Big Society
by wighteye
Thirty years ago we had a Tory administration where Thatcher declared “There is no such thing as society”. Now we have big Dave beseeching us to embrace ‘Big Society’; whilst here on the Isle of Wight we have little Dave trying to close down or slash Council Services, with the implication that we had better take on the jobs ourselves, voluntarily, or lose services altogether. Wighteye had to chuckle at the declaration of Liverpool City Council that it was withdrawing from big Dave’s ‘Big Society’, it had resonances of the Hatton era. On the Isle of Wight we have little Dave’s society of highly paid consultants, a kind of inverse Robin Hood approach, if you like. So, while big Dave seems to be saying cut administration before you cut services, little Dave appears to be doing the opposite. If the bosses can’t sort the message out, then us ordinary people will have to tell them!
That’s exactly what hundreds of East Cowes residents did last Saturday. They were clear in their rejection of Isle of Wight Council proposals to shut East Cowes Library, to introduce a toll for foot passengers on the floating bridge and in the closure of public toilets.
Perhaps big or little Dave should get a band of merry men (bankers, consultants) down to the Isle of Wight to see the effect of their actions.
Hi Wighteye
Very interesting. I attended a public meeting at Brighstone on wednesday evening chaired by Brighstone Parish council, also present was councillor Sutton and a lady from IOW Council who said she was a chartered librarian and had all the answers, one of Little Dave’s henchwomen.
A spokesman from Ventnor, I think David George was there and gave a very impassioned speech about not accepting the fait accomplis of cuts by this IOW council. He also read out excerpts of the Philip Pullman article in ‘The Guardian’ newspaper, fiercely opposing the cuts in general and the library closures in particular and rallying cries for volunteers to come forward.
In the end the public voted as they did in Freshwater to up the precept which means each household will pay an extra £12 per year on their council tax. This will keep the library open and will pay the salary of Lyn the librarian who is a hard working and very conscientious,but at what cost.
WHAT NEXT…….Street lighting, emptying the bins etc.etc.