You may have heard about the local employer who was expecting seven new recruits to join his company – only to find that not a single one turned up on the appointed day. So what happened? Apparently, some saw that it was raining heavily and decided that they would rather not get out of bed. But the main reason given was that they would be worse off in work than on benefits.

Urgent change is clearly needed and I am pleased that the Government is providing just that. As of this month, Employment and Support Allowance will be time-limited to one year only, for those fit for work. Next year a Universal Credit comes into play, which will not only put a cap on the overall amount people can receive in benefits, but also ensure that people will be better off in work. Benefits will taper gradually as earnings rise, so that low earners will end up taking more money home.

New sanctions will be introduced, to penalise those who do try hard enough to find work. These will include the suspension of Jobseekers’ Allowance for one week until a jobseeker complies with requirements. Subsequent failures to comply will see the length of the stoppage increased. This means that those who fail to accept a reasonable job offer or to apply for a job or turn up for work could see payments stopped for up to three months – and even longer for repeat offenders.

Under this new system, those who want to work should find it worthwhile to do so. And the workshy might be motivated to get out of bed, even if it is raining.

Published in the Whitstable Times on 10th May 2012.

One resident was clamped while he was taking his young children up to the family flat – this took five minutes as he rushed to get his parking permit. When he got back to his car PCS were already fixing a clamp. They refused to accept that the resident had a permit in his hands and told him to pay £125 or his car would be towed away. If he failed to pay the charge the fine would rise to £400.

In his letter to the landlord Julian Brazier said,

“In my previous letter dated the 27th March I detailed the cases of three of my constituents who had been the victims of PCS. Since then the number of constituents and locals affected has more than doubled.”

“…it has become clear that the current arrangement cannot go on. Bingley Court is a relatively new build, with a population of students, first time buyers, and social housing. There is little convenient parking anywhere near it. So any parking enforcement should be sympathetic to the residents who live in the court. It seems PCS only view residents as a captive market to make vast profits.”

“After a continual stream of complaints from constituents I urge you to end your contractual agreement with PCS and appoint a fair sub-contractor to enforce parking matters in Bingley Court. There are other clamping companies and I have not received any recent complaints about any of them.”

As a member of the Parliamentary inquiry into online child protection, I am disturbed that there are currently few safeguards to prevent children viewing websites containing the most hardcore pornography, as well as extreme violence. There are even sites promoting self-harm and anorexia in a positive light. Given how impressionable children can be, this is worrying.

Of course, in theory, parents should be responsible for protecting their children online, but in practice most of us are technically less savvy than our children. It has become even harder now that so many mobile phones offer wi-fi internet access as a standard feature.

Some safeguards are already in place; if a website charges for access, any adult content must be placed behind a credit card barrier to reduce the risk of children and young people accessing it.

With Internet Service Providers in Britain making more than £3 billion a year out of us, however, I believe it is high time that they were made to do more to protect children. We need an “opt-in” system for access to adult material, with a one-click filter for all devices connected to the same internet account.

The Government has said that is committed to ensuring that children can use the internet safely without access to unsuitable adult material. Now is the time to show that it means it. The technology is already there – we just need to develop the political will make sure it is used.

Published in the Whitstable Times on 26th April 2012.

Mr Mansfield has set up a specialist business in chemistry and has been trying to secure laboratory space at the Sandwich Discovery Park without success. To retain local specialist skills it is important that we promote and help grow businesses like Mr Mansfield’s.

In his letter to John Simmonds CC, Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support, Julian said,

“Mr Mansfield worked at the Pfizer site for over 11 years but was made redundant after the Pfizer withdrawal. Following his redundancy Mr Mansfield set up a new businesses specialising in flow chemistry. It seems that Mr Mansfield has approached the Sandwich site to rent laboratory and office space without success. As Kent County Council (KCC) Chair the Sandwich Economic Taskforce, I was wondering if KCC would be able to help local businessmen like Mr Mansfield to relocate to the Sandwich site. In tough economic times small specialist businesses can act as drivers for economic recovery in East Kent and preserve the Sandwich site status as a major UK science hub.”

Lots of things to do and see including local crafts, stalls, raffles, garden games and an auction

Good food accompanied by a strawberry tea. Good company to relax with and enjoy your afternoon

Bring the wine or beer of your choice

Tickets £7.50, children 14 and under £4

The concert is of beautiful sacred music, including Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium”, Faure’s “Cantique de Jean Racine”, and other beautiful pieces, including some by Bruckner, Holst and Purcell.

Entry to the concert is free, and there is a retiring collection partly in aid of the church.

Background: Caritas Chamber Choir was formed a year ago by Benedict Preece and Kate Brazier. We have built up the choir since then, gone on tour twice, and regularly sing in Canterbury Cathedral.

A review of our most recent tour by Dr Peter Harland, organist and member of the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge University spoke of the choir as follows:

Canterbury Caritas Choir gave a concert in Little St Mary’s Cambridge on 21 April 2012. They sang a wide range of works by composers such as Bruckner, Palestrina, Mendelssohn, Holst, Harris and Parry. Of particular interest was a composition, entitled “War in Heaven” by their director Benedict Preece. This was a powerful work and the music fitted the words well. Throughout the concert the music was sung to a very high standard. The words came across clearly and the choir used the acoustic of the building to great effect. The choir showed great team spirit in the way they so obviously enjoyed the music which they sang with great feeling. The organist who accompanied played to high standard and chose effective registrations for the music. I strongly recommend attending a concert or service sung by this excellent choir.

You are most welcome to come and join us.

For more information, see our website: www.caritaschamberchoir.com or call Benedict Preece, Music Director: 07779 914320

Chestfield will be holding a barbeque 1 July, 12.30pm for 1pm – cost £10.
Please contact the office for further information (office@canterburyconservatives.com, 01227 280277)

Friday 8th July 2011
7.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.
(Tickets: £15.00)
There will be a raffle, prizes are most welcome.

Space is limited so please book by contacting the office or Terry Westgate (01227 760780, terry.westgate@canterbury.gov.uk).

Mr Graham Gibbens,
Lychgate, The Terrace, Canterbury CT2 7AJ

For further information please contact the association office on 01227 280277, office@canterburyconservatives.com.

Little Well Farm, Fleets Lane, Tyler Hill, Canterbury CT2 9NA
Phone: 01227 471 352
Email: hazel.mccabe@canterbury.gov.uk