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	<title>Councilbust</title>
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		<title>Royal Wedding Special: Why we should all chill out and have a cucumber sandwich</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/28/royal-wedding-special-why-we-should-all-chill-out-and-have-a-cucumber-sandwich/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/28/royal-wedding-special-why-we-should-all-chill-out-and-have-a-cucumber-sandwich/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:52:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1927</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So, we’ve reached the eve of the royal wedding. Let me assure you from the outset this column is not going to contain any lengthy discussion of Kate Middleton’s dress, Prince William’s bald spot, or how many ethnic minorities the Duke of Edinburgh is going to offend during the ceremony (but my bet is on roughly eight). At the same time, I’m not going to engage in any of the puerile and vitriolic whining that has surrounded the wedding either. Now, let’s get one thing straight: I’m not a royalist. I don’t have any commemorative plates with corgis on them. I can’t remember what year Princess Diana died and I regularly confuse Princesses Margaret and Anne. At the same time, I’m not a firebrand republican either. The fact is, despite sitting firmly on the left and in favour of social democracy, try as I might, I just can’t summon up enough enthusiasm for either camp. I’m not going to camp out in Westminster tonight, and I’m not going to call The Firm an unelected inbred cash-sucking monster either. Before everyone starts shouting at once, let me explain. Number one, I don’t believe a constitutional monarch directly challenges the sovereignty of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/28/royal-wedding-special-why-we-should-all-chill-out-and-have-a-cucumber-sandwich/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Waite&#8217;s rebellion forces Tory U-turn on seafront parking</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/21/waites-rebellion-forces-tory-u-turn-on-seafront-parking/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/21/waites-rebellion-forces-tory-u-turn-on-seafront-parking/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:29:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1921</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The council has dropped plans to extend sea front parking charges following complaints from residents and opposition from some senior conservative councillors. The plans to charge for parking until 9pm instead of the current 6pm would have brought in £70,000, the council claims. However, the plan has been dropped after objections were raised by residents, town centre organisations and former executive councillor for transport Anna Waite. &#8220;There are early signs that the local economy is beginning to nudge forward and we cannot do anything to jeopardise that recovery,&#8221; said Cllr Mark Flewitt, current executive councillor for transport and planning (picture). Cllr Graham Longley, Liberal Democrat group leader, said: &#8220;The Tories are clearly running scared of the local election and are trying every trick in the book to avoid defeat, but buying votes by taking away these charges is beyond reasonable politics. &#8220;They should never have put them on in the first place.  But let&#8217;s not forget their generosity does not extend to the other car parking charges being proposed elsewhere in the borough.&#8221; The council has warned the £70,000 will now have to be cut from elsewhere. The administration has already cut 178 local government staff, and plans to cut [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/21/waites-rebellion-forces-tory-u-turn-on-seafront-parking/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>FOCUS: Southend Against The Cuts Debate</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/20/focus-southend-against-the-cuts-debate/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/20/focus-southend-against-the-cuts-debate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:40:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Comment & Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parties]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1917</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Southend Against The Cuts (SATC) hustings was a funny old affair. Organised by the PCS Union, it was part cuts debate and part unofficial election hustings. This being so, there was no sign of the Tories, unsurprisingly. Why would a party with a huge majority, in the middle of a devastating round of “savings”, drag itself over the coals at an unofficial election debate they don’t need to attend? Dragged over the coals they certainly would be. At this event in the Southend Library lecture theatre (soon to be closed, perhaps) the Tories would have found no friendly faces amongst the unionists and Labour members. Though the crowd was small and quiet it was simmering with unexpressed anger. The chair her self, a union rep, joked: “I’ve got an apology from the Conservatives. It just says ‘sorry, we’re Conservatives’.” Queue much bitter laughter. Actually, it was a short comment from council leader Nigel Holdcorft trotting out the party line about the cuts being a result of “Labour’s deficit”. It all just serves to demonstrate how much the Left in Southend is screaming at a brick wall. So, to the candidates who did show: Ian Gilbert for Labour; Doug Rouxel [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>OPINION: Is UKIP anti-Tory or just running scared?</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/11/opinion-is-ukip-anti-tory-or-just-running-scared/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/11/opinion-is-ukip-anti-tory-or-just-running-scared/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:22:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Comment & Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Independents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberal Democrats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1913</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today’s Echo brings food for thought. Local UKIP chairman James Moyies announced the party will not put up any candidates where the Independents are standing. Is it some kind of arranged pact? It doesn’t look like it, if Independent leader Martin Terry’s comments are anything to go by. Apparently, it’s as much of a surprise to him as it is to anyone else. So why then? Perhaps it’s because UKIP simply doesn’t think it can win much. People are tired of UKIP. The idea of pulling out of the EU has such a naive late nineties feel to it that it’s hard for anyone to imagine many people seriously entertaining it. People generally realise that the UK’s role in the EU is a little more complicated than nasty old Brussels telling poor, hardworking John Bull what shape his cucumbers can be, and that the UK gets a pretty good deal out of the EU in many ways, subsidies being one of the biggies. Then again, I’m not so sure. A quick scan of newspaper comment boards online will show you some people still believe the answer to everything, from the recession to the length of the queue at the Post [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/04/11/opinion-is-ukip-anti-tory-or-just-running-scared/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>Flewitt rubbishes SAEN ‘win’ over airport hearing</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/02/15/flewitt-rubbishes-saen-%e2%80%98win%e2%80%99-over-airport-hearing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/02/15/flewitt-rubbishes-saen-%e2%80%98win%e2%80%99-over-airport-hearing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:15:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Mark Flewitt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SAEN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Airport]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1904</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stop Airport Extension Now (SAEN) has been granted to the right to an oral hearing of its case against the expansion of Southend Airport. Last week, the High Court refused to hear an appeal from SAEN in which the group claimed Southend Council was wrong to grant planning permission for the new runway at the airport. SAEN has filed a renewal of claim for permission to apply for judicial review of the case. This means its members have the right to a 20 minute hearing before a High Court judge later this year, which will likely be within the next two months. &#8220;We are now in the position that the initial refusal is effectively meaningless,” said SAEN spokesman Denis Walker. “The decision will now be taken by the judge presiding over the oral hearing. &#8220;We would urge the Council to show restraint during this period and not to start work on the link road between Eastwoodbury Lane and Nestuda Way, at least until the outcome of this hearing is known.” Councillor for transport and planning Mark Flewitt (pictured), however, has rubbished SAEN’s claim the group has obtained a victory over the Council. &#8220;The right to the oral hearing is just [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/02/15/flewitt-rubbishes-saen-%e2%80%98win%e2%80%99-over-airport-hearing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>High Court refuses anti-airport court case</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/02/03/high-court-refuses-anti-airport-court-case/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/02/03/high-court-refuses-anti-airport-court-case/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:01:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Airport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stop Airport Extension Now]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1899</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The High Court has refused to hear an appeal brought by Stop Airport Extension Now (SAEN) against the Council for its decision to grant planning permission to London Southend Airport Company. The Council gave permission to extend the runway at Southend Airport in January 2010, and the decision was approved by Secretary of State John Denham in March, following opposition from SAEN. Judging, Mr Justice Cranston said none of the grounds of the challenge to the planning process were arguable, and that ‘the Council had acted quite correctly’. SAEN’s solicitor said: &#8220;We have been refused permission at this stage. However, we are considering whether to renew our application at an oral hearing.&#8221; SAEN spokesman Denis Walker said: &#8220;This is clearly not the news we wanted to hear, but the campaign is by no means over. “The people of Southend need to be protected from the noise, pollution and road congestion the runway extension will cause if it goes ahead.&#8221; Keith Terry, founder of pro-airport expansion social networking site PlaneS, said: “This is great news for Southend and the airport and may we all prosper together.”]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/02/03/high-court-refuses-anti-airport-court-case/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Council budget: 178 council posts slashed as children’s services cut</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/council-budget-178-council-posts-slashed-and-children%e2%80%99s-services-cut/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/council-budget-178-council-posts-slashed-and-children%e2%80%99s-services-cut/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children and young people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coalition Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frontline workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Cuts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1885</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Southend Council will shed 178 jobs following spending cuts from central government. The council stated today it has attempted to reduce its spending via cutting waste but announced some job losses will be necessary. 178 posts have been identified as being at risk this year, of which 71 are currently vacant. “Big changes will have to be made across all departments now and in the future to ensure the council can deliver even better value for money,” said Conservative council leader Nigel Holdcroft, pictured. “The council has made every effort to protect frontline services and minimise the number of staff adversely affected, and we are looking at a number of ways to reduce the impact of redundancies; including early retirement and voluntary redundancy. “Employees working in the affected areas and the trade unions have been fully briefed, and a full package of support is being made available for staff at risk, including one-to-one advice, job search, interview help, training, and counselling. “This will naturally be a difficult time for staff and we will make sure that all the appropriate support is made available to help them through the process.” Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Graham Longley said: “We welcome the general [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/council-budget-178-council-posts-slashed-and-children%e2%80%99s-services-cut/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Southend library hosts activist crash course</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/southend-library-hosts-activist-crash-course/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/southend-library-hosts-activist-crash-course/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:11:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Activism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Campaigns]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1890</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[South East Essex Women’s Environmental Network (South East Essex WEN) will hold a workshop on Thursday at Southend library to teach others how to lobby Parliament. The two-hour workshop is part of the Houses of Parliament outreach strategy, and will teach attendees how Parliament works and how to effectively campaign for causes. The workshop runs from 7.15pm to 9.30pm on Thursday 20th January, and will include an introduction to Parliament as well as various campaign methods. Anyone interested in attending the course can book a place by contacting Sharon at South Essex WEN on 07947 655947.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/18/southend-library-hosts-activist-crash-course/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Council candidate abandoned ‘backstabber’ Tories after ‘X Factor’ Kursaal vote</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/06/council-candidate-abandoned-%e2%80%98backstabber%e2%80%99-tories-after-%e2%80%98x-factor%e2%80%99-kursaal-vote/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/06/council-candidate-abandoned-%e2%80%98backstabber%e2%80%99-tories-after-%e2%80%98x-factor%e2%80%99-kursaal-vote/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:52:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Elections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kursaal Ward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[X-Factor]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1881</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A candidate for the Kursaal ward seat turned down the chance to run as the Conservative contender because he found his ‘lower class background’ to be incompatible with the party’s ideology. In October 2010, local conservatives ran a vote within the Kursaal ward, which they branded an ‘X Factor style’ competition. Local residents were able to vote for the person they would most like to see as their Conservative candidate in May’s local election. Residents were able to apply to attend a public meeting, hosted by the Kursaal Conservative Committee, at which they could vote for Neil Austin, James Courtenay or Joseph Saunders to run for the seat. Speaking to Councilbust.com, Saunders revealed he won the public vote, but quickly turned down the opportunity to run for the Tories, and was replaced by Neil Austin. “I did win the public selection in October; however I felt like I never really fitted in with the Tories because of my lower class background,” said Saunders. “I found the people in the Tories to be only out for themselves. I also found there to be too many backstabbers within the party and as a candidate for local council you want to do your best for [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.councilbust.com/2011/01/06/council-candidate-abandoned-%e2%80%98backstabber%e2%80%99-tories-after-%e2%80%98x-factor%e2%80%99-kursaal-vote/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>15</slash:comments>
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		<title>Independent cllr accused of using BNP propaganda in newsletter</title>
		<link>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/12/28/independent-cllr-uses-bnp-propaganda-in-newsletter/</link>
		<comments>http://www.councilbust.com/2010/12/28/independent-cllr-uses-bnp-propaganda-in-newsletter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:59:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel Charman, Editor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parties]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BNP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Mike Assenheim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Tony Cox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shoebury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southend Council]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.councilbust.com/?p=1874</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An essay copyrighted to a pro-BNP YouTube campaigner has been reprinted in the Southend Older People’s Assembly newsletter, attributed to independent Shoeburyness councillor Mike Assenheim. The article attributed to Cllr Assenheim (pictured) is entitled ‘To all who were born in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s’ and comments on what the writer refers to as the overregulation of people’s lives by government. The article, which featured in November’s issue of the Assembly Times, says during 1940s and 1950s, health and safety rules were more relaxed, and suggests calls for a return to these simpler ways. The text, however, appears in an earlier 2009 in a video created by a BNP campaigner on YouTube. The video, copyrighted by the anonymous user, shows images of children from the 1940s and 1950s playing, along with the words of the text scrolling across the screen. The video ends with a call for change, and an image of a BNP rosette as well as the words ‘Jihad works both ways’. The video was flagged up by conservative councillor for West Shoebury Tony Cox, who said: “It is bad enough plagiarising somebody else’s work, but BNP propaganda? “Cllr Assenheim should apologise but also confirm that he [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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