Started with a presentation on planning and current development in The Meadows.
Omar from the Community Protection officers presented crime figures for The Meadows, which generally showed a decline for the last 12 months to the 12 months previous.
I shared a graphical progress report and a written update on general aims, and news from Portfolio Holder Rebecca Langton.
A special meeting celebrated the service and commitments of 9 retiring and retired Councillors by appointing them as Alderman and expecting them in turn to represent the city and city council at events – and more particularly do tours of The Council House.
The 9 have 199 years of service on the council between them.
I moved Glyn Jenkins, my fellow civic in 2017/18 (see comment below).
A motion on LGBT rights and solidarity was agreed after amendment by Labour, who had consulted LGBT groups. The Clifton Independent leader declared he would oppose the amendment, but after a storming speech by new Councillor, Angharad Roberts, he backed down.
The first questions from the Clifton Independents saw confusion as –
– they tabled a question condemning special allowances for Councillors; in effect calling for them to receive the same allowance as the Leader and all Portfolio Holder and chairs of committees; (this differing from Ashfield Independents who have recently increased Special Responsibility Allowances);
– then they forgot to ask the question;
– when they did ask the question, they followed up by announcing they were giving their personal allowances away for local spending in Clifton East; different again from the question tabled; but omitted to ask a question, so the leader was not called to reply.
Beyond the confusion about the asking of the question, the proposal challenges one of the core values of any kind of a free society – that elected representatives are compensated for time and effort given, because it’s right and so that people of less then independent means can consider standing at all. Financial support for elected representatives was a principle first advocated by the Chartists around 200 years, and Nottingham was the only city to elect a Chartist MP.
A DAY AFTER THE MEETING, THERE IS STILL CONFUSION OVER THE COMMITMENT MADE, SO THIS MAY BE REVISED – DIFFERENT WITNESSES TO THE MEETING HEARD DIFFERENT THINGS!
Another good event – flowers, luscious plats that have enjoyed the rain, bubbles and games; singing and dance; nan bread fresh from the oven, burgers and Dahl; and more bubbles.
The World War I Centenary Memorial is completed, but the opening service is formulaic and doesn’t try to celebrate the stories of the fallen.
D-Day 75th anniversary is flat too.
A poignancy comes from the funeral of a man who after 25 years living on the streets, had found peace in a flat provided by Nottingham City Homes.
A depressing national political situation –
– Trump visits London and invokes supporters on the streets that never were;
– the Conservative candidates to be next Prime Minister see them all committing to Brexit by 31st October, when it’s still not clear the country could achieve it;
– the criticism ventured focusses on a new Prime Minister not being returned via a General Election, when it is what our constitution allows and has been the case more often than not;
– all but one of the Conservative candidates advocates big increases on public spending and the lost revenue from tax giveaways to corporations and banks is mentioned by no-one;
– Jo Brand apologised for a joke about throwing acid (that BBC Radio decided to transmit) which was a relief cos people had taken it literally, and the remark was a tad too close to a potential reality, but it prompted a debate about the death of metaphor and the power of outrage;
– Labour continues to struggle with the charge of anti-Semitism when an MP who supported party members expelled for anti-Semitism and said the party was too apologetic on the matter, is first let back in so he can be re-selected, and then suspended again in response to the outcry;
– we have to make a stand for RSE and we have to remind people about the injustice toteh Windrush generation. More positive was the celebrations of our green spaces and the launch of a book to campaign on climate change. Britain was wet, Arnold was flooded, Europe suffered a fierce heatwave and the Earth recorded its hottest June.
Locally, progress is reported at the new Area 5 committee on car parking solutions for Bridgeway Shopping Centre, which also now has improved camera coverage. The Bridgeway GP practice celebrated new rooms and facilities.
Reports on crime is positive overall, but some bizarre incidents including a hit and run on Bathley Street.
The tram’s finances improves. The electric bus service from Queens Drive park & ride are replaced by the NCT Navy 49, which means Meadows Way west loses its most local buses again. I’ve tried to be upbeat about what further major improvements to public transport are possible at joint committees.
Diary of the month.
Arts include – “Support The Girls”, “Design for Living”, “Sunset”, “Diamintino”, “One Night in Miami”, “The Keeper”.
Nice exhibits by Nottingham College design students.
Sports: England’s cricket team, Tottenham and England’s male football team are all below par; England’s women win 5 games in the World Cup without conceding a goal, but the Cameroon game brings out something ugly. A spate of wet weather means the triathlon adopted a swim-free format, but the crowds are driven away nevertheless.
TO BE WRITTEN UP
