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Members of DOCS say they will monitor council cuts
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Group’s vow to battle cuts on services

By Alan Bunce
September 02, 2010

Campaigners have vowed to monitor the actions of councillors regarding cuts once the coalition Government’s spending review is announced next month.

Around 20 members of the public gathered at the Priestwood Community Centre last week for the inaugural meeting of Defend Our Community Services, (DOCS), a campaigning group which has pledged to defend services such as hospital and library provision from cutbacks.

But as delegates voiced concerns over the threat to Heatherwood Hospital and other services, the spotlight fell on Priestwood’s Conservative councillors.

One member of the public said: “I am appalled to think that three Tory councillors represent this area. What the heck do they do for the people of this constituency?”

Terry Pearce who was elected chairman of DOCS at the meeting said: “I see no reason why we should not look into the history of some of these councillors’ voting records and at what issues they have supported.”

He said transparency was needed from politicians and that it was up to DOCS to fight for it, including keeping pressure on borough councillors.

He added: “As we look at how the local council decide whether to close libraries we would be absolutely justified in campaigning against them.”

Several people had angry words about the threat to Heatherwood Hospital and some feared a two hour trip on public transport to Prospect Park in Reading for mental healthcare services.

Mr Pearce called for anyone involved in consultations at public sector organisations to report back to DOCS so the group had information to base decisions on, although he conceded: “The one thing I have learned about consultations is they are not consultations at all. What they want to do, they do.”

The group plans a huge public meeting later in the year with big name speakers to rally support.

Mr Pearce said: “We want the meeting to be a big meeting but we want representation right across our community with national speakers as well and really impact this town. It could be the biggest public meeting this town has ever had. We could do that.”

In response to the claims made from the floor, Priestwood councillor Alvin Finch said after the meeting: “I try to get to as many local meetings as I can.

“Unfortunately, this coincided with a planning committee meeting I couldn’t go to.

“[fellow councillor] Jacqui Ryder and I are working hard around the area.

“We are working on a number of projects including trying to secure a children’s centre for the area.”

Other concerns were raised at the council’s ending of free swimming for the young and elderly from this month.

DOCS has had pledges of financial support from union branches and plans to run in parallel with similar campaigns around the country.

The next meeting of DOCS is on November 4 at the same venue with the bigger meeting to be held at a later date.

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"Sartay your attempt at a red scare will fail. There is no contradiction between being a trade unionist and or a socialist and being part of the community" You are right there isn't....it shouldn't matter what party you choose to belong to or not, but the point is that this whole article and your previous answer inticates to me that this is FAR MORE about political allegiance than community action. The complete slagging off of Priestwoods Counsellors BECAUSE they are TORY with no knowledge of what they have or haven't done for the community in the past...assumptions that because they are Tory elected they are awful. Can you deny that this group is led and managed by a UNION and SOCIALIST GROUP? This was not a group instigated by the "community" of Bracknell Forest it is an atttempt to push through your own SOCIALIST agendas. I am not in any way against the right of this group to exist nor the issues you wish to raise, but to pretend otherwise IS devious. I just hope all those who attended were fully notified of the facts and Politics behind the formation of this group.

sartay
03/09/2010 at 16:54

Sartay your attempt at a red scare will fail. There is no contradiction between being a trade unionist and or a socialist and being part of the community or we do is put forward a strategy to fight the cuts based on the experience of struggles of the past. Victories and defeats. There is nothing hidden,nothing devious and everything legitimate about our campaign. Come to the DOCS public meeting on November 4th (to be confirmed) put forward your view and see for real our genuine community campaign.

As for my community credentials, my wife is a community nurse, I do the child care for my 4 children two of which are autistic and we live in a council house.

r0uge, South of Reading
03/09/2010 at 11:14

"am proud to be a socialist and to be involved in this campaign" r0uge, your true colours are showing. This is nothing about Bracknell Forest community action and everything to do with having a socialist agenda.

I wonder how much actual community work you do? I am heavily involved with voluntering within Bracknell Forest and give a considerable amount of my time for free. I am not alingned to any political party nor have any hidden agenda.

My point is not being for or against these proposed cuts its saying that your group is devious and illegitimate. By alll means fly the socialist /Union banner but dont decieve people this is about the "community" of Bracknell Forest.

sartay
03/09/2010 at 09:22

Sartay seems to have nothing to offer except Tory cuts. Which will only benefit the rich and will make working people and the poor poorer, increasing unemployment. longer waiting lists etc.

The movement against the cuts will become a mass movement just like the campaign in Liverpool in the 80s that got cuts reversed, 4000 decent council houses built, free nurseries, so women could work if they wanted, sports centres and other bread and butter services much needed, Thatcher had to back down and give some of the money back she had stolen from the council. A victory because the community was mobilised to support the socialist led city council.

She was also defeated over the poll tax with our leadership of a mass non payment campaign.

There are many ways the resources can be found so there is no need for cuts, such as taxing the rich, using the profits of the banks to pay for services. Large scale public ownership of the big companies under democratic control of the community and workers, would provide resources not only to reverse the cuts but to expand public services.

I am proud to be a socialist and to be involved in this campaign

r0uge, South of Reading
03/09/2010 at 08:49

Megaman,

As we all know things need to be cut back. As for Heatherwood Hospital it is only open as a token gesture by the previous goverment I think, so as not to say that they closed a hospital. What can you actually get done there?? Everytime I go there I get re-directed to another Hospital anyway!!!!??

Cuts need to be made and to write an article on the basis that 20 people are supporting it is a joke in my opinion, it shouldn't technically be called a campaign group if it is just a bunch of people who want free swimming or a libray to stay open. These things are just extras we can't afford anymore as a country.

The town centre libray is great and we don't need a libray in every district of bracknell it simply doesn't make sense does it??

MPwannaB, Bracknell
02/09/2010 at 16:04

Nonsense, why shouldn't they? Most people sit and accept things like council cuts, why not try to kick up a stink? Would you be happy if the hospital closed?

Megaman
02/09/2010 at 15:03

MPwannaB, I couldn't agree more. I even have my doubts whether 20 turned up is an accurate figure. How many of those were actual community spirited people and how many were UNITE members worried about their own jobs and Socialist Party members who are anti almost everything.

If people want to be heard/do something this is NOT the right group for it....most community groups give to and enhance the area they are based it not demand or slag off people who serve the community. Bracknell Forest is FULL of useful groups helping the community and I applaud them, but this group is just an imposter.

sartay
02/09/2010 at 14:33

20 people from the community turned up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHY ARE YOU EVEN REPORTING ON THIS???? That must be around 1% of the community, you could have got a better attendance by holding a raffle.

I don't understand why a small minority of people feel that they should not have to be affected by the cut backs the goverment are going to make.

People have lost their businesses, houses, been made redundant etc. & you lot want to campaign about FREE swimming for Over 65's......... Please come back down to planet earth.

MPwannaB, Bracknell
02/09/2010 at 13:58

I hope people realise this group is made up of The Socailist Party activists and UNITE union members under the guise of community support. These "three Tory counsellors" were voted in by the people of Priestwood if you dont like them then those living in the area can vote differently next time.

People would be better supporting our local residents associations and our Neighbourhood action groups (NAGs) rather than this communist group.