Pauline Jarvis: A Hard Worker for Balsham Ward (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

Pauline Jarvis: A Hard Worker for Balsham Ward

April 24, 2010 10:10 PM

Pauline Jarvis Working Hard All Year Round, Not Just at Election Time

Year on year, I have demonstrated my dedication and determination to represent you in that distant place called Cambourne where our District Council hides away.

I have been a Parish Councillor in Castle Camps since 2007, and the Lib Dem candidate in the District Council elections of 2008 and 2009. Over those years I have gained the experience and knowledge to help me be a positive and challenging voice in your district council.

As a Parish Councillor, I often find the District Council's policies very frustrating. Just take one example: the blue bins the Council is buying to replace the green recycling boxes. The Council plans to spend a million and a half pounds of our money on this. What's wrong with the current system that was only introduced a short time ago? And if the bins are better than boxes, why did the Council buy the boxes in the first place?

I would have opposed this extra expense when we all know the Council is in such a financial mess it cannot maintain essential services.

Over 4,000 families are on the waiting list for rented homes in South Cambridgeshire alone. Thousands more want to buy their own home, but can't afford to.

While village boundaries are stretched as a weak planning department looks on, there's a lack of affordable homes for our young people wishing to stay where their roots are. But at least there's some good news about Mays Avenue in Balsham village. The bed sits are being redeveloped at last, possibly as a mixture of private and affordable housing.

It seems the District Council can't manage projects. A team of local people took a lot of time and trouble to organise a new changing room at Castle Camps recreation ground to replace the current appalling facility.

They raised the money from the FA, the Parish and, yes, the District Council. But now the District wants to give the money over two financial years.

Whenever the Council is involved they like to see a project started but seemingly hate to see it finished. John Batchelor tells me every village in his patch feels the same frustration with the District Council.

What do we get for our council tax these days? Not a lot!