During an informal meeting of councillors to discuss the way forward regarding future street cleaning, and play area, security, some of the local teenagers were outside and so were invited in to give input regarding the provision of play or recreation areas. One young man was particularly impressive as he spoke with clarity and confidence on the subject of a BMX area.
The main sticking point to the idea lies in finding a suitable spot which would not create objection from nearby residents yet at the same time be accessible. The actual cost of provision would be quite low since all that is really needed is space and soil to create "hills and holes" with ideally some street lighting for winter evenings. The Parish Council will continue to seek a suitable location and hope that a solution can be found.
The village youngsters had created their own unofficial BMX track on some Railway Land at the South of the Station bridge but Network Rail were not happy about this as it was open to the tracks, and so closed off the area, which was a shame but understandable in the present climate of risk, blame and litigation.
If anyone has suggestions for suitable locations please pass them to the Parish Clerk.
Thursday 30 September 2010
Sunday 26 September 2010
Democracy tied in knots to suit a disgruntled resident?
For a couple of years now Gilberdyke Parish Council has been subject to a campaign of disruption by the resident who created the undersized culvert in the critical dyke between Scalby Lane and Chestnut Drive (a dyke which he has repeatedly claimed he does not own or have responsibility for). This culvert was created after the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board told him not to do it but he went ahead anyway.
This disruption has ranged from repetetive letters and threats to the Parish Council containing spurious claims, to distributing leaflets to the villagers containing false information and blatant lies. He obviously is aware that his activities are creating an atmosphere of dissent and must have some reluctance to being identified in official records as he is now attempting (with the support of the Information Commissioners Office) to have his name removed from all council documents, minutes and public records. If he is so sure of his position why does he not have the courage to be identified?
If the council decide to agree to this the implications for the council and democracy at local level are damaging and far reaching. The council policy dictates it cannot and will not act on the basis of anonymous letters. Therefore if a letter is received even correctly signed and addressed but the sender cannot be disclosed or recorded, it becomes anonymous, therefore any content must be ignored and the letter discarded. Further any matter where a persons name such as a planning application will become public should be held confidential and members of the public be excluded. The situation if allowed to develop would result in the council holding almost all of its meetings in closed session and the present open and accountable system with members of the public free to attend and observe as they wish would end simply to prevent inadvertent disclosure of anyones identity.
Hardly good for democracy or open local government and certainly a conflict with the aims of freedom of information - all because of the antics of a misguided individual with a few followers!
This disruption has ranged from repetetive letters and threats to the Parish Council containing spurious claims, to distributing leaflets to the villagers containing false information and blatant lies. He obviously is aware that his activities are creating an atmosphere of dissent and must have some reluctance to being identified in official records as he is now attempting (with the support of the Information Commissioners Office) to have his name removed from all council documents, minutes and public records. If he is so sure of his position why does he not have the courage to be identified?
If the council decide to agree to this the implications for the council and democracy at local level are damaging and far reaching. The council policy dictates it cannot and will not act on the basis of anonymous letters. Therefore if a letter is received even correctly signed and addressed but the sender cannot be disclosed or recorded, it becomes anonymous, therefore any content must be ignored and the letter discarded. Further any matter where a persons name such as a planning application will become public should be held confidential and members of the public be excluded. The situation if allowed to develop would result in the council holding almost all of its meetings in closed session and the present open and accountable system with members of the public free to attend and observe as they wish would end simply to prevent inadvertent disclosure of anyones identity.
Hardly good for democracy or open local government and certainly a conflict with the aims of freedom of information - all because of the antics of a misguided individual with a few followers!
Monday 13 September 2010
Hooligan Behaviour
One of the gatemen who lock up the Parish Council provided play area has suffered an assault by unruly youths on the evening of Friday 10th September. Obviously this is intolerable behaviour and the Parish Council now need to decide whether to continue to provide this facility. If the play area is left unlocked will the youths vandalise it? Should it be provided with extra cctv security? Should a professional security firm be engaged to secure this and other facilities at night? Is the expense of protecting these facilities justified if the community do not engage with the authorities in identifying the hooligans to the police?
All these questions need careful consideration!
All these questions need careful consideration!
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