The Blog of Harrowgate Hill Conservative Ward Councillor Mike Cartwright http://mikecartwright.co.uk/ Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100 mike@cartwright.me (Mike Cartwright) http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=69 http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=69 BSF statement from the Department for Education (formerly DCSF)... "The Department for Education has not yet made a decision on Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding or any other capital programmes. The Government is committed to a full comprehensive spending review in the autumn and ministers will shortly be considering their spending priorities, which will take into account all areas of spending including school capital."]]> http://mikecartwright.co.uk/comment.php?ID=69 Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100 mike@cartwright.me (Mike Cartwright) http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=68 http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=68 For the uninitiated, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a programme initiated by the defunct Labour government with the intention to rebuild, refurbish and equip with IT every school in the UK. A fabulous aspiration indeed and one welcomed by most. Unfortunately it was executed applying the age old Labour method of, throw enough money at something and its bound to work. As fellow Darlington Councillor Mike Barker pointed out on his blog this morning, a rather scaremongering article appeared in yesterday's Guardian forecasting the downfall of the infamous BSF programme. The trigger for the article appears to have been the announcement by the Conservatives-Lib Dem coalition government that they are to "review" the BSF programme, presumably with a view to reducing some of the money currently wasted on Consultants and quangos. The trouble is with such announcements of course is that they are rather vague. This unfortunately leaves opportunities for the doom and gloom brigade or Lib Dems as they are sometimes known, to point their fingers and tell everyone who will listen that they were indeed correct when they forecast this doom and gloom during the Election Campaign. The inconvenient truth which is omitted by the Lib Dem's is that they were also in favour of a review of BSF programme as they, like the Conservatives, were aware that money was being wasted in some parts of the programme. Obviously we all want Schools in Darlington and elsewhere to be refurbished and equipped properly. That is a no brainer. What we also want though is for the waste to be cut to an absolute minimum and an efficient spend of tax payers money. Surely this isn't too much to ask. ]]> http://mikecartwright.co.uk/comment.php?ID=68 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100 mike@cartwright.me (Mike Cartwright) http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=67 http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=67 I've said in previous posts how significant the support is in Darlington for Edward Legard, but it seems people are now going to extraordinary lengths to show their support...by nicking the "Vote Edward Legard" signs which until last night were in our front garden. If anyone would like to show their support by way of a poster to display in their window or indeed a sign to be placed in their front garden, please do contact us and we will arrange for them to be delivered...no need to nick ours! As it happens I managed to snap several quite good photo's of the sign nicking lads on my mobile phone as I watched the pantomime unfold last night...it was quite a giggle to watch as they fought with the signs, clearly not being the brightest bulbs in the pack they completely failed to spot me until I knocked on the window! The question is should I publish the pictures? Especially as I recognised one of the lads...could be a tad embarrassing for someone in Harrowgate Hill...someone I wouldn't have thought was a Tory!]]> http://mikecartwright.co.uk/comment.php?ID=67 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100 mike@cartwright.me (Mike Cartwright) http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=66 http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=66 Gill and I have been out and about canvassing with Edward Legard and team quite a few times over the past couple of weeks and the response from residents has been fantastic. Voters truly are ready for a change. I can honestly count on one hand the amount of people who have pledged their support to Labour. It seems there are people who are undecided, mainly former Labour voters, who haven't quite made their minds up in terms of whether to vote Tory or Lib Dem. Having had the opportunity to speak direct to Edward though, most quickly make up their mind and pledge their vote to him. It's been very interesting also to note the almost complete lack of any posters or other literature displayed anywhere. The Conservative logo and Edwards picture seems to be everywhere at the moment (our front room window included - much to Daisy's annoyance). Yet I haven't seen one Labour poster as yet. It seems that even the Labour councilors are somewhat embarrassed to promote their own party as at best they display rather sorry looking small self-printed posters in their windows. Are they really that embarrassed? Has anyone seen a Labour poster? Do post a comment and let us know.]]> http://mikecartwright.co.uk/comment.php?ID=66 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100 mike@cartwright.me (Mike Cartwright) http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=65 http://mikecartwright.co.uk/article.php?id=65 Interestingly though when one visits the "My Work In Darlington" (don't laugh) page in Milburn's website we discover the real reason for the site closing early. According to an entry on the page the last time Alan was in Darlington was the 6th August last year! Obviously a tad embarassing to poor Jenny who worked for Milburn for 7 years as a "Senior Researcher". Surely Labour don't think the residents of Darlington can be conned again by spin? Having had years of Milburn and his complete lack of interest in Darlington I'm sure they won't be bitten twice, especially when Jenny was such a close associate of Milburn.]]> http://mikecartwright.co.uk/comment.php?ID=65