaviour unit which comes out of your council tax.The government take 5million of rents collected from social housing,.If we go over the 5% council tax we are capped so which government is in power .Dont wish to be too political but things are not easy.
There has been a lot of change in the way local councils are funded since I started out in 1987.
If I could do as I would like too there would be flowers everywhere ,public toilets manned the Town Hall restored to its former glory ,so the list goes on .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i get the impression that the more keith asks the straightforward question about play areas, the less likely it would be
that he/we will get an answer.
dt
i agree with your comment about lottery money coming mostly from the less well off, but must add that i am grateful for any investment for any money coming our way from it.
getting lottery money is all about being wised up in how to apply for it.
just as an example, a tennis club close to where i lived previously(the sort of club that would not let the likes of me in)
claimed for seven brand new all weather courts.
the main plank of their argument was that it was a multiracial area, and they were reaching out to the community.
brilliant scam, no person from the ethnic minorities would have ever been allowed to step on court.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Howard I think that example shows how awful the lottery system is. There are now individuals that make a profession from assembling these applications on behalf of groups.
It is always nice to see the money benefiting our town (I am truly thankful) but I do find the reality of the situation upsetting, with such a disproportinate and erratic distribution of wealth.
Just to add, Marek's point about the zip-line being tied up. I think in folkestone (where teenagers also reside) the covering of the chain is much thicker (almost foam like) making it impossible to tie knots. Down at Pencester the covering is quite thin and already tearing due to knots placed by older kids. I must say I experienced the knots last saturday morning but just undone them, this is not to say it is acceptable!
I have to say, Sue, that we are not fools, and we know tough decisions have to be made in order to come in on budget, but the Councils have a great deal to learn about communication and inclusion! Many decisions would be understandable and bearable if the public were informed and included, and that's not rocket science!
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
Bern,I think you will find Council by law have to consult.I suppose the one which most people are aware of is Planning .Have you seen the list of people agencies etc that have to be consulted.Our stratergies go out to consultation,in fact our East Kent Homelesness Stratergy is currently out for consultation.The Local development Plan is a good excample.Parish Councils have our stratergies sent to them in fact the Play area stratergy was consulted on far and wide.If you are in socially rented accommodation tenants are consulted on everything,we have tenant groups.The consultation usually takes longer than the doing.We had a Parks stratergy ,a Youth stratergy where youths were consulted.We have Cabinet meetings ,Full Council and at full council you can ask questions.You have elected representatives I dont know where you live Bern but surely you can speak to your councillor.Im truly amazed that most residents donot make contact with their councillors.In just under an hour a local resident is taking me to veiw illegally dumped rubbish.Most people in River and Alkham contact me personally.Instead of complaing on the forum and not many DDC officers and members read it contact your own councillor.It works in River and Alkham.
It's not really about statutory duties to consult, it's about engaging meaningfully with people! And this is not "complaining", just raising a concern. Surely there is a difference? Absolutely right, we should reach out to councillors more, but I need to reflect that there have been times when that has seemed fruitless - I have in the past been to meetings where, as sometimes appears on these forums, all that happens is a barrage of defensiveness and no much real reaching out. While I accept that it can be hard to keep ones cool if being publicly critisised, that is part of the job......
Perhaps that True Amazement about people not reaching out to their coincillors simply exposes the poor insight of the councillors into the reality for citizens at the sharp end of the council business.....?
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
Went past the new play area looks brillant yes there were meetings between DDC and DTC but no decisions were made but I'm sure should those talks happen again the public will be the first to know,
But for now I'm sure the kids will enjoy pencester.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Howard
thanks for pointing out my comments, looks like we will never know.
So a number of play areas i can only presume will be closing near you soon!!!!
On consultation MEANINGFUL is the word, as for the strategy well as chris says there was a cost implication of producing it, still play areas down for closure, and play areas were not even sited in correct ward in book, doesnt fill you with confidence!
As i'v said these play areas are well used and even if a few are not, lets tak about it.
how best can we move forward?
At the mo sue and other District cllrs wont say which are down for closure
Clear now talks with town council broken down,
Then in the future we will moan about youths that used to use these play areas being out on the street
ITS GOOD TO TALK !!!
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
The District mad a succesful Lottery bid,yet we pay our Council Tax and the Goverment quite rightly sets limits on the rise of Council Tax Sue,at District Council level,but it is a case of managaging resources,so we are hard up as a Council,well how much was the overspend on Deal Pier? We also talked about finding lots of extra money last week for something that I am unable to talk about at the moment.
You can do anything with properly managed Budgets,you fit the projects around the money available,Budgets sometimes are a figment of someones imagination,these budgets for this year Apr 2008/Apr 2009 were set in the last few months of 2007.
If there is a real need for something the money can be found,Sue just remember last weeks full Council meeting all depends onthe Councils priorities.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
having read the posts, it sometimes seems that we put demands on councillors that are unfair?
keith has asked about play areas, hardly a fortune, susan just prevaricates.
i have asked for a warden to patrol pencester gardens, not a very large area.
john has asked for the bogs to be tarted up, which is badly needed.
all the above will hardly touch the annual budget.
on a more positive note, who was responsible for the flower arrangements on the folkestone road roundabout?
very attractive.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
"on a more positive note, who was responsible for the flower arrangements on the folkestone road roundabout?
very attractive."
Notice them from the Dovprian this afternoon - livens up a previously drab area a bit.
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
paul
it looks like a bit of thought has gone in.
it is a drab area, any effort made to make it more attractive has to be applauded.
when i first moved to the area, six years ago, there were hanging baskets all along the folkestone road.
if my memory serves me correctly, our councillor at the time (keef) managed to squeeze some money out of sainsbury's to help things along.
they would not have come across if they had known that they did not have an outlet in dover.
there also used to be a best kept garden competition in the folkestone road.
That was great! Some of the gardens were spectacular. What happened to the competition?
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Went passed the playpark myself the other day and stopped to have a good look around. It looked great and all the kids were having a lot of fun. Made me want to join in.Perhaps we could organise an Adult Happy Hour, now, wouldn't that be great fun, the mind boggles!!!
Yes Scotchie I noticed those flowers, they are gorgeous, really brighten up that part of town
Adult Happy Hour on the play equipment - I'm your woman!! Hurrah!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Adult happy hour...sounds like you could have a 'swinging time'..boomboom
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
