Local Talent, Good Cause

If you have been in the town centre over the last year or so you would have seen Dave Holby rowing around the world, with out leaving the Malls shopping centre. This was to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.



This incredible challenge has inspired local musicians to put together an CD album @the breakthrough Album’ to raise even more.


You can buy the album from Itunes via CDs own website HERE or find out more about the charity HERE.



It goes without saying, that I am promoting this album as I want it to raise lots of money and help put Basingstoke’s talent on the music map. Neither the charity nor the acts are in anyway affiliated to me or the Liberal Democrats and I seek no credit for the work they do or the magnificent feat of Dave ‘the rower’ Holby.

Full Council 9/12/2010 Part 2

It’s unusual for all the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillors to agree on something. But on Thursday night we all (even the Conservatives) agreed that the Tories at the County Council should not be scrapping the travel tokens and not replacing them with something useful.



The chamber united as one in asking the Council leader to take this issue up. Of course there was some debate as to whether it was the fault of the last Labour government or the current Tory County Council (personally, I think both showed poor judgement throughout, and would probably admit it)


The Liberal Democrats also moved a motion on keeping weekly collection and saving money by emptying bins over 4 days rather than 5. Potentially it could save over a £1 million over the next 4 years. The Conservatives agreed it was a good idea, but voted against it as they were doing it anyway.


Finally a question from fellow Liberal Democrat, Cllr Bound (Tadley North and Baughurst). He asked the cabinet member whether she could update the council on timescales for investing in Green energy following Rushmoor borough Councils decision to invest in solar panels. She answered no. Strange that.


At the last Council meeting we asked the Council to invest in green energy and set up a timetable, They voted against the motion as they were doing that anyway. 2 months later and they have achieved nothing.

Full Council 9/12/2010 part one

It’s time for a catch up on the latest Council meeting and let you know how I voted on the issues and why.

The first main issue was the annual debate over the level of Council tax discount given to owners of empty properties.  My view remains unchanged from a year ago which you can read HERE.

In fact my view has become even stronger as there are now serious financial implications for the Council if we don’t bring more empty homes back in to use.  The Coalition government intends to introduce a new homes bonus.  This basically means the government will give the Council £1500 a year for the next 6 years to pay for local improvements for each new home built.  Subject to consultation, long term empty properties will be treated in the same way as new homes.  If the Council were to get 110 empty homes back into use, it would have £1million to spend on new roads, parks landscaping or whatever the community wanted.

In addition the Coalition are scrapping house building targets.  By the end of next year the borough will need to build the homes it needs, rather than the homes it’s told to.  Every empty home put back into use is one less home we need to build.

Reducing the Council tax discount to zero would be a big incentive for home owners to either sell or rent their spare homes back into use.

I spoke at the meeting calling on all Councillors who wanted to get more money for infrastructure and reduce the number of green field we need to build on to support reducing the Council tax discount to zero. 

In my opinion Councillors voting against were not prepared to take action to improve infrastructure or protect green fields.  I will blog their names later