Hyndburn to be axed. - Page 51

ossylass · 13-11-2007, 20:26

Re. The Housing Survey:- I don't mind telling how many bedrooms I have - but I draw the line at - annual gross income, household savings/debt and value and equity of my home.

BERNADETTE · 13-11-2007, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by ossylass

Re. The Housing Survey:- I don't mind telling how many bedrooms I have - but I draw the line at - annual gross income, household savings/debt and value and equity of my home.

Personally I think they want to know to much that isn't relevant to building houses!!

Bonnyboy · 13-11-2007, 20:33

I've not had this housing survey as yet, what sort of questions are they asking

MargaretR · 13-11-2007, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy

I've not had this housing survey as yet, what sort of questions are they asking

I have sealed mine up now ready for posting, but from memory--
Number of bedrooms
Number of occupants
State of repair
Occupants disabilities
Need to seek better housing
Access to transport, leisure etc
Age of occupants
Need for social help to live at home
Affordability of present housing
Under threat of repossession?
Overcrowded?
Any young adults who will need to leave home soon?

The contentious bit was about income and savings but I suppose they need to know so they can judge what housing types can be afforded

Oh I remember another which was a bit dodgy - ethnic origin

Bonnyboy · 13-11-2007, 21:05

Thankyou for the info Margaret, some interesting questions.

g jones · 13-11-2007, 21:37

<garinda>Good to hear that the issue will be put to a referendum, and yes the proposed name change, and the idea for town councils is, and should remain, two separate issues.

Graham, who will have voting rights on the new town/parish councils?
It will be another local election. We currently have elections every year, so it wil just be an extra ballot paper. Anyone (within the law) can stand. Every person on the electoral roll can vote, as always.

Just the councillors who are currently representing wards in that town?
Anyone can stand. They could be the only candidate and therefore elected automatically.

If so, we could see one party towns, which seems rather frightening to me. At least with HBC there is a political balace of views, from all parties.

Certain areas do favour certain political viewpoints and I agree you could end up with one party politics. I'd favour that over a bunch of independents though. LOL I've got in for them I know!! LOL They represent all four corners so long as it is is in their own personal interest!

g jones · 13-11-2007, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Councils will soon be able to build housing -Brown's latest idea to provide thousands of homes for the poorly paid.
So the council need to summarise what type of housing people have, need, and can afford.
I have filled mine in.

This could be interesting as your local Tories are opposed to subsidised housing and 'Council Housing'.

MargaretR · 13-11-2007, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by g jones

This could be interesting as your local Tories are opposed to subsidised housing and 'Council Housing'.

So all the more reason for filling the form in, to make it blatantly obvious that the borough needs more social housing.

garinda · 13-11-2007, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by g jones

<garinda>Good to hear that the issue will be put to a referendum, and yes the proposed name change, and the idea for town councils is, and should remain, two separate issues.

Graham, who will have voting rights on the new town/parish councils?
It will be another local election. We currently have elections every year, so it wil just be an extra ballot paper. Anyone (within the law) can stand. Every person on the electoral roll can vote, as always.

Just the councillors who are currently representing wards in that town?
Anyone can stand. They could be the only candidate and therefore elected automatically.

If so, we could see one party towns, which seems rather frightening to me. At least with HBC there is a political balace of views, from all parties.

Certain areas do favour certain political viewpoints and I agree you could end up with one party politics. I'd favour that over a bunch of independents though. LOL I've got in for them I know!! LOL They represent all four corners so long as it is is in their own personal interest!

Thanks very much for answering my questions Graham.

However I'm still a little confused.

So, we would have new parish/town councillors. (How many, or is that not yet decide?)

Ward councillors, who'd represent us on the borough council, as we have at present. (Could someone be a parish/town councillor, and sit on the borough council as well?)

Finally we'd still have county councillors at Lancashire County Council.

katex · 13-11-2007, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by g jones

This could be interesting as your local Tories are opposed to subsidised housing and 'Council Housing'.

Not being controversial here like and am guilty of thread wanders myself, but do you think you could set up a separate thread on this, as would not like to detract from the issue originally discussed.

MargaretR · 13-11-2007, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Not being controversial here like and am guilty of thread wanders myself, but do you think you could set up a separate thread on this, as would not like to detract from the issue originally discussed.

I agree it merits a thread of its own - 13 posts beginning with #735 (for info of mods)

claytonender · 13-11-2007, 22:30

I do wonder whether the proposal for Town Councils has been thought out properly.

There are many questions that need to answered (a few spring to mind but please add any others)-

Exactly what the powers (if any ) of the new Town Councils will be
How many members they will have (currently Great Harwood has 5 borough Councillors and Oswaldtwistle has 7).

Can councillors serve as 'Town/Parish' 'Borough'and 'County' councillors at the same time.

Will these councillors be paid.

If the Town Council has devolved powers how will this be paid for (how much extra will the council tax bills be)

Will the Town Councils area be the same as the old UDC.

Will the Town Councils employ staff directly are will they buy the services of staff from HBC. (Which would create a whole new lot od bureaucracy - in calculating how much was to be charged out).