Jordan's Journal

On Wednesday, the Government announced the new sites are likely to receive government funding in the second round of the "Kickstart" Programme.

The Kickstart Housing Delivery programme was announced in June to help restart stalled house building developments stalled during the recession. The programme is to support the construction industry and is part of the "real help now" that the Government has put in place at this time of economic uncertainty.

A total of £550 million of new funding is set to go towards around 265 projects across the country, four of which are in Colchester and bringing nearly £10 million to our town.

While house builing, and the expansion of Colchester generally, is a contentious issue - the programme is designed to ensure our housing needs are met as well as supporting the industry, keeping site workers in employment and using their skills. The investment will reinvigorate house building, while at the same time supporting this generation of workers and giving the next generation the chance to gain new skills through apprenticeships.

By building new and additional homes we can also now reform social housing allocation enabling local authorities to give more priority to local people who, as the Prime Minister said, have been on waiting lists for far too long. Everyone has a right to a decent, secure and affordable home and that's why I am pleased the Government have continued their commitment to building new homes.

Colchester needs this investment - to build homes, create jobs and lift communities out of deprivation. 

Last night, Colchester Borough Council's scrutiny panel reviewed the Cabinet's decision not to release the land for a much needed access road at Philip Morant School. The review followed last Wednesday's Cabinet Meeting, at which Colchester's Lib Dem Councillors voted down plans to allow an access road and thus put at risk the £130 million of Government investment into Colchester's secondary schools.

I joined around 25 other observers at last night's Town Hall meeting, at which the Lib Dem Leader of the Council - Anne Turrell - attempted to justify her party's position to other councillors.

Amongst the astonishing comments made by the incompetent council leader, were revelations that she did not know how much of 'The Green' - the open space designated for the road - would be used for the access road. Cllr Turrell claimed she had not had enough to look at the plans - yet the Cabinet under her leadership has been discussing the issue for three-and-a-half months and the schools reorganisation has been on the council's radar since before Ms Turrell became leader.

The Leader claimed her opposition to the plan was to save Colchester's ever decreasing local open spaces. As well as being leader of the council, Cllr Turrell is also an Essex County Councillor representing the Myland and High Woods division. In claiming that her ward had no open spaces, she seemed to forget High Woods Country Park - one of Colchester's largest public open spaces. Cllr Turrell also failed to justify her position when she praised the brand new primary school which was built in public open space in her ward.

I am pleased that, following a long held point of principle on this matter, Labour's Cabinet Members together with the High Woods Independents voted in favour of these proposals at Cabinet. Unlike Labour and our Independent colleagues, Colchester Lib Dems have used this issue to court popularity and put their own short term electoral chances ahead of improving the education of a generation of young people in Colchester.

Essex County Council believes the business case for the school reorganisation hinges on this new road and in improving the substandard access at Philip Morant. If these planning arrangements are not addressed ahead of the submission of the bid, the bid could fail. Colchester Borough Council's failure to approve this road may cost £130 million investment in local schools, but the cost to generations of our young people is incalculable.

Ironically, at last night's meeting, the Lib Dems abstained and the vote to review the decision was carried 7-0. I am pleased that the Council's call-in this decision was upheld and that the Cabinet will now have to think again.
My previously stated position is that I support the £130 million of Government investment into secondary education in Colchester. This includes provision to build a new academy on the site of the Sir Charles Lucas School a development that would not take place without this investment. I also support the proposed road, as it is an important part of delivering this important investment in local secondary education.
 
I have shared local concerns that a level of misinformation and misrepresentation has occurred on the whole issue of the proposed investment into our secondary schools. Unfortunately Colchester Lib Dems have their own agenda and, in my opinion, are not acting in the best interests of Colchester's children and families.

According to the latest ComRes poll for the Independent, there is growing evidence to suggest that Britain could be heading for a hung parliament.

While the Conservatives retain a ten point advantage over Labourthere has been a fall of 3% for the Tories on last month’s poll.  The Independent reports that such figures would leave the Conservatives six seats short of an overall majority. The impression of David Cameron as PM is no done deal, with many political pundit pointing to a repeat in election history more akin to 1970 or 1974 than 1997.

The most recent hung Parliament after a General Election was the February 1974 general election, which lasted until the October election that year. Prior to that the last had been the elections of 1951 and 1929.

I am pleased to say that this particular poll supports my view that it really is all to play for, it is also clear that the Tories certainly do not have the next election sewn up.  Even Colchester is preparing for a big battle as the Tories, sniffing power, seek to unseat Bob Russell. Both parties admit that Labour in Colchester are set to be the king makers.

However, this is of course just one of many polls that will be produced between now and the election. My motto has always been that the only poll that matters, is the one on polling day.