OK, class. Turn to page 19 of your copy of the July 1996 Berkhamsted Review and after you have refreshed your memories, we will continue.

Now that the town has got the Council it deserves, I thought I would look back at what rubbish I have been inflicting on you all. This was brought about by an avid reader who wanted to know why I was no longer writing for the REVIEW as she has just received the June 1999 issue and turned to see words of wisdom I had deemed to put together in the aftermath of the election and saw the editors note at the foot of the column.

As I was saying in my column in the July 1996 issue...
It wasn't until the September issue that it developed into more of a newsletter about the Town and Borough Council activities. Indeed, that was the reason I stood for election as no one tells you what the Council gets up to until after the event (and then, only if you're lucky). They seem to work on the assumption that if you are interested, you will actually go to the library every week to read the Town Council agendas or stand out in the cold, stooping to read the small print in the Council notice board. Those of you of normal stature will realise that you don't do it often particularly of you have a living to earn. Much easier to pick up a copy of the REVEIW or wait for your very own copy of SUNNYSIDE UP to be put through your door.
Now I am not longer on either the Town or Borough Council, I expect someone else will pick up the mantle and press home the party line. Just in case they don't, I have eyes, I have ears and having spent 4 years being amazed at what they get away with, am sure the editors can find a spot to place the odd piece I may wish to submit.
I mean, who else would know that the Housing department is carrying out the landscape improvements in the Ashlyns Estate. That is the reason that the dog-loo bins didn't get moved. They belong to Community & Leisure. Likewise, the road sweeper doesn't sweep the small courtyards - Housing doesn't have a road sweeper! Our new Lib-Dem Council will bring all these little matters to your attention, as they are great believers in consulting and informing you what's going on.

A lot of the party politicals laughed at how disorganised the Independents were in 1995, and we freely admit that we never got our act together. It came as a bit of a shock to hear that one of the first things the new 'party controlled council' had decided to do was to reorganise the committee structure from day one after the Independents had been putting the case for the action over the previous three years with little support from the second largest group, the Lib-Dems.
As a number of you know, I was the Councils representative on the Berkhamsted Access Committee and they had a meeting scheduled for Friday 28th May. I sent a note to the Town Clerk, reminding him of the fact and offered my copy of the agenda and minutes for the new representative if they didn't have one. Even more of a surprise was a telephone call on the Thursday afternoon from the Mayor, asking if I could attend as the Councils new representative works in Watford and would be unable to attend any of the meetings. I will be that Committees representative at the regular Town Centre Forum due to be held on 7th July at 7:30pm in the Sessions Hall of the Town Hall. On the other hand that may have changed as well, so keep your eye out somewhere or the other.  

Need to know. That phrase should be in the back of your mind when trying to find out anything about the activities of local, national or even international government. The other thing is that we live in a democratic society. We have a right to know what our representatives are doing in our name - unless they don't wish you to know. The European elections were a test bed for a new voting system. You don't actually vote for anyone, just an idea and hope they don't change their minds. The only way you can be sure of voting for a person is to vote Independent, but they don't have the money or clout that the parties have. I suspect that is part of the reason, I was thrown out during the May election, I don't have an election fighting fund, I don't have an army of workers able to assist in policy making or organising canvassers and taking people to and from the polling station. But I do believe in democracy. I also believe in keeping people informed and what choices they have.
When you think about it, if Councils and Governments heeded the wishes of the people they are supposed to represent, we wouldn't throw one lot out to put another lot in, would we?  One of the things I got involved in was the Berkhamsted web-site, which the Town Council took a dim view off and the intention was to dismantle it by now. The reaction received made me reconsider and is in the process of being rebuilt at the same address as before. The Council have been invited to participate as they appear to be picking up the ideas of the last council which they chose not to support over the past four years, but don't hold your breath.