Residents Associations

Politics – local or otherwise frightens me – I look at some that govern us!!

The Welsh Government negotiated a contract so that Pinewood Studios Wales  could take up a new base somewhere in South Wales – they (WG) paid £5M for the property then found out that the roof needed £1M spent on it  – oh yes and by the way – there was something about VAT adding £50k/pa to the total bill, then from memory it turned out not to be suitable for film use – I can be corrected on this. The audit committee or similar have decreed that the WG did not have the necessary expertise to negotiate with such companies!! (Can’t find it on the BBC Wales news site)

Anglesey – we were to have a new nuclear power station at Wylfa – some of our local politicians went out to Japan for a jolly – I’m not certain if anyone of them was qualified in the nuclear industry – I suspect not. Hitachi put it on hold – TRAGEDY – jollies over!! ?

We are also told the our negotiators on the UK/EU Brexit negotiations were also lightweight compared to what the EU had.

I strongly suspect that the only man who ever entered parliament with the right idea was Guy Fawkes!

In 2003 I formed an RA in my neck of the woods, initially just for the 23 bungalows which housed all us Oldpharts in Sheltered Housing. Started by myself and a good mate in the Close, now sadly an Alzheimers victim in care. We took annual turns as Chair and vice Chair, with a Treasurer, Secretary, and a Constitution, written by both Chairs and assisted by an ex-barrister. All carried out under the auspices and with the help and support of our Social landlord, in the good old days before Tory cuts and whilst the Housing Trust was still local to Lincolnshire.

It has by now metamorphosed into one of the largest Housing Associations in the UK and all the support funding is gone. The only government funding they get now is for new builds: maintenance and repair is on a glacial timetable. The fence between my property and next door has been reported for 3 months and is about to fall down for the 3rd time.

We requested members from the rest of the village via the Community Centre “White Pages” newsletter delivered every house. We called ourselves The L*******e Area Residents Association and attended a Parish Council meeting, whereupon one Council member (a horrible old bat) stated that we could not call ourselves after the name of the village, as we had not “reached  out” to other village residents. I asked if she had received and read the White Pages. She affirmed that she had, so I asked how she missed our half-page advert, requesting residents interested to contact me. That original Council has been gradually replaced by younger and much more tolerant, efficient people, I am glad to say.

We became a good group and we collected sub’s for various activities including organised trips out: my fellow Chair was PSV licensed and the landlord gave us use of a minibus. We had regular meals out including Christmas Dinners, theatres, cinemas, days out, and we brought some older, housebound residents back into a life outside of 4 walls. Then the Treasurer became seriously ill and the Secretary decided to quit. I called an EGM and asked for volunteers to fill both posts. They all looked at one another. Bear in mind that just 4 of us had done all the work for several years: I told the meeting that, without a Treasurer we could not function and would have to fold the Association. That was exactly what happened. We held some funds, held a vote concerning disbursement and asked the landlord to act for us in giving the money to the NSPCC.

For some time afterwards, ex-members were asking if I could reform the Association. My response was always the same: yes, if you want to volunteer to be Chair, find a Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, you may take that step yourself. I had enough of being the donkey and the other donkey was of course no longer in the paddock.

I was reminded of the song – “Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die.” Sadly, many of the former members have indeed passed on. Associations are always worked and organised by a tiny few, whilst the rest are content to let them.

Ed P ” .. They soon come to realise that they are just taking the blame for Central Government’s many inadequacies and stealth taxes. ..”

Agreed but they earn nice wages and decent allowances to boot. The biggest mistake and I think it was Thatcher who made it, was to introduce Cabinet style local authorities where C Execs now, in many areas, earn well over £200K+.

I had to deal with community / town councils when I was in the police – mainly in rural Anglesey. Afterwards a report would have to be sent to my DHQ which would commence “At time, date and place I attended at XX  Comm Council. Then the spiel of what was discussed – ALWAYS the same topic just in different orders! My concluding sentence was always “that I did not expect them to be any wiser but possibly better informed” I still stand by that today! But I suppose that SOMEWHERE in the UK there has to be a few competent town / parish councils, just that I have never come across one!

Ed P “. P&CCs must be the most stupidly expensive and totally useless idea ever!…”

You won’t get any arguments from me on that comment.

Remember years ago going to one particular Com Council – F there had spectacle lenses thicker than many deep sea ROVs would have, showed me photos of drug dealings on top of the spire in the local primary school! Once they wanted a drugs officer (DO) there to tell them about drugs, the local officer was on leave so another took his place and myself as being responsible for the area. Because there were 3 police officers there that night, it was a clear indication of the drugs problem in the village!! Some were so naive  that when the DO spoke about drugs they were unable to understand what he meant – so many actually believed that ‘drug users’ would ask their supplier ‘got any drugs?’  FRIGHTENING!!

Bob – unfortunately my county council has not had the reputation for being above board – though how it is now I’m not certain but probably a lot better I believe/hope!