Conservative MPs say government has got rural funding wrong

“The Government “has got it wrong” on rural funding, Conservative MPs have admitted, as they continue their call for a fairer settlement for the South West.

MPs from across Devon and Cornwall have lambasted cuts to local authority budgets, warning that reforms to council funding could aggravate the urban-rural divide.

And they have urged ministers to “put it right” by increasing support and funding for rural communities while they have the Westcountry’s support.

The comments were made during Monday’s cross-party debate on local government funding, led by the Yorkshire MP Graham Stuart. The discussion follows last month’s funding settlements, during which Devon and Cornwall councils saw their budgets slashed. …”

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Tory-MPs-lambast-Government-rural-funding-plans/story-28511416-detail/story.html

Cranbrook Railway station – plenty of parking

Cranbrook railway station boasts a 150-space parking area. At lunchtime today there was a grand total of 13 cars and three people waiting on a windswept platform.

An off-peak return journey to Exeter is only £3.50 so it might well be worth using the station for park and ride.

The station is surrounded by sad, boggy ground, part of which appears to be some kind of park but is mostly very big puddles as several very large storm drains under the approach road to the station discharge their muddy water on it.

Still, it might be better in summer, if summer isn’t too wet or windy.

West Dorset: referendum triggered to change from cabinet to committee system

“A REFERENDUM on the future of governance at West Dorset District Council is set to cost the authority an estimated £95,000, councillors have been told.

Campaigners from the Public First group triggered the referendum after attracting more than 6,000 signatures calling for the vote to consider introducing a committee system as opposed to the existing cabinet style system. …”

http://m.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14189628.West_Dorset_set_for_referendum_on_democratic_change_on_May_5/?ref=fbshr

Unfortunately, the council does not have to abide by the result of the referendum which makes one wonder why they were ever touted by this government as a vehicle for change. Especially, as it would be the cabinet which decided on what happens next. But good luck West Dorset – at least a start.

Sell everything before crash, says bank economist

“In a note to its clients the bank said: “Sell everything except high quality bonds. This is about return of capital, not return on capital. In a crowded hall, exit doors are small.” It said the current situation was reminiscent of 2008, when the collapse of the Lehman Brothers investment bank led to the global financial crisis. This time China could be the crisis point.”

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/12/sell-everything-ahead-of-stock-market-crash-say-rbs-economists

And still EDDC plumps for high growth and massive housing development.