Inappropriate Behaviour

"As soon as Blair got in, if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job."

 This is taken from an interview by Jemima Khan in the New Statesman.  The person who said it, Ken Livingstone, Labour's candidate for Mayor of London.  His comments get worse:

"It was wonderful...you just knew the Tory party was riddled with it like everywhere else is."

As yet I'm unaware of any reaction from Ed Miliband, yet it's been out on Twitter since about 5 pm.  Ken's sentiments are disgusting.  Being lesbian or gay is not a disease people are "riddled" with.  London deserves better.

Closer to home, here in Reading the ex Director of RCRE - a charity that is meant to promote racial equality - wrote to the press calling a local politician a "bigot" and making out the latter has a "track record of supporting white racist leaders" (all complete nonsense - the politician has, amongst other things, worked to encourage ethnic minority representatives to join the Conservatives and stand as candidates; and then invested considerable time and effort to get them elected). 

The ex Director's name calling was a knee-jerk response to the politician's blogged statement that last year's Holocaust Memorial Day event had been politicised by RCRE (true - I witnessed it).

There are two causes for concern: 

1. How on earth did this man, with his flagrant lack of ability to behave in a civil manner, thereby promote cohesion and good race relations become director of such a charity?
2. Why did the Reading Post see fit to put the ex Director's words into print, especially given they hadn't even bothered to interview all those concerned?

Both Ken Livingston and the recently retired ex Director of RCRE are Labour men.  As yet I have seen no condemnation whatsoever of either man by Labour.

Fighting Injustice Under Dictatorship

Last year I wrote about Mugabe & the White African, a book written by Ben Freeth MBE (a cousin of mine).

"If Good Men Do Nothing, Evil Will Prevail" is the title of what is anticipated to be an amazing evening on 14 March, 7 pm at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore. 

Kate Hoey MP, who was a member of the first British Parliamentary delegation to Zimbabwe in 1990 and is Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe, is introducing the speakers:

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu; Dr Paul Negrut (from Romania); & Ben Freeth

The event launches the Mike Campbell Foundation, a charity set up in memory of Ben's father-in-law Mike Campbell.  Together Mike & Ben took President Robert Mugabe to court over Mugabe's programme of land seizures, both in Zimbabwe and by appeal to the Tribunal of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), whose rulings were in Mike's favour and against the Zimbabwean Government.

As the Foundation sets out, its "...essential goal is to work to restore human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe and other SADC countries. Its priority project is to restore the SADC Tribunal, in a manner which ensures its fully effective functionality.The need for the restoration of the Tribunal follows the decision of the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of SADC members on May 20 to suspend its operation. With such suspension in place and the prospect of changes to the role of the Tribunal there is now no appeal court in which any individual, company or group can challenge human rights abuses in Zimbabwe or in any other SADC countries."

Please see the Foundation's website for more details about its work and also to book the £15 tickets for the 14 March launch.  I'm looking forward to it!

Uproar at Labour's Fait Accompli

At Tuesday 24th January's RBC Council meeting there was uproar from the Conservatives and Lib Dems over the way Labour axed the Chief Executive's (CE's) post.

No evidence was provided of any meaningful assessment of the consequential risks and opportunities of their drastic action.

Since RBC is under Labour's minority control, Labour should have consulted the other parties before coming to this decision.  Instead Labour tipped off the press earlier this month after someone their side leaked the behind-closed-doors deal.  You can read the press story here - strangely there is no sign of RBC's press release on its website here which is where it should be found.

Tuesday's Council meeting was the first opportunity for Labour's Cllr Lovelock to account for her decision.  Cllr Lovelock disingenuously made out the decision was yet to be taken: this was quite ridiculous given Labour had agreed redundancy terms with Michael Coughlin, the CE already.  The deal was a fait accompli.

Labour didn't have to use their Mayor's casting vote as both Green councillors supported the axing of the CE role, as well as the 2nd in commands role: Director of Resources.

Cllr Lovelock failed to respond to my questions which were:

1. Why has Labour deliberately chopped and destabilised the top leadership posts at this time of huge change and need for strategic leadership?
2. Has Labour really learnt from its financial mismanagement of Section 106s?
3. What measures has Labour put in place to prevent similar mismanagement in the future?

Michael Coughlin was selected as CE with all-party agreement in Spring 2008.  He is well-respected and has shown no political bias.  Labour's forced unscheduled announcement of his departure was disgraceful:  Neither he, nor any other Council employee, deserves this shameful treatment.

Michael Coughlin's departure is a great loss to Reading.  Amongst many achievements, he has demonstrated a commitment to transparent local government.

It is worrying to witness Labour's arrogant, undemocratic behaviour.  I hope residents will heed this and vote against Labour gaining an outright majority on the Council this May.

If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is!

Last year one of my Ward residents was duped by a doorstep trader saying he could repair his roof very cheaply.  The trader had gained the resident's trust by doing a simple job first and then (as is common apparently with rogue traders) asking to do something else for a bit more money.

When a neighbour spotted that the men on the roof were acting oddly, seemingly pretending to work, the quick thinking neighbour contacted RBC's Consumer Protection Team.  In turn RBC rang the Police and within about half an hour the Police and Consumer Protection Team were at the house, and the workmen fled.  The Police said the roofing group is being investigated by several different authorities.

I was struck by why these traders targeted an elderly resident.  He is no fool, but possibly because of being of an older generation, not up-to-date with the going workmen's rates and perhaps being more trusting of people, he was taken in. 

As a result I looked into the matter.  I chatted with one of the Consumer Protection Team who coordinated the joint response with the Police.  Also I found out about the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT's) campaign warning constituents to be on their guard against unscrupulous traders. 

This year the OFT's campaign is targeting traders selling mobility aids on the doorstep.  I contacted both of Reading's MPs, Rob Wilson & Alok Sharma, and as a result I'm very pleased to say they are both supporting the OFT’s campaign.  They have put out the following valuable information:

Mobility aids are products that are used by the elderly or disabled such as mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and walk-in baths. These items are often sold to vulnerable people in their home.

Consumer Direct, the OFT-managed advice service attracts a large number of calls from people complaining or asking for advice about mobility aids and in 2010, over 4,500 such calls were made.

Wilson said: “Mobility aids are important products for elderly and disabled people, which can significantly improve the quality of their lives. For many, they are an absolute necessity. We are supporting the OFT’s campaign for consumers to become more aware of the risks of doorstep sellers and the tricks they use to get people to agree to buy products that they may be able to purchase at a cheaper price elsewhere.”

Sharma added: “The OFT offers some practical tips on how people can avoid being scammed by rogue doorstep traders and the key thing is not to be forced into making any snap decisions which you may afterwards regret.”

The OFT advises:

• Do not make snap decisions. Take time to talk to someone you trust before you make a decision

• Shop around. Compare pricing and information on the various options available to you so that you are not over-charged

• Even if you invite a trader into your home, you should still be on the watch out. Consider asking a friend or family member to be with you when the trader visits you in the home

For advice on doorstep selling, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040 506 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/consumer or www.oft.gov.uk/doorstepselling

Requires Improvement

Critics have tried to dismiss David Cameron's intention to scrap the 'satisfactory' judgement for school inspections & replace it with 'requires improvement' as mere semantics.  However I believe the PM is absolutely right.  Our schools should aspire to be at least 'good': 'satisfactory' isn't good enough!

On a similar vein I was delighted by Michael Gove's announcement last week to make it easier and quicker for Heads to get rid of poor teachers.  Why should our children have to put up with anything less than 'good' teachers?  I know the Education Secretary's reforms have alarmed Unions, but hope that with careful thought the latter will realise it is wholly appropriate. 

The vast majority of teachers engage & inspire their pupils, making learning fun.  There are teachers out there who, for whatever reason, are unable to do this.  Their pupils know this and switch off or muck around.  Being taught by a poor teacher for a whole year can have hugely damaging consequences on a pupil's future education and life chances.

It's obvious to fellow teachers and it creates tensions in the staff room.  They know if inspectors observe a teacher delivering a poor lesson this can drag down the Ofsted rating of their entire school. 

This policy should enable Heads to dismiss teachers who cannot or will not improve their teaching despite a targeted program of help from advanced teachers.

Surely therefore for all these reasons Gove's desire to speed up the capability process stands to reason?  Our children deserve the best chance of a decent education: not to be turned off by someone who would probably be happier in a different career.

Finely Balanced Decision

At Wednesday's Planning Applications Committee, Highdown School sought permission for 8 x 15 m high floodlight columns for their recently upgraded football/hockey all-weather pitch (near the transmitter tower).

Kidmore End view: floodlights will be to the left of the transmitter

The elements making this a tricky decision included on the one side: the lie of the land & elevated position of the pitches, proximity to & lower level of the housing, location next to the wildlife corridor & proximity to open countryside, accepted fact that floodlighting would have a detrimental impact on the character of the area/residents' quality of life/the environment.  On the flip side there are obvious health benefits of increasing the hours sport is enjoyed, as well as giving people of any age a positive pastime.

When the application came to the October meeting I asked for a deferral because the applicant's submission didn't take into account the change in levels between the proposed siting of the floodlighting and the surrounding housing.  This month the application came back to Planning with the addition of a Floodlighting Impact Assessment.

Residents and I were left unconvinced by the submitted predicted light pollution drawings.  I truly hope that I am proved wrong in my belief that the light spill will be a blight to the area.

After the officer's introduction I highlighted the choices before the Committee.  I discounted the applicant's desired 10 pm curfew out-of-hand.  I said it was between accepting the officer's proposal of 8 pm Mon-Fri, 6 pm Sat-Sun plus a variance in September to accommodate bats; seeking an earlier curfew; or refusing the application outright.  I added that it was an incredibly finely balanced decision and that my belief was the negative impacts outweighed the benefits.

Sadly Labour's Deputy Leader, Tony Page had a conflicting opinion - and the predictable block voting of his colleagues, added to the 2 Liberal Democrats' votes prevented a refusal.  Thankfully though Cllr Page agreed with me as far as a 10 pm week-day curfew would be inappropriate, but he & his Labour colleagues as well as the 2 Lib Dems - voted against my compromise of a 7 pm Mon-Fri and 6 pm Sat-Sun to accommodate young children being disturbed by the floodlighting.  I'm happy to note that Green Cllr Melanie Eastwood supported me in this bid because of her first-hand experience as a mother of a 3 year old, together with my Conservative colleagues.

However the final vote came down in agreement with the officer's recommendation, with 5 against.  The proof of the level of intrusion will be when the floodlighting is put in place and turned on.  I sincerely hope the fears shared by local residents, Cllr Eastwood, my colleague Ed Hopper, Conservative colleagues on the Committee and me are proved wrong.  This is a unique, elevated position adjacent to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; I fervently hope this creeping urbanisation will not have a dramatic negative impact on this beautiful valley.

Child Safety Improvement

Thanks to excellent collaborative work between Caversham Primary School's Headteacher - Ruth Perry, PCSO Karen Vaughan, Ed Hopper and me, the Council has painted yellow zig zags and "School Keep Clear" by the school's main entrance to the playground.

The new sign has been working well, improving drivers' visibility of children using Victoria Road's big gate, previously obscured by parked people movers and cars.

Safety has been an ongoing concern with several near misses when children shorter than the height of a car stepped out in front of oncoming traffic.

Conservative activist Ed Hopper & I spoke with Victoria Road residents last November establishing complete support for zig zags.  I spoke with RBC's Transport Department to find out the logistics.  Next PCSO Karen Vaughan and I met with Ruth Perry, as often Karen has witnessed the risk to toddlers and children obscured from drivers by parked cars at school pick up time and wanted to improve the situation.  Naturally the school's governing body agreed to the improvement and the paint went down just before Christmas.

Residents, parents and Ruth Perry alike are all pleased with the change.  Practically everybody is respecting it: anyone who has dared try to park there has been moved on swiftly by parents!