Unitary Authority Elections

Peter Dolman · Unitary Authority Elections

The date for the elections to elect the new Unitary Authority has been released. The elections will be held on June 4th 2009 the same day as the next elections to the European Parliament.

The new Unitary Authority will replace the current District Councils and the County Council.

Chepfer

How many candidates will there be representing calne then ?

Peter Dolman

I understand there will be 4 wards for Calne and I for Calne Without.

Chepfer

And how many represntitives are there from calne at the present d.c ?

Peter Dolman

If I remember correctly 7 but you can check on the Calne Town or North Wilts District Council web sites.
Current district councillors (without any additional responsibilities) are paid approx £4,500. I understand that the new Unitary Authority members will be paid in the region of £9,500 (again without any additional responsibilities).

There will be less Unitary Authority members than District Councillors and they will be expected to give at least a couple of days per week working for the Authority. The overall cost I understand will be less as a Unitary Authority than as District Councils.

Peter Dolman

Calne will have 5 Unitary Councillors representing the following wards:

Calne North
Calne Chilvester/Abberd
Calne Central
Calne South/Cherhill
Calne Rural
The Conservative candidates are;
Chuck Berry
Tony Trotman
Charles Boase
Alan Hill
Christine Crisp
The Lib Dem candidates are;
Peter Dolman
Ross Henning
Howard Marshall
Glenis Ansell
TBA
Other parites will be taking part in the election which will take place on the same day as elections for the European Parliament.
The campaign will kick off after the Easter Break.

Peter Dolman

the government are looking to opt out of the "Working Time Directive" (WTD). if they do there will be an unfortunate side effect in that our part time fire men will be out of a job.
they will not be able to hold down 2 jobs and will have to choose between their full time employment and the fire service.
this is likely to be an issue in all towns where part time staff who are on standby for long periods.
what ever you do don't have a chimmney fire as there is unlikly to be anyone to put it out.

Peter Dolman

http://howardrmarshall.blogspot.com/

teh above is a blog site for Unitary candidate for the Central Ward for the Lib Dems.

Peter Dolman

If you live in the Calne North Ward and would like to vote by post please contact me and I will forward the paperwork.

www.dolmanpeter@yahoo.co.uk
01249 812841

Local lass

do you think its imortant to live where you stand

Peter Dolman

I do but it's is not always possible and the rules do allow for people outside wards to stand.

I understand that one of my potential opponents on June 4th lives in the Malmesbury but has a business in Calne.

Unfortunately for what ever reason, there are not many people willing to put up with all the hazzle and critisim to stand for election! I think that the minimum criteria is that even if you don't live in the ward you should at least live in the town, but thats purely my opinion.

Have you ever considered standing for election?

Local lass

i think your right peter they should at least live in the town after all there descisions will affect the town.its a big help if they live in the ward they intend to stand for as they will do whats right.

Chuck · Standing in Calne

Hi Peter, Chuck here, I do live outside Calne but more of my waking hours are spent here. Quite a number of the people who work in my business are from Calne so so I get a pretty diverse view from those in all areas of the town and outside.

It is a good point though, personally it wil not affect my judgement on working to deliver the best for Calne as my life would not be worth living at work if I did not.

We'll have to see what happens the opportunity is perfect for me any issue in the North Calne area I can be thereby teatime or if necessary pop out at lunchtime - its all so close to work.

Good luck though I am sure I will take some stick for living 20 minutes away! but that's politics which strictly speaking is not why my hat's in the ring for me it's all about people blow the politics!

Chuck

rosco · Re: Standing in Calne

Peter Dolman

It is just a matter of principle for me, I would not dream about standing for election in any other ward apart from the one I live in, although I have been approached to do so.
We are after all standing for election in a specific ward being approx 25-30% of the population.

If elected I would first be representing the voters of the North of Calne and secondly those of the town as a whole. Why I do not question your desire to do a good job I am surprised that the Conservative party could not find a suitable candidate from within their local branch.

With regard to local issues whats your understanding of the chidrens playground that many mums are unhappy about?

LFC

Peter, Chuck,

Lets talk about an issue that is close to my heart, and I would like your opinions. Before I start I would like to point out I have not yet made my mind up as to who to vote for, when it comes to Council and local elections I vote for whom I feel will do the best for the ward and not on political party lines.

I live on the new estate in Lickhill Ward and I am aware that many of the people on the estate are sick of being treated like second class citizens because they a) Live on the new estate and b) most have not lived here for 20 years. I have seen comments from Peter on how the new people cannot spell, don’t pay towards the town council, do not need a community centre, and live in sub standard built houses. Not picking on you Peter but you post more than most, so I have more material.

As the new estate constitutes a fair part of the Lickhill ward I would like understand how you are going to represent these people and listen to what they want with as much enthusiasm as you would the rest of the ward.

Peter Dolman

Well LFC the bit about the council tax did/does not apply to you if you are in the Calne North Ward. It related to those houses behind the shops towards the A4. They voted for a town councillor and complained about issues to the town council but did not pay the same town precept as the rest of us.
Is that fair, I obviously did not think so.

The community hall I voted to support as a town councillor when it was proposed initially. The proposal was it would be built, on land supplied by Persimmon, by Beaversbrook Community Association. I had no problem with that proposal.

I changed my mind when it was to be built on land owned by the town council purchased in 1936 as a playing field. We do not have enough playing fields in the town and to build on one of the 3 we do have was and is not acceptable to me.
In addition the BCA had not produced a robust and acceptable business plan showing how it was going to successfully run the community hall.

Any comments about spelling apply to everyone irrespective of their age, gender or the length of time living in this or any other town.

As far as the house building goes I watched many of the new houses being built and am glad I don't live in them. Its more of a statement aimed at the builders rather than those who live in them.

There is an issue with regard to the state of the paths and roads on these estates which have yet to be "finished" by the developer. Untill they are "handed" over to the Wiltshire Council they remain the responsibility of the developer. This is likely to be ongoing as there is obviously a financial implication when ownership is transfered. It may seem that nothing is being done, its an issue with many, but the new councils hands are tied untill the developers hand the infrastructure over.

I have many friends and family living on the new estate so I am fully aware of the issues they face. One of which I am pushing the town council about is the building of a new childrens playground on the playing fields at North End. The council have £45k and approved plans but are procrastinating. There is no where for mums and you children to spend time in the open in the north of the town and this is an urgently needed facility.
You can help by contacting the town council 01249 814000 and speak to the Town Clerk (Mrs Linda Roberts).

Thats enough from me for the time being but feel free to contact direct 01249 812841on any issue.

LFC

Peter you say “Well LFC the bit about the council tax did/does not apply to you if you are in the Calne North Ward. It related to those houses behind the shops towards the A4. They voted for a town councillor and complained about issues to the town council but did not pay the same town precept as the rest of us.
Is that fair, I obviously did not think so.”

But is it the fault of the people living in those houses, which ward they were in? You seem to be blaming them when in reality they did not set up the boundaries. Do they have the right to complain, I think they have the same right as someone who has never worked and never paid tax has the right to complain about government policies and vote.

I am sure there are some older houses also in Calne without that do not pay the same rate as me and I am sure they complain as well, but you did not mention them- and this is my point?

Chuck · New estate

Quick note the 'new estate' is split by the road which runs between Tescos and the school. One bit is North Calne the bit nearest Portemarsh the other is in Calne Chilvester as far as Wiltshire Council is concerned.

Amusingly another chap from Devizes who has been here 20 years said he was 'new' to Calne so time passes slowly here.

The new estate provided an amount of money as part of its development costs to finance various things - this is standard practise and the money tends to be used to support things near the build.

Of course it is pretty close to me but then so is the whole Division (sorry not Ward any more) what I will continue to push for there is a Pelican Crossing by Tescos, a better plan on the school drop off and more parking if possible around the surgery and school. It was an odd plan but based on sound 'let them walk' principles whihc frankly looked great on paper but have not worked.

I struggle to spell sometimes too as is clear from my posts but that is because I am a poor typist. Peter I am sure did not mean to be taken as it appeared.

What sort of things are needed? we have quite a bit at this end of town largely because of the new estate, so the rest of North Calne and the wider Calne should be grateful I guess.

But as well you know it is not about the nice new estate the new school, the new sports facilities,the school extension etc... it is about everyone in the Division. They are my number 1 priority then the whole of Calne which is my second priority, doing what's right, representing residents and TRYING to get the things they want done (can't promise to deliver just promise to really give it a massive go).

I hope I pass my interview if we get the chance to chat, you can call anytime 01249 822063 during the day and 07815 954236 out of hours but please leave a message and I'll get back to you.

Party Politics often sucks but it is not that prevalent in local politics it is about the person. I know me and what my principles are and I'm well up for sticking the boot in to help the people who I seek to represent whether they voted for me or not (or didn't vote at all which sadly seems to be quite a popular choice).

That's localism!

Enough people want something then we (Peter or me, the Town Council and other Calne representatives should stand up and fight to deliver it) Calne has had an OK deal but it often loses out to Chippenham in the North of the County so a good watch needs to be set up.

I reckon we'll both be pretty good for the Division but sadly you'll have to choose.

Cheers,

Chuck

For the record I really like the estate as it seems really private and yet still keeps some level of community - build quality should have been guarateed by the House Builders Federation or whatever they are called if its an issue we need to beat them up! (not literally) Hpefull see you around (your name isn't Joe by any chance and I don't suppose you are a plumber? LOL)

Peter Dolman

I believe rightly or wrongly that if you live in Calne and vote for a representative(s) on the town council you should pay the town precept. This applies to anyone in any part of the town. If you live in Calne Without then you have the right to complain to that council.
Yes the boundary should have been amended some 4 years ago but any alteration is down to the Boundary Commission not any local council.

The American war of Independance started (in part) with the cry "no taxation without representation" I would counter "no representation without taxation".

Unitary Authority Elections

Standing in Calne

Re: Standing in Calne

New estate