Monday Selection

I would like to thank the Branch members for selecting me to represent them this year. It is a pleasure to be the first Rushmoor Conservative Councillor to be selected this way. All Branch members were entitled to cast their vote for or against me. I am pleased to report all ballots apart from one were in my favour. One ballot paper was blank (probably mine, as it was a little terrifying being grilled by fellow party members). That said, I think it is far healthier than a small elite committee and much more open and democratic. I hope we now continue to select Empress councillors this way.

Back to School...

It was great to meet up yesterday with my school mates. We are now into the last term of the year and studying research techniques and contemporary issues in public management. This is where I have to study thinking about what I am going to write my dissertation on.

So suggestions from residents on a post card please.

The following is a list I have just put together to get some thoughts working. I have divided it into three broad areas of public service management. I need to pick one that will be useful and interesting and worth pursuing.

Democracy / Community Leadership:

1. Improving community involvement and engagement. Do we need to do more?

2. Types of representation and roles. Do we have too many councillors?

3. Value and benefit of elected member training. Is it a waste of money?

4. Relationships between power and responsibility. Who has too much?

5. Partnership working, joined up government services. Is it working?

6. Are we well represented? Is gender and race still an issue?

7. Are a small neglected minority of families being dealt with effectively to improve quality of life for the majority of residents? Joined up government to deal with social problems in the community - is it working?

Service Delivery:

1. Public versus Private Managers practices. Are private managers better?

2. Statutory and descretionary services. Should we save money and abolish discretionary services?

3. Utilising, managing and working with volunteers and the third sector. Have we got the balance right?

4. Local Area agreements - are they effective in improving services

5. Accessing services for special groups, and tailoring services. Are services 'one size fits all'?

6. Privatisation and partnerships in delivery of services it may save money, but does it deliver?

Policy and Regulation

1. Impact of EU and how we feed back to improve policy. (abt 70% of EU policy ends up delivered by local government) Are we imputing into new policy or simply an EU lap dog?

2. Performance indicators - are they working?

3. Delegated power - where has all the power gone? Who is in control?

4. Organisation types, two teir (Borough/County) /unitary - could Rushmoor (Boroughs) provide all local authority services independently?

The dissertation needs to include research. Not so easy is it!!

From my MEP mate Daniel

Happy New Year from Strasbourg

If you are rushing to complete your tax return, don't read this:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100019683/of-course-mps-should-pay-taxes-but-what-about-meps/

Nor are Eurocrats content with tax-free incomes. At a time when national civil servants are struggling to reduce costs, they are about to enjoy a handsome pay-rise:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100019622/eurocrats-threaten-to-strike-over-pay/


Meanwhile, at home, Labour has surely proved, to the meanest intelligence, its utter unfitness for office:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100021559/a-pantywaist-leader-for-a-pantywaist-party/

And its leader is consoling himself with a rather frightening poem:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100021943/invictus-the-inspiration-for-nelson-mandela-timothy-mcveigh-and-now-gordon-brown/


We learned that you can be sued for clearing the pavement outside your house:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100021829/sweep-away-the-snow-and-you-might-land-yourself-in-court/

And, in further evidence of our health-and-safety obsession, that Labour had squandered squillions on otiose swine 'flu vaccines:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100021804/the-cost-of-the-swine-flu-scare/

I don't want to end on a gloomy note. So, to cheer yourself up, have a look at the politician with the funniest name in Europe:
http://assembly.coe.int/ASP/AssemblyList/AL_MemberDetails.asp?MemberID=5246

Best wishes,

Daniel Hannan

Weekend with Iza

Spent the weekend with my new grandaughter Izabelle Faye Clifford-Smith. She found it all terribly dull meeting the relatives, but we loved playing 'pass the parcel' with her. We are so thrilled to have this new little soul join us (even if it is yet another girl!!).

Megan spent the time on her latest pass time - doing puzzles - with NO help


Nanny with Izabelle feeding as usual



Mum with Izabelle - after fighting Izabelle off everyone else

Ugly with Izabelle - luckily she did not wake up while this close! I actually think she was awake but thought it wise to keep her eyes closed

Empress Ward Police Beat Surgeries

Beat Surgeries – 2010

19th January 2010 ( 1500 – 1600 ) – T@3
St Peters Church Hall
Church Avenue, Farnborough.

10th February 2010 ( 1830 – 1930 ) - Centre Cafe
Farnborough Leisure Centre
Westmead, Farnborough.

16th March 2010 ( 1500 – 1600 ) – T@3
St Peters Church Hall
Church Avenue, Farnborough.

28th April 2010 ( 1830 – 1930 ) - Centre Cafe
Farnborough Leisure Centre
Westmead, Farnborough.

11th May 2010 ( 1500 – 1600 ) – T@3
St Peters Church Hall
Church Avenue, Farnborough.

14th June 2010 ( 1830 – 1930 ) - Centre Cafe
Farnborough Leisure Centre
Westmead, Farnborough.

6th July 2010 ( 1500 – 1600 ) - T@3
St Peters Church Hall
Church Avenue, Farnborough.

18th August 2010 ( 1830 – 1930 ) - Centre Cafe
Farnborough Leisure Centre
Westmead, Farnborough.

21st September 2010 ( 1500 – 1600 ) - T@3
St Peters Church Hall
Church Avenue, Farnborough.


19th October 2010 ( 1500 – 1600 ) – T@3
St Peters Church Hall
Church Avenue, Farnborough.

17th November 2010 ( 1830 – 1930 ) - Centre Cafe
Farnborough Leisure Centre
Westmead, Farnborough.

14th December 2010 ( 1500 – 1600 ) – T@3
St Peters Church Hall
Church Avenue, Farnborough.