Sompting Conservatives - why not join us?

Councillors Norman Wright, Brian Boggis and David Simmons would like to invite you to join us in setting up a joint

Peveril and Cokeham Conservative local committee. This is a way of getting involved in your local community and

helping to ensure that we continue to provide the best possible services to local people and giving you a say in policy

 discussions.

Sompting Conservative Group

Our successful "Race Night" took place on January 30th 2010, A great evening was held by all, and I would particularly like to thank the Licensee of the Gardeners Arms Public House in Sompting for their help and support.  The event made a clear £320 for the association.

Watch this space for dates of a Shuffleboard Tournament later in the spring.

Keep your eyes open for that date, and why not come along for an evening of fun?

Why not give us a ring to discuss how you can help Sompting Conservatives?  For further information ring Norman or David on either

01903 - 609282 or 01273 464018 respectively.

County Council Elections 2009

Cokeham Councillor elected as County Councillor for North Lancing and Sompting Divisions

Following the election held on 4th June 2009, Cokeham Ward Councillor David Simmons has been elected to stand as Conservative Councillor for the newly designed Sompting & North Lancing Division.  Results of the voting are:

Barry Mear - Labour 370

Richard Burt - Liberal 546

Roy Whiting UKIP 747

David Simmons - Conservative 1376

Councillor Simmons said

"I would sincerely like to thank all the people in Sompting and North Lancing area who had the confidence and trust in me to give me their valued support at the polls on June 4th. Having been elected to West Sussex County Council as your County Councillor I give you my assurance that I will serve you all to the best of my ability.

Finally, a special thank you to my wife who gave me her undying support and help, as well as being long suffering during the long hours of canvassing which led to this important success.

Councillor Simmons can always be contacted on 01273 464018, 0772 505 4389 or by email david_j_simmons@yahoo.co.uk

GORDON'S BIN TAXES

Despite the fact that Downing Street have repeatedly stated that as "bin taxes" are so unpopular they will not pursue them, they are still pressing ahead with their plans to introduce new charges for collection of household rubbish.  Initially they are "leaning on" (sorry, inviting) Councils Chief Executives to take part in pilot schemes across the U.K.

So what does this mean for you and me?

Higher taxes on families: All families across the country are suffering from a soaring cost of living. Bin taxes will punish families for having children. Even the Government’s own optimistic Impact Assessment admits that families will pay £72.31 a year more. The Treasury has openly admitted the new ‘waste incentives’ are officially a tax. Adur families, many of whom are already finding things difficult financially, will be no exception!

Increasing the tax burden: Labour Ministers claim that such schemes could be revenue neutral. In other words, they will not cost you, the taxpayer, any more than at present! They made the same empty promises about the council tax revaluation in Wales . Representations from councils across the country have warned that the Government’s sums do not add up due to the set-up, administration, collection and enforcement costs of a brand new tax, as well as the need for new lockable bins. As the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management have warned: More sound bite politics, when the reality is that such a scheme would cost everyone more!

“Costs will be incurred to councils for administration and enforcement. This means that in terms of value added such initiatives would therefore do nothing to assist councils manage their waste budget in the face of rising costs. If the costs for administration are expected to increase substantially in order for householders to be monitored and billed accordingly, but with overall council tax remain bill remaining the same, then either householders who are recycling will pay a proportionately larger slice (this may be significant sums per annum, as has occurred in Ireland, where costs of 300-400 Euros are not uncommon for waste collection), or other council services might have to be reduced in order for revenue to be redirected to cover waste administration.”

Harmful to the environment: Bin taxes will lead to a surge in fly-tipping and backyard burning. Fly-tipping has already soared in the last three years due to higher landfill taxes. Bin taxes will give perverse incentives to households to dump their rubbish, stuff it in bins other than their own, or contaminate recycling collections. In the Republic of Ireland , bin taxes have led to 4 in 10 households now burning their rubbish, and such burning of now causes 73% of all dioxin emissions. Under the Government’s proposals, civil amenity sites will have to remain free for household waste. Many residents will therefore drive to the local dump to avoid bin taxes – increasing carbon emissions and congestion. This means an environment where rubbish will be dumped, sometimes on other people's property adding costs for removal to council tax and traffic will increase. So much for this government's green credentials!

In short, bin taxes will harm the local environment and increase the cost of living. This is just another cynical Labour attempt to tax families more by stealth, but with a thick coat of greenwash. The Government should be working instead with councils to extend recycling collections, and make it easier for all households to go green. There is certainly a role for incentives, but not for taxes or charges.

Adur District Councillors have already refused to put electronic chips in our bins. As your local Councillors, we will continue to fight on your behalf against this unfair tax being proposed and imposed, despite public resistance, by this radical and unwelcome government!

Shoreham Harbour Proposals

Following the proposals to build around 10,000 new homes at Shoreham Port, a great deal of discussion is taking place about how best to proceed.  One of the key issues is consultation with local people and how we deal effectively with their concerns.  While in the longer term, this proposal provides huge opportunity for not only new housing, but associated employment and investment in infrastructure.  The project, which will probably take around 20 years from concept to completion, must get the support of the community if it is to achieve its full potential.

While I am not on the working group, I did represent the council along with Councillor Liza McKinney in a SEEDA sponsored trip to Scandinavia to view ECO communities in coastal areas.  What we learned very quickly, was how far we are behind in the UK in the ways we deal with planning, water, waste management and public transport, and we can learn a great deal.  Shoreham Harbour is an opportunity to use all the expertise from other areas to make the new development as ecologically developed and efficient as possible.

While this might seem to be a bit of a "jolly" at the tax payers expense, can I re-assure you, that far from being a jolly, it was long and hard work with 20 hour days and four flights between three countries in three days.  I am sure I came back 6 inches shorter from all the walking I did in these short three days.

These are some examples of what we saw:

Hammerby in Sweden (above), showing high density housing alongside water management, and what can be achieved with good planning.  Compare that with the picture on the right, a similar location on Shoreham Beach new developments.  It shows a dramatic difference and a missed opportunity.