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Sorry if I was a bit flippant about foreigners last month. We have started to get the "official" stuff through now. The government have let, and continue letting, so many foreigners into the country that they are anxious for everyone to make them feel at home. In response, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has published a lengthy "Community Cohesion Strategy" with a motto: "Quality: Pride: Respect: Fairness". Besides those from foreign lands, this includes "B.M.E." people. (Yes I know, it stands for Black & Minority Ethnic). We must also be nice to "travellers", and those with gay & lesbian, learning, or disability difficulties. Also "socially excluded young people" which seemed a bit baffling, but apparently they have a computer website (of course) encouraging them to "say something" and become more involved in "decision making". (The minimum age for a parish councillor remains at 21). Meanwhile, the issue of racism in rural areas forms the first main subject of a Parish Government conference at Scarborough in February. This will be one of those junkets that larger councils can afford to send their members to. Having received literature from a group called "Friends of War Memorials" offering grants for repairs to them, the Parish Council decided to apply. Only a small amount of work would be required on ours, so the sum applied for was correspondingly modest. A reply from them detailed the staggering amount of information and proof needed before they would entertain us. Not surprisingly, it was decided it wasn't worth it. Just an example of the fact although we are continually told that "grants are available" from here, there and everywhere, when it comes to the crunch they don't exactly make it easy to relieve them of some of their cash. Everyone will have seen the "Winter Salting Schedule" as it appeared in East Riding News. At least we know now - Kilham Road is a "secondary route" for treatment when it gets really bad! As mentioned, the next Parish Council meeting is in the Sports Pavilion on 8th December. The following one will be late January or early February. It may or may not be at the same venue, as we might be inviting someone from E.R.Y.C. to come and talk about their Forward Planning and Local Development strategy. Watch this space, or notice board space! As another year hastens to its conclusion, on behalf of the Parish Council, a Happy Christmas to all. P. Crossland (Clerk) |
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The Editor would like to point out that the opinions expressed in the above article are entirely those of Mr. Crossland, and not the views of the Rudston Newsletter. |
