Olympic Torch bound for Basingstoke

The arrival of the Olympic Torch in the UK prompts me to think about the excitement in our Borough when on the 11th July, the Torch bearers will run through Basingstoke.  This is a one in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the London 2012 Olympics and I hope that many of you will join me on the day.  Sadly, I was not selected to be a Torchbearer so you won't get the chance to see me in my shorts!

The full details of this event are on the Borough Council's web site and you can see this by clicking here for details of the Torch Relay through Basingstoke.

It was by no means certain that the route would include Basingstoke and so I was very proud to support the campaign lead by Maria Miller MP to get the Torch Relay to come through our Borough.

I was also very proud to be invited to attend a LOCOG (London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) reception in Manchester [picture left] where I had the opportunity to meet Lord Coe and some of our Olympic and Para Olympic competitors.  

Please join me in wishing Team GB Good Luck!

Conservatives keep control of the Borough Council and it's business as usual in Tadley

The Labour Party were the winners in yesterday's election as the Conservatives managed to retain control of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council with an overall majority of just 2 seats after losing 2 seats.  High profile councillors Rhydian Vaughan (Bramley & Sherfield) and Stephen Reid (Buckskin) were the Conservative casualties of the night.

Meanwhile in Tadley, David Leeks (Con) retains his Tadley South seat with a convincing majority over Tadley Town Councillor, Jo Slimin.  In Tadley North & Baughurst, Cllr Michael Bound (LibDem) struggled to retain his seat by just 9 votes!

Click here for the full election results.

Join Tadley Town Council for a snack 'n' chat

Tadley Town Council want to hear your views and are inviting residents to come along to the Ambrose Allen Centre on Saturday 14th April to tell them what you think about the Council and Tadley.  This is an excellent opportunity to have your say and meet the people who make the decisions about the future of our town.  The event is open between 10am - 4pm and there are free refreshments.

Click here to download the leaflet

UK Austerity budget will just fund more EU excess - my opinion

As George Osborne announces his austerity budget, we console ourselves that we're all in it together in the coalition's attempt to reduce the UK's deficit despite the bleating of Ed Milliband that we will stifle growth and we're cutting back too much.  Well with more than 20% of government spending going to service our structural debt, I think that the chancellor's priorities are correct.

Meanwhile however, while the UK government is tightening its belt, there is no inclination to do likewise across the English Channel.  Moreover, the Brussels institutions are not even pretending to implement such austerity measures as all 27 national governments (including Greece) are obliged to pursue.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has just published its forecast for Britain's EU budget contributions. Our gross payments will go from £11.9 billion in this tax year to £13.1 billion next, £13.9 billion the year after and £14.8 billion in 2014/2015. Our net contributions will rise from £6.3 billion to £9.6 billion over the same period. Where is the money going? Among other things, on an internal European Parliament television channel that costs 67,000 euros per hour of broadcast and attracts 900 viewers; on a £130 million  'House of European History' in Brussels, to 'celebrate the history of European integration'; on the various rackets and foreign aid fads which people have turned into an easy way to make a living.

For years, national taxpayer associations – including our own heroic TaxPayers' Alliance – have seen every penny saved in their domestic budgets swallowed up by Brussels. Only now, as the crisis hits, are they turning their attention to the wasteful incompetence of the EU.  Not before time.

Don't think that the handout to Greece in order to keep the Euro dream alive ends here.  My prediction is that before this year is over, Greece will go down the toilet and if it is not ejected from the Euro, the European Central Bank and therefore the Euro will go down the pan with it.  Last month, I visited Daniel Hannan MEP in Strasbourg.  Make no mistake that we do have MEPs who speak out against this waste but unless we can elect more MPs and MEPs like Daniel, we are set for economic ruin.

Tadley Town Council freeze precept

Tadley Town Council have voted not to increase it's take of Council Tax (precept) money in the next financial year.  I welcome this move at a time when most people who I speak with in Tadley are feeling more skint than they have for many years.  Many people are worried about their jobs and struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living including the price of fuel continues to soar.

Click to read the report on this in the Basingstoke Gazette

Government announces elected Police Commissioners

The government have now announced the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners.  Home Secretary, Theresa May has signed the Policing Protocol that has been passed by Parliament and will cause UK wide elections for Police Commissioners on 15th November 2012.

The purpose of the Police & Crime Commissioners (PCCs) is to represent the community, set priorities and strategy and to hold the Chief Constable to account.  This means that we will go to the polls in November to elect Hampshire's first PCC.

I think that this is a positive move as it is a true example of localism.  For the first time, residents will have an elected person responsible for policing who will represent them and ensure that policing priorities are in line with the needs of the community.  The Police and Crime Commissioner will be accountable to the electorate.

It is important to make it clear that the Chief Constable is independent of the PCC and while being held to account by the PCC, retains full operational independence.

Form more information, click here for the Home Office PCC web site 

Burnham Copse School hit by Halloween raiders

I am utterly disgusted by the act of a mindless few who could have ruined Christmas for the children of Burnham Copse Primary School.  The local newspapers have covered the story about how a shed containing presents and other items for the school's Christmas Fair was broken into by 'wicked louts' who proceeded to steal what they could and cause damage to the rest of the items making them unusable.  This is a despicable act by mindless yobs at a time when hard pressed parents can't afford to spend £500 or more replacing these items.  I really feel sad for the children, PTA and governors of Burnham Copse who work so hard for their school.

I want to appeal to anyone who has any information concerning this and the names of those responsible to contact PC Dean Stickland by phoning 0845 045 4545.  If you are unhappy dealing with the police and you have any information, you may contact myself and I will pass any information on anonymously.

Such is my outrage that I share with you, I have started an appeal so that we can all show our support to the children of Burnham Copse school.   All that I am asking is that you give just one pound for my Quidz for Kidz appeal to help Burnham Copse Primary School recover from this awful episode.  Obviously, if you can spare more than one pound then that's great.  Either way, every penny raised will go to the Burnham Copse PTA.

I am also grateful to County Councillor Marilyn Tucker who has stepped in to secure County Council funding to ensure that the Burnham Copse Christmas Fair will still go ahead, regardless of any extra that we raise through your generous donations.  Any money left over from the Christmas Fair will go to the Burnham Copse PTA.

If you share my disgust at this mindless act and want to help Burnham Copse Primary School, you can make a secure payment by clicking on the PayPal button below.  Please give generously. 

Details of this story are available online in the Basingstoke Observer -

Update on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 10:28AM by Cllr Stephen West

This appeal has now ended.  We have raised a total of £83.00.  Thank you all for your kind donations.  I will now arrange for this sum to be paid to the Burnham Copse School.

Update on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 12:13PM by Cllr Stephen West

The headmistress of Burnham Copse School has refused to accept the kind donations of the many people who have responded to my appeal.  In this weeks newspapers, Mrs Lyn Downes states that she has already recouped the money from other sources and that my appeal was unauthorised.  As the headmistress knows, I did attempt to contact her and for whatever reason, my message did not get through.  Prior to the start of the appeal, I emailed her with full details of the appeal but with time moving on, I did not wait as there was newspaper deadlines.  It was only after the launch of the appeal that I was contacted by Mrs Downes and by then, donations were already flooding in.  It never occurred to me that a school would refuse donations from the public but in this instance, that seems to be the case.  I hope that the school will now accept the £83 in donations that have been raised.

Click here to see this story in the Basingstoke Observer

Click here to see this story in the Basingstoke Gazette

Click here to see this story in the Newbury Weekly News or www.newburytoday.co.uk

Join us for mince pies and mulled wine

You are invited to join Sir George Young MP for mince pies and mulled wine at our Christmas Event at Tadley Community Centre.  The event will take place on Friday 2nd December at 7:00 pm.

You will get the chance to find out what your representatives have been doing about the issues that affect us all and importantly to tell us what you think should be our priorities and what we should be doing about the current issues.  Your Town and Borough Councillors will also be on hand to answer any questions and to listen to your concerns and comments.

This will also be a great social occasion and a good chance for people from Tadley and the locality to get together.

Update on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 06:07PM by Cllr Stephen West

This event was a great success with Sir George Young and Councillors answering questions and discussing issues such as the Euro, The Deficit, Council Tax, Youth Unemployment and even the Tadley Clock at Sainsbury's.  Everyone had a good time and there was plenty of mulled wine and mince pies to go around.

Left to Right: Cllr Stephen West, Sir George Young MP, Cllr Stuart Frost