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I thank you Raki, I think that there is a need to understand that these comments aren't specifically personal and Guy sort of gets it the neck because he at least does comment on a public forum. However, never being able to see that some of the criticism IS justified and not just lamely toeing the party line every time, might at least have the effect of persuading some of us our message is reaching the parts much does not. I speak from bitter experience at managing to have the party whip withdrawn twice during my time on the council, there were just some issues I - and a colleague - could not support - sometimes you have to do what your constituents, and your conscience say. It is always a dilemma, to vote with the party you represent or for the people who elected you for their representation.In all honesty I cannot imagine that even Guy believes that everything being done by the ruling group is wonderful and that they haven't made some colossal mistakes. We all accept that things can and do go wrong but owning up to that and learning as you go on would be a start, just sticking your head up your rear and trying to b*llsh*t your way out is stupid. The cult of an all seeing, all powerful Leader - who is only one person after all, is extremely worrying. People have to be allowed to have views contrary to the party line and not be afraid to express them, otherwise what's the point of standing for election? Guy unfortunately has not covered himself in glory over the dreadful debacle over Sarah Trimmer Hall, neither to be fair have his fellow ward councillors, they should have been all over that like a rash, leaping up and down and on the case with planning enforcement, not being so wet and rolling over, it's been a real disaster for Brentford, and it deserves better.

Vanessa Smith ● 3039d

I'm not really going to get engaged in this thread for obvious reasons, but I will comment on the cleaning of Ealing Road.I have succeeded in getting Hounslow Highways to publish their cleaning schedules here: http://www.hounslowhighways.org/159-cleansing-schedules.htmlYou will notice (if you can be bothered to follow the link) that it doesn't mention Ealing Road or the other larger roads and I've recently had it confirmed this is because they are attended to weekly. They have agreed to put up the schedule for this weekly cleansing but they haven't done it yet so I will continue nagging until they do.I encourage people to engage with this cleaning schedule because with the best will in the world I cannot inspect every road and nor can the single lay assessor for Brentford.If the schedule is not being followed tell Hounslow Highways  (and tell me or another councillor too - the more we know the more we can seek improvement). You can use the H Highways website or just email a councillor. Ealing Road is swept (I often see the guy doing it). Of course it would be cleaner if it was swept every day  but (as you probably know by now) we can't afford it because of dramatic cuts to the central government grant which used to be our main source of income. I won't labour that point further.There are a number of regular posters on this site who used to be councillors. They are not councillors any more, either because they decided they didn't want to do it any more or because others decided they didn't want them doing it any more.  Vanessa lost her seat in Isleworth because the voters decided they preferred Phil Andrews and his then party in 2002. The voters decided they would be better off with Labour and Phil lost his seat in 2010. Phil's party slipped back further in 2014 and it was then wound up.

Guy Lambert ● 3039d

"One thing is blowing a lot of air, but when actually doing it, it is another thing."Of course as per you have overlooked the fact that a couple of us HAVE some years of just that - doing the job.No-one is saying it's easy - and with the current national political situation the 'job' has got much more difficult, but 'twas ever the way, I remember well the days of Thatcher's "rate cap". That's why you enter politics and if you think it will all be plain sailing then you're an idiot. What irks me and many others is this current culture of not facing up to things and councillors pretending to us and themselves that everything is really tickety-boo and being terrified of not sticking with the party line come hell or high water, even when it's just plain wrong.You seem to forget these people aren't there to suit themselves they are elected to REPRESENT us and be our advocates, while we have a culture of virtual anti democratic decision making and ineffectual local engagement we are entitled to complain, criticise and demand to be listened to. I just wish some of them could grow a pair and wake up to that fact that all is not hunky dory and a lot of the criticism is justified, and take a good, hard look at a lot of the comments on various sites. Pretending to 'consult' and then ignoring the results of that excercise on various issues just won't wash, realistically we all accept we just can't have everything but our elected representatives might at least do us the courtesy of listening and taking us seriously.    What we have at present is a virtual one man dictatorship and a bunch of sheep-like compatriots, with one or two notable exceptions, and bugger all integrity, and a wake up call can't be far off.

Vanessa Smith ● 3040d

It is obvious that the waste system is far from satisfactory.Annexing peoples front gardens for the council to deposit a plethora of boxes and bins has turned pretty streets into mini Space Wayes all over the borough.Places now look tatty 7 days a week.But the smells, hygiene, and health risks add to this and the collections are now confusing and messy.Do residents get a rebate for the loss of part of their property?Losing a place to keep a bicycle or two?Losing a garden to boxes and bins?The bags worked perfectly. When not in used fold flat and out of the way.We cannot even get the boxes down the hall without scraping the walls as they are too big and unwieldy.We know that we are now recycling far less.  It goes in the wheelie bin.Stuff blows out of the boxes. The net broke after 2 months ( by the operatives)One box has now split and the wheelie bin has also split on the lid and has a bent axle.The cost of replacing these which will be regular is going to cost a small fortune.If one applies the directions on the published leaflet, every household will be using gallons of water rinsing stuff out.Then it gets rinsed again at the recycling plant.Water is a finite commodity.  Millions of gallons are being wasted when recycled washing is carried out at the plants.The Collections are much slower, more diesel wasted, higher pollution.The adhesion of one size fits all is both stupid and costly. But no. No-one would listen.None of this can save money.And sitting on the fence, does not help.

Raymond Havelock ● 3040d

Another prize winning blog Guy. You're reality bad news filtration process is to be applauded.RecyclingNo mention of yet another capital injection of £1.5m on top of two previous huge cash injections for the monster recycling depot in Southall Lane.Your forward planning can't even establish the running costs so more cash to be found. Savings promised reneged on. Total cost so far of new in house waste contract £32 million. Quite a jump from the previous contract of £8-9 m where the contractor provided a depot for free.You didn't mention either that recycling above shops and other outstanding contractual issues are not yet resolved -so more funding required.You didn't mention either that you were I believe part of an ad hoc labour member group that allowed this recycling contract to proceed without establishing that the in house contract costs was credible and comparative with others seeking the contract.Spaceway remains closed.its our only Waste site but who cares! Go elsewhere is the messageYou also don't mention that despite six of your labour  colleagues and one of mine upholding my call in regarding your administrations brutal cut of £750k- 78% of the youth service budget your cabinet hasn't budged in accepting they were so obviously wrong in making such a pernicious cut leading to one and perhaps others  having to close for the sake of a minimal increase in funding. Of course I accept the need for cuts but not so drastic  that it's impossible for community based entities to close - so quickly. I hear your Scrutiny colleagues expressed concerns you don't mention.You need to come off the fence sometimes Guy!John

John Todd ● 3041d