Councilbust

Rochford and Southend East Conservative MP James Duddridge has called for more to be done to attract visitors to museums in the East of England.

Mr Duddridge addressed questions to Barbara Follet, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, during a Parliamentary debate yesterday.

Mr Duddridge asked to know what the effect of the Government’s Renassaince in the Regions programme had been on regional museums in England, and in particular the Eastern region.

Ms Follet replied: “My Department has invested £242 million in the renaissance in the regions programme, which aims to raise standards and participation in museums across England.

“Since its inception in 2002, visitor numbers have increased by 18.5 per cent.

“In the east of England, visits by children aged 16 and under to hub museums have increased by 216 per cent.

“In addition 72 new jobs have been created in hub museums in the eastern region.”

Mr Duddridge continued: “Perhaps it shows my ignorance but I do not know what a hub museum is.

“The museums in Southend are very good, but residents and children in particular from Southend often travel to London to visit some of the larger museums.

“What more can be done through the renaissance programme to encourage visits to regional museums, particularly by people from the east of England and other regions that are quite close to central London?”

Ms Follet said in response: “I know that the Department’s statutory body, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, has been working with Southend to increase its offer.

“I know that the council has many exciting projects, particularly concerning the Saxon King museum, and that a bid has been submitted for the Southend pier head project.

“As Minister for the East of England, I am obviously watching all those things closely and I am happy to help the hon. Gentleman with that work.”

Currently, Southend Borough Council is ruminating over the possibility of a new museum that would be of a standard to house the Saxon King, the remains of an ancient leader unearthed in Priory Crescent in 2003.

The Saxon King’s remains were found within an almost complete burial chamber, including various historical objects, during a routine excavation commissioned by the Council.

The findings are currently being cared for by staff at the Museum of London.

One suggestion has been to construct a state-of-the-art museum at the Southend cliffs, in order to stabilise the area at the same time.

Today, the Council secured the Priory Crescent site, which is the location of one of the country’s richest archaeological finds.

Although a road expansion which would cover the site was originally proposed, protestors ran a successful campaign to force the Council to abandon these plans, organising a six-year sit-in protest on the area known as “Camp Bling”.

Now that the protestors have departed, the Council has fenced off the area ready for a final archaeological dig at an unconfirmed date this year.

After this, the site will be landscaped and a memorial plaque erected.

Neighbours across Southend took part in The Big Lunch, a national event coordinated by The Eden Project.

The aim of the Big Lunch was to help neighbours get to know each other and feel part of their communities by throwing street parties.

The events were supported by Southend Borough Council, who provided advice on running the events and made funding for road closure and insurance costs available.

There were a number of Big Lunch events in Southend, with some taking place in the streets and others in parks or local churches.

Residents came together, each bringing food or decorations to share with their neighbours.

Events included games and activities designed to bring children and adults alike together, such as races, music workshops, face-painting and many more.

An estimated two million people took part in Big Lunch events across the UK.

CouncilBust.com  took part in one event in Southchurch; photo coverage will follow shortly.

Liberal Democrat candidate for the Southend West seat Peter Welch has criticised the police over their presence at a protest over the Southend Airport expansion.

Mr Welch was referring to an event last week, where Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker had visited the airport to meet residents who oppose the expansion.

Police were present during the meeting and took photographs of those assembled.

Police spokeswoman Donna Veasey told the Echo: “We took the pictures to prevent any crime and disorder taking place.

“Due to there being none, the images will be destroyed.”

Mr Welch was outraged by the police activity. He told CouncilBust.com:

“The place seemed to fill up with police, taking photographs of everyone who moved.

“Norman Baker sat and talked with a group of people from SAEN, and a more orderly, peaceful and respectable group of people you cannot imagine.

“This is a terrible symptom of Brown’s Britain, and the slippery slope to an ID-card carrying state.

“Not only was there no criminal activity taking place, but it was impossible to believe that anything illegal was going to happen.

“This was a group of concerned citizens, sharing their views and concerns with the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman.”

Southend West Conservative MP David Amess yesterday demanded information on the Government’s next spending review.

Mr Amess asked during a Parliamentary debate what steps the Treasury was taking to prepare for the next spending review.

Stephen Timms, Financial Secretary at the Treasury, replied:

“As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has said, departmental budgets are set until April 2011.

“We are less than half way through the current spending review and current economic uncertainty makes it unrealistic to set departmental budgets now, all the way through to 2014.

“My right hon. Friend will have more to say about that in the pre-Budget report and the Budget.”

Mr Amess, however, was unsatisfied with this response. He pressed the issue, saying:

“I listened to what the Minister said, but I do not think it will or can wash with the House.

“The British economy is obviously in a terrible state and the only people who do not realise it are the Government.

“The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that departmental spending will fall between 2011 and 2014. Will the Minister now admit that?”

Mr Timms replied:

“As I have said to the House, we will set out departmental budgets at the next spending review.

“There is a good deal of uncertainty, including about the kind of things that the IFS is forecasting at the moment, and it would be rash to set out detailed projections and commitments at this stage.

“That is why my right hon. Friend the Chancellor will come back to it later this year or in the Budget next year.”

Chichester Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie suggested that the Government’s reluctance to carry out a spending review was because “the Government know that they have absolutely no chance at a general election if they had to reveal the scale of cuts required.”

Mr Timms refuted this, and began explaining his reasons again, but was cut off by new speaker John Bercow.

Various toys have been thrown out of prams this week after the implementation of new grown-up keep fit equipment in Priory Park.

The equipment, provided by Southend Borough Council and waste disposal contractor Cory Environmental, is designed to be used by adults to excercise with and is free to use. It’s a pretty good idea. Councillor Ric Morgan obviously thinks so; he had a go of all the new toys last week when they were launched.

As with all good ideas, however, there is a spat over who thought of it first. Councillor Graham Longley, Liberal Democrat leader, was rather upset to see Tory councillor Derek Jarvis presenting the new equipment, as, Longley claimed, he himself had come up with the idea during a council meeting in 2007.

“I suggested it was an opportunity for young and old being seen together, with grandparents and grandchildren sharing experiences in the park together,” Longley protested on his website.

“However, the Lib Dem proposal was ridiculed by the administration at the time and thrown out by the Tories.

“Imagine my surprise to find Derek Jarvis, councillor responsible for leisure, extolling the virtues of such equipment when installed recently at Priory Park.”

Handbags indeed. Council leader Nigel Holdcroft, however, was quick to refute claims that there had been any nicking of ideas.

“Mr Longley wanted to spend £180,000 of council taxpayers’ money on providing play areas with slides and roundabouts specifically for pensioners, which was a completely absurd idea at the time, and still is now,” he jeered in the Southend Standard.   

“What we have got in Priory Park is keep fit equipment, which can be used by any adults from teenagers upwards.”

Unfortunately, no record of that suggestion is available from council minutes to prove either point of view.

CouncilBust.com suggests that Councillors Holdcroft and Longley hold a conkers match to settle the matter once and for all.   

Labour prospective Parliamentary candidate Kevin Bonavia has raised concerns over how many children from Southend primary schools reach grammar schools in the area.

Mr Bonavia has reacted to figures that emerged from Southend Borough Council’s Children and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee meeting earlier this week.

The figures show that 46% of admissions to Southend’s four grammar schools will come from Southend primary schools this year.

Another figure that has caused some concern is apparent disparity between one school and another.

For example, the figures show that 21 out of 124 pupils at Thorpe Greenways schools will attend grammar school, whilst out of 192 Bournemouth Park Road and Porters Grange pupils, seven will go to grammar school.

Mr Bonavia said: “I have two serious concerns with these figures. 

“First they reveal a very worrying disparity in educational achievement between different areas of the town.

“Second, whilst Southend’s grammar schools may have a well deserved reputation for academic excellence, they do not seem to be benefiting the vast majority of local children.

“Parents and taxpayers in Southend may well think that they are getting a raw deal.

“I believe that schools should put their own communities first.”

 Murray Foster, former leader of Southend Borough Council and current Chair of Southend Business Partnership (SBP), has made public his views on the extension of Southend Airport.

The SBP has three main functions. First, it aims to improve liaison between the Council, other public sector organisations and private sector business, town centre and tourism interests.

Second, the SBP aims to aid the exchange of ideas between the Council, local business and relevant organisations to enhance the economic success of the Borough; to make recommendations on future improvements.

Finally, it considers reports from Southend Business Partnership Sub-Groups on principles and key ideas for development of the Borough’s Economic Development and Tourism.

In a meeting of the SBP last week, a ballot of members revealed that 89% were in favour of the airport expansion.

Mr Foster revealed his opinions on the extension of the airport in a post on social networking site planes2009.ning.com. He said:

“In my view, the economic and external credibility downsides are devastating consequences for this area if the airport is not allowed to maximise its potential.

“The objections, whilst perceived as numerous, are in reality not that many; many are ill-thought through and misrepresent the facts or are not substantiated by the facts.

“I have even checked out for myself in Leigh area a passenger plane on take off which would be similar in noise level to those planned for future operation; the passing trains were louder!

“If we back away from the runway extension business trust and confidence in this area would be seriously undermined, not just with Stobart, but with wider investor/developer market.

“There is overwhelming business support for the Airport. There is no significant alternative driver for economic and jobs growth and any suggestion that growth at the Airport might happen without a runway extension is at best misguided optimism.

“We also have a duty to our children/ grandchildren in their future opportunities within our town and not to a relatively small number of people who shout the loudest now.

“As a former and recent Southend Councilor, for some 6 years, who spoke up for the airport when the proposal was to move the Church I can well recall being booed from the gallery in the Council Chamber for so doing.

“So it’s vital that the present silent majority speak up to give the politicians the confidence to find a way forward with of course the appropriate operational controls to maintain quality of life for local residents.”

On 19th July, the Eden Project asks the British people to sit down to lunch with their neighbours, in their street, a nearby park or a playground, to remind themselves of all that is great about their communities.

Southend Borough Council, through The Big Lunch, has invited and will offer assistance to neighbours to get together and run their own event however they wish, whether it is eating Sunday lunch in the street, bringing family dishes to share, playing music or making decorations for the events.

The average turnout of British street parties at 80%. The Eden Project hopes for 6 million people to take part.

To support residents in getting involved and helping each other, Southend Borough Council is offering funding to help pay for insurance and road closures for the events.

Staff members are also on hand to advise whether or not certain roads can be closed and the permissions and costs for each.

Public liability insurance for a Big Lunch event can be as little as £80, which can be shared between neighbours at each event.

If a road closure is not possible, parks, school playgrounds, large landowners such as the National Trust and The Church of England have offered land for the day, details of which are available on the Big Lunch website.

Ideas and suggestions on how to make your street’s Big Lunch perfect for you are available on The Big Lunch website at www.thebiglunch.co.uk.

For general ideas about street party planning, try www.streetsalive.net.

More information about registering an event with Southend Borough Council, obtaining funding and planning road closures is available on the council website, www.southend.gov.uk; alternatively, call 01702 215000 extension 5538.

As the debate over the expansion of Southend Airport goes on, support for the development is beginning to be heard.

At a meeting of the Southend Business Partnership, chair Murray Foster presided over a ballot over the future of the airport.

3% of the voters were decidedly against any expansion of the airport.

8% stated that they were undecided over the matter, whilst 89% voted “in favour of a fully functional regional airport with appropriate operative controls.”

Southend West Conservative MP David Amess has continued his investigation of abortions in the UK.

Mr Amess, an outspoken pro-life campaigner, wrote to the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed in the UK last year where the unborn children in question had cleft lips or palates.

Mr Amess received statistics in response from Gillian Merron, Minister of State for Public Health.

Ms Merron said that less than 10 abortions were performed in 2008 where the unborn child had a cleft lip or palate.

She went on to explain that in the period 2006-08, there were also less than 10 cases of abortion on unborn children with the malformations.

Last week, Mr Amess’ inquiries into abortions in the UK revealed that the East of England region had one of the lowest rates of abortions performed on teenaged girls.