An open letter to Francis Maude

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.

Tricksters spin Bryce Lodge into a Lib Dem success story

Part of a recent Lib Dem leaflet

Horsham Labour party is the undisputed party of affordable housing and earlier in the year, following considerable pressure from Horsham Labour party, it was agreed to redevelop Bryce Lodge at the top of New Street and build 38 affordable homes.

(See 'Bryce Lodge a spot the blot success story' posted on Dec 18th last year)

Six months later and the Liberal Democrats are claiming credit for this.

Youth Service cuts in the news

This week the County Times has the story of last week's county council meeting, which happened too late for last week's deadline.

Note that it was one of the remaining Labour county councillors, Chris Oxlade from Crawley, who proposed the postponement of the meeting to allow more time to get better information on the proposed cuts to services.

Also in the paper this week was Horsham Labour party's response in a letter from from Carol Hayton

Why we do it

by Andrew Skudder

Towards the end of an election campaign, any election campaign, candidates, party workers and activists, and even supporters can start to flag a bit as polling day approaches.  Whether the prospects are good or bad, there are few people involved in elections who do not, at some point, look forward to it all being over so they can get their lives back.

It is even tempting to look back at the time spent writing and delivering leaflets, knocking on doors and manning street stalls while normal people enjoy their shopping, to look back on all that and wonder "why do I do all this?"  We have all done it, but today I happened to find my own personal answer.

Planning meeting speeches

Last week Horsham district council's development control committee met to decide on the Berkely Homes development.

As was reported in the local press this week, the committee voted to grant outline planning permission, subject to a Section 106 agreement.  Our opposition to this decision is already well-documented here and some of our comments were reported in the County Times' reports.

Below are the full texts of the speeches made at the meeting by our members.

Horsham Labour party rejects latest offer from Berkeley Homes

This week's County Times reported on a press release from Horsham council about the Berkely Homes development, which said that an extra £7.25million 'could' be available for affordable housing.

Horsham Labour party's chair, David Hide has responded to this in a letter to the editor, explaining why this new development is not as good as it appears at first glance.

The full text of his letter is reproduced below.

Labour launch play scheme petition

Labour's parliamentary candidate, Andrew Skudder, stepped up our campaign to reinstate the district-wide council play scheme in time for the summer holidays, when he joined fellow Labour party members in Horsham town centre this Saturday, as Labour launched its petition to reinstate the play schemes and to protect youth services.

Happy Easter holidays - unless you used the council's play schemes

Tomorrow is the start of the Easter holidays, when many working parents would have been using Horsham council's play schemes to look after their children while they work - if the council had not decided to scrap the scheme.

It is too late now for Easter, but Horsham Labour party are continuing to put pressure on the council to reconsider their decision before the summer holidays.

No thanks to Lib Dem Councillors

David Hide, Chair of Horsham Labour party, wrote to the West Sussex County Times last week about the vindication of the party's stance on affordable housing and his personal disappointment at the level of support from Liberal Democrat councillors on this, and on other issues.

It's not just us who say so!

This week's edition of the County Times contained extensive coverage of the Berkely Homes decision, but it also contained a couple of other related items that support Horsham Labour party's arguments for affordable housing and show why our ongoing campaign is so necessary.

A window of opportunity

At tonight's meeting, Horsham district council's development control committee voted to defer a decision on the application from Berkely Homes.

This is almost entirely due to the efforts of Horsham Labour party, who have campaigned extensively to prevent the council allowing this application to proceed with anything less than the 40 per cent allocation of affordable housing specified in the council's own strategic plan.

Development Control: 16th March 2010

Horsham district council's development control committee (North) met tonight to make a decision on an application for outline planning permission for land between Horsham and Broadbridge Heath.

Having campaigned extensively on the affordable element of this application, and petitioned the council on behalf of hundreds of local residents, members of Horsham Labour party spoke at the meeting.

Be afraid!

Tories plan huge rent increases and reduced rights

David Cameron has refused to deny reports that the Conservatives are planning massive changes for tenants living in council or housing association homes. Labour's housing minister has repeatedly challenged Mr. Cameron, demanding that he makes his position clear. But Cameron says nothing.

Horsham council votes to kill off play schemes

Horsham council decided in the full council meeting on Feb 24th to cease their play schemes in order to save an estimated £52,000.  The budget report also included the transfer of about £400,000 to reserves so the scheme could easily have been saved by reducing the transfer accordingly.

Horsham Council fails to show commitment to affordable housing strategy

Members of Horsham Labour Party met with a cross-party group of councillors and council officers last week to discuss the Council’s response to Horsham Labour Party’s housing petition.

Play scheme closures put jobs and children at risk

Horsham Labour Party became aware this week that Horsham council are proposing to cancel several play schemes in the district.  One concerned parent also wrote to the County Times, resulting in a story on page three.

Francis Maude where do you stand on the Ban?

By David Hide

I was taking a New Year's Day walk with friends in one of the many beautiful areas of countryside within our constituency and talk turned to the Boxing Day hunt and whether or not this was something I might ever consider taking part in.

Bryce Lodge - a 'spot the blot' success story

Is this the first success of Horsham Labour Party's 'spot the blot' campaign, launched earlier this year?  It is certainly a welcome development.

Petition over affordable housing

When the chair and secretary of Horsham Labour Party handed in our affordable housing petition to the Horsham council offices, the local paper was there to cover it and the full story is in today's West Sussex County Times.

Affordable Housing Petition

This afternoon Horsham Labour Party were out in Horsham Town Centre, collecting more signatures for our petition on affordable housing.