.
These burdens are enormous. The British Chambers of Commerce has estimated the total cost of the burdens that have been imposed on British Business since 1997 is now £55 billion. More than 30,000 new regulations have been introduced during that time which works out at more than 14 a working day. Not surprisingly a very large majority of employers said, in a recent survey, that the time spent on complying with these extra regulations was damaging their business.
Big business finds it easier to cope. But small firms create most new jobs. If their business suffers they will be less able to create those jobs. So this is a subject that affects us all and something the new government will have to tackle with energy and vigour.
After breakfast I went to Seabrook Primary School where the staff are doing a great job in buildings that are, to coin a phrase, no longer fit for purpose.
I had already persuaded John Simmonds, the Cabinet Member responsible for education at Kent County Council, to visit the school and I shall now renew my efforts to persuade him to take the necessary action to give the school the new buildings the staff and pupils deserve.
I then held one of my regular meetings with Superintendent Steve Harris of Kent Police whose responsibilities now cover the whole of South Kent. I was given some interesting figures about the perceptions of Shepway residents on various aspects of crime.
The percentage of people in Shepway who feel very or fairly safe is bang in line with the County average at 87%. The percentage worried about crime is lower than the county average – 29% compared to 39%. And the percentage who consider anti-social behaviour to be a problem is also lower – 18% compared to 22%.
Our local police, though there aren’t enough of them, clearly deserve some credit for those.
Next stop was Westenhanger Castle where the Forge family were showing the community the remarkable progress they have made in restoring this unique historic building.
Then it was back to Folkestone for a ceremony at which I was made Patron of Home Start, the charity which does such wonderful work helping families with problems. They need more volunteers so if you have some spare time given them a ring on 244 836.
The day ended with the Annual General Meeting of the Folkestone and Hythe Conservative Association – addressed both by Damian Collins, my successor as Conservative candidate, and by me.
I congratulated the Conservative Group on Shepway District Council on their remarkable achievements since they took over from the Liberal Democrats, after the debacle of the closing of public toilets and their attempt to raise Council Tax by 39%. It is essential that one group has a clear majority after the elections on May 3rd so that the district can be governed well and in the interests of all its residents. |
