Every fortnight Kevin writes a column for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition below.
Party Conference
As I write this column the Conservative Party Conference is getting underway in Manchester.
I was pleased to travel here using the direct train service from Torquay to Manchester, following the first battle to Save Our Trains having been won.
I always find it interesting in the run up to Party Conference how many people want to buy me a coffee, invite me to lunch or catch up over dinner. The reality is much of the lobbying at the main party conferences makes very little difference to policy or any MP’s view on an issue. I find it more useful to speak with a charity or company’s members\employees in the bay, than a Westminster based lobbyist reading out statistics on their behalf.
The biggest advantage of a Party Conference is it brings members, activists, and parliamentarians, along with the nation media, together in one place to reflect on its position and where it is heading.
No-one predicted how different the backdrop to this year’s conference season would be when my party last assembled a year ago. Many pundits who wrote reams of predictions last year are again busy predicting all sorts of outcomes over the coming months, many of which will seem as wide of the mark as their predictions from a year ago seem now.
What is clear is as the party of Government mine needs to focus on the task in hand of delivering the referendum result, whilst ensuring the daily issues many voters are most concerned with are not forgotten. If the right choices are made then the Conference Season in 2018 will have a very different backdrop to this year’s.
Town Councils
I read with interest the proposal to create Town Councils in Paignton and Torquay.
Those with long memories will recall the two towns last had their own Councils prior to amalgamating with Brixham to form Torbay Borough in the late 1960’s.
I am sceptical about setting up a new Town Council if the main reason for doing so is to put a few quid extra on Council Tax, via a precept, to support services delivered by Torbay Council. In addition few people will think Torquay or Paignton’s problems would all be solved if only we had some more Councillors. To make a difference Town Councils need to have real powers, plus a level of resources which allow them to take forward projects of direct benefit to their town.
An organisation set up to bring together work on regenerating Town Centres or deliver specific projects might make a difference. Creating more Councillors and Town Clerks just to increase our Council Tax Bills will not.
Universal Credit
There has been a lot of coverage in the media recently about the rollout of Universal Credit, which is due to be introduced into Torbay in May 2018.
This will mean many local claimants needing to re-apply as their benefits are combined into one monthly payment. The theory of simplifying the benefits system, removing the need to apply separately for different ones, is something few would argue with, yet the numbers of people affected make this a complex process.
In preparation for this I discussed the provision being made to support local residents through this process on a visit to Torquay JobCentre Plus. Four of my team have also attended a training session on the new system to help with the casework queries which will follow.
I will be following this up in parliament on Monday by questioning Ministers about how many new claims for Universal Credit have been paid on time since its introduction.
Those who will depend on this system need to have confidence their claims will be effectively processed and paid on time, hence working on this issue now, not leaving it till May.
Animal Cruelty Sentencing
Earlier this year I was pleased to work with Labour MP Anna Turley on a bill to increase the maximum sentence for Animal Cruelty to five years.
The current sentences are inadequate, with those who have literally tortured animals to death avoiding prison or getting very short sentences. It is bizarre how an owner who lets their dog attack an assistance dog can, under current laws, get a much longer sentence than if they carried out the attack themselves.
Anna’s bill ran out of time, yet the Government has now confirmed it will legislate to increase the maximum sentence from six months to five years. This is very welcome and will send a clear message that, as a society, we will not tolerate this behaviour.
Surgery Times,
My next surgeries will be on Saturday 7th October 2017 from 11am till 1pm at Paignton Library & Information Centre, Station Lane, TQ4 5AR and Saturday 21st October from 11am till 1pm at Torquay Library, Lymington Road, TQ1 3DT.
Just call 01803 214 989 or e-mail me at [email protected] to book a slot. You can drop in, but appointments are recommended to avoid a long wait or disappointment. My team also run drop in surgery sessions Mon to Friday 10am -1pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD.