Cllr Adrian Smith

In an effort to learn something about bins and waste management, I have been a earnest reader of Waste Matters a publication from the Leicestershire Waste Partnership.

This is a 16 page full colour glossy publication, which must cost thousands to produce. The information it contains is nothing that could not be put on a website or in an email - probably to more effect as well. Paradoxically wasteful of the waste partnership.

The summer 2008 edition contains a selection of articles on new initiatives across the County - some of them are quite good, such as making the recycling system easier for disabled people to use, a new system in North West Leics which is a rip off version of Freecycle, and steps being taken to reduce waste being generated before it needs recycling across the County.

There are also some completely pointless articles, such as the full page article on a new small roadsweeper for Charnwood, and a trip to a place in Essex - I can only imagine it was space filler.

I massively supportive of almost all efforts to reduce waste, and manage it in an environmentally sound way - which is why I dislike expensive glossy booklets promoting it. It’s very hard to make a case for recycling and waste management when it is evident that you do not comply yourself.

I await the Autumn edition.

From BBC News:

Mr Johnson was elected London mayor in May, replacing Labour’s Ken Livingstone, who had held the post for eight years.

Questioned as to whether he was finding the job hard, he said: “I am full of fire. I am like a greased bounding panther.

“My legs are steel springs and every day I get out of bed and I beat my chest. Every morning I am full of wonderment that the people of London have done the honour of making me their mayor. I really am.”

Indeed.

In the last week a number of supermarkets have cut prices at the fuel pump by about 4p.

Any cut in fuel prices is welcome news to tens of thousands of families watching prices for just about everything go sky high. Now that the barrel price of oil is back down to something like $130 and holding vaguely steady, having peaked at $149, hopefully this is not just a short term boost, but an end to fuel prices surging at the rate they have this last twelve months. Most notably, it is perhaps evidence that supermarkets can use their buying power for something constructive, though doubtless they could have cut it further.

The haulage industry is suffering particularly badly - Innovate Logisitics and MacFarlane Transport are both recent, and big, casulaties. Both cite the surging price of bulk diesel (up to 100.6ppl) as a key factor in their demise. This is a whole lot worse for self drive hauliers.

I have heard a lot of talk from both Labour and the Tories about ’stabilising mechanisms’ proposed for fuel duty, and that’s welcome news, but will it be too late?

I see David Cameron’s bike got nicked last week.

I am sure this will result in a Commission on Bicycle Theft.

Spent my weekend up in the East End of Glasgow helping our campaign in the by-election.

Labour and the SNP really laying into each other, but it looks like Labour will hold on to the seat, albeit by a vastly decreased majority. The Lib Dem campaign is impressive given its small scale and team, and our candidate is excellent. I think we are going to punch above our weight.

Alex Salmond spent the weekend driving around the streets in a giant Lexus 4×4 (very green) bellowing through a loudhailer.

Two campaigning aspects I am not used to; first is the amount of far left parties - including Tommy Sheridan’s Solidarity party. Second, being allowed to attach posters to lamp posts - can’t say I’m a fan of either!

I also experienced my first ever Orange march.

The plans for the redevelopment of the bus station site recently approved by the Council look very exciting.

If the development can be made to chime with the redevelopment of the Britannia Centre, then it should be part of a real transformation of the town centre.

Between the two developments I’m hoping for a diverse mix of tenants, to avoid the ‘anytown’ syndrome.

I had the pleasure of attending a fund raising event at Twycross Zoo last night, in aid of a worldwide appeal to safeguard many species of frogs that are critically endangered.

It has been some years since I have been to Twycross Zoo and it was great to see it looking so prosperous and well maintained. I arrived too late to go on the formal tour of the site, but I did manage to sneak a look at the penguins and flamingos!

The dinner was excellent, and the charity auction raised stacks of money - I was bidding on a small statue of a chimp (don’t ask), though I lost out to a Conservative!

Excellent evenig had by all. Well done Twycross.

From Stuart Brays site:

LIBERAL Democrats in Hinckley & Bosworth have launched a stinging attack on the Conservatives for refusing to support calls to tighten up planning rules on mobile phone masts.

Currently, fewer restrictions govern planning applications for phone masts up to 15 metres in height, often making it difficult for councils to refuse permission for controversial proposals.

Liberal Democrats in Parliament recently moved an amendment to the Planning Bill which would have meant applications for phone masts would have required full planning permission and therefore be considered in the same way as applications for new buildings or change of use of existing ones.

But Labour MPs voted against the call and Conservative MPs did not bother voting at all.

Liberal Democrat Regeneration Spokesman, Cllr Stuart Bray, (Hinckley Castle) said, “Communities can sometimes be powerless to stop inappropriately sited phone masts going ahead because the planning system has fewer restrictions on them than for many other planning applications.

“This gives phone companies an advantage which is not enjoyed by other individuals and businesses applying for planning permission. Our amendment would have made the system fairer.

“I was very disappointed however to see that the Conservatives did not bother to vote for this change. They simply sat on their hands, despite telling everyone at the general election that they support this policy.

“As a result, communities in Hinckley & Bosworth will continue to find it hard to battle against inappropriate phone masts.”

David Cameron’s Conservatives talking about doing one thing, then voting the other way in Parliament - is this sounding familiar yet?

I am one of the people that Leicestershire Promotions insist on bombarding with emails proclaiming their successes, modest though they sometimes are (in the interests of fairness, they are sometimes noteworthy too).

Normally I only glance at these, but today’s missive warranted further reading as it was their Annual Report - or at least I tried to read it. Due to the subject matter of my PhD I am well versed in the lexicons of management, but this was something else.

This was a symphony of impenetrable prose and daft acronyms. Consider if you will their mission statement

Leicester Shire Promotions will help to shape and
facilitate a strong and successful destination renowned
for its progressive, well-rounded approach and its
unique blend of world-class attributes. We will
establish and develop a profile of Leicester and
Leicestershire as destinations of choice within England
and the most distinctive within the East Midlands. We
will strive to deliver one cohesive destination, which
seamlessly embraces the diversity of facets.

I freely admit that I have written (indeed, published) some absolute nonsense in the past but I recognise when I am beaten. The first sentence sounds like they are describing good Californian red wine (progressive, well rounded, world class…), and the second sentence means nothing at all.

Happily they stop talking balls after a few pages and talk about some things they have actually done - and not just sending me emails either.

Two by-election results last night…

Henley: Convincing Conservative win, Labour absolutely thrashed. Bit hard to comment on our result, though I take heart from the fact that our vote went up (absolute, not share) when turnout was down. I wasn’t involved in this campaign so I will refrain from passing comment on our campaign, as it really annoys me when people who haven’t been involved in campaigns I have worked on feel free to judge.

Burbage Parish Council, Lash Hill ward: Convincing Lib Dem win, Conservatives beaten well. I wont claim a shred of credit for this victory, as I was unable the help campaign, but well done to the team.

Lots of interesting news coming up next week!