Last night at the Ipswich Borough Council meeting, our Labour Group put forward a motion asking for the Government to consider scrapping the 1% pay cap on Public Service workers, Cllr Bryony Rudkin proposed the motion and it was seconded by Sandra Gage, both commented on how hard some public workers were finding it hard to get by with some nurses now having to rely on food banks.
Even members of the Tory Cabinet are now considering supporting the removal of the pay cap but currently the Chancellor is holding firm on his strict stance. The election result in June plus what their own residents are telling them has caused a number of Tory MPs to consider their own position on the wage cap. Philip Hammond, the Chancellor may not be happy with some of his MPs wavering but he would have been much more comfortable with the response of the Ipswich Tory Group.
Cllr Harsant stated she did understand the hardship that public service workers were bearing but she would still vote against the motion because she felt it was better for the country, I do not agree with her but she at least made a decent attempt at explaining her position, the same could not be said of the other Tories who spoke.
Many said that the current economic situation (all down to Gordon Brown, according to them) meant we could not afford a rise above 1% for anyone - none could explain how it was OK for some of them to vote for a much larger rise for the Tory leaders on the County council last week! Some of the other comments were far more outrageous - Cllr Carnall decided to focus on tuition fees and Corbyn (not sure what that had to do with the wage cap) but when he did speak on the motion he described the contributions by Cllrs Gage and Rudkin as 'sob stories'.
Many of their front bench seemed to enjoy informing us all that public service workers would not get a pay cut, Nadia Cenci stated she would like to give all soldier pay of £100,000 but still would not vote for the lifting of a 1% pay cap on our armed forces.
Cllr Phillips indicated that independent pay review boards settled public service pay - he was almost right, in the case of the Armed Services the Government just ignores the findings and pay review boards for other public service workers are often told that they can't recommend pay rises of over 1% before they start. So much for any form of independence.
As Bryony Rudkin later commented, the mask had slipped and the 'nasty party' was back with a bang. By this time, I had decided to speak not only because of the anger I now felt after listening to the Tories speak but also by the hypocrisy of some who stayed silent.
Robin Vickery is both a Borough and a County Councilor and has often spoken up for the Armed Services, no real surprise as he is a dedicated member of the British Legion and holds a senior post within the Suffolk British Legion. Earlier in the meeting he had asked a question about Suffolk Day where he had lamented the lack of floral displays at the recent event, his last comment had been that he had hoped their would be a better show when we remembered the battle of Passchendaele on Monday., not a surprising comment due to his role in the British Legion, but when it came to voting for a motion to ask the Tory Government to lift the 1% wage cap on our current soldiers, sailors and airmen he refused but only a week earlier he had voted for a 15% pay rise for Tory County leader, Colin Noble.
As a senior member of the British Legion I would have expected him not only to vote for but speak up for any motion that supported our current armed forces. I had earlier spoken to say that a 1% pay rise would not have stopped me from wanted to be a member of the army but this Tory Government is not just asking soldiers to take home just a 1% rise it is actually reducing their weekly pay packet as they look to introduce the 'Armed Forces Future Accommmodation Model' - a plan that is so flawed that serving senior officers are even going public in their criticism of the proposed scheme. This would mean that some young soldiers could actually see an 8-9% pay cut. But this did not seem to sway Cllr Vickery who still voted against the motion. Maybe now is the time that Cllr Vickery looked at his position within the Suffolk British Legion.
Showing posts with label Bryony Rudkin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bryony Rudkin. Show all posts
Thursday, 27 July 2017
Monday, 5 May 2014
Ransomes - Tories still trying to fool residents
During the last two election campaigns in Rushmere the Tories have attempted to cause alarm amongst local residents and sports teams about future plans for Ransomes Sports club.
It is disappointing that even this year, local Tories are still telling residents on the doorstep that the (Labour run) council intend to build houses on the site. A number of blogs have also found themselves fed the same inaccurate story by certain leading Ipswich Tories. Ipswich Spy has published a number of one sided posts in the past but it seems even they would not print the latest story being pushed out by the Tories.
But Tory activist Kevin Algar was happy enough to post an article about Ransomes without checking the facts. As both the local councillor and a sports fan it has been difficult not to speak out earlier but as it at one time thought that the Ransomes issue may end up in court it was not possible to go public with the true facts.
It has taken a lot of hard work by councillors, council officers and members of the various sports clubs to get to the position where we are now and there I still much to do but we are moving in the right direction. The latest inaccurate Tory post has upset many of those involved in the local sports clubs and they have decided to go public to show their disgust in the way the future of Rnasomes has been used by the Tories to try and gain votes.
A member of the cricket club did write to Ipswich Tory, Mr Algar asking him to remove his inaccurate post but he has refused to do so.
After Mr Algar refused to remove the post the cricket club have given me permission to publish the letter on my blog.
The letter clearly shows readers of this blog that the Tories have been attempting to alarm local residents in the hope to win the Rushmere seat. It has failed at the last two elections and will fail again this time.
Dear Mr Alger
I have recently read your blog dated 25th April 2014, concerning Ransomes Social Club and the apparent labour agenda under the leadership of David Ellesmere as the parliamentary candidates to eventual use the land as a building site.
I feel compelled to email you to express at first hand the inaccuracies of your article and politely request you retract elements of your blog. As a member of St Margaret's Cricket club for over 10 years we had witnessed at first hand the unfortunate decline of standards and facilities over recent years. In the 2013 season, we did not have hot water at times, electrics were in a dangerous state of repair and asbestos was rife throughout the building (to name but a few). Financially, one could argue, the club was being mismanaged and no longer financially viable.
When the Ipswich Borough Council took over the grounds with a labour run local government we (along with the other sports teams) had some real reservations about political interference initially. As a resident, with my property backing onto the land, I was concerned. However, we had consultation meetings, our committee members met with the council and labour representatives regularly and we have continued with these dialogues. Slowly my worries have somewhat eased.
Let's examine how things look in late April 2014. The Ipswich Borough Council under the labour leadership of David Ellesmere with councillor Mr Ross, Ms Rudkin &Mr Grant have done the following within the past few months.
1. Rightly condemned the building due to safety reasons to protect the public
2. Hired the correct equipment for maintaining the ground
3. Improved facilities by adding quality temporary facilities with showers and toilets
4. Improved the electricity and water supplies
5. Improved our meeting room with new kitchen equipment
6. Cutting the ground regularly
7. Ensured that cleaning is done regularly of the changing rooms and to a high standard
I could not be happier with the progress and could not have asked for more from the council. I have had letters reassuring me the council have no plans to build on this land. The money being spent on this and the time and effort seems to overwhelmingly support these statements. The futures, is looking brighter with the community rightly taking a more active role within collaborative with all parities.
Your comments in my opinion are unsubstantiated with a lack of primary evidence and personal experience. I urge you to readdress the blog at your earliest opportunity. In my opinion, Ransomes Sports & Social Club as a community sports area should not be used as a political football, particularly as in my opinion on this occasion Mr Alger you have scored an own goal!
Yours sincerely
Carl Fitch
Ransomes will thrive and we hope to give the site a further boost in the Summer with some more good news.
Top tip - never trust what a Tory tells you on a Rushmere doorstep
It is disappointing that even this year, local Tories are still telling residents on the doorstep that the (Labour run) council intend to build houses on the site. A number of blogs have also found themselves fed the same inaccurate story by certain leading Ipswich Tories. Ipswich Spy has published a number of one sided posts in the past but it seems even they would not print the latest story being pushed out by the Tories.
But Tory activist Kevin Algar was happy enough to post an article about Ransomes without checking the facts. As both the local councillor and a sports fan it has been difficult not to speak out earlier but as it at one time thought that the Ransomes issue may end up in court it was not possible to go public with the true facts.
It has taken a lot of hard work by councillors, council officers and members of the various sports clubs to get to the position where we are now and there I still much to do but we are moving in the right direction. The latest inaccurate Tory post has upset many of those involved in the local sports clubs and they have decided to go public to show their disgust in the way the future of Rnasomes has been used by the Tories to try and gain votes.
A member of the cricket club did write to Ipswich Tory, Mr Algar asking him to remove his inaccurate post but he has refused to do so.
After Mr Algar refused to remove the post the cricket club have given me permission to publish the letter on my blog.
The letter clearly shows readers of this blog that the Tories have been attempting to alarm local residents in the hope to win the Rushmere seat. It has failed at the last two elections and will fail again this time.
Dear Mr Alger
I have recently read your blog dated 25th April 2014, concerning Ransomes Social Club and the apparent labour agenda under the leadership of David Ellesmere as the parliamentary candidates to eventual use the land as a building site.
I feel compelled to email you to express at first hand the inaccuracies of your article and politely request you retract elements of your blog. As a member of St Margaret's Cricket club for over 10 years we had witnessed at first hand the unfortunate decline of standards and facilities over recent years. In the 2013 season, we did not have hot water at times, electrics were in a dangerous state of repair and asbestos was rife throughout the building (to name but a few). Financially, one could argue, the club was being mismanaged and no longer financially viable.
When the Ipswich Borough Council took over the grounds with a labour run local government we (along with the other sports teams) had some real reservations about political interference initially. As a resident, with my property backing onto the land, I was concerned. However, we had consultation meetings, our committee members met with the council and labour representatives regularly and we have continued with these dialogues. Slowly my worries have somewhat eased.
Let's examine how things look in late April 2014. The Ipswich Borough Council under the labour leadership of David Ellesmere with councillor Mr Ross, Ms Rudkin &Mr Grant have done the following within the past few months.
1. Rightly condemned the building due to safety reasons to protect the public
2. Hired the correct equipment for maintaining the ground
3. Improved facilities by adding quality temporary facilities with showers and toilets
4. Improved the electricity and water supplies
5. Improved our meeting room with new kitchen equipment
6. Cutting the ground regularly
7. Ensured that cleaning is done regularly of the changing rooms and to a high standard
I could not be happier with the progress and could not have asked for more from the council. I have had letters reassuring me the council have no plans to build on this land. The money being spent on this and the time and effort seems to overwhelmingly support these statements. The futures, is looking brighter with the community rightly taking a more active role within collaborative with all parities.
Your comments in my opinion are unsubstantiated with a lack of primary evidence and personal experience. I urge you to readdress the blog at your earliest opportunity. In my opinion, Ransomes Sports & Social Club as a community sports area should not be used as a political football, particularly as in my opinion on this occasion Mr Alger you have scored an own goal!
Yours sincerely
Carl Fitch
Ransomes will thrive and we hope to give the site a further boost in the Summer with some more good news.
Top tip - never trust what a Tory tells you on a Rushmere doorstep
Sunday, 12 June 2011
My Week Ahead 13 - 19 June 2011
Ross Edgar - Olympic cycling star in Ipswich
Monday 13 June - 8pm Meeting with local Scout Groups
Tuesday 14 June - Sidegate School
Wednesday 15 June - 2pm Army Air Corps homecoming parade, Christchurch Park
Thursday 16 June - 6pm Scrutiny meeting
Friday 17 June - 12.30pm Opening of new gym at Northgate School
Saturday 18 June 10.30am Campaigning in North West Ipswich
Last week started with a meeting with the Culture and Leisure portfolio holder - a number of great schemes are being planned for the town, to help mark the Olympics.
Wednesday was a sad day as I attended the funeral of C/Sjt Fortuna in Colchester.
Sunday was a fantastic day as thousands turned up for the Sky Ride in the town centre. I even managed to get a ride on a tandem and meet Olympic cycling star Ross Edgar.
Cllr Rudkin on a penny farthing - almost!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)