Housing, the lack of it...

When I was selected by my party nearly a year ago I did so because I offered youth, localism and, hopefully, a different perspective.

These facets that made my candidature back in Feb '07 appealing may lead to conclusions that jar with conventional wisdom in our villages. One of these is housing. The Government want Rugby Borough to provide 24,000 additional homes over the coming years. This is because of a changing residential usage and spiralling housing prices. We need to engage in these problems and decide where these additional properties should go.

The changing pressures on housing are basically due to two factors. An increase in population because people are thankfully living longer and that we are experiencing increased immigration is one reason. A second reason is that housing usage is changing, more residences only contain 1 person and so more houses are needed.

Housing supply is a national issue that is hurting the young and aspirational more than anyone else. What I notice around our villages is that rural living has become the preserve of the affluent and more mature members of society. It is all well and good paying lip service to this, the real test of understanding the problem is to do something about it.

This Government has been a failure on many counts, but their recent promise to build more houses is addressing an issue head on. Tinkering with Inheritance Tax and Stamp Duty won't change prices a jot. Supply is the issue, but in accepting that we can't adopt the self-preservational step of refusing to accept our fair share of the burden.

Village life and community needs young couples and young families. The proportion of properties filled by these people is falling, it's happening all over the country. Unfortunately it has been an insidious problem and trying to put it right in one fell swoop looks clumsy.

By increasing the urban housing and keeping village housing supply neutral the problem will be exacerbated.

In the coming weeks and months the Borough Council will be consulting with Parish Councils and residents themselves. There are three Options that are on the table. I will make the point that we need to make long term decisions and not needlessly adopt selfish positions that will damage our villages in the long time.

Please join me in reading the Consultation paper, setting it in a national context and avoiding possible scare stories that could be flying about the place. As I said at the start, this might not be expedient for me but I have been elected to offer unconventional points of views where necessary.

A long way away...

A Hapy New Year to everyone.

Yesterday was the Iowa Caucus, the first step in the long process of the Democrats and Republicans choosing their respective candidates for the November Presidential election. This is probably as far from the Borough Council issues facing Dunchurch and Knightlow as could possibly be imagined, but it will have a bearing on the world for at least another 4 years.

The two aspects of the race unfolding before us that are particularly interesting for an outsider are those of money and religion in politics. Money, in British politics, is a dirty word. We try to forget that often who has the most money makes a difference; undoubtedly is does though. In America the opposite is true. Obama, Clinton and Romney have raised plenty. Huckabee hopes to start to rake it in now he has won in Iowa. In Britain the desperate scrabble for money is a much more subtle and underground process as has been demonstrated by "Donorgate".

To most in Britain, religion and politics are seperate entities. I think this is a good thing. Whaever my beliefs, they're never going on an election leaflet! Yet it shows how the two electorates are different in how they look at candidates. Religion in America is tied to some of their most electorally explosive issues, while we take our religion around in a reticence manner that usually never disturbs how we vote.

Despite the common language, the two countries are very different. Our history in intertwinned, but our politics is not. I am a Conservative in Britain, I have no idea what that makes me in US politics! What I do know is that I will remain an interested observer over the coming months!

Merry Christmas!

I apologise that my blog hasn't been updated in many months. It has been a combination of a hectic schedule and the inability of blogging to make it onto my daily 'to do' list. In 2008 this will change!

In the new year Dunchurch and Knightlow residents can look forward to a comprehensive recycling service because of your Conservative controlled Borough Council. We also have the continuing fight to save our local Post Offices. We have taken up our muskets and will be fighting all the way.

To all residents I wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous 2008.

Please remember to contact me at anytime should you have problems with your Rugby Borough Council services.

Diary of a Backbench Councillor

Since becoming a Councillor in May my schedule has never been empty. This week is proving a very busy time, I thought it would be a nice indication of what a backbench Councillor actually does if I outlined my timetable:

Today (Monday) I had the Resources and Corporate Governance Panel. This Panel looks at the next Cabinet agenda and also adjudicates on various Corporate matters affecting the Council. The meeting lasted from 4pm to 7.35pm, but this isn't really a true representation of the work involved. There were over 20 agenda items that needed to be read before the meeting and I think this took over 3 hours. I particularly enjoy the work of this Panel as it looks at the whole working of the Borough Council and as a new member it provides an invaluable training.

On Tuesday I have the monthly meeting of Dunchurch Parish Council. These are not mandatory for Borough Councillors to attend, but they allow Ward Councillors to keep an eye on the live issues in their area. I don't make all Parish Council meetings; with 7 Parish Councils, 3 Ward Councillors and very experienced Parish Councillors this isn't either possible or necessary, but I get to all that I can.

On Wednesday I shall be attending a seminar on the Health Commissioning strategy. At my other Panel, Sustainable and Inclusive Communities, I heard a presentation about this and I am keen to try and contribute.

On Thursday I hope to make the Conservative Groups pre-Cabinet meeting in order to discuss further the issues raised at Resources and Corporate Governance Panel. This is a good way for the Executive to keep an eye on how the rest of the group are feeling about certain issues. After this I shall rush to Princethorpe to attend their Parish Council. This is an important meeting as Princethorpe was affected by the recent floods and I hope to make sure any continuing problems are solved by the Borough or County Councils (where appropriate).

On Friday my diary is empty but I will ensure any outstanding correspondance is followed up and settle down for a relaxing weekend.

Sustainable Inclusive Communities

During the election campaign, I made it clear to the Rugby Conservatives Group leader, Craig Humphrey, that if I elected I would be keen to sit on the Sustainable Inclusive Communities (SIC) Panel. After my election Craig kindly granted me my wish.

Amongst other things the SIC Panel looks at increasing voter participation. Over the course of this year it will look at engaging the younger members of the electorate with Council work and trying to increase voter turnout in this demographic. With this a key priority of this years Panel it is fortunate that both Cllr. Tom Day and myself sit on this Panel as we are both in our early twenties and the youngest members of Council. Tom has already served a year on Council and is firmly entrenched in Council affairs and I am gradually finding my feet.

We will be using our unique insight to try and show the way forward, creating a town where democracy is a key part of a young persons citizenship. It is hoped this will be achieved by a special meeting of this Panel where we will go out to the community. It will make Rugby's democracy stronger and hopefully result in the Council looking more representative of our illustrious town. I look forward to the challenge ahead!

Policing matters...

Dunchurch Parish Council met again on Tuesday. As usual, the excellent rural officer came to give a report and answer questions from Cllrs. and residents.

There was an increased residents' turnout because of the recent spate of crime in the village. This is excellent as it shows people want to engage with the Police to try and solve the problem. The Parish Council is well run and the members have a vested interest in the success of the village, we will deal with this issue together, but it will take time, hard work and patience.

I am committed to liaising with the Police and residents to try and target resources to the areas where they are needed. Dunchurch is a quiet area where people are brought up to respect each other. The youngsters in the village are on the whole polite, and a real asset to the community. We should remember this and not talk as though all are causing trouble.

At the next Parish Council meeting I hope to be able to offer some positive feedback.

New Website

In order to connect with more residents of Dunchurch and Knightlow I have setup a website www.dunchurchandknightlow.co.uk to keep in touch and make it easier to represent you in the Council Chamber.

A huge thanks to Stuart Barfield who has done a fine job of creating this website.

Any comments are kindly received: studavenport@hotmail.com.