This post makes only one (sort of) complaint against Devon Youth Services (DYS) and this relates to the age restrictions on the service they provide. I do understand that the 'clue' is in the inclusion of 'Youth' in the job description so, whilst disappointed, I see the reason for certain decisions.
DYS were encouraged by EPW to participate in the ‘regeneration’ of our community. Unfortunately, DYS’s remit is for 13-19 year olds, not a great deal of use in a community where 99% of children are aged under 13. There were occasions when local children, wanting to participate in DYS activities, were told they could not join in because they were ‘too young’.
DYS, working with EPW, organised film shows in Looe Road Park. These are, typically, trumpeted as a success by EPW. The truth is that they were a disaster. I raised £800, of the required £1,600, through Councillor Phil Brock’s Discretionary Fund, and he agreed to underwrite the other £800 if necessary. Exeter Housing Society (now Cornerstone) generously contributed £800 so there was no need to accept Councillor Brock’s additional offer of support. Once the funds had been raised no further consultation took place between EPW/DYS and our community representatives. The films were, apparently, selected by the 13-19 year olds that were permitted to attend DYS’s meetings in Looe Road Park. The selection of films, that were supposed to be for family viewing and would include many young children in the audience, were unsuitable and contained foul language. The films shown were –
Hot Fuzz – Rated 15
John Tucker Must Die – Rated PG13
Epic Movie – Rated PG
Night at the Museum – Rated PG
None of these films were appropriate for the majority of children that live in our community.
The film shows were arranged for a Wednesday night because DYS were unable to organise this event for the weekends. A noisy petrol generator was running until past 11pm some nights to power the projection equipment and this resulted in complaints from some residents that had to be up for work early the following day.
As a community we had no details of what films were to be shown, or when, until a few days before the first film show took place. A flyer produced and distributed by CF/EPW, advertising this event, was circulated to a very limited number of the community. Many residents received no notification which, given the ratings of the films, was fortunate. If our community had been consulted properly then the choice of films, and when they were shown, would have resulted in a more satisfactory outcome.
This was a concerted effort by CF/SDNP/SL/EPW to exclude any possible input from community reps that would have raised objections to the choice of films and when they would be shown.
Thursday 19 November 2009
Wednesday 18 November 2009
My Response to 'The Venomous Email'
With my comments added in blue and some names substituted in red
Hi Sue
Just to say that I met XXXX and his wife XXXX. I'm not sure that either of them works or does much around the house. The ashtray outside their house is always overflowing...
XXXX currently has, as far as I am aware, 2 jobs. XXXX also works. XXXX and XXXX smoke outside to avoid exposing their children to any possible consequences of passive smoking.
When I met them they were extremely brusque and 'mouthy'. I know how to deal with these people and just let it ride etc. etc. I have known XXXX and XXXX for quite some time and they don’t do ‘mouthy’. They clearly think they own the area. Other residents (the less ragged end) The less ragged end? Precisely what is a comment like this supposed to mean? I believe it expresses perfectly the attitude that SDNP have towards our community. People had previously told me that XXXX (the power behind the throne) and XXXX were stumbling blocks to getting anything done and a real obstacle when it came to organising things for the kids. Yet another blatant lie from CF. XXXX and XXXX are both very enthusiastic and pro-active about making improvements within our community.
They complain bitterly about their own (very unprepossessing) children being bullied. CF hardly knows these youngsters. I have had considerable contact with all of XXXX and XXXX children for quite some period of time and have always found them to be very polite and well behaved. XXXX and XXXX have every right to be proud of their children. XXXX and XXXX are naturally concerned about the well being of their children and will obviously respond as necessary if they are victims of bullying. They complain that they have not had information (I put at least 2 questionnaires through their letterbox IN PERSON): (I would take this comment with a very large pinch of salt. Personal experience has shown that CF can be very economical with the truth when it suits her. CF informed me that she had collected all of the completed resident survey forms within her chosen area. This turned out to be untrue. For several weeks after I had completed the analysis of the surveys, and presented the results to EPW, residents were returning completed forms wanting to know why they hadn’t been collected) .what they really mean is that they want to be 'in control'. This comment is rather ironic from someone that seems to be determined to control everyone and everything. Named Council Representative has now elevated them by taking them to London and they are really swaggering around - and telling the other residents that they are going to get £1,000. Utter nonsense. XXXX and XXXX hadn’t even been nominated for an award. It had been Named Council Represenative’s intention to nominate XXXX in the next round of applications but, unfortunately, the scheme closed. This has been confirmed by Named Council Representative.
Named Council Representative has not helped the situation. Precisely how has Named Council Representative, “not helped the situation?” I have got to know him very well over the past 18 months and have found him to be very hard working and dedicated in his job. He is always prepared to go ‘that extra mile’ for a satisfactory resolution with any issue. CF should not be permitted to ‘rubbish’ his valuable contribution across the City. Neither should CF make ‘promises for action’ by Named Council Representative without any consultation with the Department that were expected to fulfil these ‘actions’. Unfortunately this behaviour is typical of CF. During my contact with EPW I came into contact with dozens of people and I can honestly state that there wasn’t anyone that CF didn’t ‘bad-mouth’ at some stage) I had a meeting with Named Police Representative (which I'll tell you about) and he mentioned how frustrating it had been getting the trouble-makers evicted (stop-start etc). And they do know all the issues down there. For my part I think it needs real 'community' policing and a regular/constant presence rather than the arrival of cars with sirens responding to (and therefore adding to the excitement of) another incident. I fully agree.
If I were chairing the meeting on Friday, Sue, I would welcome Named Council Representative and say that, as this is the first meeting of Exeter Parks Watch he has been to this year (!!!) I hope we can bring him up to speed!! I'd say how much we had missed him at meetings etc. etc. and glad that he has now returned. Make a show of welcoming him - and making it clear that he has been absent at the same time!! It would be good to have that Minuted, perhaps? As I understand it, Named Council Representative stopped attending EPW meetings because CF and SL weren’t interested in anything he had to contribute. His input was, I’m told, was constantly ignored. Experience has shown me that this is common practice for CF/SDNP/SL/EPW
Attendance: fortunately, XXX will be there. Clearly I was ‘flavour of the month’ at this time! I would suggest that, as a further counterweight, you might like to invite (or get me to invite) XXXXXX (the large lady who came to the March open meeting). She is a toughie (but positive) and should be able to help keep things in balance. She could be invited on the grounds that she attended the March meeting and made a strong contribution - unlike XXXX and XXXXXX who probably ignored the leaflet or lost it amidst the detritus of their hallway (or what I saw of it) or just couldn't be bothered. (Mmm, I think we can see a pattern developing here)
It will be an interesting mix but very good to have the main players round the table. I hope you won't mind but I'm going to bcc this to XXX as a courtesy so that he is fully in the picture, he is preparing the Questionnaire analysis which no doubt XXXX and XXXXXX will rubbish....? In reality, XXXX and XXXX were embarrassingly impressed by my analysis
(Many of the people I talked to in collecting the questionnaires - or having to fill them in on the doorstep - said that it would be good to have the park upgraded but it would be trashed by the Looe Road 'thugs' in no time. Clearly the deeper issues have to be addressed. Be interesting to know just who is responsible for co-ordinating all the agencies and addressing the problems. It can't be Named Council Representative surely? A good question for Exeter City Council, perhaps? (It could have been Named Council Representative perhaps, if CF and SL had given him, and our community, the support that they constantly offer and publicise but frequently fail to deliver.
Hi Sue
Just to say that I met XXXX and his wife XXXX. I'm not sure that either of them works or does much around the house. The ashtray outside their house is always overflowing...
XXXX currently has, as far as I am aware, 2 jobs. XXXX also works. XXXX and XXXX smoke outside to avoid exposing their children to any possible consequences of passive smoking.
When I met them they were extremely brusque and 'mouthy'. I know how to deal with these people and just let it ride etc. etc. I have known XXXX and XXXX for quite some time and they don’t do ‘mouthy’. They clearly think they own the area. Other residents (the less ragged end) The less ragged end? Precisely what is a comment like this supposed to mean? I believe it expresses perfectly the attitude that SDNP have towards our community. People had previously told me that XXXX (the power behind the throne) and XXXX were stumbling blocks to getting anything done and a real obstacle when it came to organising things for the kids. Yet another blatant lie from CF. XXXX and XXXX are both very enthusiastic and pro-active about making improvements within our community.
They complain bitterly about their own (very unprepossessing) children being bullied. CF hardly knows these youngsters. I have had considerable contact with all of XXXX and XXXX children for quite some period of time and have always found them to be very polite and well behaved. XXXX and XXXX have every right to be proud of their children. XXXX and XXXX are naturally concerned about the well being of their children and will obviously respond as necessary if they are victims of bullying. They complain that they have not had information (I put at least 2 questionnaires through their letterbox IN PERSON): (I would take this comment with a very large pinch of salt. Personal experience has shown that CF can be very economical with the truth when it suits her. CF informed me that she had collected all of the completed resident survey forms within her chosen area. This turned out to be untrue. For several weeks after I had completed the analysis of the surveys, and presented the results to EPW, residents were returning completed forms wanting to know why they hadn’t been collected) .what they really mean is that they want to be 'in control'. This comment is rather ironic from someone that seems to be determined to control everyone and everything. Named Council Representative has now elevated them by taking them to London and they are really swaggering around - and telling the other residents that they are going to get £1,000. Utter nonsense. XXXX and XXXX hadn’t even been nominated for an award. It had been Named Council Represenative’s intention to nominate XXXX in the next round of applications but, unfortunately, the scheme closed. This has been confirmed by Named Council Representative.
Named Council Representative has not helped the situation. Precisely how has Named Council Representative, “not helped the situation?” I have got to know him very well over the past 18 months and have found him to be very hard working and dedicated in his job. He is always prepared to go ‘that extra mile’ for a satisfactory resolution with any issue. CF should not be permitted to ‘rubbish’ his valuable contribution across the City. Neither should CF make ‘promises for action’ by Named Council Representative without any consultation with the Department that were expected to fulfil these ‘actions’. Unfortunately this behaviour is typical of CF. During my contact with EPW I came into contact with dozens of people and I can honestly state that there wasn’t anyone that CF didn’t ‘bad-mouth’ at some stage) I had a meeting with Named Police Representative (which I'll tell you about) and he mentioned how frustrating it had been getting the trouble-makers evicted (stop-start etc). And they do know all the issues down there. For my part I think it needs real 'community' policing and a regular/constant presence rather than the arrival of cars with sirens responding to (and therefore adding to the excitement of) another incident. I fully agree.
If I were chairing the meeting on Friday, Sue, I would welcome Named Council Representative and say that, as this is the first meeting of Exeter Parks Watch he has been to this year (!!!) I hope we can bring him up to speed!! I'd say how much we had missed him at meetings etc. etc. and glad that he has now returned. Make a show of welcoming him - and making it clear that he has been absent at the same time!! It would be good to have that Minuted, perhaps? As I understand it, Named Council Representative stopped attending EPW meetings because CF and SL weren’t interested in anything he had to contribute. His input was, I’m told, was constantly ignored. Experience has shown me that this is common practice for CF/SDNP/SL/EPW
Attendance: fortunately, XXX will be there. Clearly I was ‘flavour of the month’ at this time! I would suggest that, as a further counterweight, you might like to invite (or get me to invite) XXXXXX (the large lady who came to the March open meeting). She is a toughie (but positive) and should be able to help keep things in balance. She could be invited on the grounds that she attended the March meeting and made a strong contribution - unlike XXXX and XXXXXX who probably ignored the leaflet or lost it amidst the detritus of their hallway (or what I saw of it) or just couldn't be bothered. (Mmm, I think we can see a pattern developing here)
It will be an interesting mix but very good to have the main players round the table. I hope you won't mind but I'm going to bcc this to XXX as a courtesy so that he is fully in the picture, he is preparing the Questionnaire analysis which no doubt XXXX and XXXXXX will rubbish....? In reality, XXXX and XXXX were embarrassingly impressed by my analysis
(Many of the people I talked to in collecting the questionnaires - or having to fill them in on the doorstep - said that it would be good to have the park upgraded but it would be trashed by the Looe Road 'thugs' in no time. Clearly the deeper issues have to be addressed. Be interesting to know just who is responsible for co-ordinating all the agencies and addressing the problems. It can't be Named Council Representative surely? A good question for Exeter City Council, perhaps? (It could have been Named Council Representative perhaps, if CF and SL had given him, and our community, the support that they constantly offer and publicise but frequently fail to deliver.
Monday 16 November 2009
More Venom
Part of St.David's Community Centre is occupied by a small cafe that is run by people with learning difficulties under the supervision of suitably qualified staff.
Christine Frasers comment re this cafe? "They'll be the first to go when we (SDNP) take control and we'll get someone in that can run it properly". Oh dear, Christine, you let your caring sharing mask slip again.
During my involvement in community matters I have met many, many different people, both caring individuals and members of a wide variety of organisations. With only one exception, CF has 'bad-mouthed' every single one that I had any contact with at some time. Even her closest 'colleagues and allies' are not immune from her hypocritical and 'two-faced' nature, 'nicey, nicey' to ones face but clearly 'what you see on the tin, ain't what's inside the tin'! The email copied below is only one example that illustrates this perfectly.
EDIT: This cafe is now closed.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote, "With affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other". How appropriate.
Christine Frasers comment re this cafe? "They'll be the first to go when we (SDNP) take control and we'll get someone in that can run it properly". Oh dear, Christine, you let your caring sharing mask slip again.
During my involvement in community matters I have met many, many different people, both caring individuals and members of a wide variety of organisations. With only one exception, CF has 'bad-mouthed' every single one that I had any contact with at some time. Even her closest 'colleagues and allies' are not immune from her hypocritical and 'two-faced' nature, 'nicey, nicey' to ones face but clearly 'what you see on the tin, ain't what's inside the tin'! The email copied below is only one example that illustrates this perfectly.
EDIT: This cafe is now closed.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote, "With affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other". How appropriate.
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