Gearing Up For An Election Many Don't Know Is Happening
Local councillor Sam Hearn writes a blog about his week
Friday 2nd February: At the Civic Centre shuffling papers in the afternoon. St Pauls Grove Park's annual quiz night. There were a number of new faces and I think a good time was had by all. Spirits were a little dampened because Revd Michael Riley was convalescing and could not be with us.
Saturday 3rd February: Canvassing in my Ward with colleagues. Many residents seem unaware that there is a Local Election on 3rd May. A one to one meeting with a first-time candidate who needs a little support. Exposure to Twitter can be a “bracing” experience. I admire those who have made those first steps on the path to getting elected. Newby candidates can face a huge learning curve.
Sunday 4th February: Catching up on the progress being made with the latest leaflet delivery. Some fresh volunteers have appeared. Denis Adele, a curate from Christchuch TG, led the morning service at St Paul's. A bubbly personality who it was easy to warm to. A man to watch.
Monday 5th January: Collaborating with the Feltham and Heston Campaign on the production of literature. An evening meeting with three candidates to discuss their ward strategy and resources.
Tuesday 6th February: Canvassing in my ward until my fingers went numb. To the Civic Centre to observe the Cabinet meeting. Business was completed in under half an hour. This included two and a half minutes to discuss the detailed report on the 2018/19 Council Budget. Clearly it would have been embarrassing to dwell for too long on the serious departmental overspends tucked away in the budget papers and the performance report. The failure to deliver on planned savings is acutely worrying.
Wednesday 7th February : A brunch meeting in the Association Offices. Canvassing with Gabriella Giles and Mike Denniss. On to a Ward meeting to review progress. B minus I think – could do better.
Thursday 8th February: A morning meeting at Outsider Tart on the High Road with a team of residents dedicated to stopping CS9 or seeing it radically redesigned. I reported on my presentation of the petition against CS9 with nearly 2,000 signatures to The Mayor at last week's Borough Council meeting. There was bafflement that Labour had talked out our motion asking the Council to tell TfL that they could not support a CS9 scheme that would increase air pollution. The Dear Leader called our motion “unworthy”. Apparently, TfL do not know what they are talking about.
In the afternoon Cllrs Todd, McGregor and I delve deep into the budget papers with senior LBH Finance Officers. An uncomfortable picture of poor delivery and incompetence emerges from the figures. Recycling continues to generate massive overspends.
In the evening to Memories of India in Isleworth for a sell-out event with Liz Truss as the main speaker. A great atmosphere. Apparently, the UK has three times more unicorns than Germany. I was not brave enough to ask her about cheese.
Cllr Sam Hearn
February 12, 2018