Whingers revisited

It often makes me laugh when those that claim their rights to free speech do all they can to stimey the same rights for others. A good example of this is the complaint made against me by failed Ex Conservative Councillor Paul "mines a pint" Jamieson to the Standards Board in Leeds.

Now the Standards Board oversees the behaviour of Councillors and can take action - up to an including banning Councillors from a Council - if their behaviour breaches the Councillors Code of Conduct.

Of course they are not there to suppress a councillors right to speak out against their political opponents and in Jameson's case they threw out his bogus complaint. A recent report confirmed that each bogus complaint costs over £1000 to investigate. Not that that bothers Jamieson as a non income tax payer as he can always get others to foot the bill! You watch as the man raves on Facebook about the cruelty of it all!

That reminds me of another tale of Jameson's involvement in a money making scam involving a Town Clerk - but that will save for another day.

Making Criminals Pay

We are presently looking into a crime prevention programme for Siegen Close in Morley following the theft of lead from several canopies that are fixed above many residents front doors. As many of the residents are elderly, the thefts - often in the thick of night - is distressing and upsetting.

The theft of lead from this location - which is driven by high prices for precious metals at scrap dealers - can be combated by replacing the lead with a less valuable alternative or impregnating it with Smartwater - which is a substance that cannot be cleared off the metal but gives it a unique reference marking which can be traced back. It also marks the thieves as well if it is touched.

To make residents safer we are also exploring a small CCTV scheme for the location. Readers will know that I am a big supporter of such schemes and it would seem to be a practical option as the close only has one real way in and out.

But in these difficult financial times where would we get the cash? Well the Proceeds of Crime Act - which allows the Police to confiscate luxury goods from convicted criminals and use the proceeds to fight crime is an option. Local Police chiefs do have some funds to support local crime reduction initiatives and we are exploring the options for this fund to support our plan.

We are hopeful that a plan can be agreed between all residents, the Police and Leeds City Criminal - making the criminal pay to deliver a safer neighbourhood!

People that do and people that write pompous letters to the papers

I recently had the pleasure of walking through Clark Spring Wood in Churwell following some excellent work carried out by local volunteers that look after and improve the woods. The volunteers - who are part of the radical Environmental Wing of Churwell Action Group - have been working over the years to repair and improve the Woods returning it to the community as a real diamond of an environmental asset.

Both Steve and Janet have but in many hours of unpaid work and it shows! The picture at the top of this article shows the tangible benefits they bring with the newly repaired bridge along with improved benches and an improved woodlands management plan. Local schoolchildren benefit and are involved in the improvement process with the support of their teachers and parents and the project gives them a real sense of ownership of the Woods. This in turn makes them local custodians and reduces the risk of larger scale vandalism as siblings are admonished for targeting "their woods."

This commitment to getting off your back side and doing something rather than just moaning contrasts starkly with the failed politicians and professional moaners who fill the letters pages of our newspapers. There are many groups across Morley who do brilliant jobs - whether that's Morley in Bloom, Churwell Action Group or Morley Elderly Action. These organisations were operating way before the Big Society was even a concept. They were and are motivated by a drive to improve their communities. More power needs to go to all such groups who are getting the work done.

We will leave others to moan and gibber and write pompous letters to the papers.