Labour is joining forces with Medway Sure Start users in Rochester, Strood, Chatham and Gillingham and families across Medway in a campaign to Save Our Sure Start children's centres from any potential plans to cut their funding and prevent access to these valuable services for families on middle and modest incomes.
Whilst we have received re-assurances that no Sure Start will be closed Conservatives have not clarified whether the budget for Sure Start centres will rise with inflation or whether indeed intend to reduce or freeze the grant that is being received by the centres.
If the Tories keep the budget static or reduce the grants for the Sure Start centres they will be fundamentally undermining the principle of targeted early-years intervention. This will force the centres to cut services.
The concern in Medway follows the evidence that Conservatives elsewhere in the Country are targeting Sure Start for budget freezes and/or cuts.
Medway Conservative press statements have not confirmed the budget for the centres nor whether they will increase investment by inflation.
Labour is working with Sure Start users and families to ensure that Tories are well aware that any budget cuts to this services will be highlighted as a grave betrayal to the most disadvantaged families.
Conservatives friends of the current administration in Hammersmith and Fulham have made an ideological decision to cut Sure Start centres and other local authorities have introduced a real term freeze in budget.
Tories in Hammersmith and Fulham have withdrawn direct funding to nine out of its 15 Sure Start children's centres, which provide childcare and support for parents with children aged under six.
Prime Minister David Cameron said at his party's 2009 conference: "Sure Start will stay, and we'll improve it."
Another Tory promise broken? We will find out soon enough.
The Tories need to be clear about the size of the education budget in Medway and stop the smoke-and-mirrors budget re-allocations which are no more then cuts in name.
A new year dawns with the echo of cuts, closures, job losses and complaints as the long campaign for the May election begins in earnest.
Labour is buoyed by poll leads, the River ward win and the simple fact that once people begin to think about local issues it boils down to the incessant traffic jams, bodged bus station and poor fiscal management of the Conservative administration.
People are very very unhappy with the current Council. There is enough residual anger now for a change in a number of seats in May.
The Tories enter the long campaign in the weakest position in a decade. Some of our MPs openly criticise the incompetence of the current Leader and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group in surgeries. The selections for Council seats have not been based on merit but rather the internal political agenda's of the MPs to secure themselves against a battle royale over the next three years which will see Mark, Rehman and Tracey slog it out for the two seats that will be created from the Boundary re-organisation.
We have the Tory factions squabbling over who will take over when Chambers resigns, retires or is ousted this year if the results are poor. The Rochester & Strood faction is privately briefing against those in Gillingham & Rainham and no doubt vice-versa. It is clear that this administration is not firing on all four cylinders in the interests of local people.
It is falling apart and thats before people even discuss the major programmes of work which have been mismanaged.
So it is on this backdrop that Council meeting takes places next Thursday 13th January at 7.00pm in the St George's Centre (hopefully heated).
First the public questions. The first on the Pentagon Toiletsand the second on the totally bodged programme of roadworks in Chatham which have paralysed the town for 4 years and which has undermined business and trade. A road scheme no one wanted, no one voted for and which has very little cost benefit after taking into account the capital cost and the opportunity cost of the project. In time alone, people who live and commute in Medway will have wasted at least an hour every week stuck in or having the secondary effects of a Tory traffic jam. It matters. This blog believes the project will have cost millions in wasted time alone and for limited real benefited.
Councillor Vince Maple (Labour) then asks the question which could define the evening on the financial impact of the Chatham bus station. The Tory programme has run over-time and it is likely it will not be complete within this budget year. The rumours are that the Conservatives have asked for loans from banks, there are also rumours and leaks that they have been desperately lobbying the minister to get an extension on the budget into April. Either way the impact of another mis-managed programme is ill-timed. Ignoring the fact that the 'mushroom patch' is not considered sensible by thousands of bus-using pensioners who, yes, vote, and you get another dynamic for May. The Tories have annoyed the highest voting segment. Pensioners. If the Tories can not secure a concession from the Minister then there will be a million pound (or more) black hole in the project during the local elections...
There are a number of motions.
The first on the Tory Police cuts and the plan for the Tories to waste millions on elected Police Commissioners whilst we loose bobbies on the beat after 20% cuts to Kent Police budgets were announced in November 2010. This is a fundamental test on the credentials of Tory Councillors on law and order. Will they seek to politicise the Police against the interests of the community, Police and KPA or will they back Labour and oppose the unnecessary and unrequired move to inject party politics into policing.
The second on the EU budget is a warning shot to Rehman Chisthi to stop sucking up to government and start to act in the interests of the lunatic right-wing fringe that is the Tories in Medway. Public interest is limited given the pro-federalist agenda of the Cameron government which makes this whole anti-EU motion but a hollow fig to those gullible enough to believe that the Tories in government are anti-EU. This blog warned in its previous incarnation that Cameron would need to move to the centre on this, he has, but he has failed to take a rump with him.
UKIP should take note, there is a massive exposed flank of Conservatives just waiting to be poached. Labour will tease splits here.
The last motion is on the cuts to Sure Start which is well timed given it has been threatened in other Conservative-controlled areas such as Wandsworth. There are major concerns by those who run Sure Starts that Tories will cut paid staff and force the centres to try and hire volunteers when none exist. This will undermine the service to the poorest. The Tories have put out a rebuttal, but we will wait to see the final budget figures.
Particularly interesting is the Council Tax documentwhich shows that since the Conservatives won the last election they have failed to collect approximately £4.2m in Council Tax. What is interesting is that other Conservative Councils in Kent have improved performance. The Medway Tories have wasted your money and failed to collect it from people.
The Rochester Riverside programme also comes to Council with a confirmation that Crest has withdrawn and that Hyde will be building social housing close to Doust Way from October 2011. This blog will raise the concern that creating a pocket of social housing at one of the major artery roads to the privately rented-site needs to be well managed and scrutinised. There are strong cases of poor management in the past, specifically, Canal Road in Strood where the housing project has not worked as planned. Positive news that road improvements will be happening in advance but given the amount of money which has been spent on making the site usable, it needs to be well managed and not rushed.
The campaign blames the current Coalition Government for these fare hikes.
It is clear that Medway Conservatives are simply unwilling to accept the responsibility for their own government's actions. They have been unable to lobby Ministers effectively and Medway commuters are now some of the worst impacted across the entire United Kingdom.
The facts are clear and they are stark
Phillip Hammond, the Conservative Transport Secretary, has decided to change the formula used to calculate the rail subsidy.
Under Labour, the proportion split between the tax payer and the fare-payer was 50:50. As Labour increased its direct grant in real terms it expected an equal increase in the fare payer. As a result, post the Connex franchise failure in 2006, the government announced a massive programme of investment. This investment did see improvements in punctuality, improvements in rolling stock and station security and cleanliness.
The Kent and Medway Conservatives decided in 2008 to oppose the rail fare increases. They sought to alienate the public to the principle of public transport by highlighting the difference between SouthEastern increases in fares with that of other operators. The Conservatives conveniently ignored the fact that it was the Major Government which established the structure of the franchise arrangement with Connex and which allowed the cheapest and worst operator to win a 10 year lease, which then subsequently failed.
The campaign by Conservatives has now back-fired as many of those who commuted in 2009 remember Conservative PPCs on the platforms and outside the stations campaigning against fares. The same political party has now undertaken a massive u-turn and is now not only advocating increased fares but has arguably positioned itself in a worse position than the previous Labour administration.
As this blogger has argued time and time again, there is a principled argument for saying that as government increases its grant contribution that fare payers do as well. If both parties want to see an improvement in rail services, stock, facilities or punctuality.
This argument was the position of the previous Labour Government. It is an argument which lost in May 2010 with the election of Conservative MPs
The Conservative however position is more unfair. Hammond has now changed the formula of rail funding from 50:50 Government Frant: Fare Payer to a less equitable 40:60.
This means that as passengers pay more in fares, government contributes less. Net funding is therefore not increased. The public only get a static service and indeed it prices many off the railways including hard pressed middle class families.
The Tories have also removed FLEX which is why Medway rate increases are 9% when compared with other areas like Faversham and Sittingbourne which are less.
The Campaign for Better Transport welcomed the Government’s promise of ‘fair pricing for trail travel’ when it came to power last May but has correctly highlighted the resulting hypocrisy.
There is no hypocrisy in Labour opposing these fare rises because the circumstances are not the same. There is no investment argument.
Many thousands of commuters want to know why we are paying hundreds of pounds more for a season ticket, whilst now expecting only few if any improvements to their daily service?
New figures show that some commuters are now being forced to fork out a fifth of the average UK salary on their season tickets. They’ll be even more outraged to learn that the Coalition is planning even higher rises from January 2012, with prices set to increase by 25% over the next four years.
Fair Fares campaigners today mocked up pictures of Clegg and Cameron to highlight where the blame for these fares now lie. All the major tabloids and papers are blaming the Conservatives. And rightly so.
The Conservative-led Government is getting the blame and given their policy position they deserve to.
So months of waiting over and some names have been passed in this direction on the Conservative candidates for Luton & Wayfield ward that will be standing against in May 2011.
As yet little local profile beyond Tashi himself but that will surely change in the months to come:
Snippets of information online as yet. Hope have got the right people but apologies if do not.
Tashi Bhutia
ex Gurkha, current Councillor for the Luton & Wayfield ward and former employee at BAE systems. Previous political experience in River Ward in 2007 where he was defeated in a close fight with Bill Esterson who later became MP for Sefton Central.
Des Hall
Twitter profile: @Desrhall74. According to an historic twitter profile 'family man who has interest in sports, politics and life in general, well tweet relentlessly about anything and everything' Enjoys the apprentice. Looks like good fun. No previous history in Medway local government.
Gloria Opara
Twitter profile: @gloriaopara (TBC). According to twitter 'mother, wife, school teacher, Christian, Preacher, IT professional and a big heart for community cohesion' Another person who seem very friendly and approachable. Strong Christian leanings which adds to the debate.
Impressive selection from the Conservatives and does positively reflect on a change of type of candidate. This blog has complained about the need to change in all parties to accept a younger and more diverse slate and whilst it has moaned internally at our processes it seems that the Tories are also modernising as well.
Sad news for the area that Val and Tony Goulden will not stand for election again in 2011 according to Alan Watkins. This blogger only met them once but they did an awful lot of work for the ward and they will be a tough legacy for anyone to follow.
This does make it a straight Labour/Conservative fight. Rumours that the English Democrats may make an appearance in this ward are also on the cards though yet to be confirmed. Given the risk on the deposit would say they need some deep pockets.
No word on Liberal Democrats, Greens or an Independent challenge.
The average VAT rise which will see an increase to 20% will cost Medway families on average £400 per year and will penalise thousands of local families and pensioners in Rochester.
It has been noted that our MP has not said anything on this Tory tax rise which is ironic given his copious comments on other matters of taxation in Ireland which has turned from an economic dream to a fiscal nightmare over the last three years.
Indeed, perhaps because on the night of the VAT vote he was reported as too drunk to vote on the VAT rise which is going to sting most of his constituents.
Residents of Rochester & Strood can be reminded that this was a one off incident and will not happen again and that apologies have been forthcoming.
Despite a number of apologies the story remains on google and it would be remiss of the opposition not to mention that not only do people look unfavourably on the VAT rise, but even more unfavourably on the fact that our local MP was not able to voice our opinions on it in the chamber.
On sober reflection - perhaps it was just as well he was not voting on the VAT rise given his Tory colleagues are very happy to see the tax go up.
Medway Motorists and bus users and SouthEastern rail commuters face a transport tripple whammy next week when petrol tax rises add nearly £2 to filling a tank, and inflation-busting fare increases confirm the rail network as the priciest in Europe with commuters from Medway suffering the full Conservative Party sting to fare increases
The Tory sting in the tail begins in earnest as commuters on trains wake up to find the same old service but at extortionate cost. Conservative MPs and Councillors have failed to reign in Tory rail increases in what is seen as a slap in the face to commuters, despite claiming to fight for commuters at a Council meeting in November.
Tory Councillors are simply ineffective and continue to support a government which is about to launch the biggest tax on commuters and drivers since Thatchers VAT rise.
To fan the flames, Arriva busses in Medway will continue to charge over-extortionate fares to travel because Conservative Councillors have failed to scrutinise the operator over the last decade. We have poor service and expensive bus fares.
UK Motorists already spend £10m more a day on petrol than a year ago, according to the AA, but the railways will offer little relief. Rail fares increase by an average of 6.2% from Sunday but some season tickets on busy routes will go up far more. The £5,000 season ticket is a growing phenomenon, with Southeastern charging £5,192 for journeys from Hastings and Tonbridge to London that connect to its high-speed service – a 12.7% rise on last year.
The Campaign for Better Transport will be establishing a campaign next week which will be supported by local residents. The Tory government, and their Council supporters, have pushed onto Kent commuters rises of nearly 13% and warned of people being priced off the trains. This despite election promises and campaigns deliberately targeted at train commuters prior to the General Election.
The Conservatives have treated train commuters as cynical mugs, and they have casually taken the votes of this group for granted. Despite all the usual mutterings and minor complaints, the fares will continues to go up as many MPs travel to work on first class subsidised train tickets.
A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies said said above-inflation fare rises were the result of government policy which has "sought to sustain investment in the railways by reducing the amount that taxpayers contribute and requiring passengers to pay more".
But CBT said it was unfair that millions of commuters already facing pay cuts and reduced hours in their jobs were now having to pay more to get to work.
It also said higher fares were pricing people off the rail network, risking increased road congestion in the nation's cities.
The fare rises meant some travellers were being asked to pay 20% of the average UK salary for their annual season ticket
This was the equivalent, in percentage terms, of transport secretary Philip Hammond MP being asked to pay £27,034 for a season ticket, campaigners added.
Railfuture, a campaign group, warns that higher fares will force passengers on to the roads, where motorists already face a costly start to 2011, regardless of a global oil price that reached two-year highs recently. The AA has said that an increase in fuel duty of 0.76p a litre todaytomorrow, allied with a 2.5% VAT rise days later, will add around 3.5p per litre to the price of fuel. That equates to an extra £1.75 on the cost of filling a tank.
However, the rail user watchdog believes that the vast majority of commuters will not take to the roads as an alternative. Anthony Smith, chief executive of the watchdog Passenger Focus, said cars were not a valid alternative to train for commuters: "In London and the south-east people don't have any choice."
The rail network's dominance by passengers in south-east England, and by the comparatively well-off, has triggered debate over whether the huge investment in the network neglects the rest of the UK. Seven out of 10 rail journeys start or end in the capital. More than 10% of Londoners use the train at least three times a week, compared with less than 5% elsewhere.
The RAC Foundation, a motoring thinktank, claims that the annual £5bn subsidy of the rail network disproportionately benefits Londoners and the well-off, with 40% of households earning more than £50,000 a year using the railways at least three times a week – double the figure for those on less than £25,000 per year.
By 2014, the farepayer is expected to foot three-quarters of the cost of operating the network. Currently, rail users pay £6bn a year into the railways, which are also funded by up to £5bn in grants and more than £20bn in state-backed debt.
