Horsham Labour Party Select their Chair to fight crucial by-election

Posted on February 1, 2012 by dhide

David Hide outside St Margaret’s Church Warnham

David Hide is Labour’s candidate for the District by-election on the 16thFebruary, a by- election triggered by the shock resignation of Council Leader Robert Nye

I am standing at this election to provide local residents with a real choice. The choice between the present Tory agenda of cutting services for the sake of cuts or an alternative that looks at managing council revenues to ensure efficient delivery of important services. After all, we all pay our taxes in the expectation that the Council delivers something in return for our hard earned money.

This is your opportunity to elect an independent minded representative.  I have no desire to join the cosy club that runs Horsham District Council which has led to the Conservative run council being able to rely on the support of the Lib Dems when pushing through unpopular decisions.

The Lib Dems are supposed to be the opposition, and yet time and again they vote with their Conservative colleagues. I feel that this is bad for local democracy,  and has led to very poor decision making.   Just look what the Lib Dem leader said following Robert Nye’s resignation. “ Personally I am very sorry. I think Robert is a good leader, has been a good leader … I think he’s a good guy and he had some good ideas for the council”

Surely it is not the role of the opposition leader to praise the Leader of the Council at a time when the policies the Council has been pursuing have brought about an unprecedented level of discontent. In contrast Horsham Labour Party had publically twice called for the resignation of Robert ‘Golden Opportunity’ Nye for his part in the bungled negotiations on the West of Horsham development. We were about to call for his resignation for a third time following his outrageous leadership in respect of Broadbridge Heath Leisure centre  debacle, but  thankfully he got in first and resigned.

Horsham Labour Party oppose large scale development

Did you know that only the Labour Party has opposed large scale developments across Horsham District?  We spoke in the Council Chamber against the 2000 homes that will be built in the West of Horsham development, something   Robert Nye both as a local councillor and Leader of Horsham District Council enthusiastically supported.

At the Planning meetings every Conservative councillor voted in favour of these massive developments. We recently joined forces with SOSA, Save our Sussex Alliance and demonstrated outside our local MP’s office against large scale development across our countryside. No other political party took part.

We support sustainable development based on local need and not based on property  developer greed.

Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre

Can the Tories and Lib Dems be trusted to carry out a fair and unbiased review or will the extension of the consultation period around the future of our Leisure facility continue to be a sham?

Robert Nye may have resigned and the new council leader claims to want to find an acceptable resolution for all concerned, but why was it when the Council had an opportunity to include Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre in the crucial service tendering process which is already underway, did the whole council vote to exclude our Leisure Centre?

This is yet another example of the Lib Dems and Tories working together within the cosy club that is Horsham District Council.

Only Horsham Labour Party has come down unambiguously in favour of retaining Broadbridge Heath Leisure centre.

Council Services available to all of us in our hour of need

Horsham Labour Party is the only party locally who has stood up for the council run services we all rely upon.

We have campaigned against the closing of our youth clubs, day centres and holiday play schemes, and for the building of affordable homes across the district.

Why is good opposition so important?

Simple, without it, the delivery of council services cost all of us more.

The one party, big tent politics that the Tories run in Horsham leads to poor decision making  and has led to massive overspends on projects such as the Acorn Recycling Scheme.

Rather than investing in staff, the Tories have wasted enormous sums of money hiring consultants who have produced glossy reports which more often than not highlight the need to cut services. Just look at this latest fiasco whereby a consultant produced the wholly discredited report on the future of Broadbridge  Heath Leisure centre and recommended demolition.

Aren’t  expensive consultants more likely to produce reports with conclusions that they feel that the  Council wishes to hear?

Should the Council Ignore its own Core Strategy Documents?

We  believe it shouldn’t and only a feral council would consider doing so, that is exactly  what Robert Nye told us he intended doing when we met up with him to submit  a petition for more affordable housing on  the West of Horsham Development.

When we challenged him on the fact that his core strategy document stated that all developments larger than 15 units will contain a minimum of 40%affordable housing , he barked back at us in front of Lib Dem councillors ‘I don’t care what it says in the core strategy document ‘ And he didn’t. He bent over backwards to accommodate the wishes of the developers ahead of the needs of Horsham residents.  And  the response of the Lib Dems at that meeting? Silence

And finally, to bring us up to date, let me explain why a well run council must have a healthy opposition and not one in the pocket of the executive.

Take the recent national example of the RBS chief executive Stephen  Hester  who was set to receive a bonus in the region of £1 million. Effectively a reward for failure.  The vast majority of the British public have been  appalled at the prospect. Most politicians stated that they were uneasy at the prospect of him receiving such a bonus, but it was only on Sunday when the Labour opposition stated that it would bring this issue to the House and force a vote, did Stephen Hester do the right thing and decline the bonus.

It is universally accepted that it was the opposition party which drove Hestor into making this decision. That is why we need to elect people who will stand up for the electorate and act as a true opposition.  A good opposition delivers better government.

About me

I am 47 and live in the centre of Horsham. I respect the view of those who would prefer to vote for a local candidate but I would argue it is better to elect the best candidate rather than necessarily the most local. If you wish to elect someone who will stand up for local services, oppose large scale development , support and understand the needs of those living and working within the rural economy, first and foremost be prepared to listen to and act upon local opinion then I respectfully request that you consider voting for me.

I have always worked in the rural economy, and am a grower of plants, both by vocation and  profession. I am currently the technical manager for a large wholesale nursery based just outside Arundel and have amassed considerable technical expertise and business skills during a lifetime in this industry.  I have chaired industry wide bodies and for four years was an International Director of a grower association

Outside of politics I am interested in music both playing and listening, walking, spending many hours exploring the Downs, and by way of a bus person’s holiday I am a volunteer with Horsham in Bloom.

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Captain Calamity jumps ship and triggers a by-election

Posted on January 3, 2012 by dhide

Robert Nye Leader of Horsham District Council resigned on 14 December offering his private financial arrangements as explanation. His surprise resignation automatically triggers a by election in the council seat of Itchingfield, Slinfold and Warnham which is due to take place on Thursday 16th of February.

Our reaction to his resignation as reported in the County Times the following day was as follows

‘Horsham Labour Party has twice before called for his resignation on the grounds that we feel he has led a discredited council which has consistently ignored the needs of Horsham residents, most noticeably over the botched negotiations he led in respect of the West of Horsham development where he delivered profits for developers ahead of the affordable homes we so desperately need, and indeed the council has previously identified.  Had Cllr Nye still been leader, Horsham Labour Party would have once more called for his resignation as a result of the rushed consultation process relating to the future of our district leisure facilities.’

This by election provides local residents with the opportunity to vote against a council that has   delivered massive overspends in  its  flagship Acorn Recycling scheme, seen spending on  consultants rocket , proposed selling off of our community assets such as the Old Town Hall, and proposed the demolition of Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, not to forget  the massive under delivery of affordable homes. If you like what your Council is doing then vote Tory or Lib Dem for more of the same, but if you want to hear an alternative voice in the Council Chamber that will stand up for local people then  why not support our candidate?

We will post regular by-election updates including details of our candidate and our campaign but in the meantime if you would like to help Labour win on the 16th of February the please get in contact with Ray Chapman by emailing secretary@horsham-labour.org.uk

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NHS Services

Posted on September 1, 2011 by admin
Horsham Labour Party cares passionately about our NHS and we do not wish to stand idly by as the Tory led Coalition Government pushes through a series of changes that could fundamentally alter all that we feel is good about our NHS.
 
We support 100% the principal that the NHS is free at point of use.
 
We oppose the increased role of the private sector and are in favour of public services being delivered predominantly by those working within the public sector.
 
We  support the principal that health care professionals should deliver healthcare and managers should manage.
 
The letter printed in full below has recently been sent to all local Practise Managers and we will update this page as and when we receive responses from them.
 
Please sign Labour’s petition to protect front line services:
 
 
—
Dear Practice Manager,

At a recent meeting of the Horsham Labour Party the members discussed the contents of the leaflet produced by the BMA . Warning! Commercialising the NHS is damaging our health service. I have been asked to contact all our local GP surgeries to ask your opinions about the possible effects for local health care provision, if the Coalition Government presses ahead with their proposals.

We would like the opinion of the practice members, for example is your practice happy to manage up to 90% of the NHS budget and be placed in charge of commissioning services? All our members attend one or other of the local practices and have real concerns about the proposed changes. Horsham Labour Party members are proud of the NHS and the role our party has played in its formation and wish to play an active role in both defending and developing it for the benefit of all, free at the point of use.

Many of our members have written to the Government expressing their concerns and we are now seeking the opinions of local health care professionals.

Key issues include changes to commissioning and the scrapping of the PCTs and the greater involvement of
private companies in delivering services.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours Faithfully

Ray Chapman

Secretary
Horsham Labour Party

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Local elections 2011 – our five commitments

Posted on April 17, 2011 by admin

From talking to local residents it is clear that many feel disappointed with the level of representation offered by our councillors.

Too many councillors once elected are never seen again, or move away like the Lib Dem from Horsham Park who lives in Hastings, but still claimed travel expenses when he attended council meetings.

The poor level of representation we have received in areas like Horsham Park over the last four years is a major motivation for us to offer residents a greater commitment to public service at a time when important decisions are being made about cuts to local services. Residents feel their views are not listened to and many people don’t even know who their councillors are! We believe that anyone elected to represent local people should do just that – represent their views on local matters – so if elected we undertake to:

  1. Be visible in the local area
  2. Attend both council and planning meetings
  3. Consult regularly on issues of local concern
  4. Feed back on council meetings through regular newsletters and publish a report on our website after council meetings, highlighting what we have said and how we voted
  5. Organise regular surgeries to offer help and advice with council issues

 More information about the 2011 elections, including a full list of candidates,  can be found here.

    Posted in Elections, Horsham Council, Pledges | Leave a comment

    Fundraising with Hazel Blears

    Posted on February 16, 2011 by admin

    On Tuesday February 16th Horsham Labour party held a fund-raising quiz in Horsham, which was co-hosted by Hazel Blears MP and Andrew Skudder, our candidate at last year’s general election.
    Party members from Crawley, Horsham, Arundel & South Downs, Worthing, Brighton and Guildford took part, with a team from Crawley narrowly winning the first prize.

    During the evening Hazel Blears spoke passionately about how important it is that the party remains active even in places like Horsham where they have little or no electoral success.  We think she was impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the local party and she promised to help our candidate in Broadbridge Heath, Ray Chapman, but doing some telephone canvassing for him on election day!

    Horsham Labour’s chair, David Hide said:

    We were very pleased to welcome a prominent national figure like Hazel Blears to Horsham and have thanked her for her time and for her support. Her speech inspired our members to campaign even harder for our candidates in the council elections, and the funds raised by the event will help us to back up our door-knocking with more printed material.

    Ray Chapman said:

    When Hazel offered to help campaign for me I was amazed, but not half as amazed as voters in Broadbridge Heath will be if they answer the phone and find an ex-cabinet minster on the other end asking them to vote for me in a local election!

    The quiz night raised funds, raised spirits and encouraged networking between constituency parties. We hope that since her return to Westminster Hazel has been passing on the word to her colleagues about how friendly and welcoming Horsham Labour party is.

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    An open letter to Francis Maude

    Posted on February 5, 2011 by admin

    A group of agricultural workers within the Horsham constituency (including Horsham Labour party’s chair, David Hide, who works in the agricultural industry)  will be taking part in a national rally and lobby organised by Unite the Union on Wednesday 9th February.  The rally will be calling on the Tory-led government to remove the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board from the Public Bodies Reform Bill.

    Participants in the rally contacted their MPs to arrange to meet them in the lobby to discuss this important issue and the effects it would have on many of their constituents.  The Horsham contingent received a reply from their MP, Francis Maude, in which he declined to meet us

    We have therefor sent him an open letter to explain some of the things we hoped to explain in person.  The full text of the letters can be found below.

    Letter from Francis Maude, Feb 4th 2011

    Click here to view

    Reply to Francis Maude, Feb 5th 2011

    Dear Mr Maude

    I was very sorry to learn from your letter dated 4th February that you will be unable to meet myself and other constituents on the 9th February, the date of the lobby of parliament to oppose the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board.

    I am not sure what the diary commitments are that prevent you from engaging in a discussion about the employment rights and livelihoods of thousands of agricultural and horticultural workers, but given that you are unable to meet us, I would like to take the opportunity to respond to points raised in your letter, as they indicate a level of understanding of the Board which is clearly inadequate for someone who has a key role in determining its future.

    You claim that the Agricultural Wages Act has become outdated, inflexible and burdensome for farmers and workers. This is clearly not the case. Many farmers have stated their opposition to the abolition of the Board as they value the clarity it offers in relation to complex pay and benefit issues, they acknowledge that the Agricultural Wages Board has been responsible for harmonious industrial relations in Agriculture since 1924, the date of its establishment.

    Can you seriously suggest that farm and horticultural workers, many of whom live in your constituency, find burdensome the board that guarantees minimum rates of pay on a graded basis from entry grade to farm manager, so in effect doing a job that goes above and beyond the remit of the minimum wage regulations?

    It also deals with skills and qualifications, overtime, bad weather payments, holidays, sick pay, apprenticeships and training and much more besides. One of its major functions is to regulate tied housing, which 30% of agricultural workers live in. The Board ensures that rents are not punitively raised and that farm workers are not unjustly evicted from their homes. We are well aware that the fear of homelessness is not something you experience, thanks largely to the generosity of the tax payer, but be assured, with the abolition of the Board, it will be a very real and devastating fear for many within our rural economy.

    Far from allowing agricultural industry to adopt flexible and modern employment practices, as you claim, abolition of the AWB would sweep away protection of pay and terms and conditions for 154,000 overnight. The result will not be a vibrant and sustainable industry as you claim, but one where pay levels are driven down as farmers, under pressure from supermarkets, try to cut costs at the expense of the workers.

    Falling pay levels will not only make it even more difficult for farmers to attract skilled workers, but will result in poor industrial relations with a knock-on impact on the security of our UK food supplies.

    In light of the above I would urge you to reconsider your position and oppose the abolition of the AWB and to write to Caroline Spelman calling for the repeal of the Agricultural Wages Act 1948 to be removed from the Public Bodies Reform Bill.

    Myself and a number of your constituents are still intending to attend the lobby on the 9th February. If you were able to find a time more suitable than the time we initially proposed we would be pleased to discuss this with you further or, alternatively, we look forward to hearing of a time that we could meet you at your usual surgery.

    Yours Sincerely
    David Hide
    Chair
    Horsham Labour party

    Anybody who is interested in this issue and would like to know more about the AWB, or anybody who thinks they may be affected by this can contact us to find out more. See the ‘Contact’ link at the top of the page.

    Posted in AWB, Campaigns | Leave a comment

    Countryside Properties: Labour’s objections

    Posted on January 25, 2011 by admin

    Below are the full texts of the speeches we made at the planning meeting in objection to the application to build 963 homes in Broadbridge Heath, with only 20% of the proposed development addressing local housing needs.

    David Hide, Chair of Horsham Labour party said:

    Horsham Labour party opposes this development due to its failure to deliver affordable housing at the appropriate rate.

    This application provides a guarantee of no more than 20% affordable; just half of the council’s own target. Have we not been here before? If it accepts this application our Tory council would demonstrate that it has learnt little about integrity in public consultation, since the Berkeley homes application, even to the extent of ignoring Eric Pickles’ localism agenda. Fat chance of localism here in Horsham, where no amount of consultation, parish council meetings, petitions and letter writing, make a jot of difference to the outcome. More ‘bankrupt’ than a ‘big’ society in Horsham?

    How can it be right that the level of affordable housing on a development of 963 units remains a secret until one week before the planning meeting? This does not provide enough time for local residents to either support or object, or for the Lib Dems to make up their minds which way they might vote.

    It was only through the delivery of 40% affordable housing on the West of Horsham development that the Tories planned to meet their own housing target. What plans are in place to bridge the gap between the 20% now proposed and this target? And how will the additional monies promised in lieu of building affordable housing on this site be used to deliver new homes?

    The Tories fail to give planning permission to many sites that contain anything like 40% affordable housing. By failing to adhere to its Core Strategy, intentionally or otherwise, the council’s actions resemble what Boris Johnson described as social cleansing, whereby only those who are sufficiently affluent are encouraged to make their homes here.

    Horsham Labour Party calls upon the council to reject this application.

    Ray Chapman, Secretary of Horsham Labour party said:

    Horsham Labour Party collected hundredss of signatures demanding that all developments in Horsham deliver a minimum of 40% affordable housing. This reflects the desire of local residents for opportunities for their own families to continue to live and work here. The majority of signatures were of residents from Broadbridge Heath, and the petition would, by any definition, comply with the Government’s policy on localism – local people having their voices heard in the planning process.

    And yet, less than a year since this council disgracefully gave permission to Berkeley Homes in disregard of the views of local people, we have the possibility of a similar application being accepted.

    This application fails both to meet the council’s own housing target of 40% affordable, and to respond to the demands of local people, but will the Tory council listen to local people or once again demonstrate a greater concern for the interests of the developers?

    This would go against the recommendations of the core strategy and district valuer who says that this site can afford to deliver the council’s target. The developer sweeps this aside, claiming that this is just the council’s target.

    This target should be met. The Developer offers 10% affordable housing paid in cash rather than built on site, but this offer should be rejected, in line with the council’s core strategy.

    For once the council should call the shots on behalf of the people it represents.

    Horsham’s Tories have an appalling record on delivering the affordable homes we need, and once again we have an application that fails to satisfactorily match the massive local demand, the requirements of the core strategy and the expert opinion of the council’s own staff. We ask you to reject this application.

    Posted in Broadbridge Heath, Horsham Council, Housing | Leave a comment

    Lib Dems and Tories vote to dump almost 1000 homes on Broadbridge Heath

    Posted on January 24, 2011 by admin

    At a planning meeting last week the Lib Dem and Tory councillors voted to build nearly 1000 homes on Broadbridge Heath, doubling the size of the village at a stroke.  

    Horsham Labour party spoke against this application, on the grounds that the plans contain insufficient affordable housing, with just 20% of the development site to be affordable. Our reactions are below.

    David Hide, Chair of Horsham Labour party said:

    We predicted that the Lib Dems would claim that they didn’t have enough time to work out which way they might vote in respect of the 963 home Countryside Properties planning application for Broadbridge Heath. What we hadn’t expected was that three of the eight Lib Dem councillors would vote with the Tories in favour of the application.

    We will never know how the Lib Dem councillor for Broadbridge Heath might have voted as she didn’t even bother to attend the meeting. What we witnessed tonight was a disgrace to local democracy.

    Eight local people spoke against this application with only one, the developer, speaking in favour. We were amazed that there were so many seemingly unresolved aspects to the planning application but that the Tories, supported by more than a third of the Lib Dem councillors present, seemed content to nod the application through.

    Ray Chapman, Secretary of Horsham Labour party said:

    It is disappointing that once again the Tory council has failed to achieve an amount anywhere near close to its own target of 40% affordable housing in its ‘negotiations’ with the developer. It is noticeable that on every occasion, no matter what the economic circumstances, the Tory council let the developer off the hook; ably assisted this time by Lib Dem councillors. Horsham Labour party will continue to put pressure on the council to do better and meet its obligation to the electorate.

    On such an important development for Broadbridge Heath, and Horsham as a whole, it was disappointing that so many councillors including the councillor who represents this area, were not present at this crucial planning meeting. Presumably the absent councillors felt that they had more pressing business to pursue rather than represent the people who elected them.

    Posted in Broadbridge Heath, Horsham Council, Housing | Leave a comment

    West Sussex Youth Centres

    Posted on January 12, 2011 by admin

    A message from county councillor Chris Oxlade:

    We’ve been working hard to fight the massive cuts to the West Sussex Youth Service which the county council is trying to implement.

    Already the service has had £2 million slashed from its budget, and on the 11th February a further £2million is proposed to be cut.

    Currently 7 youth centres are at risk across West Sussex, and I’ve been working with young people in Crawley to help give them a voice.

    One way of doing this is the e-petition which two young lads have set up. If they get over 3,000 signatures, they will be able to stand up at the full council in front of 70 councillors and put a human face on these terrible cuts.

    If you have a couple of minutes to spare, please sign their petition and help them make a difference.

    Just click on this link!

    http://epetition.westsussex.public-i.tv/epetition_core/community/petition/1369

    Thanks for you help.

    Posted in Petitions, WSCC, Youth Service | Leave a comment

    Congratulations to Duncan

    Posted on January 8, 2011 by admin

    This week Duncan Enright won a council byelection for Labour.

    OK maybe it is only a town council byelection but this was in David Cameron’s back yard and he won convincingly with 66% of the vote – four times as many votes as the second-placed Liberal Democrat.

    If that can happen in Witney then maybe the idea of Labour winning a council seat somewhere in Horsham and getting the chance to hold Horsham council to account is not so unlikely as everybody has said.

    The result in Witney shows that it can happen with a lot of hard work and a good candidate.  If you would like to help Horsham party this year get in touch.  There will always be doors to knock on, leaflets to deliver, and posters to display for anybody who wants to lend a hand.

    We already have some excellent candidates for the May elections, but they can’t do it without all of our help.

    Posted in Elections, Horsham Council | Leave a comment