ON the call by Conservatives on Stroud District Council for a unitary authority to run services in Gloucestershire.
Posted by joyus1uk: I find it very interesting that this announcement is made now. I have searched hard for a mention of the unitary authority in the Conservative manifesto for the last local elections but their appears to be no mention of it. Unless they have cloaked it in their usual woolly words.
On the other hand the Labour Party have for a long period of time been in favour of unitary authorities and have included it in previous manifestos and have campaigned on the issue with the local electorate.
I also find the quote of Cllr Paul Carter very interesting. "This is the latest in a long line of initiatives that the Conservatives have put forward to save money for the council." Is this the same party that over the years ran a cabinet style administration that constantly increased the allowances of the executive members.
Good to see Johnny-come-lately's finally coming round to an idea that is right for the times.
Come off it Tories, own up, this is new and unusual thinking by a group happy to cost the council taxpayers vast sums in allowances and expenses in previous years.
I wonder if the MP for Stroud is involved in this or indeed has he even been asked to contribute to the thinking behind this move.
It will be interesting to see how this spins on from the Tories now that they have lost the argument over the change in allowances.
By the way I note that of today's date only four of the 21 members of the Conservative group have donated any money to charity. That is 17 to go I suggest readers keep an eye on this too.

On Team Badger's claim - quickly denied by Defra - that that the badger cull in Gloucestershire was under threat because landowners had pulled out of the trial.
Posted by Countryladdom: If the farmers are pulling out it will be due to threats from those against the cull, and the abuse they are getting. You only need to read some of the vile threats to farmers and those employed to do the cull, to understand, why.
Names and addresses are being published, farms are being filmed and watched, badger supporters are being told to abuse mailing and phone systems to get to farmers.
Posted by dodge101: Or it could be because farmers are beginning to see through the lies and misinformation being broadcast by Defra puppet Paterson...
Posted by dimreepr: You clearly haven't talked to any farmers dodge or fully understand the problem. Although I'd be happy to change my view if you can point out the lies and misinformation you are referring to.
Posted by Crow: One of the pieces of misinformation is that there is even an epidemic. "....As you can see, for over a decade, although the number of cattle slaughtered has increased so has the amount of testing; in 2001 only 1.2 million cattle were tested compared to 8 million in 2012. When you calculate the percentage of tested/slaughtered the figure has stayed constant between 0.4 - 0.6%." (Quote from a link).
Posted by dimreepr: If we think about this problem logically the answer is manifest, given the following facts:
1. The approximate badger population in the UK is 288,000 of which an estimated 45,000 are killed on our roads yearly.
2. The European badger (meles meles) whilst an indigenous species of the UK is not exclusive to these isles.
3. The number of cattle killed through TB in the UK is 37,754 and rises year on year.
4. The universal vaccination of the UK badger population is impossible.
5. The universal vaccination of UK cattle is at least 10 years away, if indeed it's achievable (a very real possibility).

The answer is clear, no to a cull, yes to eradication. You can't change reality, animals die and species become extinct but in this case obliteration of the UK's badger population would not result in its extinction. Think about it in the following terms:

1. The answer to the question of the badger, TB and cattle relationship would be finally and conclusively is answered.
2. The lack of badgers would mean the end of such barbaric practises as badger baiting in this country and if we deliberately delay re-introduction of badgers to 20 years plus we could break the cultural imperative that drive such sickening acts.
3. We could maintain an island population of vaccinated badgers and studies have shown a beneficial effect on subsequent generations through vaccination, further research could create a badger population with a natural TB immunity.
4. If the link is proven to exist and the problem solved then cattle slaughter through TB could be dramatically cut if not banished to history.
As you can see, swallowing the bitterest of pills could just cure the problem.

On the report by the RAC Foundation which showed that Gloucestershire County Council made a £1.6 million surplus from parking charges last year.
Posted by BigBoy22: I have no issue with GCC making money from parking but I do expect them to spend it on improving road safety for all users and not just drivers. I can thing of several schemes in the local area for which they claim there is not enough money in the budget.
Posted by dimreepr: A typical example of government's short term thinking, putting this year's bank balance before the long term needs of the local economy.