Tories and internships

There's been a lot of press over recent weeks about internships and the buying of privilege..but i bet this one in the New Statesman in February passed you by as well as me...

Tories auction off City internships to raise funds

Supporters pay thousands to get their children work experience in hedge funds and banks.

Apparently, at the £400 a head Black and White Party to raise funds for the Conservative Party, lots, including five work experience opportunities with banks and hedge funds, raised £14,000 in total.

Are we all in this together? We are, unless toy can pay for advancement!

Andrew Lansley Rap

This takes the c out of rap - love the rhyming of "health minister" with" sinister"

COWICK ROSE - April 2011 [Election Special]

The lastest issue of the Cowick Rose has been printed and should be dropping through your letterboxes in the next few days.

The Tories have been spotted

All morning, as I have been out talking to people on the doorstep, my mobile has been ringing as Labour Party members and supporters tell me that the Tories are out and about in Cowick delivering a newsletter.

About time too - it will be nice to find out what their candidate thinks about the issues of concern here in Cowick.

Eventually run into Polsloe Councillor, James Taghdissian [out of his normal suit and tie], and 3 others on Charnley Avenue.

James tries to con us into believing that this is the third newsletter, as previous ones have been strategically targeted.

Let's be clear. Since January I have had regular contact with the electors in Cowick - 3 newsletters AND an election address delivered across the ward, at least 2 targeted direct mailings to Labour supporters, and many additional areas have had letters addressing specific issues in their street.

And don't forget, many of them are available to view on this blog.

In addition, since the begining of the year I have been talking to many, many people - both on the doorstep and by phone, listening to what YOU, the residents of Cowick, think.

City profits from recycling

It has been announced that Exeter's recycling rate has just reached an all-time high of 37%, even though the weight of the city's recycling has actually gone down.

Mike Trim, the Head of Cleansing Services said "people are recycling more, but the weight has gone down slightly, by 280 tonnes on last year, because of the lighter packaging which many manufacturers are now using."

As well as being good news for the environment, it all benefits the City's bank balance, as it made a record £1.42 million from its recycling over the past year - a cash income of £834,000 from recyclets [recycled items] and another £586,000 in recycling credit.

And the amount of grey waste sent to landfill continues to fall. Compared to the previous year, the amount of rubbish sent to landfill has dropped by 1263 tonnes - the equivalent of 3.15 elephants.

Again that's good news for the budget as the City has to pay for any waste that goes to landfill sites.

Mike Trim again: "if we could convince people to recycle more, we could put at least another £200,000 into the city's pot."

Any money raised in this way goes back into the general support fund, and is used to help other services across Exeter. It also helps keep Exeter's Council Tax as one of the lowest in the South West.

Councillor Rob Hannaford, the City's Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure, said: It's fantastic news that the cleansing department have again exceeded expectations, with the help of the public, and raised more funds in this way.

"Despite this exceptional performance, I do still feel that there is a considerable amount of recycling that doesn't happen in the city.

"As figurs show, the more that can be recycled the more council services can be protected, so it is really a 'no-brainer' because recycling is helping the whole community."

So to re-iterate:

RECYCLING brings in income

SENDING WASTE TO LANDFILL costs US money

and FORTNIGHTLY collections brings in more recycling than WEEKLY

City View

One of the joys of tramping the hills of Exeter when canvassing or delivering leaflets, especially West of the Exe, is discovering there are some stunning views of Exeter to be had when out and about in Exwick, Alphington and of course Cowick.

One that particularly took my fancy earlier today was this one of the city, outside the aptly named City View on Wiltshire Close.

But probably the best views in the ward are found at the top of Exonia Park, a residential park of mobile homes.

Bulky waste collection in Cowick

Yesterday I was asked if there were any plans for the collection of bulky waste, as has happened in previous years.

To help Exeter residents dispose of unwanted bulky household items the Council arranges special collection points throughout Exeter between March and October each year. Residents can bring their unwanted bulky household items to these points.

They cannot accept items brought by vehicle to any bulky waste collection, please take them to the Exton Road recycling centre on Marsh Barton operated by Devon County Council.

I am pleased to announce that this scheme will visit Cowick between 9am and 3pm on the following dates:

Saturday 21/05/2011
Merrivale Road junction with Bowhay Lane

Saturday 29/10/2011
Merrivale Road junction Newman Road

If you need items collected between these dates, Exeter City Council operates a service to collect a small number of bulky items from customer's home (furniture, fridges, cookers etc.) for a set charge.

Costs
£15.00 for a single item; £8.00 for each additional item thereafter.

Payment is due in advance of the collection by debit or credit card. Cash payments can by taken at Customer First in Paris Street or Oakwood House in Exton Road.

Collections of a large number of items can be made on an hourly, half or full day basis. Cost is £89.30 per hour plus VAT.
Times
Collections of a small number of items are made on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 7.45am - 9.00am, 9.30am - 11.00am and 12.30pm - 15.00pm.

Collections of a large number of items can be made on an hourly basis on Tuesdays. There is a fridge and white goods collection service on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.

To take advantage of this service please contact the Council with an on-line form or phone Treasury Services Payments on 01392 277888.