I have a letter in the paper on Thursday modifying the comments on my leaflet and apologising if the language I used misled anyone. I said I had acted on various "tip-offs" from the public about OIC staff appearing to behave badly or inappropriately and then I gave 3 examples.
This has concerned some staff, and with hindsight I can see why as it may give the impression that there were serious or widespread problems in these areas.
So my letter clarifies that these were 3 separate incidents that were reported to me by members of the public. When I investigated them with senior staff, of the 3, only 1 staff member was at fault and this person had already been dealt with by management. I was content that these were isolated incidents and I go on to say that I think the OIC staff do a good job and that I value them greatly. After all, the quality services we have in the county are all delivered by our OIC staff.
The reason for me to make the statement in the flier was to show that I don't shy away from difficult issues and I will act on public queries. If I get elected again I will continue to do that, but I will just be more careful with the way I say things in future.
I hope that explains things better than what I had in the leaflet.
Wednesday 2 May 2012
A lot of houses and steps
A week of delivering leaflets and chatting to people confirms the interest local people have in local and national issues. Locally it is wheelie bin concerns and speeding traffic that top the bill while nationally it is the independence referendum. If elected I could do something about the flawed wheelie bin proposals and the concerns of people in the likes of Quoybanks Crescent with 12 steps to the road and no space for 3 bins (and with OIC staff telling people that call in - to stop using disposable nappies or to store the bins in the neighbour's shed - it is little wonder people are concerned). A relative in London has just 1 wheelie bin and then a box and a bag for recyclates. This would seem to me to be a more realistic expectation on the public (using the existing boxes and bags that we have already issued).
The independence referendum is high on the list of topics on the doorstep too. Overwhelmingly NO is the answer I get. Overwhelmingly NO is my answer too. On our doorstep we had a visit from Ewan Loudon and A Smith MEP. They asked us the question and I said I would vote against - and it was at that moment that I could understood why a high paid MEP wasn't doing his job in Europe but spending days and days walking around Orkney with candidates unlikely to get voted in - he is here trying to suss out the likely result of the referendum in Orkney so he can inform the central strategy on the roll out of the referendum.
Other issues raised across the ward - garden waste collections in Kirkwall, footpaths needing resurfacing, the increase in walking and cycling and the benefits of the improvements to the paths network, understanding the voting system and a bonny garden competition for Orkney.
It is a real pleasure to be out speaking to folk and I am sorry it has come to an end - I haven't managed to cover the whole area but have done better than the 2 times I stood before.
If I get in I will do this every year, as people who would not normally contact a councillor are often keen to speak. It puts you in touch with what is bothering people and what is important to them.
Best of luck to all the candidates who put their names in the hat and I am confident the public will elect the best 21 councillors to represent them.
Yours faithfully Jack Moodie
The independence referendum is high on the list of topics on the doorstep too. Overwhelmingly NO is the answer I get. Overwhelmingly NO is my answer too. On our doorstep we had a visit from Ewan Loudon and A Smith MEP. They asked us the question and I said I would vote against - and it was at that moment that I could understood why a high paid MEP wasn't doing his job in Europe but spending days and days walking around Orkney with candidates unlikely to get voted in - he is here trying to suss out the likely result of the referendum in Orkney so he can inform the central strategy on the roll out of the referendum.
Other issues raised across the ward - garden waste collections in Kirkwall, footpaths needing resurfacing, the increase in walking and cycling and the benefits of the improvements to the paths network, understanding the voting system and a bonny garden competition for Orkney.
It is a real pleasure to be out speaking to folk and I am sorry it has come to an end - I haven't managed to cover the whole area but have done better than the 2 times I stood before.
If I get in I will do this every year, as people who would not normally contact a councillor are often keen to speak. It puts you in touch with what is bothering people and what is important to them.
Best of luck to all the candidates who put their names in the hat and I am confident the public will elect the best 21 councillors to represent them.
Yours faithfully Jack Moodie
Friday 20 April 2012
Thursday and Friday activity
Thursday was the public hustings meeting in Kirkwall, organised by the Kirkwall Community Council and hosted by Bryan Taylor. But before that I was in the Scapa Road and Glaitness area delivering leaflets and speaking to people. Dog dirt came up again, on more than one occasion, as did garden refuse collections. One suggestion was for a single collection at the start of the year and another at the end of the year. I have sympathy with the people who do need help to manage their gardens (people who are getting frail or people without a vehicle) however I have also witnessed wealthy fit people with cars and trailers putting out loads of stuff they could and should dispose of themselves. How to get the right balance will be tricky, so the folk that need the help get help but those that should be doing it themselves - don't.
I visited Old Scapa Road, where residents are experiencing parking problems from vans and works vehicles blocking drives. Someone called in to the radio hustings programme about the problems so I thought I would like to see it and speak to residents. The problem was not bad on Thursday morning and I didnt see any residents to speak to, however it was very bad one other day I drove past. Phoning the police is the immediate answer and we will need to monitor it after the works stop and the residents move in to check the site parking is adequate.
The Hustings on Thursday night went well. There were 9 candidates and about 30 in the audience.
I nailed my colours to the mast on a couple of issues - rather than a change to the Deballasting Policy for tankers in Scapa Flow, I would favour a reduction in the size of the Orkney Towage operation - to help reduce the huge losses the Harbours operation is making every year. With less than 30 tankers a year entering the Flow it is crazy having 3 fully staffed tugs doing very little 24/7. The changes to the deballasting policy is meant to bring in more ship to ship trade, but even if it poached all the trade over the last year in Shetland (12 transfers) there would still be a half a million loss. I am not prepared to back a change to the deballasting policy that could lead to deballasting of foreign waters and organisms into Scapa Flow, and possible jeapordising of other local fishing industries when it will have a negligile impact on the Harbours losses and just prolong the inevitable cuts a bit longer. What the Scapa Flow towage operation needs is a part time service that can respond to need (when a tanker is booked to come to Flotta) rather than a 24/7 service that is doing very little and lossing a fortune.
I also said I would ask for a review of the decision to spend £1.3million on wheelie bins and new recycling lorries, as I am convinced what is proposed is not the most workable or economic option.
Then on Friday I visited Wellington Street and the Queen Sonya Kloss to Glaitness Park area. Many of the houses are OHAL houses. I know there are still problems with dampness and heating bills in some of the OHAL houses with the underfloor heating - and this came over as largely uresolved in conversations with residents. However what also came over is the lovely setting and how close it is to everything (e.g. shops, Picky Centre, Glaitness School). Several people I spoke to commented on how lucky they were to be living in this area. One lady commented on how helpful the OHAL staff had been. Some gardens in the area are lovely and easily the best shared space in a block of flats is in Glaitness Park (lovely flowers arranged in pots).
Two people asked how they could recycle more - and I expained the proposal to change from black bags to wheelie bins will lead to more recycling, however I also explained that I believed there may be better ways to achieve it, than spending £1.3m on bins and lorries.
This is always an enlightening eperience, geting out and speaking with residents, I regret not doing it more often. It will be a "New Years Resolution", if I get in, to visit different residents across the ward every year.
I visited Old Scapa Road, where residents are experiencing parking problems from vans and works vehicles blocking drives. Someone called in to the radio hustings programme about the problems so I thought I would like to see it and speak to residents. The problem was not bad on Thursday morning and I didnt see any residents to speak to, however it was very bad one other day I drove past. Phoning the police is the immediate answer and we will need to monitor it after the works stop and the residents move in to check the site parking is adequate.
The Hustings on Thursday night went well. There were 9 candidates and about 30 in the audience.
I nailed my colours to the mast on a couple of issues - rather than a change to the Deballasting Policy for tankers in Scapa Flow, I would favour a reduction in the size of the Orkney Towage operation - to help reduce the huge losses the Harbours operation is making every year. With less than 30 tankers a year entering the Flow it is crazy having 3 fully staffed tugs doing very little 24/7. The changes to the deballasting policy is meant to bring in more ship to ship trade, but even if it poached all the trade over the last year in Shetland (12 transfers) there would still be a half a million loss. I am not prepared to back a change to the deballasting policy that could lead to deballasting of foreign waters and organisms into Scapa Flow, and possible jeapordising of other local fishing industries when it will have a negligile impact on the Harbours losses and just prolong the inevitable cuts a bit longer. What the Scapa Flow towage operation needs is a part time service that can respond to need (when a tanker is booked to come to Flotta) rather than a 24/7 service that is doing very little and lossing a fortune.
I also said I would ask for a review of the decision to spend £1.3million on wheelie bins and new recycling lorries, as I am convinced what is proposed is not the most workable or economic option.
Then on Friday I visited Wellington Street and the Queen Sonya Kloss to Glaitness Park area. Many of the houses are OHAL houses. I know there are still problems with dampness and heating bills in some of the OHAL houses with the underfloor heating - and this came over as largely uresolved in conversations with residents. However what also came over is the lovely setting and how close it is to everything (e.g. shops, Picky Centre, Glaitness School). Several people I spoke to commented on how lucky they were to be living in this area. One lady commented on how helpful the OHAL staff had been. Some gardens in the area are lovely and easily the best shared space in a block of flats is in Glaitness Park (lovely flowers arranged in pots).
Two people asked how they could recycle more - and I expained the proposal to change from black bags to wheelie bins will lead to more recycling, however I also explained that I believed there may be better ways to achieve it, than spending £1.3m on bins and lorries.
This is always an enlightening eperience, geting out and speaking with residents, I regret not doing it more often. It will be a "New Years Resolution", if I get in, to visit different residents across the ward every year.
Thursday 19 April 2012
Wednesday activity
It was a better day for walking the streets today and I managed to deliver to the new houses at Pickaquoy Loan and from there around and up Hatston Brae to Grainbank. Also Ayre Mills.
Road safety and further housing developments in the Grainbank area were topics on the agenda.
Someone phoned today too and specifically asked about why the council doesnt register how councillors vote on each decision. I am happy enough for people to know how I voted, and most votes do get done in public but the extra admin of recording how everyone votes has just not been put on paper as it will take a minute to do and it has never been an issue. Anyone in the public viewing gallery could see how councillors voted by the show of hands - but I accept that the wider public dont know that. I dont think there is any intention to be secretive, just practically getting on with the business without too much delay. If I get in I will raise it at council.
Road safety and further housing developments in the Grainbank area were topics on the agenda.
Someone phoned today too and specifically asked about why the council doesnt register how councillors vote on each decision. I am happy enough for people to know how I voted, and most votes do get done in public but the extra admin of recording how everyone votes has just not been put on paper as it will take a minute to do and it has never been an issue. Anyone in the public viewing gallery could see how councillors voted by the show of hands - but I accept that the wider public dont know that. I dont think there is any intention to be secretive, just practically getting on with the business without too much delay. If I get in I will raise it at council.
Wednesday 18 April 2012
Hustings Dates
Kirkwall Hustings has been announced as Thursday 19th in the St Magnus Centre. Orphir has also announced their one for the following Thursday at the Orphir School. With 11 candidates it will require good control to keep them from dragging on too long but still giving everyone a fair hearing. I thought the radio coverage has been good, and the Orcadian pieces good too. Our slot in the Orcadian comes this Thursday.
Campaigning in St Ola and Kirkwall
Been out campaigning today in St Ola and Kirkwall. Raining hard. Spoke to a few people. Road safety and speed limits were raised in the Hatston, Old Finstown Road and Sunnybank area. Other issues raised were traffic management at the supermarkets (roundabout at Tescos entrance). The need for more free parking in the town centre to encourage shoppers to the town centre. Also support for pedestrianisation of the street from a street front trader. I was also told I was two faced but after a discussion we managed to figure out it may have been a misunderstanding of what happened in a private meeting at the OIC. Also praise for Homecare and Crossroads and the positive effects they are having on a disabled persons life, and the carers life too. The new team working system at Homecare has come under some criticism when it was introduced but for this couple it was working very well. Back out again tomorrow.
Dont buy an Epson printer
Well at the risk of getting sued I can safely say I will not be buying another as it only prints about 40 pages from a new cartridge and at £6.80 a pop that is not good enough. So dusted off the old HP and the old pc (because the old HP is so old that the new pc doesnt recognise it!) and it chunters off leaflets happily.
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