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Community Support? , not with this Labour group. |
Town Hall Breaking News - POST OFFICES? FINAL SOLUTION
A special meeting of the Resources Scrutiny Committee was called to
review the information contained in the recent report to the Labour led Cabinet in respect of supporting local Post Offices.
Conservative scrutiny members called in the Cabinet decision not to support Post Offices as the report on which the decision was made was " out of date " and " misleading "
Conservatives also complained there had been no consultation with the local postmasters and no discussions to determine if there were any acceptable commercial arrangements which could be put in place to ensure these community services could be saved from closure.
Conservatives were also aware the Labour Council leader had tabled at the Cabinet meeting an unseen pre-determined resolution not to support Post Offices.
One Postmaster from Cleveland Terrace attended the scrutiny meeting and had offered to discuss with Town Hall officers the possibilities of keeping open his Post office seen as an essential community service as he was prepared to make a commercial contribution to the costs to do so.
The Chair who appeared to be working under instruction proposed the committee endorse the questionable Cabinet decision not to support any Post Office
on the basis that :-
It was Post Office Limited not the Council who were closing these Post offices!
This would be public money being used to support private business!
That if support was given this would be setting a precedent!
That there were alternative Post Offices available to the public!
The committee failed to scrutinise the out of date report and the subsequent Cabinet decision which were the reasons for the special meeting.
Our community should be very clear that it is New Labour who refused to support our Post Offices.
The Labour members of the committee whose wards by and large receive the most community support from the Council voted not to support the Post offices.
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Edward Legard's Political Comment - Gordon Brown would have us believe that the problems of today are the result of a global economic downturn over which he has little control. This is the Brown legacy:-
Abolishing the 10p tax band.
Allowing Council taxes to double.
Introducing numerous stealth taxes.
Failing to properly equip our armed forces.
Selling off Britains gold reserves.
Raiding our Pension funds.
Profiting from high fuel taxes.
Not delivering a referendum on the EU treaty.
Closure of 2500 Post Offices.
Allowing education standards to flatline
So No , Mr Brown , you cannot lay the blame at the door of of some unforseen credit crunch crisis. It is really time for change.
This is what you will see from a David Cameron-led Conservative Government
An end to economic incompetence and reckless borrowing.
Teaching by ability for every child and tough discipline in the class room.
Raising the basic State Pension and protection of of people's savings.
Helping people into jobs and cutting benefits from those who won't work.
Proper and effective immigration controls.
Reducing paperwork to allow Police back on to the streets.
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Edward Legard Parliamentary spokesman for Darlington
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Post Offices, What about the people? |
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HOT PLACES - Walking instead of talking
Pierremont Conservative councillor Kate Davies decided the protests about the closure of Post Offices particularly the Hopetown Post office in her ward needed to be taken up a gear.
Members of the public principally users of the Hopetown Post Office
met with her on Monday 9th June fully equipped with Banners and the local press at Hopetown Post office.
The protest march walked to the nearest Post office remaining open which was Albert Hill and encountered many difficulties for the elderly and those in wheelchairs over the journey.
Their reception at Albert Hill Post Office was less than welcoming when they were told their business was not wanted.
Kate said "the overall experience demonstrated the journey from Hopetown to Albert Hill was unreasonable for many residents and would not be an option,clearly the Post Office managers had not done their homework properly." |
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