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Thursday, May 08, 2008
County Council Annual Meeting
Worcs CC Annual Meeting was today; enough to drive anyone to drink!
Lib Dems nominated long serving Cllr Di Rayner for Chairman while Labour nominated long serving Betty Passingham as Vice Chair. Of course the Tories took both seats with Alwyn Davies as Chair and John Cairns as Vice Chair.
The meeting was tedious in the extreme! Graham and I supported a Tory motion criticising the Labour Govts attack on GP services through their insistence on PolyClinics and 1 central drop in centre for the whole County based in worcester! I agree with the PCT Patient and Public Involvement Forum, on which I serve, which has publicly stated that a single, central, walk in clinic in Worcester is of NO USE at all to people in deprived areas of Kidderminster orRedditch!
Graham Ballinger will now become a Lead Member of Overview and Scrutiny, probably leading on Strategic health issues.
posted by Oborski, 16:11 | link | comments
Sunday, May 04, 2008
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Posthumous Award to Mike!
I have been delighted to accept an invitation to attend a ceremony at the Polish Embassy where I will be receiving the Insignia of Commander of The Order of Polonia Restituta which has been posthumously awarded to Mike by the President of Poland.
Polonia Restituta is the most treasured of Poland's non military awards because it is given for outstanding service to the Nation.
I will be taking Mike's Mum to the Embassy along with friends from the local and National Polish Communities.
Officially styled the “Order of Polish Rebirth”, this famous Order is more popularly known by the name emblazoned upon its badge: POLONIA RESTITUTA (Poland Restored). The Polish Parliament instituted the Order of Polonia Restituta on 4th February 1921. The Order ranks third in the Polish Order of Precedence but, given the military nature of the Order of Virtuti Militari, it ranks second amongst civilian decorations. Originally comprised of four grades, a fifth grade was added on 22nd April 1922. The Order’s classes are currently ranked as follows: Grand Cross, Commander’s Cross with Star, Commander, Officer and Knight.
The Order was instituted to recognise those who had rendered great service to Poland and the Polish people. In particular, the Order honours outstanding achievement in the areas of science, art, culture, academia, agriculture and industry, as well as philanthropy and unpaid public service. The Order was also established to reward bravery and work related to diminishing the impact of natural disasters as well as to acknowledge a minimum of 10 years outstanding work in the civil service, the military and related sectors. Since 1937 the Polish President’s prerogative has included the power to confer the ranks of Grand Cross, Commander’s Cross with Star and Commander a motu proprio.1
Whether the Order of Polonia Restituta was a new creation or the revival of a dormant Order has been the source of some debate. Such status notwithstanding, it is generally accepted that the Order of Polonia Restituta is the successor to the extinct and arguably dishonoured Order of St. Stanislaw.
The Order of St. Stanislaw was founded by King Stanislaw Augustus Poniatowski on 7th May 1765. Named after Poland’s patron saint, the single grade Order ranked immediately after the Order of the White Eagle and was awarded primarily to those who had rendered admirable service to the Polish Crown. Its motto, PREMIANDO INICITAT (Encourage by rewarding), could serve as a fitting description of the purpose of all honours.
Excluding the King, Knights of the White Eagle and foreign recipients, all of whom were extra-numerary, statutory restrictions limited the number of Knights of the Order of St. Stanislaw to 100.2 Once nominated, the path to admission was relatively simple. Candidates for the Order were required to demonstrate their noble status by presenting ancestral noble proofs in the form of quarterings. Once admitted, members were obliged, at least in theory, to adhere to the Order’s regulations: Knights were required to bear true allegiance to the King and the State and also to undertake to protect the poor and underprivileged. An invested Knight was required to pay a passage fee of 25 zloties, annual dues of 4 zloties and a further zloty for requiem masses to be held for deceased members.3 Aside from outlining financial obligations, the regulations of the Order also stipulated the manner in which investitures were to be conducted and their location (Warsaw’s Church of the Holy Cross). In reality the Statutes of the Order were not strictly adhered to and monarchs seldom felt bound by their terms.
King Stanislaw Augustus was not frugal with his awards of the Order and he paid scant attention to the Order’s statutory numerical restrictions. Between 1765 and 1795 the King appointed 1774 persons to the Order. Many of these appointments were made at the behest of Russia’s Catherine the Great and, unsurprisingly, did much to denigrate the Order’s prestige. The last official appointments were made on the Feast of St. Stanislaw (8th May) 1793. In 1795, Russia, Prussia and Austria divided that portion of Poland that had escaped earlier partitions. The ancient Polish state vanished from the face of Europe and the Polish monarchy collapsed. Neither these events nor his exile to France prevented Stanislaw Augustus from making new appointments to the Order, however, these appointments notwithstanding, 1795 was the year in which the Order was generally held to have fallen into abeyance.
On 16th February 1809, the Order of St. Stanislaw was revived as an Order of the newly created Duchy of Warsaw. The Order remained virtually unchanged until 1815, when the Duchy of Warsaw gave way to the new Congress Kingdom of Poland. In a decree of 1st December 1815, Tsar Alexander I expanded the number of grades in the Order from one to four. A year later he imposed an annual oblation upon members in support of the Foundling Hospital in Warsaw. New Statutes for the Order of St. Stanislaw were enacted by Tsar Nicholas I in September 1829.4 Aside from expanding the activities that might qualify a person for membership in the Order, the Statutes also granted eligibility to military and civil officials who had been recognised for 35 years unblemished service to the State. Knights of the first grade of the Order were automatically elevated to the ranks of the hereditary nobility.5
The Order remained in this state until the failed Uprising of 1830-1831, in which Poles vainly tried to break free from the Russian yoke. As part of its retribution, the Russian Government, now led by the authoritarian Tsar Nicholas I, sounded the death knell for Polish honours and, on November 29th 1831, incorporated all the Polish Orders into the Russian honours system. The Polish period of the Order of St. Stanislaw thereby came to an end. As with the Order of the White Eagle, the insignia of the Polish Order of St. Stanislaw was altered to demonstrate its new status as a Russian honour.6 The Order remained part of the Russian honours system until the Revolution of 1917. Thus, although the Polish Order of St. Stanislaw is now extinct, the Russian Order of St. Stanislaw remains a dynastic Order under the protection of HH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Romanov, Head of the Imperial House of Russia.7
Following the First World War, the government of the re-born Polish state decided to restore the Order of the White Eagle and the Order of Virtuti Militari but not the Order of St. Stanislaw. The lavish award of the Order by the Russian Tsars, particularly upon those who could only be regarded as enemies of the Polish nation, caused irreparable damage to the image and prestige of the Order of St. Stanislaw. The creation of a new “Order of Poland Reborn” (“Polonia Restituta”) to serve as successor to St. Stanislaw was deemed preferable to the disgraced Order’s revival. That the Order of Poland Reborn is the successor to St. Stanislaw is clearly evidenced by the similarity of the Orders’ Statutes, Ribbon and Sash.8
As Head of State, Marshal Jozef Pilsudski served as the Order’s first Grand Master. After the creation of the position of President it was decided that the Grand Mastership would hitherto vest in the holder of that position. The first awards of the Order of Polonia Restituta were made on 13th July 1921.9 The Chapter of the Order decreed that future investitures would occur on the Order’s Feast Day, 11th November; however investitures have also taken place on other occasions.
Between the first investiture and the outbreak of the Second World War, the Order of Polonia Restituta was awarded to 6,884 individuals, including 79 Grand Crosses.10 At the request of the Polish Foreign Minister, a convention was established whereby the Order of Polonia Restituta became the favoured honour for bestowal upon foreign citizens.11 During the Inter-War period, Knights of the Order of Polonia Restituta were eligible for election to the Polish senate and were also granted the right to a special ceremonial funeral. Candidates for the Order were also required to pay a passage fee. In 1939 the fee schedule was as follows: Class I – 120 zlotys; Class II – 70 zlotys; Class III – 35 zlotys; Class IV - 25 zlotys; Class V – 20 zlotys. The Diploma cost a further 5 zlotys.
The outbreak of the Second World War and the establishment of a London-based Polish Government-in-Exile had only a limited impact on the Order of Polonia Restituta. The Polish President-in-Exile continued to serve as the Grand Master of the Order and it was decided that appointments would continue.12 The Government-in-Exile commissioned new insignia from Spink & Son and, on 28th December 1942, General Adilla Camacho, the President of Mexico, was invested with the Order’s Grand Cross.13 General Frank Macfarlane became the second person to be so honoured when, on 03rd July 1943, he was awarded the Grand Cross in recognition of his assistance in the evacuation of Polish soldiers from France and prison camps in Mirando del Ebro. These awards were presented by General Wladyslaw Sikorski, the Polish Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief. Further wartime awards were made to Allied leaders such as General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Omar Bradley of the United States.14 When honouring a foreign national, the Polish Government adhered to protocol and informed the relevant home government of its desire to honour one of its citizens.
In 1944 the Soviet-supported Polish National Liberation Committee instituted its own version of the Polonia Restituta; the badge differing only slightly from that which continued to be awarded by the Polish Government-in-Exile.15 Between 1945 and 1990 the Polish Government-in-Exile avoided awarding the highest classes of Polonia Restituta; preferring instead to bestow the lower classes upon those Poles, and friends of Poland, who were engaged in charitable, philanthropic, political and cultural work. On 22nd December, 1990, in the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Ryszard Kaczorowski, the last President of the Polish Government-in-Exile, presented the insignia of the various Polish honours, including the Order of Polonia Restituta, to Lech Walesa, his legitimate successor as the President of a free and democratic Poland.
Today the Order of ‘Polonia Restituta’ continues to be awarded to those who have made an exceptional contribution to Poland. Appointments are announced in the official publication, Monitor Polski. There is no restriction on the total number of members; however, as the diplomatic function of the Order has been taken over by the Order of Merit, the Order of Polonia Restituta is conferred almost exclusively upon Polish citizens. The President of the Republic continues to act as Grand Master for the duration of his time in Office. The Chapter of the Order is appointed by the Grand Master to serve for a period of five years. The Chapter comprises a Chancellor, a Secretary and six members, all of whom must be recipients of the Order. The Order is administered from the office of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, ul Wiejska 10, Warsaw.
Investitures, which most frequently take place during the national holidays of 3rd May and 11th November, traditionally take place at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. Recent recipients of the Order of Polonia Restituta have included the historian, Aleksander Krawczuk, and Countess Karolina Lanckoronska, professor, art historian, philanthropist and founder of the Lanckoronski Foundation. To date, the only post-1990 foreign Grand Cross recipient is Mario Soares, former President of Portugal, invested in 1994.
Insignia:
The badge features a ball-tipped Maltese Cross. The white enamelled obverse incorporates a central roundel, enamelled red, containing a crowned white eagle displayed (spread eagle); all within a blue band bearing the motto: POLONIA RESTITUA. The gilt reverse incorporates a central roundel containing the year 1918 on a red background.
The Star of the Order incorporates a central roundel, enamelled white, containing the initials RP; all within a blue band bearing the motto: POLONIA RESTITUA.
Grand Cross measures 68mm in length
Commander’s Cross measures 58 mm in length
Officer’s Cross measures 53 mm in length
Knight’s Cross measures 42 mm in length
Members of the 1st and 2nd Classes receive a silver star measuring 74 mm in diameter.
The Grand Cross is suspended from a Sash worn over the right shoulder. Grand Officers and Commanders suspend their crosses from a neck ribbon whilst Officers and Knights suspend their crosses from a ribbon worn on the left breast.
The silk moire ribbon (35 mm), neck ribbon (42 mm) and sash (100 mm) of the Order are crimson with narrow white stripes towards the edges. The ribbon of an Officer of the Order is marked with a rosette.
ENDNOTES
1. Government Ministers may also recommend an award for good cause a motu proprio
2. Knights of St. Stanislaw who were also Knights of the White Eagle suspended the insignia of St. Stanislaw from a neck ribbon.
3. Monies collected from passage fees were intended to benefit a Warsaw hospital.
4. The new Statutes expanded the various accomplishments that would normally qualify a person for membership in the Order.
5. After 1831 members of all grades of the Order were elevated to the ranks of the hereditary nobility.
6. The Polish badge of the Order featured a gold, ball-tipped maltese cross, enamelled red. Uncrowned eagles displayed and enamelled white filled the principal angles of the cross (later badges featured crowned eagles). The centre of the badge featured a roundel, enamelled white, depicting St. Stanislaw holding a staff with the letter “S” on either side of him—all within a green laurel wreath emblazoned with the motto of the Order. The reverse of the roundel featured the King’s initials.
7. An organisation styling itself “The Order of St. Stanislas” and headed by a man purporting to be a former Polish President-in-Exile should not be confused with the true, and extinct, Polish Order of St. Stanislas. The self-styled group is a private organisation.
8. The Sash and Ribbon of both Orders are crimson with white stripes towards the edges.
9. Jan Dabski, Wladyslaw Abraham, Bernard Chrzanowski, Jan Karol Kochanowski, Jacek Malczewski, Kajetan Boleslaw Olszewski, Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz, Wladyslaw Stanislaw Reymont, Michal Siedlecki, Heliodor Swiecicki, Zofia Szlenkerowna, Wlodzimierz Tetmajer, Leon Wyczolkowski, Jadwiga Dzialynska-Zamoyska, Kazimierz Zenkteler.
10. It is interesting to note that the largest number of awards (1158) was made in 1938 -- the last full year in which the Order was awarded prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. Inter-War period Grand Cross recipients include Jozef Pilsudski, Stanislaw Wojciechowski, Ignacy Moscicki, Jozef Beck, Kazimierz Sosnkowski, Karol Szymanowski, Edward Smigly-Rydz, and Maurycy Zamoyski.
11. Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting Movement, was one such recipient (1927); the tradition of bestowing the Polonia Restituta upon foreign citizens continued under the Communist regime; however in 1974 it was decided that the new Order of Merit was a more fitting honour for foreigners.
12. Polish Presidents-in-Exile and Grand Masters of the Order of ‘Polonia Restituta’: Wladyslaw Rackiewicz (1939-1947); August Zaleski (1947-1972); Dr. Stanislaw Ostrowski (1972-1979); Count Edward Raczynski (1979-1986); Kazimierz Sabbat (1986–1989); Ryszard Kaczorowski (1989-1990).
13. The Spink decorations were similar to those of the pre-war period except for the inclusion of detailed feathering on the Polish Eagle on the badge and the removal of the wreath from the Star of the Order.
14. It is
15. Aside from minor stylistic alterations, the insignia of the Polonia Restituta awarded by the People’s Republic of Poland differed in three significant areas: the year displayed on the badge was changed from 1918 to 1944; the eagle’s crown was removed; and the initials on the star were changed from RP to RPL.
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posted by Oborski, 10:33 | link | comments
Thanks!
We'd like to thank the 1979 Liberal Voters across 6 wards and the 1565 Lib Dem voters across 5 wards for their confidence in us.
Particular thanks to Shazu and the guys for a superb effort in Broadwaters and to Alane, Alex and Iain our stalwart "paper candidates".
The Offmore, Greenhill and Broadwaters Teams delivered a stunning 50,000 leaflets during the campaign and we have picked up new helpers in all three wards.
We will be organising thankyou celebrations for them shortly!
posted by Oborski, 10:21 | link | comments
Saturday, May 03, 2008
TORY Tide masks Health Concern Collapse!
The massive swing across Wyre Forest to the Tories actually masks a Health Concern collapse!
In Areley Kings, won by Health Concern last year they came third 114 votes behind this time.
In Broadwaters, won easily by Health Concern last year they came second and although we were beaten into third place OUR vote actually went UP, Health Concern's vote collapsed and the Tory won on a very low swing.
In Habberley and Blakebrook, won by Health Concern last year they CRASHED to third place.
In Mitton, their key target ward in Stourport, won by Health Concern last year, their vote collapsed and they came second 141 behind the winning Tory.
The overall Health Concern vote put them in second place in the constituency, just over 1000 ahead of the combined Liberal and Liberal Democrat vote (but having contested 3 MORE seats)
It certainly looks as though the Wyre Forest Constituency is heading back to the Tories at the next General Election!
We'd like to publicly thank Louise Edginton and John Simmonds, the defeated Independent Councillors, for their years of work in Wyre Forest!
posted by Oborski, 13:19 | link | comments (4)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Oh dear!! More maps needed!
At local elections it is hard enough to get a decent electoral turnout without candidates delivering their leaflets in the wrong Ward!
Hurcott Rd. for much of its length is the boundary between Greenhill and Broadwaters.; BUT opposite Sladen, from below the gulley leading to Baxter Gardens Park, down to the Stourbridge Rd. BOTH sides are in Broadwaters. Cllr Paul Harrison lives above Chester Rd. North, firmly in Greenhill; he has been receiving election leaflets from the Tory Candidate for Broadwaters!! OOPS!! Map needed!
posted by Oborski, 17:23 | link | comments (3)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
R.I.P. Martin Fellows LL.B
We are all very sad to hear of the death last night of Martin Fellows the Associate Town Clerk and Clerk to the Kidderminster Town Charter Trustees. Martin had a long and distinguished record of service to our community.
posted by Oborski, 20:02 | link | comments (2)
Only one more day!
Nearly the eve of poll and raining nicely!
Just printing the last minute leaflets! I am so very grateful for the superb leafletting teams we have in Offmore and Greenhill. We have got local leafletters in Broadwaters as well now which is a really great help!
posted by Oborski, 19:54 | link | comments
Saturday, April 26, 2008
What a bad tempered Election Campaign some people are having!
I've just had the "dubious" pleasure of seeing a totally misleading Stourport Health Concern leaflet with a picture of a bulldozer by the Civic Centre.
According to the leaflet the plan is to demolish the Civic and provide a small meeting room and hub!
That's funny: last I heard the plan was to SELL the site a build a Civic Hall etc over the Raven St Car Park. Why on earth would anyone demolish the Civic first if the site was to be sold?
The leaflet also, totally inaccurately, claims there are plans to borrow money to provide a crematorium when the actual proposal is for a privately funded crematorium at NO PUBLIC cost!
This misleading piece of electoral rubbish also has an inaccurate "imprint".
They don't seem to know where their candidate lives!
The one thing that is certain is that, when we wake up next Friday, Wyre Forest will still be a hung Council and there will be a need to create an Administration for the next two years. The sort of unpleasant language and tactics from some parts of Health Concern seem to indicate a unpleasant couple of years!
posted by Oborski, 16:01 | link | comments (14)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
This week's Shuttle"! I've just lost a bet!!
For the last 7 years or so EVERY YEAR, the week before EVERY LOCAL ELECTION the Shuttle has printed a, usually spurious, "Hospital Panic Story" on its front page, aimed at stirring up the "we like what the rest of you say, but we have to vote for the hospital" non-thinking vote!
I'd got a fiver on them playing that game again!
It has got so bad that most of the "mainstream parties" had rechristened the paper as "Health Concern Gazette".
This year, AMAZING, NO HOSPITAL STORY!!!
Let's see if it has an impact!
posted by Oborski, 12:44 | link | comments (16)
Monday, April 21, 2008
Anonymous postings!
I reserve the right to remove ANY postings to which I object from this blog.
If YOU don't like that, tough, write your own blog!
I usually remove anonymous postings because anonymity is simply cowardice!
posted by Oborski, 15:59 | link | comments (5)
Single Site; Health Concern's plans could cost you up to £1,000 a day!
The whole point about Single Site is to SAVE money!
A full survey of Council Employees has ALREADY established that the maximum savings will arise if the new Offices are in Kidderminster.
The reason is stunningly simple!
Wyre Forest DC currently employs 517 Full and Part-time Staff.
Of those 443 are based in Kidderminster, 60 are based in Stourport and 14 are based in Bewdley.
The Bewdley staff would NOT be affected by Single Site as they are mainly Tourist Information Centre and Museum Based.
Of the Stourport Staff 1 is a Caretaker and probably another 4 or 5 would stay to provide "Hub" services; leaving around 55 to transfer.
Local Government Pay and Conditions Regulations (indeed ALL Public Sector Pay and Conditions) state that if an Employer causes and Employees normal place of work to change and this causes the employee to have to travel further to work then the Employer MUST pay the additional mileage at the normal Local Government rate.
If we err on the cautious side and say that 250 of the "Kidderminster" workforce would be eligible for this payment that would be about £1,000 per day (250x10 miles x 40p per mile). That would equal £5,000 per week!
Assuming 30 days per year Annual Leave that means 46 weeks x £5,000 = £230,000 per year = £920,000 over 4 years!
All that "wasted" money because as far as the Health Concern Group is concerned, common sense doesn't count; the ONLY thing that matters is that the Stourport tail is allowed to wag the Health Concern dog!
All that is without considering the enormous cost of having to demolish and rebuild most of the Civic Centre which is currently neither eco-friendly NOR DDA compliant plus paying for extra offices into which to decant existing staff while the demolition and building took place plus the problem that an extended Civic Centre would mean major parking problems as staff competed with tourists for the Car Parks at the rear of the Civic!
Never mind though, it allows Health Concern to play at being Stourport nationalists, who cares about intelligent use of resources anyway?
posted by Oborski, 12:24 | link | comments (3)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Lea Castle Hospital, Let's have TRUTH, NOT Lies!
I chaired the Community and Regeneration Committee when it considered the future of the Lea Castle Hospital site.
The ONLY Party to oppose the closure totally was the Labour Party!
Everyone else who spoke accepted the inevitability of closure but wanted local provision.
I had to "haul up the only Health Concern Councillor who spoke because he, insultingly, referreed to Lea Castle clients as "these poor children" when they are of course ALL adults! Neither he NOR hios colleagues voted against the closure.
Health Concern made no mention of Richard Taylor's so-called alternative.
As Vice-Chair of County Health Overview and Scrutiny I have met the action group and attended all the meetings (I had to leave the Coventry and Warks meeting at the Town Hall to go to a Wyre Forest commitment.
Apart from Dr Taylor being at the public meeting at the Town Hall and their presence at the Community and Regeneration Committee, Health Concern have NOT BOTHERED to come to meetings about Lea Castle.
Now they are issuing leaflets that are completelt untruthful.
What a dishonourable shower they are!
posted by Oborski, 16:38 | link | comments (1)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Primary School Admissions! More distressed families, and County Council not apparently aware of forthcoming regulatrion changes!
The dreaded Primary School allocation letters have been issued and I've already had phone calls from distressed parents whose kids have been allocated places at schools they cannot be physically got to because of parental employment or lack of transport.
One of the issues that MOST angers local parents is the County council stance which FORBIDS local Councillors from representing their constituents at School Admission Appeals.
I am therefore extremely grateful to one angry parent who sought my advice, he is himself a Birmingham secondary School teacher, and who drew my attention to the latest posting on the Department for Children, Schools and Families website which states:
"Appeal panels - support from local MPs and councillors
The Secretary of State has made clear that MPs are not prohibited from supporting their constituents by the Appeals Code. The Department for Children, Schools and Families intends to amend the Code, as part of the wider improvements to the admissions system, which will be consulted on in the early summer, to clarify that both MPs and local councillors can support parents at hearings as long as there is no conflict of interest."
I am now seeking an urgent meeting with County Officers!
I certainly don't have a conflict of interests but, unlike some county admissions officers, I do know how transport links do, and do NOT, work in Kidderminster!!
posted by Oborski, 16:30 | link | comments
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Will somebody PLEASE buy the Tories a Street map of Kidderminster?
Last Cllr Clee made a fool of himself talking about planting on the "Birmingham Rd Island". This year the Tory Candidate for Broadwaters is saying he has asked for a new street sign on the "Birmingham Rd" Island.
The ONLY problem is, of course, as ANYONE who knows the local area can tell you. There is NO Traffic Island on Birmingham Rd!
Birmingham Rd ends at St. Ambrose RC Church. The road down to the Ring Rd Island is, of course, Coventry St!
Candidates who don't know the names of local streets are a pain!
posted by Oborski, 14:32 | link | comments (15)
Friday, April 11, 2008
Bewdley and Rock!
There are no Liberal or Liberal Democrat Candidates in Bewdley or Rock because both Wards have long serving Independent Councillors who do a good job of representing their communities (Louise Edgington and John Simmonds) and we didn't want to oppose them and split the vote!
posted by Oborski, 18:56 | link | comments (7)
Elections and Candidates
Reading people's comments is quite amusing (apart from the pathetic!)
It's obvious that the GOVERNMENT'S description of the Role of the Councillor has NOT penetrated to some of our readers.
According to HMG Councillors are Elected to take the role of the COMMUNITY'S LEADERS! So although comments that you do'nt have to be a Councillor to play a leading/active role in a community are ok but, Councillors have a Statutory Role as Community Leaders.
Although future policy proposals ARE important, Council Policy decisions can have to change because of changes in Government Policy which MUST be adhered to even if we don't like it.
There MOST discerning voters DO take a Councillor's Record into account and I believe one of our commentors is TOTALLY WRONG, it really is action in the COMMUNITY that is MUCH more important than what someone does or does not say in a Council Meeting. It really is All Year Round Availability and Community Service that REALLY counts.
Anyone who thinks that posing in the Council Chamber is important has lost the plot!
To do the job properly you have to be attending PACT Meetings, TCC Meetings, Urban Safety Groups, Neighbourhood Partnerships etc AND dealing with the Casework. (and if you are dead lucky you might get the occasional day off!!)
posted by Oborski, 17:48 | link | comments
Saturday, April 05, 2008
REMEMBER! Too Many Tories are bad for OUR Council Tax!
Local Tory Newsletters are “BRAGGING” about how THEY have kept OUR Council Tax DOWN. The FACTS are rather different!!
- Worcestershire County Council (Overall TORY CONTROL) Council Tax UP by 4.3% (with CUTS in services!)
- West Mercia Police Authority (Overall TORY CONTROL) Council Tax UP by 4.9%
- Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority (Overall TORY CONTROL) Council Tax UP by 4.9%
- Wyre Forest District Council ( minority Tory Administration needing LIBERAL and LIBERAL DEMOCRAT agreement to get a Budget agreed) Council Tax UP by ONLY 2.5%
The Message is CLEAR: left to their own devices Tories force OUR Council Tax UP!
We NEED LIBERAL and LIBERAL DEMOCRAT COUNCILLORS with INFLUENCE to keep our Council Tax Bills DOWN!
Voting Tory can SERIOUSLY damage your pocket!
Vote LIBERAL for lower Council Tax rises WITH improved Services!
posted by Oborski, 12:54 | link | comments (9)
LIBERAL PLEDGE FOR
WYRE FOREST
Liberal Councillors WILL:
- SUPPORT the move to a Single Site Headquarters which will save YOU £750,000 per year!
- Support a new Depot site but ONLY if it is shared with The Housing Company and is NOT at the bottom of Broad St.
- Fight for improved Street Cleaning!
- Campaign for EFFICIENT Kerbside Recycling which takes ALL our recyclables!
- INSIST on more action to deal with Anti-Social Behaviour!
- Fight for improved Leisure Facilities in ALL parts of the District.
- Work with Community Groups such as OCAG, Horsefair, Broadwaters and Greenhill Partnership and Community Spirit, Broadwaters to improve OUR area.
- INSIST that action is taken against KNOWN Drug Dealers!
- Campaign for improved bus services.
- Fight for improvements at Kidderminster Railway Station.
- Work closely with our PACT Partners to improve Community Safety!
- Demand that the County Council improves the grass verges on local estates
- INSIST that the Council LISTENS to YOU and gives YOU real VALUE for MONEY!
Keep in touch with YOU via regular FOCUS Newsletters and Consult you about all matters of concern in OUR area
posted by Oborski, 12:52 | link | comments (1)
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Liberal Candidates Nominated
Wyre Forest Liberal and Radical Association has 6 Candidates Nominated for the May 1st Wyre Forest District Council Elections:
Cllr Graham Ballinger, Greenhill
Cllr Fran Oborski, Offmore Comberton
Shazu Miah, Broadwaters
Alane Harvey, Franche
Iain Price, Areley Kings
Alex Harvey, Wribbenhall
As last year we and Wyre Forest Lib Dems are not opposing each other and between the two parties we hope to be contesting at least eleven seats.
posted by Oborski, 21:51 | link | comments (32)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Postmen "Doing a Cameron"?
We all saw the press and TV publicity about the "unconventional" and sometimes illegal cycling habits of Tory Leader, David Cameron.
Sadly it seems that some Kidderminster postmen have decided to copy him.
This morning a postie on his way, presumably to Comberton or Spennells had obviously decided that the traffic lights at the Comberton Hill/Chester Road North junction did NOT apply to him.
By the time the lights turned to amber he was already half way across Chester Road having sailed past the red light before stopping right in the junction!
I'm all in favour of giving cyclists priority but that was downright dangerous.
posted by Oborski, 11:53 | link | comments (2)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Lea Castle. The Future?
Both Wyre Forest District Council AND Worcs. County Council have agreed that Coventry and Warwickshire Mental Health Trust have no REAL option, other than to close the Lea Castle site. BUT, both Councils INSIST that, before ANY patients are moved their alternative provision must be entirely acceptable to both patients and their families.
Alternative provision MUST be local to the families or, at least, within very easy travel. There are about 20 Worcestershire patients, who will be the responsibility of the Worcestershire Mental Health Trust. Other patients come mainly from Birmingham and the Black Country and will be the responsibility of their own "home" Health Trusts.
The other facilities which MUST be provided locally are URGENT replacements for the Outpatient facilities currently provided on the Lea Castle site. This MUST include replacement of Toddler Hydrotherapy sessions, which are about to close down.
As Vice Chair of Worcs. Health Overview and Scrutiny Cttee I am seeking urgent information about provision of replacement services!
posted by Oborski, 17:42 | link | comments (2)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
 Wyre Forest Hate Incident Reporting Partnership Launched.
This morning saw the launch of the Wyre Forest Hate Incident Reporting Partnership.
Working under the umbrella of the Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership, this new group aims to provide community bases where hate crime (be it based on Race, Religion, Disability, Sexuality, or any other form of prejudice) can be reported by victims who don't feel confident or comfortable going directly to the Police.
As Chair of Wyre Forest Race Relations Council I am Chairing the Hate Incident reporting Partnership.
posted by Oborski, 15:54 | link | comments (1)
Friday, March 07, 2008
Habberley Valley; what is going on?
In common with other councillors I have received a thick file of correspondence concerning apparent/alleged inappropriate controls on access to Habberley Valley by WFDC.
It is obvious that local Parish Councillors and the MP have been receiving complaints for some years.
I'm going to spend some time looking into this, it MAY merit a scrutiny exercise, it may be without foundation. WE shall see. Watch this space!
posted by Oborski, 17:52 | link | comments
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Tesco Application for Carpets of Worth Outline Planning Application Approved by 10 votes to 2!
The controversial Tesco Planning Application for the Stourport Carpets of Worth site was overwhelmingly approved tonight.
I seconded the approval because, on balance, the application had more pluses than minuses. For me it wavered between 55:45 and 60:40.
£578,000 is to be made available to improve Highways access and public transport in Stourport and ON TOP OF THAT, Tesco's will have to finance and build the new bridge over the River Stour to take transport in and out of the site via Discovery Rd. and the footbridge link to Pinta Drive.
Interstingly the "objector" speakers were rather inconsistent.
The speaker on behalf of Stourport Small Traders said that of the 33 traders he represented only 11 were situated in Stouport Town Centre and NONE of these were food retailers! The only people who would be affected by Tesco!
The speaker objecting on behalf of the Cutty Sark Residents agreed that they all KNEW that Discovery Rd was to be part of Stourport Relief Rd; ADMITTED that if the relief road were to be completed far more traffic would use Discovery Rd but still objected to it being used as access to Tesco.
The objector on Air Quality grounds was proved by District environmental Health representative to be using innaccurate information!
Stouport Town Council had overwhelmingly supported the application on a Politically split vote!
Members of ALL Wyre Forest Political Groups SUPPORTED the application with only Health Concern playing to the gallery and splitting their vote!
I am copying the entire update report as presented to the Committee so everyone can see it.
At the end of the meeting several residents came and said they were glad it had been approved and had felt intimidated by the opponents:
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07/1105/EIA
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In the light of information received from neighbouring Local Authorities with regard to compliance with the Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development)(England and Wales)(No.2) Direction 1993 which requires consideration inter alia of cumulative gross retail floorspace within a ten mile radius of the site the published recommendation is amended as follows:
“I recommend that delegated authority be given to APPROVE this application subject to it first being referred to the Secretary of State under the Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development)(England and Wales)(No.2) Direction 1993 and subject to …”
Stourport on Severn Town Council - Approve: the Town Council’s comments are reproduced in full as follows:
1. The Tesco application for planning permission for the construction of a new Class A1 Supermarket with associated means of access, customer car park, petrol filling station, new road and bridge, footbridge, landscaping, highways and other works at the former Carpets of Worth site at Severn Road, Stourport-on-Severn was considered at a Meeting of the Town Council held yesterday evening, the 3rd March, 2008.
2. The Town Council passed a Resolution recommending to the District Council that the application for planning permission should be approved.
3. A major concern within the Town Council has been the impact of the proposed development on the Town’s highway infrastructure. Particular concern has been the impact of the development at the Mitton Street/Severn Road junction, and on Lichfield Street.
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REFERENCE NO.
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ADDENDA AND CORRECTIONS
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4. The Town Council has been able to examine, however, the recommendations of the County Highway Authority as to the conditions of planning permission which should be imposed in order to safeguard the Town’s highway interests.
5. It was because of the conditions recommended by the County Highway Authority that the Town Council felt able to pass the Resolution recommending approval of the planning application. Having said that, the feeling remains within the Town Council that the only realistic solution to the Town’s traffic problems is the construction of a second River Bridge and Relief Road.
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6. If planning permission is granted by the District Council it is the hope of the Town Council that all of the highway conditions recommended by the Highway Authority will be imposed in the grant of permission.
7. Should the District Council decide to refuse the application for planning permission, and an Appeal against such refusal proceeds, it is the wish of the Town Council that its views as to the highway considerations will be presented to the Inspector appointed to hear such an Appeal.
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8. Equally, in the event that the applicant (Tesco) lodges an Appeal against the imposition of any of the conditions recommended by the County Highway Authority, the Town Council likewise wishes that its views should be presented to the Inspector appointed to determine any Appeal against any of those conditions.
9. These comments are made on express authority of the Town Council by a specific Resolution passed at the Town Council Meeting held yesterday (3rd March).
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