Difference between revisions of "2017 Frinton by-election"
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===Message from Jeremy Corbyn=== | ===Message from Jeremy Corbyn=== | ||
+ | [[File:Allotment_1.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Labour's [[Patrick Haseldine]] at the Witton Wood Lane allotments on Christmas Day 2016]] | ||
On 22 December 2016, [[Leader of the Labour Party|Labour leader]] [[Jeremy Corbyn]] addressed a Christmas message to each [[Labour Party]] member, including Frinton by-election candidate [[Patrick Haseldine]], which concluded: | On 22 December 2016, [[Leader of the Labour Party|Labour leader]] [[Jeremy Corbyn]] addressed a Christmas message to each [[Labour Party]] member, including Frinton by-election candidate [[Patrick Haseldine]], which concluded: | ||
:"[[Brexit]] is a huge challenge for our country. We have to heal the divides in our country — and speak for both those who voted ''Leave'' and ''Remain'', to stop the Tory vision for Brexit — of a country where workers are easier to exploit and taxes easier to avoid. We will not obstruct the democratic decision to ''Leave'', but we will oppose policies that harm our people. | :"[[Brexit]] is a huge challenge for our country. We have to heal the divides in our country — and speak for both those who voted ''Leave'' and ''Remain'', to stop the Tory vision for Brexit — of a country where workers are easier to exploit and taxes easier to avoid. We will not obstruct the democratic decision to ''Leave'', but we will oppose policies that harm our people. | ||
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==F&WTC responsibilities== | ==F&WTC responsibilities== | ||
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Frinton and Walton Town Council (F&WTC) has a major leisure facility, the Columbine Centre at Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, which is licensed for Civil Ceremonies. F&WTC maintains three allotment sites. All are productive, well maintained and sociable. | Frinton and Walton Town Council (F&WTC) has a major leisure facility, the Columbine Centre at Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, which is licensed for Civil Ceremonies. F&WTC maintains three allotment sites. All are productive, well maintained and sociable. | ||
Revision as of 12:38, 6 January 2017
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Website | http://www.essexinfo.net/frinton-and-walton-town-council/your-council/ |
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The date of the Frinton by-election for the seat vacated by Councillor Mark Brown on Frinton and Walton Town Council (F&WTC) is set for Thursday, 19 January 2017.[1] The elected Town Councillor will join three others from Frinton Ward:
- Cllr E T Allen
- Cllr N W Turner
- Cllr Mrs V J Watling
Contents
Candidates
At close of nominations on 20 December 2016, there were five candidates:[2]
- Susan Clutterbuck - Green Party
- Richard Everett - Frinton-on-Sea Resident
- Patrick Haseldine - Labour Party
- Fiona Knowles - Tendring First[3]
- Pamela Walford - Conservative Party
Frinton's "iconic gates"
In 2009 Rachel Baldwin, of the Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust (FWHT), described the railway crossing gates as effectively marking the entrance to the town, and dividing Frinton from the rest of the world:
- "The gates are iconic. Frinton's had gates for virtually as long as it's been a town.
- "Frinton is effectively a triangular town and is bordered on three sides by the sea, the railway line and the marshes.
- "So going through the gates is the main way to get into Frinton. The whole town revolves around trains."
Mrs Baldwin added as a result, an "inside the gates, outside the gates" attitude had developed.[4]
EU Referendum in microcosm
The 3,402 electors in Frinton and Walton Town Council’s Frinton ward are a microcosm of the 46.5 million voters in the UK political system. In last June’s unnecessary and divisive EU Referendum – the result of a weak Conservative government and bullying by the UK Independence Party – the United Kingdom was split asunder: Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to Remain; England and Wales voted for Brexit.[5]
Although 28% abstained from voting, communities, families and friends who did vote became divided: the young overwhelmingly wanting to Remain while the old tended towards Leave.[6] Tory donor Lord Ashcroft produced a table of “How Britain Voted”, which showed an overall 48% vote to Remain and 52% to Leave.
There are no reliable figures on how the 3,402 Frinton voters actually cast their votes, but based on Lord Ashcroft’s statistics, there would have been 952 Abstentions in Frinton ward, 1,274 votes to Leave and 1,176 votes to Remain. Thus, if only 99 Frinton voters had voted differently, there might have been a majority for Remain, but the division between the two camps would still be there.[7]
Message from Jeremy Corbyn
![](/w/images/thumb/2/21/Allotment_1.jpg/300px-Allotment_1.jpg)
On 22 December 2016, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed a Christmas message to each Labour Party member, including Frinton by-election candidate Patrick Haseldine, which concluded:
- "Brexit is a huge challenge for our country. We have to heal the divides in our country — and speak for both those who voted Leave and Remain, to stop the Tory vision for Brexit — of a country where workers are easier to exploit and taxes easier to avoid. We will not obstruct the democratic decision to Leave, but we will oppose policies that harm our people.
- "It is our party, our movement, that will unite people to change Britain for the better, and give us the chance to bring more humanity and peace to a troubled world.
- "Let us work together — and enjoy the common endeavour we are embarked on.
- "Thank you for all that you do for our party, and I hope you have the opportunity to spend some time with loved ones over the Christmas period."
- Jeremy Corbyn
F&WTC responsibilities
Frinton and Walton Town Council (F&WTC) has a major leisure facility, the Columbine Centre at Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, which is licensed for Civil Ceremonies. F&WTC maintains three allotment sites. All are productive, well maintained and sociable.
F&WTC comments on all planning applications affecting the Town. Its other responsibilities include tree planting, bus shelters, seafront shelters, village greens and commons, play areas, a skateboard park, the Town Hard and public seats.[8]
PCSOs
In 2004 F&WTC, in partnership with Essex Police, saw the recruitment of six Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) with a further two recruited in 2006. Following the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner and reorganisations within the Police Authority, PCSO part-funding was withdrawn. The Town Council made the decision to fully fund six PCSOs w.e.f. April 2015 in order to continue with the good work they had done in this area. It is hoped that they will continue to have a significant impact on nuisance, crime and disorder to help keep crime low in our towns and villages.[9]
Financing local organisations
The Town Council gives financial assistance to many local organisations each year. For further information please telephone: (01255) 676666.
2016/17 precept
F&WTC precept in 2016/17 is £387,895 (also in receipt of £43,293 Local Council Tax Support scheme grant from Tendring District Council) and the effect on an average Band D Council tax bill is £52.39.[10]
Fire Service "cuts"
On 21 October 2016, the Daily Gazette reported that Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was making a £200,000 “profit” every year in delivering a service to Frinton and Walton it was planning to reduce. Figures released by the service to F&WTC revealed that Frinton & Walton paid £501,000 a year in Council Tax for its fire service, which in turn cost just £300,000 to deliver.
The admission stemmed from a letter F&WTC sent to acting chief executive and acting chief fire officer Adam Eckley following a recent meeting he held with Town Councillors on the planned removal of one of Frinton’s two fire engines. Town Clerk Myrna Liles wrote:
- “I am sorry that it ended so abruptly but the strong feelings of our members has been fed up from our residents and I believe they all feel really frustrated that our service is diminishing and we are unable to do anything about it.”
Mrs Liles further told Essex Fire and Rescue residents and councillors felt “out on a limb” and she sought reassurance they wouldn’t suffer from “this ill informed decision” to remove the fire engine. She also asked how much it cost to provide the service from Frinton, saying residents should not have to pay for improvements elsewhere if their own service was being cut.
Adam Eckley replied that despite Frinton’s impending loss of one engine, there would be “no change to the resources mobilised to incidents” in Frinton and Walton as residents would have access to services from elsewhere. Mr Eckley confirmed Frinton and Walton residents pay £501,000 of Council Tax to the fire authority, while “we estimate the current cost of providing and supporting the fire station in Frinton is around £300,000 per annum.”[11]
References
- ↑ "Date set for Frinton by-election"
- ↑ "Candidates for the Frinton by-election"
- ↑ "Fiona Knowles on Facebook"
- ↑ "Frinton-on-Sea old railway crossing gates get new home"
- ↑ "EU referendum: The result in maps and charts"
- ↑ "EU Referendum: only 28% abstained!"
- ↑ "How the United Kingdom voted on Thursday - and why"
- ↑ "F&WTC has a population of 19,039 some 9055 households"
- ↑ "Paul Brassey, Police Community Support Officer for Kirby Cross, Frinton and Walton"
- ↑ "Local Council Tax Support is a reduction of your Council Tax bill"
- ↑ Essex fire makes £200,000 'profit' on Frinton and Walton service it plans to cut"