ARE KCC’S CABINET FINALLY TAKING THANET OFF THE SHELF? Kent Labour welcomes the decision of KCC's Conservative Cabinet to take their next meeting out of County Hall - but doubts their motives for doing so.Labour Shadow Leader of KCC, Mike Eddy, said: "The Conservatives are trying to jump on the localism bandwagon, but a day trip to Margate doesn't mean that they really want to engage in a dialogue with local people -which is what localism is really all about."I can't see anything on their meeting agenda about opening up the floor for questions, or inviting members of the public to make a contribution to the debate. "Putting it simply, this is localism Tory-style - they come to you when they want and with their own agenda". Ramsgate County Councillor Liz Green said: "One of the items for discussion is The Labour Government’s Working Neighbourhoods Fund, which is a new dedicated fund for local councils and communities to develop community-led approaches to helping people in deprived areas of England back to work.” The Fund will be worth a total of £1.5 billion nationally over the next three years, with more than £450 million being distributed in 2008/09, and £500 million in 2009/10 and 2010/11. Thanet will receive £1,012,404 this year. "The Fund is meant for community-led initiatives to help local people get back into work - which makes me wonder why the Children, Families & Education portfolio holder will be making this presentation, and not the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Supporting Independence, which would seem to make more sense."Could it be that this event in Margate is actually being used to give Mr Wells a platform to raise his local profile in advance of next year's elections, when he'll face stiff competition from Labour?”Mrs Green continued: "I'm glad Margate has been receiving attention of late from KCC as it certainly has its problems, but Ramsgate and its residents also desperately need support and frequently get forgotten. I’m hoping, for example, this fund can be used to address the appalling lack of adult education and training in Ramsgate."Perhaps next time the County Hall Conservatives come to Thanet, they will make a day of it, speak to the local councillors and look at issues facing the wider area - which is what our Labour Leader Mike Eddy does when he visits."
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