Published 22nd May 1996. Mapperley division issues Unemployment
The March figures are 658, 16.6%, 15th highest District ward in the County; down a bit.
Cases - 35 in 1996
Carrington Sports Ground
An all-weather pitch has been laid.
The Hyson Green Cricket Club has renamed itself Carrington to be closer to their new neighbours.
There is talk that the next proposal to build on the bowling green will be successful.
Arnold PLAC
Major points from the meeting were -
an outbreak of crime in Sherwood; thought to be largely the work of one young man;
a frustration with the inability of the Police to cope; built on the sense that they are not given enough money to employ enough officers.
Zebra Crossing
In response to resident pressure, the bus stop near the crossing by Mapperley Crescent is to be moved; and the beacons are to be made more prominent.
Win / Wood Towers
I attended their A.G.M. A large number of small issues, but both Emma's and Saghir's efforts were mentioned positively.
Woodthorpe Park Festival
I was disappointed to find out this was cancelled. Not least because we've argued one of the benefits of selling land for new greenhouses was that the festival would be retained.
Elliott Durham Baths
I understand the baths will be closed during the summer holiday.
Elliott Durham
I went to school to watch a couple of science classes. I was impressed with the pupils' attitude; I'd expected more cynicism.
Nottinghamshire County issues Committees
Because of my interest in Elliott Durham, I've joined the Education Cttee.
Because of the branch's interest in Shortwood Farm [oh yes] I'm also a member of the Environment Cttee. I'm also on the Superannuation Panel.
Cuts
I thought the F.A.C.E. demonstration (last month) was a disappointment.
F.A.C.E. are now campaigning on school milk provision. The discussions are ongoing. The health issues are not clear and alternative ways of financing the service are being examined.
Should F.A.C.E. stick to the funding issues if they are to remain effective?
Education Cttee.
My first cttee. for two years yesterday and what fun with the Tories we had -
reminding them that Notts. LEA can replace buildings burnt down when GM schools (such as one in Shropshire) have to make do without lost buildings;
taunting Tory County Councillors who call for tough action for removing surplus places; yet who then lament and vote against the removal of middle schools in Newark;
condemning the badging of money for school repairs; Notts needs £111 million to sort out all known repairs; the country needs £3 billion; we have to bid in the School Renewal Challenge Fund for some "top-sliced" money and show that we've attracted private sector funding;
applauding the Government for abandoning plans to deregulate public sector nurseries and nursery units.
In riposte, they attacked the democracy of the NUT and its conference; a bit rich coming from the Tory Party with its stage-managed conference.
Big - 1
Did you see the documentaries on Franklin D Roosevelt? His re-election campaign in 1936; and he's seen addressing a mass rally saying -
"Government by big business is as dangerous as Government by the mob"
It's so true. We suffer high levels of indirect and direct personal taxation in Britain today, yet we cannot afford to rebuild our schools. Why? Because we're the second lowest tax raising country in the E.U. How come? Because our Government doesn't tax the corporate sector properly.
Result. We can't resist the sale of Waste Notts; we get £25 million from a cash rich Yorkshire Water company who didn't have to pay the windfall taxes they expected at the last budget.
Result. Tesco's offer to give our schools computers in return for high levels of shopping at their supermarkets.
And big business will keep on subsidising the Tory Party. And the Tories keep on putting basic services in hock to the private sector.
Railtrack
Now they've sold Railtrack for an undervalued price, raising only £1.9 billion.
But to build up confidence they had to tell a few porkies. Government approached one Rail team in York and said "How much investment does Railtrack need?"
"£25 billion" they reply. "Too high." So they go to a respectable private engineering company and ask the same question. They say "£50 billion".
So they give up and put £1 billion in the prospectus. This figure stands inspection only if you're prepared to believe that rails last 100 years and rail bridges last 400 years.
Big - 2
Ooh! What I'd give to hear Tony Blair repeat FDR's words.
Instead, at the National Political Education Conference last weekend, we're saying that big government is wrong. Well, we know what they're getting at. But try telling it to FDR.
Big - 3
What the leadership do believe in is big party management. That's why we need to take care with new proposals for -
agreeing a national manifesto;
re-organising the Labour Party and the way it works so as to support a Labour Government.
We need to remember the value of meeting as branches and constituencies, so that we can develop a fuller understanding of what is happening in our locality, our nation and our party. And branches give me and other Councillors the confidence to take stands.
Your interest is essential even when reading midnight rants like these.
Future Issues
I'm looking at initiatives on the new "Don't Choke Britain" campaign; the revamped "Reduce Road Traffic Bill"; and a forthcoming audit of GP fundholders.
Spanish Civil War
Finally, it's 60 years since the outbreak of this war. One of the International Brigade veterans lives in this ward. There's a full day conference on the war at the University of Nottingham on 15th June.