MOTION WITHDRAWN AFTER CONCERNS RAISED
October 29th, 2008 by Richard JonesA proposal to provide struggling second home owners with a discount on their council tax was withdrawn after members raised concerns that it would benefit property speculators and others who didn’t need subsidies. Buckley Lib Dem Cllr Richard Jones withdrew his motion when it became clear he did not have the support of other members during the Council meeting at County Hall on Tuesday (October 28th, 2008).
But an unrepentant Cllr Jones defended his decision to table the proposal and cited a lack of clarity surrounding his complex idea led to its downfall.
Speaking after the Council meeting Cllr Jones said: “It was never my intention for those who clearly do not need their council tax bills subsidised to benefit from this motion.
“However, I assumed that my intentions would be understood and would serve to initiate debate that would result in other helpful initiatives for other groups of residents, my proposal would have required a clear test to qualify for the proposed discount but other members felt they could not support the resolution as it stood.
“I apologise to residents that I tried to represent, but nevertheless, I am pleased to have initiated a debate about the issue which has helped to raise awareness that the Council must do what it can to help struggling residents during these times of difficulty alongside the measures taken by politicians at
LIB DEMS CALL FOR MOBILITY BENEFITS FOR THE BLIND
October 27th, 2008 by Richard JonesFlintshire Lib Dems are calling for the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance to be extended to include the blind.
In a motion tabled by Cllr
BUCKLEY COUNCILLOR SAYS PLANNING DECISION WOULD INCREASE HIGHWAYS RISK AND COULD MAKE COUNTY HALL LIABLE
October 5th, 2008 by Richard JonesBuckley Lib Dem Cllr Richard Jones has claimed a decision confirmed by the planning committee this week could potentially make County Hall liable for the increased risk created by the application.
Councillors voted in favour by 12 votes to six of confirming their decision taken on the 2nd September to approve an application for a change of use to a car sales site for land at The Cottage on Sealand Road, Sealand.
The decision was brought back to the committee this week by Council officers as they felt it represented a substantial departure from the Council’s strategic policy in relation to Green Barrier.
Despite re-affirming the original committee decision the application will still need to be referred to the National Assembly as it departs from planning guidelines previously agreed by the Council.
Cllr Richard Jones said: “This application was clearly contrary to our planning policy guidelines as set out in our Unitary Development Plan as was highlighted very thoroughly by the Officers during the meeting and there are no grounds for this departure.
“I very much suspect that the National Assembly will reject this decision on those grounds alone.
“However, what really concerns me is that by approving this application we are potentially knowingly allowing additional risk to be created on our roads.
“Will Flintshire County Council be liable if there is an accident in the future at this site because we allowed this increased risk to be created?”
Sealand Community Council appeared to support Cllr Jones’ concerns submitting a late observation of objection to the committee on the grounds that “the increased flow of traffic onto the site will create a major traffic hazard onto a road with a 60mph limit.”
The Council’s own Highways engineers also felt the application should be refused because it would be “detrimental to highway safety.”
Whitford Lib Dem Cllr Chris Dolphin also voted against the application and said: “This is a grassed area in the green barrier, it is a non-starter, we don’t allow development on green barrier sites for a good reason and I see no argument for doing so in this case.”
Cllr Jones concluded: “This is inappropriate development that is contrary both to our planning policy and highway safety and should never have been granted.
“I find it astonishing that in one breath some elected members are praising our Officers and calling for us to support their professional advice and judgement and in the next breath they are choosing to vote against it!”
COUNCILLORS TO VISIT UPM FACILITY
October 3rd, 2008 by Richard JonesMembers of Flintshire County Council are to visit UPM Shotton this week (Friday 3rd October 2008) to assess the impact of the renewable energy plant that reduces its carbon dioxide emissions by 30,000 tonnes annually.
The cross party visit, coinciding with Flintshire Business Week, has been arranged to help elected members gain a greater understanding of the technology that has increased UPM Shotton’s self-sufficiency in heat by up to 95% and in power by up to 25%, whilst also reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Organised by Cllr Nancy Matthews, Executive Member for Waste Strategy and Management, 18 elected members will meet with senior UPM executives to discuss the success of the investment.
Cllr Richard Jones said: “This visit will give elected members the opportunity to see for themselves the benefits of renewable energy and how it can provide heat and power while also reducing emissions.
“Embracing new and emerging technologies are going to be vital in developing a sustainable strategy to tackle waste and waste management in the coming years, so it is critical that elected members have an insight into what is available to us.
“We are working on a new waste strategy to be considered before the end of the current calendar year and this visit will help with its development and with members understanding of the issues we face.”
