ConservativeHome's Local Government Blog

Adam Tugwell on pensions deficits

So, if this Government can’t tax our cash out of us directly (even by stealth), they’d prefer to let someone else have a go at our bank accounts, rather than leave our money alone.

No, this is not a reference to the apparent bonanza that would-be fraudsters are about to have with our Child Benefit details, but rather the indirect way that Labour are continuing to push Council Tax up while putting the brakes on.

Like many of my Conservative colleagues around the Country with seats on local Councils, the subject of the 2008-09 Budget is probably just beginning to become a talking point at Group Meetings.

So how much say do we actually have on the amount that we can duly ask our residents to pay up for their Council Services in the coming year?

In truth, probably not a lot and as I appreciate that those of you taking the time to read the Local Gov Section on CH will be probably be very well aware of exactly what I am saying, I will not dwell on this nebulous cloud much here today.

Cllr Adam Tugwell: The crime of Labour inflicted bureaucracy…

Adam Tugwell, a Conservative Councillor in Tewkesbury, explains how the government's bureaucratic approach to crime affects things at a council level.

As we footstep around our wards, it is clearly evident at the doorstep that fighting crime and our favourite buzzwords ‘antisocial behaviour’, have become a key priority to the local voting public. Whatever the statistics tell us, the perception is sadly far removed from the place that our current Whitehall Government would have us all believe.

The Prime Minister would have the electorate know that he is the new champion of administrative efficiency and that under his (serious) stewardship, the clogged-up arteries of British law-enforcement will soon flow brilliantly (red) once again, quickly reaching the parts that his predecessor couldn’t (or wouldn’t) reach.

So how does this new efficiency actually filter down to operations and what does it look like to the man ‘on the street’ – or perhaps more importantly, what does the delivery look like?

Many of you reading this article will be aware of the existence of CSP’s (Community Safety Partnerships) and their role in the Labour Governments attempts to tackle crime. CSP’s are usually made up of representation from the local District or Unitary, the Police, Fire and Rescue and the various NHS Trusts which operate within the ‘Partnership Area’.

Sitting through a meeting, you will soon realise just how bureaucratic these groups are and witness reports from sub groups and specialists on how certain problems are being tackled, a serialised history of what the local Police have been doing, and of course, the latest legislation and direction from the Government.