“To everything there is a season…”
The last few weeks have been a bewildering mix of getting on with the job and dealing with this period of extraordinary change. It isn’t often that an individual knows that they are part of an historic change, but this has been the case for many of us. There is still an air of unreality to it all for me, but I know how emotional it has been. There have been many tears, and genuine sadness. Tuesday was a challenging day for me; I visited the refurbished County Library in Morpeth in the morning, said “goodbye” to a very popular member of the County staff who I have known for twenty years in the afternoon, and then off to Alnwick for the last meeting of the District Council. Once I was home and able to reflect my emotions took over: the commemorative booklet produced by the District Council triggered off lots of memories!
Yesterday, in contrast was about new beginnings: a tree planting ceremony, the unveiling of a new flag, a group photograph of the new Council members and then straight in to the first meeting of the Council.
I now know at least part of my workload for the next year. I will continue to serve on the Family and Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee, although it will have a slightly different remit to reflect the new Council’s changed responsibilities. I have been appointed Vice Chairman of the Committee, having served as Chairman last year. I will now be working with my fourth Chairman in that role; it was a privilege to serve as Chairman and I did have the opportunity to move on – but I am committed to the Children’s Services area which consumes by far the largest single element of the Council budget since it deals with schools and children’s Social Services. The new Chairman and I have very different political outlooks, but I will do my best to work with him and I hope my ten years of experience as part of this Committee will prove useful.
I will also serve on the Area Planning Committee for the North – the Chairman will be Cllr. John Taylor, who served for many years as Chairman of Planning at Alnwick District. I raised the issue of the clash of dates I now face with Amble Town Council at full Council but the dates are now fixed for the new Council’s first year.
I have been involved in the transition to the new Housing ALMO, Homes for Northumberland, and I hope to be part of the local Board which will deal with housing issues for the former Alnwick District area.
Many of the decisions taken yesterday in terms of the political management of the Council had been arrived at through discussions between the Political Groups on the Council. The Liberal Democrats as the largest Group will form the Executive and have the Leadership of the Council; the Conservatives have strengthened their position enormously in terms of the allocation of responsibilities, primarily through Scrutiny Chairs but also by taking Committee Chairs such as the County Strategic Planning Committee.
Jeff Reid, Leader during the transition was appointed as a “new style Leader” yesterday, for a four year term. I feel very uncomfortable about the powers available to the Leader as a result of legislation which effectively gave us only one other option – a directly elected Mayor.
I am a traditionalist. I hate the concentration of power in the hands of any individual – and this is not a personal criticism of Cllr Reid because I know that, on this issue he agrees with me! There seems to be an obsession with increasing executive powers – I much preferred the model where real power rested with the Council.
It is obvious though that it will not be possible for the Council to function without the active involvement of all members; someone suggested yesterday that all 67 of us will have to be community leaders.
It is a huge privilege and responsibility for me to be the first unitary Councillor for my Division. I will do the best that I can. I know the task seems daunting but I do not intend work on my own: I have every intention of working with County colleagues, and our local Parish and Town Councillors and I hope we can encourage the involvement of the community.
Whatever has gone before I intend to look to the future. I am fundamentally an optimist. I may need to be!
Local issues
Highways
David Cherrie, Northern Area Highways Manager will be with us tonight. I have heard good reports from colleagues of his attendance at other Parish and Town Councils and welcome the opportunity to work with him.
North View / North Street
Letters have gone out from me and the local police in response to residents concerns of anti social behaviour in the area – this will be followed by an invitation to a Priority Setting meeting to be arranged.
Amble office
I have raised the issue with Marguerite Gracey, Head of Libraries and with Ray Boycott, Chief Executive of Homes for Northumberland. I have asked for an opportunity to meet together with the relevant Executive Member (as of yesterday Cllr. Isobel Hunter) and appropriate officers. We need to deliver the best service we can. I have asked that the Town Council be involved in this discussion.
Members Small Schemes
Schemes currently under consideration include traffic management options for Hauxley, improvements to street lighting in the North View area (subject to consultation) and support for the disabled allotment scheme. I am willing to consider support for improvements in the Paddling pool area subject to what develops as a result of the District Council legacy have been asked to consider support for a scheme under consideration by Amble First School (Edwin Street) and would welcome thoughts on any other projects.
Radcliffe
I have been approached by just about every resident of Radcliffe expressing concern at the speed of traffic using that road as an access to Amble. It is very unusual to receive that number of representations on any one issue. I have passed on the correspondence to the appropriate Highways section and to Inspector Peart of Northumbria Police and will give any support that I can.
Coquet High School
I have read the school’s Ofsted Report and welcome the fact that the County Council is providing financial and other support to the school. I have offered my own support. I know the school faces challenges, but I believe that Coquet will come through. It is vital to this town that we have secondary provision here and our young people deserve the best.
And finally…
I would like to thank my former District Council colleagues for all their support during my term as County Councillor. I know very well the level of commitment people gave. I am very glad that I will have the opportunity to continue to work with you at Town Council.
Robert Arckless
April 2nd 2009
