15/2/2007

Local News in Fleet

There are also plenty of positives in the district

Firstly, well done for a good article on the new Hart District Council chief executive’s report. At this point, I’d like to confirm I have no alliance to any of the political groups involved in Hart... like many I just pay my money for their services.

My first observation would be that everyone seems to be very quick to jump on the bandwagon and condemn Hart as inefficient, poorly managed etc. Has a new chief executive ever written a report saying how good everything was? If it was that good, a new chief executive wouldn’t be needed.

In truth, I suspect it is broadly as efficient as most councils that I’ve ever come into contact with. I do feel that, while there are obviously some serious issues, especially the budget deficits, there are also plenty of positives in the area. Overall, the district is clean and well cared for. In my opinion, Fleet is by far the best ‘small’ town in the area, with a pretty good community spirit helped by some good organisations, the Christmas lights evening being a good example.

My main observation would be how any councillor, from any party, could even try to suggest that today’s problems are due to the people running the council back in 1998 or before. Put quite frankly, if the current party hasn’t managed to ‘put things right’ in eight years it must be one hell of a mountain it is trying to climb! Do they think anybody in business gets eight years, or even half of that, to rectify mistakes of previous regimes?

Anyway, in summary, my message would be that it’s not all doom and gloom, but I look forward to seeing the new chief executive tackling all of the problems he reports.

Finally, it’s slightly ironic that the article on page 2 of last week’s Fleet News shows three councillors celebrating their great service to the council. Presumably, they’ve only been involved in the good stuff and none of what’s reported on the front page.

Andy Newman
Brandon Road
Church Crookham

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail