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Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - purplecurly (22nd Sep 2007 - 23:22:35) Don’t forget the Parish Council meeting is THIS MONDAY NIGHT. 8pm Parish Office in Midhurst Road. I am planning to be there. I want to know who is going to tackle my potentially deathly 8 metre pitch black, slippery, muddy walk – off the station bus to the only bit of pavement in Passfield. I want to know where the money has gone from Elsmere Construction for the Path. I want to know where the money has gone from Squires Bridge Homes for the traffic Island. I want to know why there has been a totally inadequate bit of pink road surface plonked on the Passfield junction. Did someone think that this would slow down traffic on the main thro- road? I want to know why the National Trust can place such a lowly price on human life? AND why the Councillors have never been able to challenge such a dangerous and irrational opinion. I want to know why a sign says SLOW, right next to the sign that says 50mph. Does anyone realize what a contradiction in terms that is? I am quite looking forward to it PC

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Anon (23rd Sep 2007 - 21:53:02) PC, Didn't your mum ever tell you - 'I want, doesn't get...' ;)

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Barry Hope (23rd Sep 2007 - 22:58:08) PC Glad to see someone is willing to exercise their rights to question the Parish Council. Don't forget that you, and anyone else, could also raise any questions at the EHDC community forums that are held around the area. It is also worth remembering that Councillor Sam James who is Deputy Leader of EHDC is on that committee and he is also a County Councillor at Winchester. In addition, Councillor Mrs Anna James is also a Bramshott and Liphook Parish Councillor as well as a District Councillor. So, in effect you have the ears of representatives on all three Local Authorities on any issues that are relating to your area. I attend regularly and generally ask questions of interest and concern. I will also be attending the Parish Council Meeting if I can get there in time. See you there. Regards Barry

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - sue (24th Sep 2007 - 16:19:39) PC Keep up the 'I want' - regardless of Anons comment. At least they know you are serious and passionate about an issue. Beating about the bush and treading softly, softly, just doesn't cut the mustard and you will wait forever for an answer or sensible outcome.You may have at best a token jesture of activity, take it from me - I have been there and still waiting for ANY answers from ANY council or ANY person, or ANY store about an issue generated in February and June!!!.

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - purplecurly (25th Sep 2007 - 12:46:02) Hi there Sue, yes I will keep it up! I didn’t get very far at the Parish meeting. I almost felt as if I was being brushed under the carpet! However, it seems that this antiquated formal way of conducting things is the way they HAVE to do it! It’s the rules! Any way, the outcome was that there is going to be a highways meeting in October and Passfield is going to be on the agenda (as well as other things of course). It is an open meeting held at the Millennium hall so I will go along to air my views if I am able. I really want to know what the money is going to put towards. I can’t bear the idea that it will just revert back to central government or disappear altogether if these calming measures fall through because of the unreasonableness of the NT. One bit of good news is that we will soon have a new 30mph limit. HURRAH

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - sue (25th Sep 2007 - 19:28:50) PC If nothing else you may now begin to understand why things take forever to happen!!. Unfortunately my determination has all but dried up!! But that is what many wished for. Fighting your corner is good, but it comes at a price, for me it was very high - say no more. I am no political boffin, but have you contacted the Hampshire highways with your concerns, or spoken to the police to see if they have statistics on accidents that could support your case? Take photo's of your pride and joy of a 'footpath', with the nice tarmacked piece and of the whole road. A picture is far better than words - try to get it in rush hour with big lorries etc. Send them to everyone!! Sometimes all they see is £££ as you say, but if they see how tiny the area is perhaps they would review it. Just a thought. I do not live in Passfield, but have delivered many leaflets and couldn't understand why there were no provisions for the new estate (Lyndons I think), to have a footpath through to the main road by the old pub, when they built the last few new houses there?? Sue

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Nat (25th Sep 2007 - 20:54:33) Purple curly, well done on getting anything out of that meeting at all. in my experience i have found them nothing but rude n pretty much useless at meetings not to mention the rude manor you come to find at the office in haslemere road. careful though because next time they will know who you are and be ready with their little 'behind closed doors meeting' speech i expect. "Viva la polit bureau" if you want something nice doing join liphook in bloom!

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Phil MN (26th Sep 2007 - 17:04:17) Greetings PC, as you say you were quite rudely 'handled' at the meeting. Isn't 'Open Govenment' wonderful?! Having previously worked in Eastern Europe under the former Communist regime, I found the meeting refreshing! Now that is worrying! Perhaps more concerning - I think that the Parish Council actually voted to accept a Council Tax increase in line with inflation without once considering a set of financial figures or statements, or even considering ways in which they might reduce our tax burden (e.g. value for money / accountability). It was agreed because it was the same increase Hampshire CC had taken. It's always easy to spend someone else's money.

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Phil MN (26th Sep 2007 - 17:29:48) PS - If my recollection of the Parish Council meeting in regards to Council Tax is wrong, please someone tell me so I can sleep at night! PPS - Sorry for spelling mistakes on most of my posts. iPac letter recogniser, and sometimes while out on the Solent too!

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - hedge hog (2nd Oct 2007 - 23:09:01) Hi Purple Curly I have only just noticed your comments on attending the council meeting recently. Sorry to hear about your problems with the parish council, but it doesn’t surprise me at all. As Nat says you were lucky to get anything out of them at all at the parish meeting. They don’t seem to think that any negative public opinion could possibly be caused by their own actions or behaviour in the first place but instead, display an arrogant and dictatorial attitude towards the public. Most of the councillors have been there for some time and have forgotten what it’s like to be elected instead of getting back in en-mass and or co-opted onto the council. The most sensible councillors were possibly those that left the council at the last local elections, they probably got fed up with getting nowhere aswell. Nat, I saw what you said about the reception you got when you called into the parish office. If that’s the case I’m surprised that you and others don’t make any complaints. I know others who have had similar experiences and it’s a shame they don’t complain either. If it was the staff you got a rude or unfriendly reception from then they should not be allowed to do it. They are public servants working for us, the public and their pay is paid by the likes of you and me through the council tax. Its our money that keeps them employed. Somebody should remind them of that fact. If you got the same rude reception from a Hotel staff or restaurant staff you wouldn’t put up with it, at least I hope not so why should this be any different. The trouble with us English is that we put up with unacceptable behaviour and moan after the event. Perhaps that should change. Hedgehog

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - L (3rd Oct 2007 - 15:20:15) A few weeks ago, I had reason to visit the Parish Office for the first time. As the lady behind the desk was on the phone, I was happy to wait for a short while. While I was waiting, the Parish Clerk and a female Parish Councillor came through to the public area from the back room. I smiled politely but my smile was not returned, and they both looked through me and continued with their Highly Important Conversation. They were discussing anti-social behaviour in a tone which I did not feel to be appropriate in my presence as they were complaining that they (presumably the PC?) were being expected to do or get involved in something that they felt was Police business. Perhaps I momentarily achieved my childhood ambition of being able to make myself invisible, but as that is sadly unlikely, I can only assume that they regarded me in the same terms as, in days gone by, the ruling classes viewed peasants, servants and slaves. When she finished her conversation, the lady behind the counter dealt with my query briskly and efficiently, but without any pleasantries or friendliness and I felt I was holding her up from Much More Important Business. I left feeling very depressed.

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Barry Hope (3rd Oct 2007 - 18:15:46) Seems to be a common theme emerging here. If people are not happy with the service they receive from public servants, from whatever authority, then they have the right to complain. Don't forget that there is a complaints procedure that the parish council have to adhere to. They will have a copy at the office, and all you need to do is ask for a copy and it will be supplied to you. It is there to ensure that anyone who has a complaint of any sort against the council has a route to follow and should ensure that any compaints are dealt with fairly and efficiently. It consists of a set of procedures that the council have to follow on receipt of a complaint and should ensure that the issue you are complaining about are dealt with. This is not something available to just a few but to everyone in the parish and if more people were aware of it then some of the comments people are raising could be addressed as they quite rightly should be. When I was a councillor I always believed in accountability to members of the public for the councils actions and if left unchecked, there is a danger that this gets forgotten. Best wishes

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - sue (3rd Oct 2007 - 18:46:34) Barry I really do think you should pay me a visit at the shop sometime!!. There is so much TALK of accountability and procedures, but in reality it fails. People are left with the feeling that they are a nuisance, trouble, un-enlightened and far worse!! My experience is that if you dare speak out and even endorse what councillors have said to you, some will even call you a liar, others have caused immense hurt with manipulating a situation to 'get even' as they were an ex-councillor. I would very much like to find out why Councillors can say things, promise you an outcome and nothing happens. I am not prepared to expand further, on this site because it would serve no purpose, but as I said please speak to me with the updated version of a conversation we had many months ago. I would be interested to know the facts/truth not 'pie in the sky' answers that have been given so far!! Sue

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Phil MN (3rd Oct 2007 - 21:03:31) What is most disturbing, is that the make-up of Parish Councils tends to reflect the local community. This is true for Liphook as much as anywhere else I'm afraid.

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Barry Hope (8th Oct 2007 - 17:47:47) Phil MN Just wondered if you could expand on your comment as I am not totally sure what it is you're saying. Regards Barry

Re: Parish Council meeting. THIS MONDAY - Phil MN (16th Oct 2007 - 13:30:34) Sorry - have been off air for a time! Parish councils tend to reflect the make-up of the local communities, as in the agenda / strategy / direction tends to reflect local needs etc (one would hope!). Best regards, PMN

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