Localism has been one of the watch words for the new Government and
this week in Parliament we took further steps towards making it a
reality. On Monday the Localism Bill passed its first hurdle in the
House of Commons and when it has completed its stages through
parliament will mark a significant transfer of power away from central
government and to local people. The Bill gives more powers to local
councils over issues like house building, supporting small businesses
and it reduces the regulatory burdens local authorities work under.
For many years Governments had taken powers away from councils and in
many areas we believe it is time to give power back. It is often the
people on the ground, closest to the issues who can make the best
decisions. This is why the Government has also announced policies to
give teachers more powers over how their schools are run, GPs the
power to commission healthcare for their patients and people the
chance to elect their local police commissioner. The Localism Bill
will also creates a new Community Right to Buy scheme which gives
people the opportunity to take over amenities like a post office,
library, shop or pub if there were threatened with closure.
Last Friday I met with the local Area Commander for Kent Police, Chris
Hogben and the District Chief Inspector Martin Bradley. We discussed
their plans for local policing and dealing with anti-social behaviour.
The Government has pledged to get rid of ASBOs which had become a
badge of honour for some young offenders and instead to deal with
serious incidents of anti social behaviour for what they are; crimes,
pure and simple. I also have a concern about the costs to Kent Police
of enforcing Operation Stack which places a heavy burden of their
resources. I believe that we should introduce a scheme of charging
foreign road hauliers who pay no taxes in the UK for using our
motorway network and that this should help contribute to the costs of
enforcing Stack when bad weather or strikes close the routes to the
continent.
Following this I joined Head teacher Mrs Love and the staff and pupils
of St Martin’s primary school in Folkestone. I had an interesting and
wide ranging discussion with members of the school’s ‘Pupil Voice’
group which included subjects from the war in Afghanistan to rising
fuel prices. On Monday I met with another local school when Cheriton
Primary school and their Head teacher Mrs Maxted visited the House of
Commons. We had a meeting in one of the parliamentary committee rooms
where I answered questions from the staff and pupils which was
followed by a short tour. Please let me know if your school would be
interested in visiting parliament.
This Saturday we have the public meeting at 10.30am at the Assembly
Rooms in New Romney to discuss the future of nuclear power at
Dungeness. I will look forward to seeing many of your there for this
important meeting.