Like first day at big school!

Along with my new Lib Dem buddy, Steve van der Kerkhove, from St Neots, Wednesday 19th May will go down as our first District Council meeting. As Steve said, it was like first day at big school. Once again, I took pictures where you wouldn't normally get to see them, though since I have now realised that many main Council meetings are open to the public, it is open season on 'reporting' what goes on.

The first picture shows Steve and I after we took our seats. The second, moments later, came when Steve slopped his coffee over the table, but somehow managed to get some inside his phone. The picture where Steve is sitting on the green chair was when all the new councillors, and some of those who were re-elected, had their pictures taken for the passes we will get issued with, as well as the website.

The meeting was the AGM of the District Council and I'd been told to expect it wouldn't last much mote than 90 minutes, as it was mainly to swear in new leaders and ratify the committees we will all sit on. Proceedings began with a prayer from Father Paul Maddison, from St Ives. Wasn't expecting that. Next on the agenda - Chairman's Announcements - which gave outgoing Chairman John Davies a chance to thank various people, make a presentation to a chap who has been on the Council for yonks - can't remember his name but I think he's from Warboys.

The new Chairman was sworn in, and it was Jeff Dutton, who was elected unopposed. Which was just as well for Jeff because he had an acceptance speech already written! Fact is that even if the Lib Dems had put someone forward, the Tory would win because there are more of their councillors than the rest. When it came to electing a Vice Chairman though, Peter Downes, Lib Dem leader on the District Council, proposed Mike Baker, who is a nice chap; taught at Hinchingbrooke and still does DofE courses up there. Mike Shellens seconded him. But when it came to the vote, even though all the Lib Dems PLUS the two UKIP members voted for Mike, he was defeated by a lady called Barbara Boddington, for the Tories. Now clearly she had been expecting to win.

Why?

Remember I had said we had all gone for photos, BEFORE the AGM started? Well, Barbara had been photographed WEARING THE VICE CHAIR'S CHAIN!!! So she obviously knew she was a shoe in.

Ian Bates, who is the current Leader of the Council, was re-elected to do it again.

I was elected onto the "Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Economic Well-Being" committee, which basically is a sub-group that challenges the financial plans. I shall look forward to that.

So that was that.....apart from Steve spilling his coffee, no fun and games.

It is going to take some getting used to being on a council where, whatever your INDIVIDUAL views might be, I get an impression that the Tories will always get something through, because of their majority....we need more Lib Dems, but the next elections are a year away :-(

The new building is nice, but I can't help thinking it is too big. For a start, the ceilings are really high, If each floor had been a few feet lower, think of the materials and labour that could have been saved building it. Hmmmmm....that's for another day.

Meanwhile, I am delighted, though I can claim miniscule credit, to find out that two families in Barn Close have won the right for the County Council to look again at re-siting a bus stop right behind their houses. Just shows that when someone, as Stephanie has done, writes an effective letter and makes sure it gets to the best person, change can happen. All I did was add grease to the wheels here and there. I hope the bus-stop gets moved soon.