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by Paul Scully | May 14, 2009 | News |
Nine days ago, I wrote about the lack of care taken about keeping the Council Offices’ front door reasonably inviting. It is a small matter but since it is often the first thing that visitors see when coming to the Council, it should demonstrate a standard of care that the Local Authority aspires to acheive across the Borough.
Someone has taken note and got the Marigolds on, scrubbing away the green stains that have built up after months of rainwater leaking from the gutter. The leak still appears to be there so I hope that a permanent repair is next. Thank you to whoever sorted this out. Now, whilst I have your attention, what can you do about this £8million of taxpayers’ money that you are spending on the controversial Sutton Life Centre?
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by Paul Scully | May 13, 2009 | News |
I’m still a little dazed this evening after hearing the sad, sad news that my colleague and friend Chris Dunlop died yesterday. Chris was a councillor for Nonsuch ward and worked really hard as the sole Conservative representative, tackling issues for all constituents. He was always keen to help residents and colleagues whenever he could.
His particular interest was education. He sat on a few committees looking at standards across the borough and was passionate about his role as a governor through some difficult times at Overton Grange. Music for young people was a particular key issue for him as he campaigned for a suitable venue for schools’ orchestras to play in Sutton. In his ward, he campaigned to keep decent leisure facilities in the west of the borough and recently worked closely with Philippa Stroud to set up the Friends of Cuddington Park.
The smile in his council portrait photo is true to his personality, a jovial man who would make time for people, look for the good in people but a straight speaker. His work as an IT network specialist, took him around the country. He fitted in his Council work as best as he could as well as a home life with his wife Michelle, and children, Amelia and Harry.
Chris, the shock of your untimely passing will go, but I’ll miss you; the memories will remain.
by Paul Scully | May 13, 2009 | News |
I came across a German article about ‘Die Umstrittene £8million Sutton Leben Zentrum’ (Controversial £8million Sutton Life Centre) the other day. However, the Germans referred to it as ‘Sutton’s Apocalyptic Playhouse’. Whatever your view of the centre is, the ‘virtual’ nature of the lessons in safety may prevent the situation in the video above.
Of course, British police are very different. I’m not sure that dropping a truncheon on his foot would have garnered the same response. Suffice to say, Sutton’s LibDem councillors don’t need lessons from this DEA agent in how to shoot themselves in the foot.
by Paul Scully | May 11, 2009 | News |
As part of this year’s ‘Take Part, Take Pride’ festival in Sutton, the Council are looking for bids from residents to improve their local area. The Sutton Speaks fund offers residents the chance to choose how Sutton council should use £2,000 to do work or create something special for your particular area.
You can tell the Council how you’d like them to spend this money. The festival organisers will shortlist a few ideas and invite those who have suggested them to join the Sutton Speaks event in Sutton Town Centre on Sunday 12th July when the public will vote for which will win the bid.
If you have an idea about where this money should go, you should be able to share it by emailing takeparttakpride@sutton.gov.uk, visiting the website (although I couldn’t see how to do this without just emailing in the first place, they might fix this), or sending in your idea to:-
Take Part, Take Pride 2009
Chief Executive’s Office,
Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way,
Sutton, SM1 1EA
by Paul Scully | May 7, 2009 | News |
I have just put the finishing touches on the Conservative list of appointments to Council Committees for the next municipal year. It has taken me a while and I feel like sitting in a darkened room with a cold towel to recover. Each year, it is a matter of getting the right people into the right jobs whilst not being able to please everyone in the process.
Our 21 councillors cover 62 different committees, ranging from the Licensing Committee to the Carshalton Coronation Commemoration Trust. Some of these meet rarely, some of them I am not even sure what they are for. What I have seen is that if we should win the election next year, we have to cover a massive 103 different committees. Time for a shake-up I think.
by Paul Scully | May 7, 2009 | News |
ITV London came to Sutton on Wednesday to cover the story of the Sutton Life Centre. Moving swiftly on from my jauntily-angled hard hat, the parents at Brookfield School said it all, when they pointed out that if the Council are going to lavish money on safety, they would rather have a lollipop lady.
Conservative Home have published an article that I wrote, which you can read here. The Evening Standard and the Metro have also covered the pet project which is costing the equivalent of 10% of all of the Council Tax raised in a year in Sutton.
Nine days ago, I wrote about the lack of care taken about keeping the Council Offices’ front door reasonably inviting. It is a small matter but since it is often the first thing that visitors see when coming to the Council, it should demonstrate a standard of care that the Local Authority aspires to acheive across the Borough.
