01/05/2025
*POTHOLES *
To fix potholes – fix care.
This is a symptom of a bigger issue – the funding and way councils are funded. 65 pence in every pound is spent on Adults Care and Children’s Care. That has the first call on the cash.. Both areas are approx. £10m overspent for the year just ended 31 March.
When that happens all the other council services, including highways maintenance get raided to fund the shortfalls.
To keep our roads in the current poor state at least £8m a year more needs to be spent, to improve it needs to be more than that. We have a policy of the orderly management of decline. The much heralded £10m from the Conservatives is an attempt to bribe people with their own money. I proposed a £2m increase which they refused before that.
The other parties say, we will fix it, how? There is no plan. Those who say they will do this or that have never proposed an alternative budget to make it happen.
That is why we as Independents will keep the main parties honest. Without fear or favour we will point out inconvenient facts, like a lot of pot hole repairs were on the route of the cycling race, or that the JCB machine is running at 50% of the capacity the manufactures say it is capable of.
Where you have more than one vote, use one to vote independent to keep the party honest and work for you, not them.
FLYTIPPING
WNC is currently on course to clear 20,000 fly tips in a year!! That is too many, and costing you too much.
In Northampton town I think we need an amnesty and clean up then a crack down. I supported a Labour proposal to have community skips to try to tackle this issue. There needs to be stronger enforcement, I think it would be better done directly by WNC and not contracted out as at present. The Cons opposed that – not their idea. As Independent, not bound by a party whip, I can vote for sensible ideas no matter where they come from.
We need to review the cost of bulky waste – is this making it too expensive to dispose of white goods and furniture at the side of road or a ditch rather than taking it to the tip?
WNC has had some limited success in prosecution and naming and shaming the offenders, we need a lot more of this to make this anti social behaviour as frowned upon as other loutish behaviour.
On May 1 a vote for an Independent candidate will be a vote for you and not them.
HMO REGULATION
This is more of an issue within the town centre than the rural areas. To be fair WNC have followed up on the Northampton Borough policy of attempting to restrict the growth of HMOs. They often get defeated at appeal, where one person, probably never been near Northampton and has no fear of being impacted by their decision making, decides to over turn the policy.
I will support any party that will attempt to restrict the numbers in an area. Our planning policy needs to be very clear on HMOs however the present government wants to ease up on planning rules not restrict them.
I will also support the council in its quest to find and shut down all illegal HMOs. Rogue landlords should be shut down and face the stiffest of penalties. They often exploit the most vulnerable and put them in unsafe conditions.
On May 1 a vote for an Independent candidate will be a vote for you and not them.
Housing and Planning Policy
If there was ever a system that worked for them and not you it is planning. We must change that to work for you, not them.
The planning system needs reform, proper reform to address the imbalance of power between council and developers. The recent changes from this new Labour government weaken council control further, give higher housing targets and no rewards to hard pressed communities
WNC needs to end its spineless attitude to enforcement and stop developers when they are in breach of their planning conditions.
I have case work in my ward where the council did its job and collected money for improved NHS facilities at a local surgery. The NHS will not spend the money. There is a high likelihood this money £100k+, may have to be returned to the developer, unspent, as per the contract.
This needs a fix. Just as in spelling I before E. We must put the Infrastructure in before the Expansion. Government must help with public services. We will never get homes at reasonable prices when developers have to pay for schools, roads, etc as these costs are merely reflected in the selling price..
WNC Planning service is one of the worst performing in the country. They went from bad to terrible, improved to poor and now have aspirations for mediocrity, any new council must get on top of this. Improve performance, End the silo lazy delays. Have competent staff who will just do the basics like answer queries on time.
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