End of the Month

I have been quiet this month; not because I have been doing nothing, but because I have been doing a lot of council related things.

I received my first queries from residents - one for a parking related issue, another over the Penrith New Squares traffic flow and pedestrian access to the town from the New Squares development, disabled access to our local park, cleanliness on the streets and traffic speeds in the local area. I have done my best with the parking issue - and this brings me to my point for today: the relationship between Eden District Council and Cumbria County Council.

I am aware that the two are completely different bodies; Cumbria County Council. has control over highways and on street parking, whereas Eden District Council has control over off street parking. This, I suppose is fine, until there is a problem. THEN, its always the other lot's fault. What it actually means though, is the people with the problem do not get it solved. If I blame County Council for a parking issue in my ward (because it mainly consists of on street parking and permits), and they in turn blame District Council (as the person on the 'front line' dealing with everyday issues) who then blame County Council (as the governing body) where does it get the poor person with the problem (apart from totally frustrated)?

In my ward, Penrith West, we have problems with permit parking. The principle itself appears sound, but the implementation of this is seriously at fault - it is not working. It is simple really; we have a problem with cars parking during the evening and at weekends without permits - get the traffic wardens (or Civil Enforcement Officers) to come out THEN and enforce the rules. I would also like the area to have some short term parking, maybe 1 hour for people to visit without the need for permits. We are the only estate in Penrith without one, which means using our visitor permits for EVERYONE that comes to the door in a car - and we are allowed 60 of these per year, and no more! This seems like 2 fairly small things really - but would make the world of difference to the way our permit parking scheme works - and I imagine would be directly reflected in a lessening of the complaints!!

Very Concerned

I am VERY concerned; not just a little, not a bit, but I am actually frightened for Eden.

I am not stupid, I know that what is reported in the media is not necessarily what is 100% truth - but this week has seen two news stories jump out with nothing but potential pain for EDC.

The first thing was the News and Star report that Carlisle City was not wanting just a shared chief executive with Eden (you may remember that I and the Lib Dem councillors of EDC were opposed to this in the first place) Carlisle City Council, according to press reports are wanting a wholesale merger with EDC as sharing a chief executive will not be financially beneficial for either of us, despite the assurances we were given in EDC's council chamber that we would be saving money by doing this. This would mean becoming one council. This would mean sharing assets, jobs and debts - absolutely...

OK, so I and my team are opposed to this, this is NOT good for Eden, its residents, its businesses or its future. A shared Chief Executive was hard to swallow, but we lost the vote for this, and made the decision to do what was right for Eden and move on with the Transformation Process.

THEN

Today's Cumberland News has a story that Carlisle City Council are so strapped for cash, so desperate for money that it is selling of a vast amount of its assets. According to the article, they are already selling these assets off to raise money.

So, realistically, what are we getting into? A merger with a council so desperate for money that it is selling off all the land it can (right down to empty fields) How would we benefit from this. If we merge with Carlisle City, then we share their debts and they share our assets.

I think this needs to be looked at again. Quickly and as a matter of urgency, for the good of all residents, business and most definitely its future.