THIS WEEK’S LIGHTER MORNINGS have apparently inspired the Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP) Leader, Dave Blackwell, to launch another dubious verbal attack upon ‘certain’ local Tory councillors - whom he felt unable to name. As readers of this Blog know only too well, Blackwell is only keen to point an unwavering finger at those he wishes to undermine when he can be sure of anonymity.
Innuendo, rumour and convenient political spin is Blackwell’s main stock in trade, so it would have come as no surprise for islanders to read his rantings in Monday’s Echo regarding: ‘A plot by certain Tory borough councillors to wipe out the town council.’
Blackwell was apparently alleging that the Canvey Beat’s story, regarding the Town Council’s liability for any penalties imposed upon it from the Julie Abel case, had been placed or inspired by the local Tory Party. He did not exactly say that, of course, because it is completely untrue; but his inference was clear.
In Monday’s Echo article, Blackwell was particularly careful to avoid saying, directly, that residents will not contribute towards any possible costs incurred in the Abel case. Instead, he chose to place himself in a position where he might lay any blame for an opposite outcome upon others. Paul Offord quotes him as saying:-
‘We were told from day one we were completely covered for this case, and have nothing to worry about.’
Islanders will hope that is the case and that no other Town Council Officer is forced to resign over the muddy matter.
But Blackwell’s ego has not been dented by the issue. Criticising Bill Sharp for having suggested, in Council, that the Town Council should be disbanded, Blackwell is reported as saying:-
‘If the borough council has to cut its services because of Government funding cuts, we could actually end up taking over some of the services from them.’
As usual, Blackwell’s eye is upon re-establishing the old Canvey Island Urban District Council, which was disbanded in 1974. That was the same Council that consistently promoted this island’s development and, during its 53 years in power, expanded its resident population by an astounding 1,382%. The island grew from a small pre-war village containing 1,795 residents in 1921, to over 30,000 when the district was merged with Benfleet.
Conversely, Benfleet development was held at a more manageable level of 683% in the same period – despite having some 50% more land area. It grew from 6,136 residents in 1921 to 48,045 fifty-years later.
When you consider the figures, it is difficult not to feel some sympathy for the CIIP’s position of ‘no more development on Canvey.’ But Blackwell is dishonest in his assertion that the present imbalanced position is the result of mainland Tory interference with the island. The fact is that the root of the island’s ‘over-population’ lays in the policies of the old Canvey Island Urban District Council that, on average, squeezed over 6 residents into every acre of land.
During the period that Castle Point was separated, Canvey Island was playing catch-up with Benfleet, which then had some 7.5 residents per acre.
On a comparative basis, the old Benfleet and Canvey independencies now have some 7.72 and 9.04 residents, per acre, respectively. Canvey’s population has continued to grow disproportionately with that of Benfleet’s; but much of that growth occurred during the last Labour administration, which also promoted the expansion of hazardous installations on the island.
The main reason why Canvey saw such an influx of non-islanders during the earlier period was, of course, due to the cheap price of its properties (which few underwriters would then insure); but both former districts still have a long way to go to catch-up with the likes of Southend, which manages to squeeze some 16 residents into each of its acres.
Basildon, on the other hand, only has 6.34.
Population figures (particularly on those paying Council Tax) are an important component in any calculation concerning the cost of services. At present, the total cost of all services provided by the Borough to residents is divided amongst all Castle Point taxpayers. But it is Blackwell’s ambition to take-over assets and services from CPBC and provide them from a reconstituted Canvey District Council (in Town Council form) in which he and his CIIP party have control. He is totally blind to the fact that there is no constitutional means of ensuring that, when an asset like Canvey Lake is transferred to the Town Council – and island residents are forced to pick-up its bills - islanders also receive relief on their Borough Council Tax payments to partly compensate them for the extra cost.
And it is a significant extra cost.
We may argue that Castle Point Borough Council wastes money and that Canvey Lake, for example, could be better managed by the Town Council. But the costs of maintaining the asset do not reduce just because they are transferred to another party. Moreover, in the Canvey Lake case, the Town Council has committed more resources to its maintenance – not less. And islanders are still paying contributions to Castle Point Borough Council that were originally factored towards the lake’s maintenance (just as all other residents are).
Those Canvey Lake costs will now be divided between tax-paying islanders. And because there is approximately one islander for every mainland taxpayer, that means that islanders will be charged twice as much. Moreover, since there is no relief against the Borough Council Tax (to which islanders are still contributing a portion for Canvey Lake): the total cost is actually three times more.
Canvey Lake represented just a small component of Castle Point’s annual budget; but it is a significant expense for each individual islander. Given Blackwell’s apparent willingness to now take some services off the Borough’s hands (as the above quote shows) the question needs to be asked just what services are under threat, and what will Blackwell be bidding for in the months of significant cuts to come?
The answer to that question will not become known until CPBC has more information from the Government regarding its cuts; but one thing is for sure: mainland councillors are not about to oppose any offer by Blackwell and his CIIP to take over the management of costly assets or services that might produce a saving for Castle Point. And Blackwell is just conceited enough to see the impending need to make substantial savings as an ideal opportunity to take-over further CP assets at an unrepeatable rock-bottom price (no matter how expensive they might be to run).
After all, it is islanders that will be forced to pick-up the final bill and, unlike the Borough Council, Blackwell’s Town Council will not be affected by any Government imposed Council Tax cap.
Even the Borough Council is unable to oppose any resident levy voted by the Town Council (and island voters will not be able to have their own voices heard until May).
No comments:
Post a Comment