Martin Brookes Independent Candidate for Greetham Ward Rutland County Council elections
I arrived home to find amongst my pile of junk mail, which include Raffle Tickets to Save a Devon Donkey,
a leaflet from the Rutland Conservative Team.
I read it with interest although they will not be getting my vote on May 5th.
Your Conservative Team-always putting Rutland First
What does that mean? most of the Conservatives I have met don't do that. Their Leader Roger Begy has recently come under attack from his own members. Conservative Mark Wells publicly said he would rather work for Robert Magube than Roger Begy, It may not been a very wise choice for a comparison but I think it sums up a very sorry state of affairs Rutland County Council finds its self in at the moment.
And Now Is Time For Change
Gene Plews says he and Jonathan Munton have pledged to be hands on sleeves rolled up and on your side!
So where has Gene Plews been for the last four years? I have seen him in my ward once trying to sort out parking issues in our area, something I had dealt with as a town councillor.
0% Council Tax Increase.
Although still the highest in England
When will this team wake up? these days of the internet, we can all see this has nothing to do with any work carried out by their team it is just based on a Council Tax Freeze Grant from central government, to be paid over the next four years as an incentive not to increase the tax. Of course what this team was blind too, before they agreed to this freeze, was the government never factored in the parish councils and their rising precepts they were only sent a note asking for no increase this year they won't receive any extra cash over the next four years, as the cost increase it is obvious they will raise the precept, how will this be funded by Rutland County Council more Cuts in Services and jobs at the Council?
I am beginning to wonder what the future role of Rutland County Council will be.
This Conservative team with the help of Helen Briggs has contracted out so much work to other local authorities and cut jobs.
It also cut grants to local organisations. some very important ones like Voluntary Action Rutland
They also refuse grants from outside Arts and Community Groups accept their own Arts For Rutland
The local schools are opting out of local authority control, when other school teachers are striking to avoid academy status, Rutland School are begging to get away from Rutland County Council.
They go on about Health and give up supporting school meals.
We have very poor public transport links. This needs a full review.
Those transport services that do look good are pointless, I often watch as the Empty Oakham Hopper drive past my home on the pavement.
Conservative Cllr Terry King wants to demolish our heritage, I am surprised by how many people visit this blog after searching for Lord Lonsdale the founder of the AA and Barleythorpe Hall.
This Conservative group see building new home as the answer to everything, the cash received from Government for building new homes only a short term solution.
I also want to see a rise in tourism but what is there to keep visitors here. Barleythorpe Hall should be preserved as a tourist attraction.
On jobs they pledge to £200,000 for super fast broadband into Rutland.
Its my understanding this came about because Helen Briggs and her other senior staff want to work from home to save cost? They found they found they could not work from home because of the poor internet service currently provided in Rutland.
On May the 5th Please vote for change and please don't vote for a Conservative if you really want that change. Please do your research some independents are really Conservatives.
Published by Martin Brookes, 13 Willow Crescent, Oakham Rutland, LE15 6EQ
