tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47047815872663959052026-07-19T19:59:34.319+01:00.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.comBlogger364125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-23576138262186923732017-05-11T10:54:00.001+01:002019-01-16T22:15:54.892+00:00

The election has certainly rung a great many changes at Penzance Town Council. There are now 12 brand new councillors (although Simon Reed has been on the council before). Between retirements and not getting re-elected not a single mayor that served between 2013-2017 is now on the council and only 1 that served as deputy mayor in that time are still on the council. A number of former mayors,

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-2155822332912117142017-04-30T12:14:00.002+01:002017-04-30T12:14:43.425+01:00

My name is Rob Simmons and I'm a candidate for Penzance East in this Thursdays Cornwall Council election and these are my 3 priorities for our town centre:  1 Action on reducing Parking Fees  2 Action on unfair business rates 3 Action on empty shops and buildings.  I firmly believe that Cornwall Council ought to do more to support Penzance Town Centre and these 3 changes

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-30991989003498850802017-04-25T14:48:00.004+01:002017-04-25T14:50:34.095+01:00

This blog intends to illustrate some of my work for Penzance and to show the kind of issues I have supported and argued against, over the last few years. In this time of great political turmoil and with Brexit looming large on the horizon, it is more important than ever to have representatives that will stand up for issues, knows how to campaign effectively and gets things done. There are 2

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0Penzance, UK50.118798 -5.537592000000017850.0984355 -5.5779325000000179 50.139160499999996 -5.4972515000000177tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-88060131054456220122017-04-21T13:19:00.000+01:002017-04-21T13:19:26.608+01:00

This is a blog about why I'm standing for Cornwall Council for Mebyon Kernow- The Party for Cornwall for my home area the Penzance East division. I just wanted to outline a few reasons why I think I'd be a great Cornwall Councillor and I think I could do a lot of good for this town. In this blog mostly focused on the relationship between Cornwall Council and the Town Council, check back for more

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-15859887694060547322016-06-23T11:38:00.001+01:002016-06-23T11:38:55.371+01:00

As many of you will have read online and in the local papers. Premier Inn are interested in setting up a hotel in Branwell's Mill in Penzance. Last night members of the Town Council were invited to a presentation by the agents from the hotel chain in St John's Hall. The Town Council rightly has a clear position that it is neutral on this development. Due to Code of Conduct rules and

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-56936005005634906372016-06-21T18:11:00.001+01:002019-01-16T22:18:49.060+00:00

I haven't interacted much with the European Referendum campaign much. Perhaps it's because I'm too much of a political nerd and would love to see people debating the policies of the European Parliament rather than various name calling and scare mongering but anyway... There's a great deal to not like about the European Union. I'm not a defender of everything it does and the way it conducts

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-90617630743374602412015-11-03T10:24:00.002+00:002015-11-03T10:26:08.099+00:00

Last night was the Penzance Town Council meeting that decided upon the future of Golowan. Now Golowan has a different future, to recap 7 weeks ago the festival was presumably going to be run under the auspices of the town council. 6 weeks ago the council decided to put the core functions of Golowan out to a private management company. Last night all this was rescinded and we now have a new

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-47721356658609183582015-11-01T12:33:00.000+00:002015-11-01T12:33:23.665+00:00

Much has said and been written about Golowan over the last 6 weeks. For it was 6 weeks ago tomorrow that Penzance Town Council voted to put the core functions of the festival out to private management. This resulted in a flurry of press coverage, an explosion on social media, hundreds signing petitions. People were certainly not happy with the behind closed doors decision. Or to put it more

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-85008292923614864312015-10-05T17:10:00.001+01:002015-10-05T17:14:00.293+01:00

Coming hot on the heels of a widespread social media campaign to keep Golowan public, the front page of the Cornishman and a lot more going behind the scenes. The Chair of the Finance and Property Committe Dick Cliffe has issued a statement approved by the Mayor David Nebesnuick on behalf of the town council about the decision made 3 weeks ago today. I've had no input into the content of this

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-83747397891990010092015-09-29T14:40:00.002+01:002015-09-29T14:41:03.203+01:00

With some of us still pondering our way through the Penzance 400 report and trying to discover what to read between the lines, we all have a fresh cause for consternation, another festival involving Penzance Town Council; Golowan. Now I will be clear at the beginning that this was discussed in private session by councillors, that I am hamstrung to say much more on the subject. I can

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-52195726640912919652015-08-06T14:14:00.000+01:002015-08-06T14:14:01.264+01:00

After much mud slinging, hand wringing, press coverage and the like. The report into the over spend for the Penzance 400 celebrations has been published and placed in the public domain. Here I want to draw attention to some of the points but as it is 35 pages long and available online for those willing to go through it, I won't here. Although of course I have been through it and am willing to

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-3788138533853766972015-07-23T11:26:00.002+01:002015-07-23T11:27:52.822+01:00

With the Cornwall Devolution Deal announced last week, we must ask what about powers within Cornwall. The fact is Cornwall is one of the most centralised local government areas anywhere in the UK. Lacking the middle tier of local government in districts and boroughs. Although there is lots of talk of localism and 'double devolution', what does this all actually mean? What do the current plans

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-79747738626812452902015-07-16T09:39:00.001+01:002015-07-16T10:50:44.922+01:00

Today David Cameron will come to Cornwall and outline a devolution deal for Cornwall (Council). As always the devil will be in the detail and we have to be cautious of what is said and what actually comes to pass. However it would be churlish of me to dismiss the deal out of hand. I've written before and spoke at hustings earlier this year, about freeing Cornwall from the dead hand of

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-7265083716150948752015-05-12T14:05:00.000+01:002015-05-12T14:06:12.732+01:00

With the election barely over the Tories are starting the way they mean to go on, determined and uncaring. Vying for first place in their priorities with more punishing cuts the Tories are determined to do away with the Human Rights Act. Not content with joining up with the Lib Dems in their first term to do massive damage to welfare, public services and remove morality from decision making

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-28226509584693574142015-05-09T12:39:00.002+01:002015-05-09T12:40:33.726+01:00

Firstly many thanks to those of you that supported me at this election. My agent who as wonderful and a real rock for me to lean on. My helpers who delivered almost 20 thousand leaflets. Everyone that sent me messages of encouragement. A special thanks to all those that showed faith in me and put their x next to my name and my party. It has been quite an experience, I've thought and done little

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-50696641994305187552015-05-06T07:45:00.000+01:002015-05-07T12:22:47.863+01:00

“If you are elected what will be your number one priority for your constituency and why?” My number one priority as MP would be to get a fair deal for Cornwall’s funding, not only because it would be the right to do, but also the public are crying for decent public services. As I see it, there are 3 major problems that need to be addressed by government and have been ignored by politicians

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-18178940412629917952015-05-06T01:16:00.000+01:002015-05-06T01:16:31.724+01:00

There's a lot said in a political campaign and certainly I've written and spoke my fair share. On ideas and policies that matter to me. But my ability to pick out a bad policy and build an argument about it is not a reason to elect me. If that logic ran true it'd be Owen Jones fending off coalition advances, but that's not true. Electing an MP is about electing someone for their ideals,

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-36330549109294147062015-05-05T10:00:00.000+01:002015-05-05T10:00:00.040+01:00

“Is it inevitable that in future more and more public services both locally and nationally will be privatised and/or outsourced or should this policy be reversed and services put back into public ownership?” I must admit that some weeks answering these questions is tricky in the 200 word limit, but this week it is deceptively simple. No! it is not inevitable that public services are run for

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-22760027755803196942015-05-04T10:00:00.000+01:002015-05-04T10:00:03.323+01:00

“What would you like to see done to provide more support to the agriculture and fishing industries and enable them to continue and thrive?” It's very welcome to see this question featured, people often underestimate the importance of food production to the Cornish economy. Both farming and fishing are very important to the local economy. It's a shame that both are part of the same question

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-68998767589434680722015-05-03T14:00:00.000+01:002015-05-03T14:00:44.592+01:00

Devolution is an idea often talked about and little understood. What does devolvement mean? What will change?  The simple answer to all these questions is a "great deal", the complicated one "that's up to you?" In the last year or so all of the political parties have addressed the issue of Cornish devolution. Labour Tory (and UKIP) say a Cornish Assembly would be too costly. Both

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-31787116328113527712015-05-03T10:00:00.000+01:002015-05-03T10:00:04.831+01:00

“The rollout of superfast broadband has been hailed as a catalyst for creating new high skilled, high paid jobs in Cornwall – what else can be done to help develop and encourage this kind of employment in the county?” Having world class superfast broadband is a very positive thing for Cornwall and more must be done  to fully realise the potential it can have. I was recently in a campaign

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-9302495224639374452015-05-02T10:00:00.000+01:002015-05-02T10:00:02.117+01:00

“Are free schools the best way to push up standards in education or should the resources being used for these new schools instead be used to provide for improvements in existing schools?” It goes withour saying that education is important. We need a school system that delivers first class education. We need pupils to leave education armed with the knowledge and the ability to think for

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-49055660247520737402015-05-01T10:00:00.000+01:002015-05-01T10:00:00.245+01:00

“What can be done to improve transport links to and from Cornwall  as well as transport within the county?” Transport links in Cornwall are not ideal and I’m glad the question addresses the vital issue of getting  around Cornwall not just getting up country. Fundamentally one of the key issues for our next MP  should be getting fair funding for our transport network and

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-5896966906573603872015-04-30T21:00:00.000+01:002015-04-30T21:00:01.347+01:00

We the undersigned recognise that: The privatisation of public services is not working in Cornwall. There is little mandate from the people for outsourcing Public services must be about effective delivery not profit Therefore we the undersigned call upon the authorities in Cornwall and the next government to pause the privatisation process in Cornwall. To have a wide ranging debate with the

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704781587266395905.post-72475813249043275542015-04-30T17:49:00.001+01:002015-04-30T17:49:05.712+01:00

Again the question of privatisation is in the news, this time Mitie getting fined for not meeting targets on their cleaning and catering contract with RCHT. Also this week the BT contract with Cornwall Council is not producing the jobs and other targets upon which the contract was made. Add to this the growing public disquiet about profit in public services. Something has to change. Today we

.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09995243127753821611noreply@blogger.com0