Read my lips . No increase in tution fees. It is a promise!

Read my lips . No increase in tuition fees

By Election Rushall Shelfield

1st November




There will be a by election on November 11th with Richard Worrall our Labour Party candidate. Help will be gratefully received with espcially help on wednesday 10th November to deliver the last leaflet.



Please contact 641084 and leave a message for Richard



thanks



regards



Ian Robertson

Settled in

Where have the last couple of months gone! I have now sat in around three council meetings, around four planning meetings, a corporate, a sprinkling of community meetings and yesterday I met with the beat Sergeant for Coalpool. We discussed issues of anti-social behaviour between Hospital St and Croft Street. I also met with a number of residents last night from said area. Hopefully in early September we will see the beginning of the end of some of these problems.

It is always a pleasure to meet residents, even in such circumstances. I have a surgery in Beechdale at the weekend. This is on Saturday at the lifelong learning centre at 10am, Saturday. My birthday! I hope to see more people there.

In the meantime, we now see the full extent of the Conservative manifesto pledges. Can you afford a VAT rise of 2.5%? Hard working families will be hit hardest by this rise. And the Liberals? A moderating force within government? No, they smelt the power and sold their party's soul for 30 pieces of silver. The by-elections in Bloxwich West and Bilston North are an ominous warning for the Liberals. They may yet be con-demmed.

Lastly, I pay tribute to Councillor Al Griffiths, Conservative member for Rushall-Shelfield. Despite political differences, it was clear that this unassuming and considered gentleman was regarded by all members in the chamber with respect. His sad passing is a loss to Walsall and his family has my deepest symapthies.

News from Tory run Walsall Council

We learn that the latest news to tory run Walsall from this Tory Government is that funding for the Borough has been cut by a further £6 million pounds, including over £2Million on education alone. The details are being worked out by the tory cabinet at the moment , but we await the details and will be probing especially the effects on the most vulnerable and already disadvantaged in the Borough and even more so in wards we represent.
The news that we shall not be sending any more children to Bryntysillio and that Willenhall Leisure centre will close is bad news for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds who value such opportunities. This Borough faces a serious problem of overweight children which will result in many such now children being outlived by their parents.


The committee looking at the loss by this Council of £ 3 million pounds due to poor record keeping and poor officer management met last Monday and it was admitted that the records are there but not in the right files and so claims back cannot be made. Next Monday the audit committee looks at the draft accounts for the Council and seeing that we have 91officers ( excluding education where we have 215 more) earning over £50000 a year and a chief executive earning over £190,000 a year .. that is £40000 more than the prime minister… are we getting value for money as council tax payers?
We also read that the tory cabinet in July is proposing to charge everyone for a replacement wheelie bin including those where the gree bin has worn out after 10 years service... and so the other bins brown and grey will also all be charged £18.50 but probalby going up to £25! The benefits of paying council tax are gradually diminishing
what do you think?


The news that 1 in 5 cancer patients are having to wait over 2 months to get treatment was revealed by the Primary care trust in their annual meeting… can they imagine what it is like to have to wait that long to find out if you have a possibly fatal illness and have some treatment?
We shall as labour councillors be pursuing these issues with vigour and welcome your comments.

Regards

Cllr Ian Robertson Cllr Bob Thomas Cllr Lee Jeavons ( labour Councillors)

Progress

I finally have a council email! jeavonsl@walsall.gov.uk so feel free to email me with your concerns!

Surgeries are currently 1st Saturday of Month, Burrowes St TMO and last Saturday of month at Leamore TMO. I will add one in on Beechdale shortly I think, this will be on a Saturday morning. Just need to arrange a venue.

About to do all the training I need to do for planning and employment appeals and get my IT equipment, so will soon be a fully jobbing councillor!

Much of what I have done so far involves fly tipping. Again, you can contact streetpride direct, but feel free to email me.

Spotted some flytipping in Hospital St over the weekend. Have arranged to get it moved, but this is anti-social and against the law. Please report via myself or directly through streetpride@walsall.gov.uk all instances of fly tipping.

And if it was you that did the tipping, remember that Walsall Council will look to prosecute if they catch you.

New members flock to join Labour Party

We learn that 15,000 joined Labour online, extra 3,000 joined off line. That's 18,000 new members in last 14 days - Remarkable.
Thus sends us a message from the people that we hold the respect of an increasing number of the electorate. Let us build on this support .
From
Ian Robertson
secretary walsall South and agent for Valerie Vaz MP

Saw David Miliband yesterday morning (off work ill so watching BBC news 24). David Miliband gave a great speech. Talked about grass roots involvement and continuing the work of party regeneration which "stopped on 2nd may 1997".Pushed buttons for me. But then, despite "losing badly" The Labour Party is in a fortunate position. This is not a loss like in 1983 or 1987. We have people who can pick up the torch and run with it. We need an honest and open contest of ideas and ideals. With two candidates declared so far, both Miliband brothers are looking like good candidates. Where are the rest of you! Come on, lets see a decent contest that will enthuse the voters!Meanwhile 3000 new members in a week speaks volumes. Out of touch? Maybe not as much as the press make out?

Lee Jeavons elected

Thank you all who voted for me. You have my commitment to work hard for you in this ward and represent your interests on this Tory run Council. If you wish to get in touch , please telephone me or send a comment below.

regards

Lee

Labour Councillor for Birchills Leamore

Lee Jeavons Labour
I am 40 years old and I am married with 3 school age children. I grew up in North Walsall and I work in manufacturing as an Industrial Chemist. As a Trades Unionist I have been helping people with problems for around 18 years.
I grew up through the Tory recessions of the 1980’s and saw 1st hand the associated problems in Beechdale, Birchills and Leamore as a teenager. Twenty years on and what a difference ! Since 1997 Leamore and Burrowes Street TMO’s have been transformed and we have new community facilities in central Beechdale.
Soon we will see the re-development of the Barton industrial site and there is a proposed re-build of Frank F Harrison school with the Labour Government’s “Building Schools for the Future” grant.

I want to build on these positives by working with you, helping you to build safer and stronger communities and by pushing for the Walsall Digital Gateway project, which will bring jobs and investment to our doorstep !

To do all of this I need you to vote for me, Lee Jeavons, your Labour Candidate for the local Council Elections on May 6th,
for a future fair for all.
Polls open from 7.00am to 10.00pm

published by Ian Robertson on behalf of Lee Jeavons by electronic communication from Bellamy House Wilkes Street Willenhall WV13 2BS