Queen is aware of Shirebrook Jubilee Celebrations

No, she is not aware: it’s just a click-bait title. I used it to underline the surreal insanity of these celebrations. I assume that Queen doesn’t care about Shirebrook Jubilee Celebrations. Probably she doesn’t even know that Shirebrook exists. From my point of view- this extended bank holiday weekend is more for people than Queen.

We all went through a lot in the last two years. Every time I sit at some council meeting listening to celebration planning, I have the same feeling: councils and councillors are tired and exhausted with all those unusual challenges of the last two years. Those celebrations are just an excuse to take people’s minds off those bad things that have kept happening since the beginning of 2020. 

Remember 2019? God, that was a good year, a boring year. Since then, we are like on a roller-coaster of chaos. All the time. It’s like God looked at his “world events” indicator in 2019 and thought to himself: “let’s take it up a notch!” And then he started turning the dial up, up, up.

EMPATHY IS A GOOD THING
I disagree with Labour a lot, but I understand them. I feel them. They want to talk about something light, just for a while, like in the good old days. Since I showed up in Chamber, things changed. Before, it was a smooth ride for them. Residents lived in bliss of ignorance. No one but them knew about what was going on. I was the one who made the community aware that we are in massive debt, with the highest taxes, highest spending, with the highest crime rate. I started to talk about real issues, real problems, and their holiday ended- they hate that (at least some of them, not all)!

As far as I know, Shirebrook’s people want STC to focus on real issues, not parties and leisure. I can’t force Labour Party to change their policies. That’s why I won’t bother Labour anymore (after this article) about spending so much time, effort and money on Jubilee Celebrations. I’m going back to what is important for the people who voted Conservative- crime, transparency, spending. Stay tuned for some real news about real issues in our town. I have a few hair rising articles in the pipeline and a few brand-new projects for community living in South Ward.

LEISURE COMMITTEE- WASTE OF TIME COMMITTEE
I will not stop bang about this: for me, it looks like leisure and parties are the primary concern of the Labour Party in Shirebrook. The 2nd March meeting of the STC Leisure Committee was yet another confirmation of the above statement. Discussion about Jubilee celebration planning started at timestamp 14:03 and finished at… 38:45 of the meeting. That’s commitment! Do you know how many minutes STC talked about ideas for improving the safety of our community? ZERO!

We (taxpayers) will spend 5,000 on Jubilee Celebrations. But, do you know how much we will spend on improving safety? ZERO!

Again: as a Conservative, I think that this committee (Leisure) should be dissolved, and councillors should focus on crime prevention (and youth programmes!). There should be Crime Prevention Committee as long as a crime in Shirebrook is out of control. But I’m ONE who thinks that in the STC. I hope, no! Wait! I work hard to change that in 2023. If you agree with me, you should understand that change won’t come if you won’t stand up to support it. Standing on the sidelines and moaning changes nothing!

My advice? Join Conservative Party, meet people who want to level up Shirebrook and work toward it. YOU could be the motor of positive changes. Visit STC meeting- see for yourself how departed from reality Labour councillors are. They WANT Shirebrook like it was for the last decades. Do you want that too?

I DID IT! I GOD DAMN DID IT!
Some (minority) of Labour Party councillors like to rub me the wrong way every time no one sees it. They constantly interrupt me, argue, change topics from core issues to unrelated issues. No public at a meeting? We can harass this damn Tory! Every time they do that, I try to stay calm and keep going. There was a time when I thought they would win, but with each meeting, I learned more. When I entered Chamber, I reminded myself- “You are not a member of this Committee. Just sit down, listen and shut up! You are here just to report back to residents what is going on!“.

I think visiting other Parish Council meetings helped me in achieving this goal. Withwell, South Normanton, Ault Hucknall, Elmton with Creswell and Glapwell gave me tremendous knowledge and distance to what I do. So, I set up my recording devices and did just what I planned- listened. For the first time, I ignored all attacks, verbal teasing, jibes and snarky comments. 

STOP WASTING YOUR TIME!
In my opinion, Leisure Committee is simply a waste of time. So why waste my nerves when I can concentrate on what I promised the people who trusted me in May 2021? I am not afraid to admit to them that I am losing every battle with the Labour Party so far. I’ve lost the battle on tax increases, I’ve lost the battle on LC spending, I’ve lost the battle on reducing STC costs, I’ve lost the battle on increasing spending on crime prevention and youth programmes. But, with that said, the war is still on, and I’m not going to give up. What’s more- I’m going to try to find allies, people who think like me, so that in 2023 I can stand up to another battle in the knowledge that at last, I AM NOT ALONE!

Meanwhile: report of 02.03.2022 STC Leisure Committee

L/22/001 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND NOTE THE REASONS FOR THOSE ABSENCES.
1 committee member missing

L/22/002 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
None interest was declared.

L/22/003 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LEISURE COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVING BEEN HELD 3RD NOVEMBER 2021.
Accepted without any notes.

L/22/004 TO REVIEW AND NOTE THE CONTENTS OF THE LEISURE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT.
As usual- I did not get any documentation before the meeting. So councillors listened to the LC Supervisor’s report, and I sat making occasional notes when a sum, date or interesting fact was mentioned. After the meeting, however, I managed to get a copy of the report. As usual- the financial part of the report has nothing to do with what, as a former business owner, I understand as a “financial report”, but I’m still glad I was able to put my hands on it.

I won’t go into why I think the financial data coming out of LC is manipulated. I will only say this: when describing the financial situation: income, expenses, labour cost and possible loss/profit should be given. What the Supervisor of LC presents contains only income. Interestingly- on the same page of the report, there is information on the “Meal Prep Trial”, which states income, staffing cost, product cost and gross profit. Why is it that half a page of data is vague and the other half contains everything I need to estimate the project? Eh… asking uncomfortable questions again. How dare I?

Out of chronicling duty:
Comparison of LC receipts from 1 December to 21 February

2018/2019 – 25,421
2019/2020 – 24,038 (high of the pandemic)
2020/2021 – 33,438 (post pandemic)

Expenses during this period? Hmmm… Another difficult question! STC doesn’t like those so- that’s the end of the financial report on LC’s operation. But let me look at it through the eyes of someone who has run a profitable business in his life: income (not profit!) for three months was 33k. If LC maintains this rate of income for the rest of the quarters of the year, it will mean that income has reached 133,752. And now the bitter truth: LC’s expenses on wages alone for the current fiscal year will reach 188,000. On top of that, you have to add bills, operating costs, repairs, equipment depreciation, leasing and dozens of other small expenses.

I know- LC deliver needed social projects and place for people to meet. It’s important. But as an inexperienced councillor, I just can’t justify spending 330,000 per year for Leisure Centre when the town is under siege of criminals and roaming bands of bored youth. Leisure at the moment SHOULD NOT be our priority. Cutting 20% of the Leisure budget and moving it toward crime prevention and youth projects can solve a huge chunk of problems and significantly lower crime rate and antisocial behaviour incidents in town. Why do Labour Party councillors not understand this?

THE AFOREMENTIONED “MEAL PREP TRIAL”
The report includes data from 10 Jan 2022 to 16 Feb 2022. I don’t know who came up with this project, but after listening to it, I concluded that it is quite an interesting initiative. Every Wednesday, LC offers an affordable meal with 3 or 4 variations. The meals are prepared according to the promotional slogan “New Year, New You.” My guess is that this is not the usual high-calorie takeaway but a healthy meal. Either way, the Trial recorded an income of £284. It can be considered a great success for a trial run from which lessons have certainly been learned for the future.

EQUIPMENT REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS
One of the most frequently rented attractions at the LC is the squash court. By how intently this part of the LC is used, it can be expected that necessary repairs will need to be made over time. The last major repair was done in 2017, and it looks like it is time for another. This will be discussed when the Supervisor receives the updated structural inspection report at the next meeting. LC Supervisor also mentioned the ping-pong tables, but more about that is a little below.

EVENTS
LC Supervisor also summarised the upcoming events organised by LC. Highlights include:

Shirebrook Car Show 2022
It will be held on Sunday 8 May at Town Square from 10am to 3pm.

Shirebrook Town Show
Sunday 19 June at Shirebrook Town Park from 11am to 5pm.

How much do those events cost? No idea. No data in the report. Weird, right?

a. TO REVIEW AND APPROVE SHIREBROOK VILLAGE HALL ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION.
LC has approached STC for permission to take over the booking duties for the Village Hall. The fact that these duties will be carried out by LC staff rather than Town Hall staff will increase the time available to serve customers (LC is open longer than Town Hall). Overall, this is intended to make the Village Hall easier to service and use for everyone – both customers and staff.

b. TO REVIEW AND APPROVE TABLE TENNIS TABLE PURCHASE FROM THREE OPTIONS PROVIDED.
There is no need to elaborate here: the old table wants to retire because it is old, worn out and falling apart. Old table wants to withdraw funds from the pension fund, go to Ibiza, and party with those nice, curvy conference tables.

Since the old table has ambitious plans, LC has asked for permission to buy a new one. I recently compared prices for meeting room tables and was shocked at how expensive this furniture is. I thought the ping pong table would be even more costly due to the more complicated construction. However, it turned out that the LC staff had found some pretty professional looking tables with prices ranging from 299 to 379.

So if you are a fan of ping-pong, you will soon have the opportunity to play on the new table at LC.

L/22/005 TO CONSIDER RESPONSES AS NECESSARY TO LISTED CORRESPONDENCE.

a. NONE RECEIVED TO DATE.

There was no new correspondence.

L/22/006 REFERRAL FROM FULL COUNCIL.

a. TO CONSIDER INCLUDING CELEBRATION OF THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE IN THE EVENTS PROGRAM FOR 2022/2023 AND TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL OPTIONS.
Well over 20 minutes of discussion, but I don’t want to waste time writing about it. 

L/22/007 CONFIDENTIAL ITEM/S
This is where the BOMB is hiding! But of course, Labour doesn’t want residents to know about it. So all I can do is quote the following point from the published agenda. Read it out loud:

L/22/008 TO UPDATE MEMBERS ON POTENTIAL LEISURE CENTRE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.
No comment.

L/22/009 TO APPROVE THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LEISURE COMMITTEE.
The date will be set at the next AGM.

END

Again- I have too many articles “in the making” to waste time on some closing arguments. I think my job is done here: you know what was discussed, you know that I disagree with Labour priorities, you know that I want to change town’s focus and spending habits. See you next week and thanks for your time!

Sylwester Zwierzynski info@shirebrook247.com

Lead photo: pixabay from pexels.com