Sadly, there is one event we will not be invited to before we head off for our Summer Staycations - the Ipswich Borough Council meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday 1st August.
If, as the Labour administration has explained, the reason is ‘lack of business’, why are we being provided with a 2 hour ‘briefing’ in its place? Would the ‘briefing’, I ask myself, allow the opposition to ask questions?
Thankfully, somewhat pompous Labour Cllr Barry Stud came to my rescue.
“I think it needs to be explained to some people that a Councillor Briefing Session is just what it say’s and not a general question time to the administration.”
These are some of the questions that ‘some people’ like your Conservative Councillors may well have been asking on behalf of local people – had we been given the chance:
• Why has the Labour administration taken away the polling station from the oldest residents in the oldest ward in Ipswich?
• The income from Team Ipswich’s use of Crown Pools is £86,000 annually. However, they have been well served by David Lloyd and GOALS over the last few months. Can Cllr Rudkin confirm that they will return upon completion of the ongoing work?
• Is it the Mayor’s job to thank sponsors including Lloyds Bank, Samsung and Coca-Cola when she attends events representing our town?
• Does Cllr Ross think that because he is paid to Chair the North East Area Committee that gives him licence to domineer local residents and wave away their views?
• How has the Borough’s income from car-parks been affected by the ongoing road works in Upper Orwell Street and the Dr Who Exhibition in Crown Car-park?
• Can portfolio holder for Planning and Economic Development, Cllr Jones, explain to the 620 levy paying businesses in our town centre why she has failed to attend recent meetings at Ipswich Central?
• Is £6.50 a week, if spread over a 3 year Undergraduate course, likely to be a real incentive to students from low income families to apply for the new UCS Bursary Scheme?
• Shouldn’t the IBC have carried out an Equality Impact assessment before undertaking the current refurbishment programme of council housing to ensure that elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents are not disadvantaged?
• The Bixley Councillors have lobbied for and successfully brokered a solution to the withdrawal of the number 62 bus. Will Cllr Smart support an increase in frequency and an earlier start of the 192 route now diverted through Bixley?
The Opposition’s job is to hold the administration to account. It is a shame that the questions residents want answers to have to wait until local Labour politicians have rolled off their sun-beds and caught a flight home. Even then, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
What would you like to ask them at the next Full Council meeting – on September 26th?