Published 29th September and 3rd October, 1993.
Correction.
Unlike Secondary schools, the Sec. of State did not have the power to close special schools if there are surplus places.
Supplemental report. Single Parent families.
I know it can be a mistake to react to Tory speeches, but the latest speech on single parent families has a smell about it.
I have received complaints about single parent families receiving undue advantages recently and I think the Tories are latching onto something which might have popular support.
If there isn't enough housing then the way forward is to campaign for more housing; not to squabble over the priorities in the housing list.
Arguing over matters like this divide people who share common interests and need to be brought together.
I was pleased to see the article by the Tory MP in Tuesday's Guardian.
I'd be interested to hear members' views on this.
Cllr. Glenn Hill.
This West Bridgford Tory County Councillor has published figures showing that the County Council gives 600 times more to ethnic minorities than to women.
Plainly, this is a distortion of the County's work and I am in correspondence with Cllr. Hill to establish his motives.
Modern Myths.
I fear this is the kind of letter that sets modern myths; just like the one developing about single parents.
The Council will be discussing racism at the next County Council.
Spanish Civil War.
Fittingly, a memorial to members of the International Brigade who left Nottingham to fight Fascists was opened last month. It consists of relief metal plates and list the names of the 17 people who went.
I met a Brigader. His military metal had to be the smallest and thinnest I'd ever seen and it spoke volumes for the nature of the struggle he'd been in.
He came from Fulham and lived in a council house. Then it was known as Red Fulham; now its "yuppified". The room is was born in rents at £30 a week; the rent for the whole house was 10 shillings.
Euro Seats.
New Euro constituencies have been proposed to accommodate the larger number of MEPs Britain will have.
The proposed changes affect Nottinghamshire dramatically.
[See separate list.]
My analysis of local seats suggest that whilst 2 out of 3 seats would be Tory on the basis of the 1992 General Election results, the Nottingham seat would be Labour if the parties were even in the polls and the Peak District seat (which takes in Broxtowe!) would be Labour with a single point lead.
With the existing 15%+ leads, the Tories will be wiped out.
Selection of Candidates.
The party has adopted procedures which allows existing MEPs to claim any seat which partly covers their existing constituencies.
It means our MEPs are unlikely to receive the mandate of local party members. I think this weakens them and makes it harder to work with local parties if they need help to run campaigns.
Polling District Changes.
Proposals to make Byford Close, Bladon Close, Morley Avenue (south), Mapperley Crescent and St.Judes Avenue part of B block have been made by the City Chief Executive following a request from me.
The proposal also suggests making Victoria Crescent part of B block which I think is a mistake. Ward Newsletter.
I'd like to do a ward newsletter soon. An early crude copy exists.
The plan is -
to discuss the budget, the expected tax increases and Labour's recovery package on the first page;
to highlight a range of issues prompted by local matters on pages 2 and 3;
to discuss possible social service cuts in the ward on page 4.
There will also be a blank form for people to fill in.
Contact me if you want to suggest ideas and text.
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