Gosh, I’m feeling poor, are you?

Our economy is going through a little difficulty at the moment so I was trying to work out how the banking system managed to get itself into the current situation. They hold all the cards when you either borrow money or even save it. Just try missing a payment or even being a day late paying your credit card.
They convinced the government that it would be much better if wages and salaries were paid directly into a bank account, then they convinced government that you shouldn't have the right to be paid in 'proper' money - guess what, you have to go to a bank for that!
So you want to buy a house? Well, a few years ago, mortgages were on 'allocation' (I won't remind you of the time when you could only take a few pounds out of the country, in case you start to feel your age!) and you went on a list to get the money or went round a number of lenders (normally building societies), to see who had a few bob you could have.
I remember that when we bought our present home, we had to wait 3 months for our 'allocation' to be available, only we got caught by the banks' (they who were selling on behalf of the sellers estate) policy of reviewing prices every three months and adding 15% (see, you think you have problems!) on the day we were about exchange contracts.
Since those days, the financial services industry has expanded and been protected from the risks that mere mortals like you and me have to take. They lost the need to take care, by accepting the word of their competitors without a murmur, but if you or I wanted use something as security, then we can expect an inquisition.
Somehow I really have no sympathy for an industry that makes most of it's profits by gambling with other peoples money. This is not the same as investing in business, but allowing 'traders' to buy and sell products/services they have no intention of owning, in the hope the value will go up or down. The latest 'wheeze' is buying shares (or even promising to) in a company, spread a rumour about that company to make the shares move either up or down (usually) and then sell at a profit as well as a transaction fee. They really can't lose,when you think about it


Decision time again - this time democracy and planning.

It's summer, so it must be consultation time. This year it's all about local democracy and the local development framework.
So what shall we start with? Well, the democracy one is needing decisions by October and the planning one has a little longer, so I suppose that democracy wins (that's a first!).
The government has spotted that the electorate seem reluctant to get involved in the democratic process and has brought in the Sustainable Communities Act which allows local communities to suggest the sort of actions that national government should take. This needs the local authority to 'opt' in and set up local panels to agree on proposals or suggestions. It is not a consultation exercise - they say. As a friend of mine often says 'the best decisions are made by a committee of one'. It is not clear at the time of writing how these 'suggestions' will start, who will 'sift through' the usual raft of impractical ideas or how the 'public representatives' will actually be more representative than our current local councillor system. Personal experience has shown that the group representative system, which generally happens, tends to sway any decision making process and it's this very method which reduces the true effect of democracy.  I mean, how often have you either thought or even said 'no point in voting as we know who will win'. Now that is the problem that needs addressing.

The 'Local Development Framework' is currently being formulated by the Borough Council to provide the route for the proposed 'Rejuvenating Dacorum' theme. The idea is that the Borough Council will consult on what is best for the Borough as regards long term planning - we are talking up to 2031 here - and how we are to accommodate the governments housing growth agenda, for example.
Borough planning officers are currently preparing the core strategy to be in place by March 2009 and the outcome is decisive and long term.
They are having to try and take into account everything that may happen between now and 2031 and you may have spotted the obvious flaw in just these two processes and how one may restrict the other.
As I understand it, the officers will present to Council, before the deadline, alternatives which will each be justified by evidence and/or consultation and a final decision taken which will affect our locality for the next 20+ years.
You will be surprised to know that I really don't think these decisions will be set in stone as something will happen to throw the 'cunning plan' off course. I also wonder how much all this will actually cost us. More information is available on the dacorum..gov.uk web site and I will try to expand and provide more information on the normancutting.com web site.
.