Pointless Targets

Newspapers often speak of “political correctness gone mad”, “crazy government targets” and “idiotic regulations”.  Last night, I saw them in action. 

As Councillors flicked to the page of the agenda containing the Council’s Best Value Performance Indicators 2007/8, a large number of members were extremely surprised to find the following targets included:

[To increase] the level of the Equality Standard for local government to which the Authority conforms in respect of gender, race and disability.

[To increase] percentage of top-paid 5% of local authority staff who are women.

[To increase] percentage of the top-paid 5% of local authority staff who are from an ethnic minority.

[To increase] percentage of local authority employees from an ethnic minority community.

Turning on her microphone to express her belief that women should be treated in exactly the same way as men when applying for jobs with the Council (i.e. appoint the best person for the job based on their ability and experience), Cllr Becky Denby was informed by the Tim Williams, the Chief Executive of the Council that such targets are central government imposed.

Don’t get me wrong.  Anything that encourages more members of the ethnic minorities, women or people with disabilities to work for Runnymede Council should be welcomed enthusiastically.  My problem is with arbitrary, patronising and tokenistic targets being imposed upon the council in the name of “good value”.

There are plenty of genuine indicators of “good value” in the report, for example, the number of kilograms of household waste collected per head of population, the speed by which planning applications are processed, how quickly abandoned vehicles are removed and our success in reducing domestic burglaries. 

We deserve to be judged on these issues, not pointless targets from an out of touch government.  

Eurostar Reorganisation: Bad for Runnymede

I am currently in Brussels for a couple of days working on my day job as a member of staff to Nirj Deva, Runnymede’s Member of the European Parliament.  Over the past four years that I have worked for Nirj, I have made a point of taking the Eurostar to Brussels, chiefly because when travelling either from Egham or other parts of the South East, it is was far quicker to take the train than to go through the hassle of flying.

Sadly, moving Eurostar services from Waterloo to St Pancras has spoiled what had previously been a brilliant service. 

Taking the 7:20am train this morning at Egham it took me nearly an hour and a half in the rush-hour rail and tube congestion to trek across London to the new station whereas previously all one needed to do when travelling from any of the stations in Runnymede Borough served by the Reading-London Waterloo service (Egham, Virginia Water, Chertsey and Addlestone) service was to walk down the stairs adjacent to Platform 19 and directly into the Eurostar station.  Painless, easy, effortless.

The government is constantly going on about the need for people to cut their carbon emissions, yet in terms of the travel habits of Runnymede residents, moving the service to St Pancras will only encourage people onto the numerous (cheap and excellent) flights that run from Heathrow to Brussels. 

Accuse me of endangering our environment if you wish, but had I flown to Brussels as opposed to taking the Eurostar, I would have arrived in Brussels nearly two hours earlier sans the grimey journey across London’s dreadful transport network.  Which would you prefer?

When I next have to travel to Brussels or Paris, it will not be by Eurostar. 

Congratulations to the pseudo-private government cartel that controls Eurostar PLC for ruining what had previously been an excellent service.

A direct train service to Kingston?

Let’s get one thing straight: I am not a train-spotter.  Beyond trains arriving on time and possessing some modicum of cleanliness, they do not interest me in the least. Like every regular commuter, the words “engineering” and “works” usually strike fear into my heart.

My interest in train timetables has, however, been piqued over the past weeks.  The engineering works taking place at weekends on the line between Reading and London Waterloo over the last month or so have been, well, extremely convenient. 

The weekend diversion of the train service through Staines, Kingston and Clapham Junction has proved extremely useful for many non-motorists such as me in the run-up to Christmas, allowing us easy access to Kingston’s brilliant shopping areas and nightlife. 

A significant number of Englefield Green residents endure a commute to Kingston (and other nearby areas) by car each day, either sitting in miles of traffic jams or putting themselves through a torturous train journey. There is, of course, the option of taking a bus but that too involves a nearly one and half journey, including a change at Staines Bus Station. 

Whilst in no way would I like to see the existing Egham and Virginia Water services (the two stations generally favoured by Englefield Green commuters), which runs via Richmond, abolished in favour of a timetabled service running solely via Kingston, I would be hugely supportive of making the Kingston service permanent, perhaps running on an hourly basis.  Introducing a direct link between Virginia Water, Egham, Staines and Kingson on the London Waterloo line not only has the potential to reduce congestion on our roads but would be hugely convenient, eliminating a twenty minute wait at Twickenham’s horrifically bleak station.  It would also bring about a potentially valuable link between the east of Runnymede and South London which does not exist at present.

I am genuinely convinced that such a service would generate the demand needed in order to justify its existence. 

Please do let me know what you think about this idea and whether you feel this is an issue that I should take up with South West Trains.  

Englefield Green Committee - Tomorrow

The Englefield Green Committee, a special sub-committee established by the Council in line with its obligations under the Crown Lease in order to administer the running of The Green itself will meet tomorrow evening (21st) at 7:00pm in the Jurgen Centre on Harvest Road.

The agenda is as follows:

1 - Election of Chairman (to be Cllr Pat Roberts)
2 - Election of Vice-Chairman (to be Cllr Mike Kusneraitis)
3 - Minutes
4 - Apologies for Absence
5 - Declaration of Interests
6 - The future siting of events on The Green
7 - An update on the current position regarding the Play Area
8 - Renewal of Englefield Green Cricket Club’s lease
9 - The management and maintenance of The Green
10 - Improvements to the Northcroft Road / Barley Mow Road junction

The committee is comprised of the six Englefield Green Borough Councillors - myself, Cllr Marisa Heath, Cllr Mike Kusneraitis, Cllr Hugh Meares (who, as Mayor, will not be present at the meeting tomorrow evening), Cllr Jack Perschke and Cllr Pat Roberts - as well as two residents’ representatives, Andrew Panter and Maria Bairstow. 

The minutes of the last meeting held on 10th April, representations from local residents regarding the siting of funfairs on The Green, Andy Power and Peter Winkworth’s Honorary Warden’s report and an update from Surrey County Council regarding the Northcroft Road footway can be viewed by clicking here.

£55,000 left in Runnymede Youth Fund

With the year drawing to a close, £55,000 remains unspent in Runnymede’s Youth Opportunities / Youth Capital Fund.

Funding is available for youth projects that increase the amount of things for young people to do locally, especially those that encourage young people to stay stay, be healthy and make a positive contribution to the local community.

All applications must be led and completed by young people.  Please do let anyone you think may be interested know about this scheme.

Application forms can be downloaded from www.surreycc.gov.uk/takeparttakepower.  The deadline for applying for funding is 3rd December with grants will be allocated on 7th December. 

If you are interesting in applying and would like my help, please do get in touch with me.

Out of Hours Noise Service reinstated

The Leisure and Environment committee last night voted in principle to reintroduce the Out of Hours Noise Service from April 2008.  Several Englefield Green residents have been in touch with me voicing their concerns about the abolition of the service. 

The initial recommendation to reinstate the service came following a spirited meeting of the Review Board on 11th October where several local residents attended the committee to make their views heard.

The financial burden of the service, previously provided via an external contractor from 2003 and March 2007, was previously shared with three other Councils in the county (Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell and Woking) at a cost of £10,500 a year.  It was the view of this committee that the financial cost of the service represented good value for money for local residents.

Maintenance work: Runnymede Old Bridge

Essential work will be taking place on the bridge (Runnymede Old Bridge) carrying the A30 northbound link road between the Runnymede Hotel roundabout and the Junction 13 interchange of the M25 until 20th April 2008.

The Highways Authority has issued the following statement regarding the works:

“The remedial works will take the form of repairing the currently accident damaged stonework parapet and include the installation of a new safety fence to the front of the parapet to prevent future breaches from road traffic accidents. Other works will include full brickwork replacement of the eastern spandrel which will require extensive scaffolding from the river banks.

“For the duration of the works, a single running lane with shall be provided over the structure with a reduced mandatory speed limit of 50mph enforced to reduce the risk of errant vehicles entering the works zone and vehicle recovery provided. Full access will be maintained for river traffic and pedestrians/cyclists using the adjacent towpath below.

 ”We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and assure you that we will do all we can to keep noise and disruption to a minimum, particularly adjacent to residential properties during these periods. Thank you for being patient and understanding during these essential works.”

If you think these works could affect your journey, you can ‘phone the Highways Agency on 08700 660 115 or visit www.highways.gov.uk for up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions.

Remembrance Sunday

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Beyond your responsibilities towards your Council ward, one of the most important roles of a local councillor is to represent the Borough at local events.  This morning, Cllr Jack Perschke and myself attended a short service, including the laying of wreaths by local Scout and Girl Guides groups at St Jude’s Church.  Cllr Pat Roberts, Cllr Marisa Heath, Cllr Mike Kusneraitis and the Mayor of Runnymede, Cllr Hugh Meares, attended the service at the Air Force Memorial. 

Attending memorial services such as the one at St Jude’s really does bring home to you the scale of the sacrifice so many men and women made for this country.  As someone who hasn’t known the horrors of war, I cannot understand the realities of war.  That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t all be grateful for the sacrifices so many men and women made for our country. 

Tite Hill closed for emergency repairs

I have just received the following message from Richard Bolton at Surrey County Council’s Highways Departments alterting me to the emergency closure of Tite Hill.

“BT have requested an emergency road closure in one direction (eastbound) for this evening to replace a major trunk cable which has been vandalised / stolen.  Approx 800 properties are without phone lines.  The intention is for the closure to be off as soon as possible, but is may extend for 48hrs.

“Access will be maintained for vehicles travelling in a westbound direction (up the hill for the A30) but those wishing to go eastbound (down the hill) will be diverted via Middle Hill.  Access will therefore be permitted for residents.  A diversion will be signed.

BT Engineers will be working continual shifts until the works are complete.”

If you are driving back to Englefield Green from the Egham/M25 direction, it may be useful for you to use an alternative route for the next few days, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours. 

Foot and Mouth restrictions lifted

Restrictions placed upon the movement of animals inside Runnymede following an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in Egham on 12th September have been lifted. 

Hugh Meares, the Mayor of Runnymede and a fellow Englefield Green Councillor said: “The lifting of the Surveillance Zone should signify that the area is clear of Foot and Mouth which will be good news for our farmers and livestock keepers. And personally it means our own sheep will probably survive. We had DEFRA testers visit recently and take blood samples of the six sheep I have. Hopefully soon we can all resume our normal routines”.

Let’s hope this is the last Runnymede has seen of Foot and Mouth disease.

For more information on FMD, please visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth.