Councillor Mike Leddy

Army Recovery Capability (ARC)??????

2011-02-19T12:02:00.000Z

What in heavens name has happened to the unwritten covenant?
When our country sends our service men and women in to conflict zones, they the service personnel expect to have their families and themselves cared for in a situation where the service personnel are injured or killed.
In today's Daily Telegraph I read that those who have been wounded in the line of serving our country are to be booted out of the services, on the grounds of not being able to perform military tasks. This new tactic will fly in the face of a previous promise made by the former head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannatt ( the army general who came in to advise David Cameron when he was leader of the opposition), who said those injured on operations could remain in the forces. Is this yet another U turn? If it is, it isn't in my name, nor should it be in your name, we need to ensure that our Member of Parliament knows our views and raise this new policy in Parliament, regardless of whatever political stance you may have on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Credit Where Credits Due

2011-02-08T18:40:00.000Z

This dear is in my books a hero, tackling a group of daylight robbers with only a handbag and succeeding, whilst others initially stood around watching the goings on.

Polio - Let's All Eradicate It

2011-01-28T18:48:00.000Z

My generation are fully aware of the consequences of Polio, me personally, who had it at the age of 5 and came through it unscathed, except for a very slight walking issue. Whilst tens of thousands died and similar numbers remain with severe mobility problems and that is only in this country, world wide it's a much worse picture and in undeveloped countries much much worse.
Now you won't often see me giving praise to a Tory led Government, however with them doubling their contribution next year to eradicate that awful decease, Polio, needs applauding.
Polio is a debilitating diseased which like smallpox needs to be fully eradicated, the sooner the better.

After Neighbourhood Offices They Now Want To Close Our CAB's

2011-01-27T10:09:00.000Z

Birmingham’s five Citizens Advice Bureau centers face closure after losing £600,000 in council funding and staff faces redundancy as the charity awaits news on other funding streams.

It has been widely reported that the five Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) offices across the city face closure next month after the council cut £600,000 in funding and the service is also in line to loose further funding from other services, threatening some 45 jobs.
As expected, Birmingham’s coalition run City Council said it had always warned the Birmingham CAB not to rely on council funding, however CEO of Birmingham’s CAB, Yvonne Davis, said the charity got five times the council funding from other sources such as Macmillan Cancer Care and the Royal British Legion, but it still relied on the city council for 20 per cent of its funding.

It's All Wonga To Charge Too Much Interest

2011-01-24T16:39:00.001Z

The number of quick loan companies advertising quick loans over short periods on TV is particularly worrying, in so much as the interest rates for these short period loans is as much as 2600%APR, which in itself is immoral.
Researching for this article, I'm astonished to find that over 4 million quick short term loans were transacted in the UK last year alone, with absolutely no control over the interest rates charged, which I find astonishing in this day and age.
Apparently the OFT in a report to Government last June spoke of their concerns, but has the Government done anything? No It's done diddly squat and this will remain so long as these companies continue to support certain political views, or support certain activities like that of sponsoring transport on New Years day in London after a request from old Boris.
Say no more.

Inflation Possibly, Stagnation More Likely

2011-01-24T10:37:00.000Z

Whether you wish to measure it as RPI or CPI inflation is on the up, something which we haven’t seen at these levels for quite sometime.

The difficulties with inflation will be the impact on those living on fixed incomes and young families with mortgages.
With the Bank of England’s economists charged at keeping inflation at levels set by George Osbourne each year, interest rates will definitely increase if not this coming month then next. Interest rate increases will be yet another burden needing to be absorbed in to households monthly budgets as salary increases in both private and public sectors will be unheard of for this year and possibly even next.

Is It Truely Deception?

2011-01-23T13:52:00.000Z

Oh how true is this!
Being actively involved in politics for over forty years, seeing numerous styles in government, both local and national, I whole heartily agree with the sentiment from this contributor.

Sorry To See You Go Alan

2011-01-21T14:11:00.000Z

Probably the most approachable bloke in the whole of Gordon Browns Cabinet was Alan Johnson, as was Yvette Cooper streets ahead of all of the other women I had met.
So the news that Alan Johnson was resigning from being a front bench spokesman for the shadow cabinet is a really tough blow, not just for Ed Miliband of course, but The Labour Party as a whole. I wish and hope matters turn out well for him and his family.

On the other hand Yvette Cooper will be no walk over as Shadow Home Secretary, believe me, she is extremely intelligent and very diligent in her dealings, so they had better watch out in The Home Office and their ministers.
On the other hand Labour's front bench rottweiler, Ed Balls, can now set about ripping chunks out of George Osbourne and that team of n'er do wells, after all Ed has probably forgotten more than the whole of that team know about economics in it's broadest sense.

Will There be A Fuel Duty Increase In April?

2011-01-17T20:34:00.001Z

With The Treasury expected to make an extra £2 billion out of the misery of motorists having to pay more for petrol, it seems that some Tories, including the Prime Minister wants to ensure those who live in the countryside pay less. I can accept that there are families in rural areas who simply can't afford the petrol price increases, but there is also a far greater number who can pay the extra. So why should poorer urbanites also be ignored?

Rats at 10 Downing Street Shock

2011-01-17T20:11:00.003Z

It seems that there are more rats in Downing Street than most of us thought.

Look behind Gary O'Donoghue and you'll see one on the steps of No 10 and no it isn't David, Nick, Vince or George.

Commission Land v Crown Land

2011-01-16T15:13:00.000Z

The Coalition Governments plans to sell off most if not all of Forestry Commision Land, are in my opinion unacceptable, but so did some members of the Lib-Dems who now partner the Tories in Government and in particular Danny Alexander, who is Chief Secretary to The Treasury, the recipients of the money. Me thinks double standards here!!!!!!!

In Canada almost all of the land, around 89% of land is “Crown land”, that is to say that either the provincial or the federal Government owns the land and will allow logging, mineral, farming or sometimes fishing rights to the land to individuals, corporations or aboriginal groups. However being Crown Land gives entitlement to the "subjects" to cross the land, hike across it and even camp on it.
If only our Government, past and present had the mindset to have passed in to legislation what previous Canadian Governments had achieved, no one would need to worry about access to what is now our land, but will shortly become fenced off, private property.

Banks To Pay Billions In Bonuses

2011-01-12T07:32:00.001Z

No Apologies.
No Restraint.
No Shame.
Hence True Morals.
It's an absolute disgrace that the Government will not continue the former Labour Governments tax on very large bankers bonuses.

Birmingham Refuse Collection

2011-01-05T10:34:00.000Z

They still haven't collected our household rubbish since 15th December, as they haven't enough work to collect in, I'm being facetious, as across the whole of Birmingham there are piles of rubbish on pavements in almost every road, except Sutton Coldfield which seemed to have the whole resource of Holford Drive last Monday and again this past Monday to clear it.
So why is the same department that doesn't have enough crews out collecting household refuse, have enough people to deliver refuse bags and garden green waste bags, even though this service is suspended until late February. It just beggars belief that a Tory Lib-Dem Council could cause so much havoc in such a short time, before Christmas it was the lack of gritting on roads, after Christmas it was household refuse around in in roads, same department, same Strategic Director, same portfolio, same Cabinet Member!!!!!!!!

Another Promise Made, But Could This Be Another Promise Broken?

2011-01-01T13:32:00.001Z

The coalition Government has only been in power for a few months, just over six months to be quite frank. One promise I thought that they hold on to, was that on education and in particular "Sure Start Centres" funding being safe, however as the money is given to local authorities to fund such centres, there is no ring fencing, so it's up to the L.A. to decide where it goes. Hence the article in today's Daily Mirror where Hammersmith and Fulham council, a Tory Flagship Council, are closing down nine of the fifteen centres in that borough. Is this to be just the tip of the iceberg, I wonder?

The Middle Class And The Squeezed Middle

2011-01-01T11:41:00.000Z

“Fundamentally this is a Government out of touch with the needs of the middle classes and indeed the squeezed middle.”, not my words but that of Ed Miliband in an interview on Radio 4's Today Programme, where John Humphrys tried to tear a strip or two off Ed, over "The squeezed middle" late November. Today in the Daily Telegraph we read that the squeezed middle are being squeezed by the Government by as much as £3,000 this coming year.

A Whole Generation Will Loose Out

2011-01-01T10:48:00.000Z

An article by David Blanchflower in this weeks New Statesman, really hit home with the way this coalition Government is treating young people and in particularly those who are unemployed.
Unemployment at the best of times in unsavoury, but when you are so young, lack skills and knowledge of working, there is no where but down.
This is a subject that Gordon Brown and the previous Government took serious, providing additional Area Based Grants to local authorities to provide employment experiences for young people.
I know from my own personal experience of interviewing people over many decades, having seen at first hand the confidence of someone who has had recent employment opposed to those who are unemployed and them feeling inadequate because they don't have a job.

Is It Man Flu Or Swine Flu?

2011-01-01T09:46:00.000Z

Let me begin by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

As the title of this article states, is it man flu or swine flu, either way I'm feeling terrible, aching head, terrible cough, difficult in breathing and really down and awful. The thing is, is that I've become addicted to writing stuff on this blog, so no matter how awful I feel, I do want to say something, no matter how banal it may seem to you who reads it.

Anyone Got The Name Of A Good Luggage Loss Adjuster?

2010-12-31T12:30:00.000Z

Losing something can lead to tears, particularly if it is something with sentimental value, so I’m wondering what George Osborne lost in his luggage on his New Year trip to Klosters, for a sking holiday.

Read this and fell about laughing, particularly as so many thousands were put under much more stress in the week before Christmas, at airports across the country.
More importantly a lot more people will be losing something much more important than their luggage in the months to come, their jobs.

The Sound Of Music Is a Joy To Hear

2010-12-31T10:43:00.001Z

Is the sound of music to become the sound of silence in our primary schools and beyond?
Like everything else, there are cuts, with cuts in the arts never seen before, even under the Thatcher Governments, the loss of music inside primary schools is about to hit home, unless of course you can afford to pay the Peripatetic teacher who provides the lessons.
Whilst I'm of an age where other than a weekly sing along with my class teacher, no instruments to speak of, except one drum, (I was never chosen to play it), a pair of cymbals and several triangles, there were no other instruments in the school, except for the piano in the school hall and heaven help you if you ever went anywhere near it.
When our children had an opportunity they took it, we made sure they took it and today all four are still involved with music, playing instruments and/or singing to a reasonably good standard.
It's not that I'm arty in any way, but I've see the joy that music can bring in to ones life, me as someone who watches and listens and our off-spring pleasure in playing and singing it. Our children are now striving to provide the same to their children, already our oldest grandchild has a ukulele to train on.

So is it to be the last post for the provision of music in schools? I for one hope not.

An Emergency About To Emerge - Update 30th December Part II

2010-12-30T23:13:00.000Z

Well at last it does seem as though he's stirring, even if it is a tad late.

The real question is what is he about to do with around 740 flu cases in ITU out of 3,500 beds nationally, that's about a fifth of critical care beds taken up by flu cases?
I know I keep on about David Cameron not coming out to do something about the impending problem in our hospitals, but is he being quiet on purpose as Andrew Lansley is from the far right wing of the party. Could it be a case of sink or swim A.L., you're on your own on this one?

Some Council Contractors Really Are Sh**e At Customer Service. Why?

2010-12-30T22:39:00.002Z

Over the past three weeks I have been fed up sorting out problems that residents in Brandwood have had with the Councils building and gas contractors.
Now I know it has been cold and there probably has been an increase in the number of calls made to the call centre, yet there can be no excuse for some of the cases I've dealt with.
1. Woman informed that gas contractor would call again, as he needed to order parts to sort out blow-air heating problem in Tilshead Close. The lady phoned me some eighteen day later in desperation, as calls to the centre didn't amount to much, Morrisons the gas contractor hadn't got back in touch with her and she had a very cold house, eventually sorted after two days of phone calls.
2. Older couple in Bicknell Croft, boiler failed early November, numerous phone calls by resident fitter turns up and informs resident that part had to be ordered. After sixteen days and numerous phone calls from me, contractors fitter turns up, says the fault is what the original fitter had previously said, lights the pilot light, says they need a part to be ordered and leaves, (Does this sound familiar). I get really annoyed make more phone calls and told that the part and fitter would be at the address next morning, they don't turn up, so have to make a phone call in the afternoon and job is sorted, or at least I thought so, on 17th December, boiler breaks down AGAIN, resident makes phone calls, numerous promises and appointments are broken, so she phones me on 20th December. I am made promises and assurances, eventually a NEW BOILER is fitted as a Christmas present on 24th December.
3. A registered disabled person living in Druids Heath, is left by the gas contractor without any heating whatsoever as they had to order spare parts, with no promise of when the parts were to arrive after several days, she's told to phone me. I end up having to chase the problem and I will admit within hours this is sorted, but is this the result of having to deal with me, I don't know.
4. 23rd December, I get a desperate phone call from older residents in a tower block, they had to phone in a water leak around 3:30pm and promised that someone would be out within two hours. no one turns up so they contact me, I spend thirty minutes trying to get someone at the call centre to answer my call, a totally unacceptable length of time, make the report and ask that someone from the out of hours duty team contacts me. An hour later I get a phone call from a Mossvale operative, these are the high pressure water mains team for tower block systems, this was not a leak from their system, all it needed was a plumber, who eventually turns up hours late about four hours late after being called in by the out of hours electricians who had turned up hours earlier to check the electrics in the older tenants flats. Eventually the Housing duty officer phones me after I had sorted out the contractors over the phone. What a shambles.
5. Bicknell Croft again, foul water pipe leak, after numerous phone calls starting early in December, someone originally from the buildings contractor turns up very late one evening, is a little snotty with the resident, recognises its not a job for him and brings in the experts for sewer pipe. These contractors turn up late evening on Wednesday and promise to be back the Thursday morning, no one turns up, hence another call from a disgruntled resident for me to sort out this afternoon.
6. This one takes the biscuit, honestly it really does. A council resident living in a terrace block, along Brandwood Park Road has a water leak, phones it in and the building contractors plumber turns up, sees a water leak, says can't do this now and turns off the water supply. Not only does he turn it off to the house but all of the other in the block, with no knowledge to the other residents of what he was going to do whatsoever, with a promise that he would return tomorrow. You've guessed it, he didn't turn up nor did anyone else till forty eight hours later. In the mean time the other residents attempted to get thing moving, only to be told by Birmingham Council Call centre that they could not talk to the upset owner occupiers as they weren't tenants, the same was said when they tried to contact the contractor direct. The repair took less than an hour. Some contractor, some plumber, some call centre, some procedure eh!
Then this evening I read about the poor mother in Quinton who also went through similar problems, on the BBC website, yet again senior council officers have been chasing around to ensure the repair gets done. They shouldn't have to!!!!!!!!
Being a councillor is a 24/7 job, I don't mind it being those hours. I've been out to residents that have had a tree fall on their house. I've been to residents that have had a drunk driver as a guest in their front room, yes and these were on a Christmas Eve and in the early hours of a Christmas Day, its part of the job and helping people as you've some knowledge takes some worry away from them, as someone else is taking charge.
Taking on housing repair cases like those I've mentioned shouldn't be me, or any of the officers I chase up, the contractor if doing the job right wouldn't get complaints from me nor would senior officers need to ensure my jobs are sorted, they should all be doing their job and doing it correctly.
If these are my cases which are not being dealt with properly, how many others are there in the system to be dealt with, where promises have been made, not kept, worse still forgotten about?

An Emergency About To Emerge - Update 30th December 2010

2010-12-30T12:37:00.000Z

Don't say I didn't warn you, it's already started in Walsall, when The Manor Hospital struggled for extra space to put up beds for patients.
Will someone please wake up David Cameron and Andrew Lansley and tell them about what their actions are having and will have on OUR NHS.

An Englishmans Castle

2010-12-30T12:21:00.000Z

With unemployment set to reach a tad under three million next year, the worse figure for seventeen years and that too was under a Tory Government, it's no wonder that house prices will fall. Predictions are that the average house will drop by 10% and no wonder when mortgage companies are asking too high a deposit for first time buyers, with it trebling over the past decade to an astonishing £28,770.

Deja vu Or What!!!!

2010-12-30T11:49:00.000Z

Unemployment rising. Government cuts public spending and industry leaders are concerned that the economy may just not do what the Government wants it to do. Sounds familiar?

Well the evidence is now quite clear, Cameron and Osbourne are Margaret Thatchers children after all.
The National Archives have just released documents relating to Margaret Thatchers tenur as Prime Minister in 1980, releasing them for public knowledge using the thirty year rule.
So now we have it. Ed was right all along.

More Centurians In Coming Decades

2010-12-30T11:32:00.000Z

Well it’s official, there’s a very strong possibility that I could live to be 100, or at least a fifth of us could.

To be perfectly honest the chances of me doing it are slim, I abuse my body, I love bacon and egg fry-ups, smoked a pipe until earlier this year, only gave it up because I could no longer get my brand, love a tipple of the hard stuff and being honest don’t do a great deal of exercise, other than leafleting.
So no Government should worry too much about having to pay my pension. Now as for my better half, well that’s another matter, they had better take out a mortgage to pay her pension.

Americans Are More For A Coffee Party Than A Tea Party

2010-12-30T10:53:00.002Z

The darling or the right in the US, Sarah Palin, isn’t getting any popular in fact her rating has dropped from 67% to now only 49%, So what was to have been a crowning come the primaries late next year, isn’t on. Popularity is one matter, potential leadership is another, whilst I don’t like the woman, Mike Huckerbee former Governor of where Bill Clinton comes from, Arkansas or better still Mitt Romney another Governor this time from Massachusetts would make a better leaders of the Republican Party.
I’m still backing Barrack Obhama to come out of all this smelling of roses, hence being re-elected, for a second term.

Welcome Home - In Style

2010-12-29T13:47:00.000Z

I just love this, it's so entertaining, look out for 'the boys are back in town'.

An Emergency About To Emerge - UPDATE 29th Dec 2010

2010-12-29T13:35:00.000Z

The perfect storm, not my words, but that of today's Daily Mail, on the flu pandemic and its impact on hospitals up and down the land.
When will David Cameron intervene and ensure that matters are handled properly?
Already there is back tracking over immunisation of under five year olds, but it's too late for this winter. And they just said Labour was stirring it up, just being political, when in fact Labour was right all along, as we are about the impending disaster in hospitals.

It's All Tactics And Strategy Dear Boy - Has Ed Got It Right?

2010-12-29T12:57:00.000Z

I’m not certain about AV, I just don’t see the full benefits to me as a Labour Party member and activist, unlike almost every Lib-Dem member does. Because of this, I haven’t signed up to either of the two camps for the coming referendum, actually sitting on the fence.

I admit that I’m annoyed that the whole AV debate has become a victim of pork-belly politics, with new constituencies, and basically political gerrymandering, all part of the new Tory revolution to remain in power at all costs.
Similar practices were undertaken by Republicans a while ago and eventually backfired on them and I’m predicting the same for the Tories if they insist on doing it this time around.
The devil in me says that I should go for AV as the vast majority of the opposition are right wing Tories inside and out of Parliament. If the Tory right wing were to be beaten, how long would they wait before challenging David Cameron?
Would a Yes vote for AV ever prevent a Tory landslide ever happening again, like in 1983? Most probably.
Would it necessary mean that all future Parliaments are hung? Not really.
Could AV present Labour with a victory? Possibly.
What is most likely is that Labour would probably have to court the left wing of the Lib-Dems to form a government, so opposing AV for opposing sake isn’t on, as we should at least in part and principle, recognise the need for change. Hence has Ed Miliband seen the light and is this the reason why he is in favour of AV. Me thinks so and in doing will build bridges between groupings within both parties for the future, tactics and strategy dear boy, tactics and strategy.
All that needs to happen is to convince the electorate either way before May’s referendum.

Was Mervyn King Right About Cameron & Osbourne's Experience?

2010-12-29T10:38:00.000Z

They've only been in power for a few months and already unemployment next year is predicted to reach a 17 year high, with another 200,000 souls losing their job and all due to the political dogma of The Tories, ably supported by the Lib-Dems.
I will admit that I only have a basic understanding of macro economics, having studied a module of economics a good number of years ago. However even I can see sectoral economics would suggest that 'balancing the books' is a good economic policy in our economy, unless they wanted to cause mass unemployment and suffering.
Regrettably the Government don't see it that way, so hands up those who elected it.

2-1 With One To Play In Sydney

2010-12-29T09:50:00.000Z

We keep the little wooden urn and England do it by an innings and 157 runs.
Well done lads.
Now its off to Sydney to finish them off once and for all.

Haggis Expedition Anyone?

2010-12-28T13:54:00.000Z

Already the Scots are ticking off the days on the calendars and not just those days to hogmanay, they're doing it as this Friday sees the first day of the month long season for catching the Haggis. That rarely spoken of animal in civilised society, that roams the hills and glens north of the border, which for just one month, the month of January is feasted on by Scotsmen and women the world over.
Recent press articles have been saying that there could be a serious shortage this year, as the heavy snows last February interrupted the breeding season, so it will be shortage and high prices.
Anyone up to going on an expedition with me, to get a few in Aviemore, to see what we can bring back and sell on?

Briton Participates in Death Penalty

2010-12-28T12:10:00.001Z

I'm appalled to read that Briton exports the drug used to execute prisoners in the USA, if this is true, then something needs to be done to ban the selling of this drug abroad. The only company that produces and exports this substance is Archimedes Pharma UK whose headquarters is in Reading.
Capital punishment was outlawed in this country and rightly so, in my lifetime, so I don't wish to be part of a civilised society that on the one hand cherishes life, whilst on the other participates in executions. Pass this knowledge on.

It's Our NHS Mr Lansley, Not Yours

2010-12-28T11:45:00.000Z

Hands up all of those who voted for increased waiting times, whether they be in Accident and Emergency or for a hospital bed, because your doctor thinks you may have cancer. Is that no one?
Right, so Andrew Lansley, to Secretary Of State for Health, that's right, the person who won't advertise that those at greatest risk should have the flu jab, hence critical care beds are getting blocked, so operations can't take place. Well the same man is coming under the magnifying glass again, this time because he is asking for too high a saving in the NHS budget, his dictate of wanting £20 billion is almost impossible unless something gives and the gives will be longer waits for hospital beds, shorter stays in hospital or cuts in front line staff.
So what is it to be? Hands up then.
Or will David Cameron step in, like he did over flu jabs, or is that, didn't step in over flu jabs. Time will tell.

Day Three Was As Bad For The Ozzies

2010-12-28T09:19:00.001Z

3-17, what a superb effort.
It's almost in the bag, which will mean that England will be 2-1 up with one to play and the little wooden urn is ours.

Australia 98 v England 444-5 Day Two

2010-12-27T17:24:00.000Z

What's worse than losing?

Losing badly

An Emergency About To Emerge - UPDATE 27th Dec 2010

2010-12-27T13:20:00.000Z

I said it would begin to happen, that hospitals would postpone operations as critical care beds wouldn't be available because the flu epidemic had taken hold, now all we have to wait for now are the bed queues in casualty departments for me to hit the bulls eye.
It isn't too late for David Cameron to step in and get things motoring, but is he man enough? Andrew Lansley seems to just ignore everything as he knows best, but does he?

National Strategic Assets And A Golden Share

2010-12-27T12:57:00.000Z

The more I look at how this country is managed by politicians of all colours and persuasions, the more I'm inclined to the idea that where there are strategic hubs, such as airports, power stations, gas terminals, water supply, telecoms and the like, parts of our nation, which we all take for granted, but which are vital for the day to day management of our nation, the more a "Golden Share Holder" position becomes clearer.
I'm not for nationalisation or re-nationalisation of businesses, but I do believe that we should have a major say, when the need arises in to how matters should be undertaken in emergencies, hence, the golden share option.
Just before Christmas the Government offered help and assistance to BAA the Spanish owners of Heathrow Airport, to have that offer refused, yet tens of thousands of travellers were to miss out on their plans, London looked ridiculous, as after four days we still hadn't/couldn't clear four inches of snow. In such circumstances, better still earlier, we as a nation, through the Government's Golden Share, should have stepped in and cleared the snow, then charged the Spanish company to full cost of doing it.. Similarly with the sale of much of our strategic infrastructure, the new owners need to be aware, we welcome them as owners, that they have responsibilities which they should hold and act on, otherwise we may step in and take over the organisation or even pass it on to another organisation that will do the bidding of the nation.
This isn't to frighten the new investors, but to encourage them and ensure that our nation remains safe and away from harm, no matter who owns the strategic infrastructure.

Don't Cut Off My Electricity, Or Else

2010-12-27T12:04:00.000Z

The prime purpose of a business is to provide/create money for the sole benefit of its shareholders, simple. Otherwise why have a business?

Now however we read in today's newspaper that the energy regulator OFGEM has warned electricity companies that they will apply heavy fines to these companies if due to lack of maintenance/investment on the network there is a loss of power to the customer.

Following the privatisation of the national grid, numerous investors gained a quick profit through selling shares and it didn't matter who bought the shares, hence, most of the network is now in the ownership of foreign businesses, who are waking up to the fact that they need to invest around £30billion to update the whole network over the next few years. So what are these companies doing? You've got it, selling them off at a knock down price and again the new buyers to date have been foreign businesses again.

To be perfectly honest all I want, is to ensure that the supply to my house, the house of vulnerable residents and to hospitals is not interrupted, it's not a lot to ask for, is it?

Don't Save It, Spend It

2010-12-26T22:58:00.000Z

Some economists are predicting that there are only nine days left for all of us to sort out the economy. I say all of us, because we need to buy, buy and buy like there is no tomorrow, to save a number of shops from going bust, which if we fail could in turn cause the collapse of a number of manufacturers of goods possibly as high a one thousand businesses, that provide items in the after Christmas Sales.
The British Retail Consortium said that retailers will need to see a growth of 5% to survive and already they are 5% down because of the weather and purchasers being a little cautious as they don't know what the future holds for them.
In addition there is the VAT increase due to kick in on 4th January, which is going to drag down the economy and possibly lead us to another recession, unlike any of us have seen in our lifetime.

An Emergency About To Emerge - UPDATE 26th Dec 2010

2010-12-26T22:34:00.000Z

As previously predicted by me early last week, the Swine flu epidemic is getting worse, with now 1 in 7 critical care beds having flu cases, from 1-10 earlier in the week. The Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley will surely get the message, but by then it will most probably be too late to achieve anything.
Cutting a small advertising budget on flu inoculation awareness, in 2009/10 the Dept of Health spent £177,573 on Flu awareness, was in my opinion a stupid act, knowing that the second stage of the swine flu could be more critical, as many experts had previously stated, including The Royal College of General Practitioners.
Mark my words, David Cameron will pick this problem up when like all of the others he has taken over, when it's too late. Something should be done about this crisis today, tomorrow at the very latest.

Bob - A - Job Week Is Almost Back

2010-12-26T21:46:00.000Z

The Scout Association, which once carried out each year the "Bob A Job" week, where by each member of the organisation was asked to carry out jobs, no matter how difficult they were for an old fashioned bob (5 pence), is intending to resurrect the week, but this time linking it in with local businesses.
Having spent in my younger days, many an hour doing jobs, varied from cleaning someones front step, to cleaning inside and out an Armstrong Siddeley limousine, which took a whole day, just for a bob, pulled a face, gave a scouts half salute, said thank you and went on my way.
What was recognised as real scouting event, saw young members in their uniform, walking around the community, something rarely seen today. When was it the last time you saw a member of the Scouts walking around your community in full uniform?
I welcome this initiative, bring it on, I have loads of jobs that need doing.

Only One Record Broken At The MCG - And It Wasn't Attendance!!!!!!

2010-12-26T08:45:00.000Z

I predicted records would be broken in today's match at the MCG, expecting that the attendance record of 90,800 would have been broken, which it wasn't as the fickle Ozzies were leaving the ground, after watching the worst collapse of an Ozzie team to England EVER, with a collapse of all out for 98. Attendance reached 84,345, just before the collapse and went down spiralling, just like their team.
England have a lead of 59 on the first day with all wickets standing, 157 - 0.

It's One All and Everything To Play For

2010-12-25T20:52:00.000Z

Records will be broken today at the MCG, the very first will be the attendance for the first day of a test match, where the crowds are anticipated to exceed 90,800 the current world record for a test match and its a total sell out.
The weather is expected to be more English than Australian, if you know what I mean, so there will be movement of the ball.
Go for it Barmy Army, cheer on for our team against the Ozzies.

It's Chriiiiiiistmas

2010-12-25T10:01:00.000Z

Merry Christmas one and all.
Most of the presents are open, waiting to see the grandchildren, feasting and it will be feasting to come.

My Christmas Gift For You All

2010-12-24T00:39:00.000Z

I think that we all want love, joy and peace in our lives. Of course, wanting them is easy, but obtaining them is a lot harder. In fact, I believe we would all like those qualities of character in our daily lives.
Have a peaceful and joyous Christmas, remember what Christmas is all about, giving more than receiving, love those close to you and forgive those who have upset you over the past year.
Let peace, love and joy reign throughout the world, if only for a minute.
That’s my Christmas gift and wish to all of you.

The Christmas Story

2010-12-24T00:27:00.000Z

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb

Santa Claus

2010-12-24T00:20:00.000Z

Santa Claus is a jolly man with red robes having a long white beard. The name of Santa Claus is Nicholas, born around 2000 years ago to wealthy parents in a small village in the country of Myra, today part of modern day Turkey. Nicholas' s parents died while he was a young boy. Nicholas went to his village priest and told of his desire to help the poor, he wanted to become a priest, but the priest knew Nicholas lacked the education necessary to become a priest. At this time the local Bishop of the church passed away and the authorities were guided by a heavenly messenger to choose the first person named Nicholas to walk through the doors of church and Nicholas had his miracle and was named the youngest bishop of the church ever on record. St. Nicholas became the champion of children and the needy; he was legendary for his kindness and generosity. And his story grew as the years passed.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

2010-12-24T00:16:00.000Z

Rudolph, the only reindeer in the world with a big shiny red nose. Everybody used to tease and make fun of this poor creature and call him 'Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer', which embarrassed him greatly. Even his mother, father and sister were mortified by his presence near them, which deepened Rudolph's embarrassment and depression. He immersed himself in self-pity and felt quite lonely. However, on one Christmas eve, when Santa got his sleigh ready for his annual trip around the world with his team of eight handsomest and huskiest reindeers including Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen and the entire reindeer community assembled there to cheer them, the mist and fog engulfed the earth.

Santa was wondering how he could distribute his toys now and how to find chimneys. Suddenly, his eyes fell on the glowing bright red nose of Rudolph and found a solution for his problem. He requested Rudolph to lead his sleigh, which he gladly did and was harnessed instantly. Rudolph guided Santa safely to every chimney that night despite all the rain, fog, snow and sleet. This brave act made Rudolph the most famous and beloved of all the reindeers and a great hero too.

Housing Emergency And Who Cares?

2010-12-23T20:09:00.000Z

I’m sitting in my favourite chair, seething. After taking an emergency call from residents, shortly after 6:00pm, all of them pensioners to do with a tower block, that has had a serious flood late this afternoon. The residents informed me they had phoned the problem in between 3:30 and 4:00pm, and were still waiting for some one, now it'll be “The Emergency Duty Officer” to call on them and help sort out the seven floors that are flood damaged, with water leaking through electrics, down walls and all just before Christmas.

Having spent over 25 minutes on the phone myself to the call centre, which in itself is totally unacceptable, imagine if I was on PAYG it would have cost me a fortune. After speaking to the supervisor at the call centre I asked if the officer would call me or the residents, we’re both still waiting.
Just sent an email of to the senior management team of Housing, from The Strategic Director Downwards, I wonder when one of them will contact me or will it be the out of hours officer first?
Time now is 8:05pm

Is This The Height of His Hypocrisy ? - It Wasn't My Fault Honest Guv

2010-12-23T18:01:00.000Z

Now the fault of Vince Cable opening his mouth on "How big a man he is, that he can use the nuclear option when he chooses" wasn't his fault, but that of the media. Really?

Now as someone who holds advice centres, in fact five a month and have since first being elected a councillor in 1995, I've always held a minimum of five a month. These are places of work, not chat rooms, yes you have to be polite, you ask what the residents wants from you, you listen to their case and offer whatever you can, never make promises and certainly don't engage in chit-chat, there is someone else waiting outside for help.

Anyway bigging it up to impress, particularly as they are young attractive women, doesn't help, even if they are recording everything said, you just don't do it.

So who's at fault again Vince, you or the media?

An Emergency About To Emerge - UPDATE 23rd Dec 2010

2010-12-23T16:12:00.001Z

This is a follow-up from my blog yesterday on An Emergency About To Emerge.
Today the Department of Health has flatly refused to fund an advertising campaign to get those at risk, inoculated against swine flu.
Total false economy, the more intensive care beds taken up by flu victims the worse the situation will become, operations will not go ahead, delays in hospital admissions and long long queues in casualty as beds won't be available
So Dave get sorting this one out before it becomes a real crisis, after all you did spoil thousands of voters Christmas holiday plans by sitting on your hands all week.

A Lovely Christmas Present With Mortgage Interest Rates To Rise 7.5%

2010-12-23T15:45:00.001Z

Oh what a lovely Christmas present we have had today, from some of the experts on The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, the experts who set the bank interest rates.
Today some of those experts have said they expect interest rates in the New Year to rise to around 5%, that will mean those with mortgages will be charged around 7.5% or more, that's another £220 or so more each month on the average mortgage.
Add all of that to the number of jobs being lost in the public sector and in particular Birmingham, then there is the forcasted downturn in GDP which is forcasted at 0.2% well down on George Osbourne's original prediction in June, the increase in VAT hitting in immediately after Christmas and to top everything off, we're all in this together. Well I'm not in it!!!!!!!!
I doubt if David Cameron and most of his cabinet are in it either, after all nearly all of them are millionaires and certainly won't be hit with cuts in benefits, loss of a job or even worrying about a sizable increase in mortgage rates.

Who'll Get This Job Then????

2010-12-23T14:59:00.000Z

Fancy a new job, then one is going at the newly formed Greater Birmingham Local Enterprise Partnership, they are looking to fill the post of Chairman, once this one is filled, I suppose they will then be looking for a CEO and then more managers of differing degrees of responsibility.
Newly formed organisations, speaking from my own experience, all start off with lean cut management and within a very short period, grow arms and legs, becoming bureaucratic monsters in no time at all. It seems that you now days judge the importance of a person by the numbers that work for them, which is ludicrous.
I sincerely hope that the Greater Birmingham LEP does work out and hope that it doesn't become anything like AWM, who at one time was one of the largest land holders in the West Midlands, rather than a training and regeneration super body.

Failing Birmingham Children Services - Axes 900 Jobs

2010-12-23T13:17:00.001Z

Having had some experience in management I fully understand that standing still for any organisation is tantamount to going backwards and going very fast backwards. There should always be a feeling amongst everyone within the organisation that we are all pulling in the same direction, that there is leadership and leadership of a good quality and all will be well for everyone, customer (or clients) the work team and those who look over use.

However there is always the exception to the rule as in Birmingham’s Children’s Services, where over 900 staff are facing the axe, some in management some social workers and those who are called “back-room staff”. Back-room staff, I ask you, these are some of the most important cogs in the wheel, typing up reports, filing away ACCURATELY case files and ensuring that those who need to be, are at case conferences when required, not beforehand and certainly not afterwards.
You may well believe I’m ranting on, however, let us not forget that Birmingham has a dire shortage of Social Workers in the field of Child Protection, that Birmingham was found wanting and the service was described by OFSTED as inadequate (page four) and that we now have a Government appointed person watching over the whole service.
With the number of children known to the service who have died in the past few years, it is a shame that what is being proposed is just a penny pinching activity just to save £62 million in this departments budget.
Now tell me I’m just ranting.

An Emergency About To Emerge

2010-12-22T20:55:00.001Z

The NHS is moving head-long straight in to an emergency situation with the high number of swine flu critical cases needing intensive care, with the number of cases standing at over 300 as I write this piece.

During last years outbreak the maximum number of cases using intensive care beds was at 180, but the current figure is growing each and every day and we are yet to see the peak.
Flu vaccination rates so far this autumn, has been well down on previous years and many doctors are blaming the Government for failure to spend money on marketing vaccine uptake and awareness amongst the general public.
Professor Steve Field an expert in General Practice told an audience this week that “'It was ill-advised not to have the public awareness campaign on seasonal flu jab uptake that we usually have, because we knew that the public and health-care professionals were likely to become complacent after last year's swine flu pandemic wasn't the serious attack on the country that we thought it could be”.
The BMA has also written to ministers to urge them to reverse their decision and stave off a looming flu crisis. There is clearly a crisis brewing and it’s only going to get worse, do you have confidence that the Government know what they are doing?

Local(ish) Pharmacists Open Over The Christmas Period

2010-12-22T20:14:00.000Z

I sincerely hope that you and your family will have no need to visit them, but just in case, here is a list of pharmacists who will be open at sometime over the festive period.
There are others throughout the city as well, click here for all pharmacists
Christmas Day Opening
Local
Sure Health Ltd,
130 Haslucks Green Road,
Solihull,
tel. 0121 744 1471,
Opening time 1pm-3pm
A little further afield
Stag Pharmacy,
230 Stoney Lane,
Balsall Heath, B12 8AN,
tel. 0121 442 2418,
Opening time 10am-10pm

Boxing Day (Sunday)OpeningLocalish
Sainsburys Pharmacy,
545 Stratford Road,
Shirley,
tel. 0121 744 5943,
Opening Time 10am- 4pm

Asterwell Pharmacy,
275 Longmore Road,
Solihull,
tel. 0121 744 1642
Opening Time 6pm-8pm

Bank Holiday Monday Opening
Sainsburys Pharmacy,
545 Stratford Road,
Shirley,
tel. 0121 744 5943
Opening Time 9am-6pm

Asterwell Pharmacy,
275 Longmore Road,
Solihull,
tel. 0121 744 1642
Opening Time 6pm-8pm

Bank Holiday Tuesday Opening
Greet Pharmacy,
228 Warwick Road,
Sparkhill, B11 2NB,
tel. 0121 772 0233

Stag Pharmacy,
230 Stoney Lane,
Balsall Heath, B12 8AN,
tel. 0121 442 2418.
Opening time 10am-10pm

The Beautiful Game

2010-12-22T13:05:00.001Z

Now I don’t normally go on about football on this blog, because it is one of those subjects that is engraved on your heart and no matter what others may think, your team is YOUR TEAM, through good and bad they are still your team, managers may come and go, boards may come and go, owner may do the same, but your team is the one constant in your life.

In more recent times big money has come to Premiership Football, but one thing that rattles me is the number of quality players being signed up by a handful of clubs and within weeks of signing these illustrious players, we then find them out on loan to another club. The FA, better still UEFA must do something to stop this illegitimate practice to save the beautiful game. Otherwise it won’t allow clubs without infinite funding, any chance whatsoever of buying class players, as the price will be far too high unless a billionaire is paying the bill.

No One Is Going On Holiday, So There

2010-12-21T20:43:00.000Z

Well if I'm not going away to have a sunny Christmas neither is anyone else, so there.

Fuel Poverty And The Cold Kill's Older People

2010-12-21T19:10:00.000Z

This week, a week when we see the thermometer drop to show temperatures at -10 degrees the Coalition Government announced heating grants for low income families, pensioners, and the disabled have been suspended. Labour's 'Warm Front' scheme, which I will admit has some flaws, but has enabled families to get grants of up to £6,000 to install new heating and insulate their homes.

In addition, further savings for the Coalition Government, will be made through
 Up to £300 a week being withdrawn from people with care needs by 2015.
 Labour’s Independent living fund supports people to live in their own homes while receiving the care and support they need.
 Recent snow and ice has brought home to everyone the need for Birmingham’s homes to be adequately heated, which will be stopped.

It is a false economy to cut funding which aims to bring down vulnerable people's heating costs in the long term by switching to more modern heating systems and improving insulation.
As Christmas nears, I’m having serious concerns about the impact of Government cuts to the most vulnerable residents of Brandwood and for the same individuals in Christmas’s to come.

These Are Not Normal Circumstances

2010-12-21T18:19:00.000Z

Snow, Snow and even more Snow. That seems to be what we have in store over the next few days, so I've decided to give as much detail as I can to those of you who will need to leave the house in the days to come, either to shop or visit friends and family.

What the Met Office is saying Here
What Travel West Midlands is saying Here
What is happening with Chiltern Railways Here
What is happening with Virgin Trains Here
Most importantly what is happening with road gritting Here
The latest on Motorways and main highways Here

For those of us staying at home, well can we PLEASE ensure that the pensioner in our road has had a visit, that they need for nothing from the shop, that they are warm and in good health. Many of us under normal circumstances, apart from bidding the time of day have little contact with neighbours, but this isn't normal circumstances.

Lunar Eclipse On A Winter Solstice

2010-12-20T21:07:00.000Z

A total lunar eclipse is set to take place early tomorrow morning, for those of you up and about around 6:30 am what you will initially see is a deep red glow, as the earth moves in to the path of the sun, The lunar eclipse will be over about a couple of hours and is the first to happen on a winter solstice in nearly four hundred years.

Have a good one.

Clearing Snow Off The Pavement- Get Out And Do It

2010-12-20T20:23:00.000Z

Now to completely upset a number of people who don't or won't clear the snow from a pavement outside their own home because they believe (genuinely) that if someone slipped up they can be sued.

There's no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home. It's unlikely you'll be sued or held legally responsible for any injuries on the path if you have cleared it carefully so just follow the snow code when clearing and you're in the clear.

Grit, Gritting And Some Coalition Councillors Opinions

2010-12-20T20:00:00.000Z

Well alright, I'll admit it, my road does get gritted only because it's used by the ambulance's stationed around the corner to get to their patients. That said and done, I've had numerous complaints from residents about when they went to the grit bin, the grit bin was bare. Someone had been there and emptied the contents for their own personal use, clearing their own drive and footway crossing. Whilst its tax payers who pay for the grit, the taking of it, is theft and if anyone was to bother looking at a label on the bins it clearly states that.

Grit bins are put in locations where no gritting lorry will drive around and is for good community spirited residents to either shovel spread on to pavements and roads, not personal, private driveways.

Now lets move on to the roads, it seems that the Councils Coalition administration themselves are not all singing from the same hymn sheet, with comments from very senior councillors, even the deputy leader of the Lib-Dems making comments about making motorists having to fend for themselves, rather than relying on the council to help them, which is rather alarming.
Here are just a sample of comments they have made in numerous emails over the weekend and today, which alarms me.

“ ‘EMERGENCY PLANNING’ this is not an emergency, it is the bloody winter, you expect snow and we should have in place a program to deal with it”.

“I have to admit that I’m not impressed with the level of gritting on our roads”.

“What gritting????”

“If this kind of winter weather is going to become a regular event we will have to increase radically the level of resources we have to deal with it and that includes individual requirements such as everyone having snow chains for their cars”.

“How many of you remember several years ago, when it was either Sweden or Finland decided they could no longer afford to grit each time it snowed, so they told everyone no more grit”.

Now with comments being made by the above and they are in charge of Birmingham, it makes you wonder if they have got a grip on reality and the problem that this snow has created for us mere mortals of Birmingham who have suffered and will continue to suffer because of them.

England Expected

2010-12-19T11:33:00.002Z

We expected, but on the fourth day with five wickets standing they just folded. Alright its one all now, but there is still a strong possibility, we'll come home with them.
Now we're off to Melbourne, see ya there.

Where Were The Gritters?

2010-12-19T11:24:00.000Z

Well we had the snow fall and roads were blocked. All around Monyhull Hall Road and Parsons Hill was a no go area for motorists, as were other areas of the city. But where were the gritters?

We all knew that it was to snow, Birmingham Council knew it was to snow on Saturday morning, the last Saturday before Christmas, the busiest shopping day before Christmas, but customers couldn't get to the shops and shops sales were lost.
But even if you thought you would be clever and go in to the city, well before the snow caught, thinking that you could get the shopping done, you missed out, as the snow clearers, who spread the crystal mixture on the walkways were missing or at least they seemed missing. This allowed inches of snow to build up so if you were in a shop, when you came out, there was a surprise waiting for you, then there is the journey home,
If you needed to wait for a bus, there was hours to wait, did they take them off, well no, they just couldn't get around the city. Deciding to walk there is the threat of slipping and sliding, and no one wants to fall and feel foolish as others come to your aide.
For motorists, once out of the underground car park, they too have slipping and sliding to contend with, but always keeping a very watching eye on cars in front of you and those passing.
The old adage, Birmingham has more hills than Rome really hits home and you wish our city didn't have as many hills as you gingerly drive up one, heart in mouth, various lights flashing away on the dashboard, hoping and praying you don't look a fool, that you're in the right gear, the engine isn't revving too high, worse still that you don't become stuck and another statistic.
Did I put my wellingtons in the boot of the car, before setting off, just in case I've got to walk home? Will I be warm enough walking home dressed like this? More importantly if I stick at this speed and no one bothers with me, will I make it home in the car?
Well I did, unscathed and in my car.

Survivor Is Back, This Time In Whitehall

2010-12-18T18:54:00.001Z

The Coalition Government has been in place for six months and various party grandees will have already been talking to David Cameron on what that want to see happen next. Now while I will agree that Cameron has given the impression that he's in charge to the public at large, he is clearly a tool of the grandees.
The big question is, has he the full support of his own Members of Parliament, well time will tell, after all he is the one who has allowed his minister to give prisoners the vote, has gone back on a promise to ensure that persons carrying knives are given stiff penalties in the courts and finally there are Ken Clarke's plans to reduce the prison population by introducing alternative short term sentencing.
Now when you look at all of the Tories in the Cabinet, Ken Clarke stands out as the odd man out, he's the only one as such to have previously held a high powered Government post under two previous Prime Ministers, so has some experience. Apart from his attire, sports jackets and hush puppy shoes, no one would believe he had liberal views, would they? It is his liberal views that would/could be the key to him, hanging on/ loosing position, within the cabinet.
The real question is can David Cameron keep the Grandees happy and keep Ken Clarke in the Cabinet, otherwise will the Lib-Dems cause mayhem if he is forced out or sacked, after all he is instrumental in introducing liberal views in to bills and ultimately law.
Only time will tell and my guess not too much time at that.

It Pays To Question Their Decision

2010-12-18T16:39:00.000Z

For a long time now, Industrial Relations at Birmingham Council haven't been quite what they should be, between an employer and employee.
With the enforced pay & grading debacle, and more recent problems around street cleaning and refuse collection, we now have the icing the this cake, the number of appeals by staff to the regrading process, where we hear that nearly 6 out of ten appeals have returned successfully for the employee, costing the council an additional £9million and there are a further 1,000 appeals still to hear.
Now what really takes the biscuit is that the Council Officers and Executive Councillors only budgeted for £3.5 million in wages to be paid to successful employees, so there is a massive hole to be filled.
We now know that to fill the gap either the Council Tax needs to rise, which will be debated early in the New Year. Will it have to go up by an additional 2.5 % or are there planned additional cuts to services needed. I believe the latter will be the option taken by this authority, rather than lose face with their ongoing 1.9% rise year on year.

Make Those Who Can, Pay

2010-12-18T08:38:00.001Z

The US after President Obama was sworn in, created 'The Tea Party', with an agenda of smaller government and a lot less taxes, meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, after the creation of the Coalition Government, we have UK Uncut, whose agenda is to make businesses pay their proper level of taxes and not transfer earnings out of the country.
So far their campaigns have included taking over a number of Sir Philip Greens retail empire store, as his wife, who is the owner of Arcadia Group and now lives in Monaco, (where there is none or little taxes) as they export all of the business profits there. Similarly Vodophone have also been targeted again for moving earnings around the world and in doing so not paying the legitimate levels of tax.
Now we are not just talking about not paying a few £millions, it is estimated in £billions that is being avoided, UK Uncut have banded around a figure of £25billion a year is missing from the British Exchequers money pot, through large business tax avoidance. So the question is, should more effort be made to tackle business tax avoidance or more effort on benefit fraud?
My money would go on Tax avoidance as there is much more at stake and a better chance of return for such little effort. Make those who can, pay for it, says a good socialist.

It's Day Three in The Aussie Field

2010-12-18T08:07:00.000Z

391 is POSSIBLE, a good run in with strong partnerships and it'll be 2-0

It Could Have Been A Better Day

2010-12-17T11:31:00.000Z

Today hasn't been a good one in Perth. Nevertheless, tomorrow is another day.

Sorry I Don't Quite Understand, I'm Going On Leave

2010-12-17T11:27:00.002Z

Here you are, this is what really annoys me, in particular it's annoying because its Birmingham City Council managers who don't seem to have a grip on reality or what's going on around them.

Yesterday I sent an email out to a manager of a section within the Council, following a case at one of my advice centres, I had a reply back which said "I will be out of the office starting 16/12/2010 and will not return until 29/12/2010. Any urgent enquires please contact ********or ************on 464 *****. Thank you". So I redirect to one of the named alternative officers to get another email back which went like this "I will be out of the office starting 16/12/2010 and will not return until 04/01/2011. I will respond to your message when I return".

Now the second officer is managed by the first officer, so do you really think they have a grip on whats going on around them, because I don't.

Birmingham Council Have Woken Up To the Problems At Last

2010-12-17T11:05:00.000Z

In September (and on a few occasions previously to that) I raised the matter of homelessness in Birmingham at a Council Housing and Urban Renewal Committee, the fact that toilet paper was being rationed out to families who had been placed in a Bed & Breakfast Hotel. I use the word hotel advisedly, it was, is no more than a doss house for the unfortunate, yet a major earner of cash for the 'hotel' owner, who earns upwards of £40 per night per bed used. I estimate that this particular owner is raking in in excess £250,000 a month.

However I'm digressing from the main point, which is that Birmingham Council, should already have arrangements in place to place families in to temporary accommodation, which are empty rentable houses in the private sector, whereby the 'new tenant' although only temporary placed, would then claim Housing Benefit and would no longer be a financial drain on BCC Housing budget.
At long last it does seem that my concerns and ideas have been taken on board, or at least we will have to wait and see, as it's alright saying one thing on paper, but implementing it is another.

Berks In Mercs And Dreamers In Beamers

2010-12-16T22:44:00.000Z

Is it just me or are some drivers just getting worse in driving procedures?
On my way home tonight I think I've seen almost every type of bad driving at close hand, not always directed at me or my car and driving, I might say, otherwise you would be saying it was my driving to blame, wouldn't you.
On a slip road entrance to a main road, where the speed limit is forty, I saw a BMW driver attempt to slip in to traffic, I believe expecting everyone to give way to him, after all he was driving a Beamer. Needless to say he nearly came in to collision with a large Skoda and a following Freelander. So now you know why Beamer drivers are DREAMERS.
Being undertaken by a wide boy in a 1.1 Citreon Saxo, with blacked out lights and an exhaust tail pipe that must have been as large as the channel tunnel, who thought he could undertake not just me but a trail of cars in front and then just nudge in to our lane when he thought he wanted too, he had another thing coming, we just ignored his wishes and prevented him access, forcing down another exit away from ourselves. If he hadn't been cheeky I think I probably would have let him in, but bad manners on the road won't be tolerated by most motorists.
Now for the berk in a Merc.This one came racing down the dual carriageway and must have been doing about seventy, possibly eighty miles an hour, then came right up my boot, with headlights flashing. Now again I was tail end charlie of a queue of about six cars in the outside lane all needing to be in this lane as the road divides about four hundred yards ahead. Flashing headlights and the occasional tooting of the horn, without blue lights means nothing to me, but he remained there until past the junction and I then moved out of his way, so he then started again on the next car and then the next and the next until he passed all of us. That is until we arrived at the set of traffic lights, where the same Merc and ourselves had stopped and guess what he needed to turn right and the rest of us drove past the BERK in a Merc.

Autism

2010-12-16T14:00:00.000Z

I've just opened an email from a fomer teacher Lawrence Gordon, who has a son who is autistic so speaks with comparative knowledge of living with someone with this problem. i think that it is such an email that plucks at those strings, you know the ones I'm on about.
Below is the entirity of his email to me;

" 'Life With Autism' is unique new website which has been created to provide an open platform for parents, carers and professionals of autistic children and adults. The site has been developed under the guidance of former Birmingham Senior School teacher Lawrence Gordon. Lawrence’s son Andrew, who is autistic, has been the catalyst and a main reason for the production of the site.

The site aims to increase awareness of autism and bring updates and information together locally and internationally, in discussion forums, of the experiences and anecdotes that may be of beneficial interest, funny and otherwise of those involved with autistics. The “Life With Autism” website lets parents and carers know that they are not alone and allows them to share their experiences by way of discussion forums along with the ability to share photos and videos.
Lawrence Gordon states “As an ex-senior schoolteacher, I aim to facilitate for autistics the same recognition and support that is available in mainstream education. If we can do that with a sense of humour too then I think we might have succeeded. Please help us achieve that aim by spreading the word about this website.
Remember being on the autistic spectrum means the person is just different, they are not indifferent.
Remember too that belonging to a friendly organisation that ‘cares and shares’ can make lives easier. "

If you found the above interesting then I've hit home and I'm glad about it.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

2010-12-16T13:31:00.000Z

The Met Office has just issued a weather warning for the West Midlands. There will be outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow moving southwards across the area with very cold air following. A centimetre or two of wet snow is likely to accumulate mainly on higher ground. Untreated surfaces will then become very icy as the rain, sleet and snow clears away, leading to dangerous driving conditions.

The public are advised to take extra care and refer to the Highways Agency for further advice regarding traffic disruption on motorways and trunk roads.
Now I wonder if I'll be able to make snow angels in the morning, eehhmm?

We Expected And They Delivered

2010-12-16T11:19:00.000Z

Oz 268 all out
In Reply 29-0
We expected and they delivered, now for day TWO.

Someone Wanted To Protest, But Was Stopped And How

2010-12-15T21:29:00.000Z

Nicky Wishard, who is he, I hear you say, well go and have a look at Liam Young's blogsite and read more.
I was astonished at what I read. Are we living in a Police State, it seems if not we're heading that way.

Children, Children, Children

2010-12-15T21:07:00.000Z

Bickering in public for any political organisation should be frowned upon, but for two prominent Conservative Councillors to bicker over the benefits of Be Active a city wide fitness initiative, originally started by my colleague Councillor Carl Rice in Ladywood Constituency, is unforgivable.

Be Active has won not only national but international recognition and awards for the pro-active approach taken by some to tackle obesity and lack of fitness in adults across the whole city, regardless of income.

Illness sees no financial barriers when it comes to heart attacks, strokes and other serious debilitating illnesses.
So why is one former cabinet member, who lost his post because he was a loose cannon having a go at another cabinet member. Is it all down to posturing come next May Tory Group AGM?????

Election Expenses For every candidate in the 2010 General Election

2010-12-15T13:13:00.002Z

Were They Worth Your vote?????

For those of you who like me are anoraks when it comes to elections and in particular statistics, well here is the report on how much each and every candidate spent on their election. The report has recently been released by The Electoral Commission.

Thursday Is Almost Here And I'm So Excited

2010-12-14T22:41:00.000Z

Translated here

Blog Visitor Record Broken

2010-12-14T22:16:00.000Z

Yesterday this blog had 148 visitors, the most visitors in any day, however, today has trumped even that high figure with an astonishing 200 visitors in the past 24 hours.
Well I'm blowed, because I never thought that this blog would be so popular, after all it's just the ranting of a silly old so and so, wanting to get things off his chest, whilst not wanting to upset the better half, as she had until I really got started, suffer my rants on how my day had been.
Am I or becoming, a grumpy old man? I'm beginning to think I'm getting there, probably sooner rather than later.

Brandwood Ward Key Stage 2 Test Results

2010-12-14T14:52:00.003Z

It's that time of year again, when the SAT results for key stage 2 are published, however this time around there are large gaps in the tables, where Head Teachers have supported actions from their own staff not to carry out the tests.
In Birmingham around about 160 schools took the stance that the key stage 2 tests put too much pressure on to pupils and refused to take part in this nationally recognised system. Some might well say that they were probably the worst 160 schools, well that is far from the truth as many though not all were high achieving schools, it really did depend on the stance of the teaching unions at the school, the head teacher and tacit support from the Governing Body.
Anyway here are the results themselves for Brandwood Ward schools;

School name                   No of            Achieving      Achieving        Ave.        Ave.
                                Pupils         grade 4        grade 4           point        point
                                on role       or higher       or higher         score       score
                                                  English        Maths               2009        2010
Allens Croft Primary School           31           DNTP               DNTP                      26.6                 DNTP
Bells Farm J&I School                     28           DNTP               DNTP                      26.8                 DNTP
Broadmeadow Junior School         56            77%                75%                       27.4                 26.6
Colmore Junior School                    88            98%                99%                       29.5                 30.1
St Albans RC Primary School         30           DNTP               DNTP                       29.9                 DNTP
St Judes RC Primary School           30            80%                 80%                       26.6                 26.6
The Oaks Primary School               30            77%                 73%                       26.9                 26.1
Woodthorpe J&I School                  30            80%                 93%                       29.7                28.7

DNTP = Did not take part in key stage 2 testing.

Jody McIntyre Wanted To Protest, Why Shouldn't He

2010-12-14T09:21:00.001Z

There is absolutely no excuse that The Metropolitan Police can come up with, that can be accepted by any rightminded person as reasonable practice, for the removal and dragging across a road a disabled person, like that shown in the first video.
The BBC isn't that much better in the interview it did last night, when talking with Jody McIntyre.
For heavens sake, the man is disabled, he has a right to protest, he should be treated with respect, dignity and above all else compassion. I'm not being patronising when I say that, there but for the grace of God, go I and all that........

Choose Well Winter Campaign

2010-12-14T07:44:00.000Z

Just had an email come in and thought is was important enough to be published on here.

As winter sets in, the NHS across Birmingham and Solihull are working together to ensure that clear messages are delivered to the Public, urging people to make the right choice when it comes to looking after their health. NHS South Birmingham commissions services for a population of 383,000 people. Currently our Primary Care Services include 65 GP practices, 170 General Dental Practitioners, 71 community Pharmacists, and 80 Opticians premises. Our £660 million budget for 2009/10 has been spent on securing health services for the local population.

Choose Well messages are focused on helping the public to recognise the many different options which are available to them including their local doctor, pharmacists, urgent care centre and also not to forgot NHS Direct for general help and advice who can be reached on 0845 4647.
The local campaign incorporates posters, press, radio, advertising and PR activity which is already underway across the Birmingham and Solihull cluster. The communications teams are keeping in close liaison with services, sharing information and ensuring materials are available.

We need your help in promoting this message amongst colleagues, please pass on the Choose Well campaign.

NHS South Birmingham contracts services from local hospitals. This includes University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. NHS South Birmingham also contracts a range of services from community nursing, children’s services, learning disability services and community hospitals. We also provide services through South Birmingham Community Health.
For more information, please visit www.sbpct.nhs.uk

The New Elected Mayor Of Birmingham Will Be.........

2010-12-14T07:35:00.002Z

Unlike many in Birmingham City Council Chamber, I make no secret of the fact that I'm a supporter of Birmingham having an elected Mayor. I'm not a new comer to this view as I’ve spoke in favour on more than one occasion on this subject in the past ten years or so. Now who that individual should or will be is another issue.
When it comes to the Lib-Dems, now then, we have more than capable Cllr Paul Tilseley, but what about John Hemmings MP who may think that fighting another election in Yardley may be his undoing, hence, he too could throw a hat in to the ring, which one will it be?
We already know that Prof. Carl Chinn would love to have a crack at getting to be the elected mayor of Birmingham, after all he does have the tacit support of the BBC in the form of Ed Doolan and The Birmingham Mail, with the use of his historical pieces. However, he lacks managerial experience, experience of local government, experience of financial management, after all Birmingham's budget, even after the present cut backs is larger than a significant number of nations, with around £3billion to spend annually. Yes I do know that there will be Council Officers around to help make the decisions, but a leader MUST at the very least have an appraisal of what's going on and why. Far too often Carl has attached himself emotionally to saving this or that, but to no avail, there are times when no matter how hard it is to stomach, that you have to say enough is enough and he can't do that. Nice Bloke all the same.
The next in the frame is Cllr Mike Whitby, who has always been against the post, speaking at every occasion against having an elected Mayor, but will he throw his hat in to the ring or have the Tory party someone else in mind?
Then there is the clash of the titans, Labour’s Sion Simon or Sir Albert Bore, which one will out do the other to be Labour's candidate? Whilst Sion seems to have engaged a PR company to bolster up his campaign efforts, the wily old fox, who has been written off so many times by those in the party and journalists past and present always turns up trumps, so my money is on Albert. Sir Albert has brought £millions to this city of ours, with his connections in Europe, the regeneration of the city centre over the past couple of decades has been funded mainly through European money and if elected, Albert, by hook or crook will continue to influence European money coming in to Birmingham for regeneration, hence houses, jobs and education.
What about the ranked outsiders you shout, well apart from Lord Digby Jones, former Labour Government Minister for Business and Industry, who in my opinion is more than capable there is no one else in this camp and to be honest the rest are what are, ranked outsiders.

Police Funding Cuts, Buried In Other News

2010-12-13T21:27:00.001Z

Today the Home Office announced the amount of funding going to each and every Police Force in the country.
With a reduction of £100 million, there will be cuts in the number of Police Officers and early indications indicate that around forty officers from each constituency will be lost. At a recent speech to all Councillors at The Council House, Chief Police Constable, Chris Simms said "We need to talk more, local authorities have not said what they are going to do with their budgets"
Birmingham's Labour party stance has been all along that cuts to Police funding will lead to excessive Police cuts and support staff as PCSO's, which in itself will lead to an increase in crime and victims of crime.
Shame on all those who support Police Cuts by the Coalition Government.

Save EMA - Give A Youngster A Chance Of University

2010-12-13T20:54:00.000Z

Today is "Save EMA Day", colleges and sixth-forms around the country are holding lunchtime protests against government plans to axe financial support that would leave many students unable to continue their studies. Which in itself could deprive the most needy an opportunity to higher education.

If this country of ours is to succeed in the new world economy, then it will need intelligent thinkers and doers, many of whom will need to be university educated. So why is the Coalition Government attempting to deprive the many sixteen to eighteen year olds in my area, from deprived and/or poor backgrounds this opportunity?
In previous posts I've highlighted the benefits of this small allowance, which contributes to bus fares, books, stationery and other incidentals, needed to continue studying. There has also been a post of a young member of Parliament who had been a recipient of EMA when it was first piloted, for her to have become an MP just shows how beneficial EMA actually is.

Hypothermia Or What

2010-12-13T12:04:00.000Z

What in heavens name is going (wr)on(g), with Birmingham City Council's heating contractors?
In the local papers during the cold spell. almost on a daily basis, there were stories about older people being left in the cold, for one reason or another. Reasons which I will not accept or listen to.
The contractors are paid to provide a service, that service should not be dependant on warm weather or only having to deal with a handful of breakdowns a day, the contract is to provide a first class service to all council tenants, who have problems with their gas services.
I was pleased to read in yesterdays Sunday mercury that the newspaper had embarrassed the contractor enough that they replaced Mrs Whittall's boiler, even though they originally said they needed new parts, which is the same old statement, no matter what's wrong with the system.
Once again tomorrow at HUROS committee, we will hear that the service was splendid under dreadful weather conditions and did a first class service for tenants. They may think that, but I don't.

Clegg Given A "Get Out Of Jail Card " By Who Else, But Dave Cameron

2010-12-12T12:05:00.002Z

Oh David Thank you for this "Get out of Jail" card. Now can we keep this just between ourselves? Do I have to tell our party?

If this is true, then whilst my opinion of him as a politician is already low after back-tracking on a PLEDGE, this would really take the biscuit.
This morning newspapers are saying that Nick Clegg will be rewarded by David Cameron with a top job in Europe just before the next General Election as it seems that old Nick might not be able to win his seat again for Sheffield Hallam, shame eh!
But don't shed any tears, he'll be earning nearly twice as much as the Prime Minister, and probably a peerage to boot, so he'll be more than enough happy, unlike the many other Fib-Dem MP's who to will loose their seats, but won't have the rewards that poor Nick will get.

Is HMRC Taking Us For A Ride

2010-12-12T11:17:00.000Z

Now there are junkets and there are junkets, the one recently taken by David Hartnett, the head honcho at revenue & Customs, in India and giving the conference a thirty minute speech beggars belief.

So this is where my income tax goes, or at least some of it. However I will admit his flight was only in Business Class, where as most of his colleagues in the UK prefer First Class travel, I wish I could afford to travel in such luxury and I'm the one paying to allow them to do it!!!!!!!!!!!

Paedophiles Check or Jobsworth????

2010-12-12T10:56:00.001Z

Ensuring that any child is protected against possible interests of a paedophile is paramount, or at least it should be to any normal adult. Now I speak as someone who has had more CRB checks than your average Joe, even to the extent of an enhanced CRB, however, they are only bits of paper and only as accurate as the day they were printed off.
The key problem is that everyone wishing to protect children and vulnerable adults, now demand that EVERY adult has a CRB check. I first came across this when involved with my former employers Christmas Party Committee, one of the members said every "Auntie and Uncle" for the day will need to be CRB checked, as they had recently undertaken a Child Protection training session at a school. WRONG, WRONG & WRONG, it is not a case that every adult who comes in to contact with children MUST be checked, ideal, possibly, but not compulsory. The Christmas Party Committee overcame concerns, as several of us were CRB checked and we instructed all "Auntie and Uncles" that at no time should they be alone with any children, ideally one of the adults who had a CRB check should always be present. Problem solved.
Now this morning I read that Gloucester Cathedral are going down the wrong road also, all because several ladies who volunteer to do the flowers each week have taken a stand against being CRB checked, so they are being sacked by The Church Of England, how ridiculous.

Will It Be Chaos Or Will Sense Prevail?

2010-12-11T12:18:00.001Z

Well starting Friday, Birmingham's Binmen and Street Cleaners will be working to rule, what that will mean to everyone, all of us resident throughout the city, heaven only knows.
Working to rule, in my experience carries an awful lot of pressure on the shoulders of management. Have they crossed all of the t's and dotted all of the i's, I doubt it very much. So watch out, if your refuse is supposed to be collected on Fridays.
Knowing a number of bin men as I do, there will be chaos, managers will eventually go home in despair, at the end of the day, whilst senior managers will spend all weekend working out a strategy to combat the work to rule and what to do come Monday, Strike day. I only hope they don't end up putting petrol on the fire, come Monday, using temporary workers (scab workers) will not lead to an early resolution, which is one strategy being explored and already underway.
Whenever an employer has attempted to break a strike using scab labour, industrial relations has taken years, many years to return to some form of normality, lets hope this isn't the path taken by the Council, otherwise CHAOS will prevail.
Having more than £80 a week taken out of you pay packet, is no small amount and this is the second time in around twelve months this has happened to this group.
Contrary to urban myth, binmen don't earn a fortune, it's good money, I'll admit, but loading tons of rubbish each and every day does take its toll, physically. I spent a day with a crew, working as a crew member and after a short while they begged me to get in the cab as I was slowing them down, I was so grateful to them as I was dying, trying to catch my breath and my back ached from all the lifting for weeks. Needless to say I never made a similar request again.
I sincerely hope that what happened in Leeds, where bin men ended up on strike for over three months, doesn't happen here, but I do wish them luck in their campaign, as no one should have to suffer like they are with major cuts in wages, coming up to Christmas.

Want, Disease, Squalor, Ignorance And Idleness

2010-12-11T11:52:00.000Z

The founding of a truly National Heath Service in 1948, where care was entirely free at the point of use.

It used to be said that those who use a service should pay for it, however society changed and changed dramatically, particularly after the last war, when Labour swept in to power after Winston Churchill lead the country through a very dark period.
Clem Attlee's Government brought in the NHS, improved benefits and 1947 education act, as well as nationalising what was then thought to be the mainstay of the economy, coal mining, railways, public transport and numerous others including Pickfords Transport.
Over the coming decades, things changed, however universal benefits and OUR beloved NHS went from strength to strength, that is until Mrs Thatcher and her entourage gained power in 1979, when everything was either sold off, closed down or as with the NHS had funding cut and cut again and again and again.
Tony Blair's New Labour reversed much of those plans, building new hospitals, schools and medical centres, most of it through a partnership with the private sector.
How things have changed in just six months. No one will disagree that there needed to be a reduction in Government spending after the last General Election, yet it is the speed being adopted by George Osbourne which is putting at risk jobs not only in the public sector but those within the private sector, its simple Keynesian Economics, but that was thrown out of the window in mid May, when the "Coalition Government" took over the running of the country.
In more recent months, once again there is that old Tory cry, if they use it, they should pay, on Wednesday this week David Cameron at Question Time said that students wishing to go to university should pay the price for the privilege of doing so and not the tax payers, which is one of the reasons why students have protested.
The Coalition Government has already pulled the plug on "Building Schools for the Future" (BSF), yet will provide sufficient funding for "Free Schools", those are schools to be managed either by communities or businesses.
However the numerous promises made to protect OUR National Health Service funding like many a promise from the two Government Parties have fallen by the wayside. Yesterday I blogged about GP's office staff work, all of the computerised elements being shipped out to India, making a saving of £250 million, all towards the £20 billion saving needed by 2014. This morning I read in the Birmingham Mail that a high number of Nurses, here in the west midlands are to lose their jobs This is appalling. Where are you Claire Reyner, your NHS staff need you, PLEASE keep your promise.

GP's Office Work Forced to India?????

2010-12-10T22:13:00.000Z

One of the key reasons behind the Coalition Governments drive to close down Primary Care Trusts and force GP's to manage health care in the community is to force the GP's to sign up their back office facilities to a newly formed joint venture Company, between NHS Shared Services and Steria. John Neilson, Managing Director of NHS Services said "they (Doctors practices) would have to find huge savings to meet the Government’s £20bn savings target by 2014".

The new company intend to provide the back office services from INDIA, making an estimated initial saving to the NHS of £250 million by 2014, but what about the doctors staff, I hear you say, well they're to be given the boot of course.

Santa Came To Brandwood

2010-12-10T20:14:00.002Z

Santa came to Brandwood last evening and didn't we have a great time.
At The Space Community Facility in Sunderton Road Kings Heath, a large number of the residents and young children were there to welcome Santa as he arrived at 5:00pm.
Throughout the early evening residents were entertained by Bishop Challenor School Choir, a Piper along with hot-dogs, burgers and large mugs of hot chocolate, whilst young children were able to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas, while older children made decorations.
What a great time was had by all and a terrific community event.

Repairing Homes Yes - Building As Well, Now That's Another Question

2010-12-10T20:12:00.000Z

When you employ contractors to carryout work, there should be good relationships, but not too cosy, as at the end of the day there needs to be a business relationship, if they aren't doing what you want, then tell them and if need be perform a financial penalty.

However, whilst I applaud Birmingham City Council for wanting to build more homes for its residents, going in to a partnership with the housing repair contractor who already has two out of the three repair contract areas, meaning over 75% of the housing stock to repair already is a little foolish.

Whichever officer thought this scheme up, clearly doesn't see the full picture. Last week I wrote about using financial institutions, similar to Pension Funds, who want a long term investment opportunity, say twenty to thirty years, with an outlay in bricks and mortar now, over the next fifteen or twenty years the investment will double, probably treble and may even quadruple in value as house prices have done over a similar period in the past. This has to be the way forward in affordable housing in this city, it's worked in the past and I can't see why it shouldn't work now.

Denial of Internet Service by Birmingham City Council????????

2010-12-10T20:10:00.000Z

Now I don't know if they have deliberately attempted to block me from accessing my blog at The Council House, or some IT bureaucrat, hidden away in the bowels of some office in the city or elsewhere thinks they have done the right thing, preventing unauthorised access to the blog will prevent me from corrupting peoples thought process or what. Nevertheless I've been in limbo, I haven't been able to update my pages.
I know what I'll do if they don't sort it out soon, I'll go freelance using another system.

Hands Off My Pension Mr Osbourne II

2010-12-08T17:33:00.000Z

I can't claim any credit to the statement from Steve Webb MP The Pensions Minister. But I do believe that the Government woke up to the possible outpouring from us silver surfers, who have occupational pensions, if our trustees were to be forced by Government to adopt Consumer Price Indexing in place of RPI.
Yet another climb down by Government.
I wonder how many more climbdowns we would need before there's a new election and a new Government?

Typical Manchester, Over Egging It Again

2010-12-08T14:01:00.000Z

Typical of Manchester, if its about potholes it always has to go one better, but in this case it can.
On the other hand, here in Birmingham we have Amey to repair our roads and we don't have this type of problem anymore, or at least I hope we won't see problems like this again.