Ian Norris - Ford Green & Smallthorne Candidate - Questions/Answers from the MyTunstall Community

These questions were sent to Ian Norris who responded the same day 

Campaign message/stance: "Making finance dept more open to both cllrs and public see work so far at http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/user/ian_norris"

1.    What are the biggest problems facing this area?

At the moment with summer on way ASB and motorbike usage, along with closure of local shops and the opening of takeaways and closure of Ford Green Hall

2.    What issues would you tackle first?

see above stance

3.    Without very much budget how will you implement your ideas?

By fully examing council finance dept and looking at council prioities which at present are not in line with wishes of residents. 

4.    How would you generate income for the local area?

For a start we need to be bidding for all funding that is available, and be imaginative and adventurous with the bids

5.    What are your thoughts on Anti Social Behavior?

This can only be tackled by strong communities working together, with police and council. reporting all incidents and if necessary keep diaries, but at the same time we have to be careful not to label all kids or groups of kids as trouble makers. focus needs to be on the persistant delibrate ASB

6 - Will you be working full time or part time as a ward councillor? (this is an update as this question was proposed after the questions went out)

I’ll be working full time not sure there is a part time option?

Questions by Jon Morgan, Bankeyfields

1.    Who should be running of the council the Council Officers or the Councilors?

Councillors should be giving the direction and officers should be implementing

2.    How do you envisage keeping local facilities such as Tunstall Pool Open?

I believe Tunstall Pool should never needed to close down, as money is available to have kept it open. I would change council priorities, from grand gestures like new bus station to services people really want.

3.    How would you deal with Anti-Social Behavior?

see above

4.    How are the council / you going to get Business to move to the area?

By not excepting 2nd best, Spode Site stoke bought for £5million to protect it, now councillors say a supermarkets going there.

The sites near Stoke Station and the rear Stoke station still open for development they should be both developed in harmony This is where any Business district should go not up in Hanley.

Existing Councillors want a business district in Hanley and expect business users to catch a high speed bus from station, can't see it myself.

5.    How will you get money spent in our area in preference to other areas?

For a start we need to be bidding for all funding that is available, and be adventurous.  

Questions by Richard Hawthorn, Bankeyfields

1.    Will you fight the officers of the council and return the power back to its rightful place (in the hands of the councillor)?

see above that is my first prioity

2.    Will you take steps to have the 106 money (with acrued interest)

Returned to its rightfull owners. The area that it was designated for?  Yes I would be asking for report listing all 106 monies received and invoices where it has been spent what remains, pretty sure this is out need collating and 106 money treated as a parish fund if you will used to buy in the services from council or outside for what the 106 was orginally agreed for. 

3.    Who will be your priority your party, your voters, or the council?

Well I have no party, so my priority will be voters as they are the ones I will be reporting back to not to a central party.  

4.    Will you serve the voters irrespective of political beliefs?

Yes politics, religion, sexuality should be no barrier to receiving services.

Questions by Terry Cope, Tunstall, Greenfields

1.    What past experience do you have that makes you think you are prepared for the responsibly of being a Councillor?

I was previously a Councillor for Tunstall Ward, and have a very inquiring mind whereby I require written evidence before making a decision and a timeline to be able to measure progress. Vagueness will not do, if a report goes before committee and cllrs have any doubts it should be sent back and new meeting arranged

2.    What are your major strengths?

Stubborn and pesistant, you do not say "i'll get back to you" I will be on you constantly untill you deliever

3.    What are your major weaknesses?

Public speaking I am not great rabble rouser, I'm more factualy type person rather then emotional.

4.    What is more important, to fix a street light or to install a park bench, and why?

I'd say none more important then the other they both pose a safety risk and raise level of fear as well making area looked uncared for.

5. What experience do you have in securing funding?

None but took time out work using my holidays to attend Community Action Courses at the university

6.    What are your thoughts on keeping a weekly/bi weekly blog on MyTunstall  if elected of 

a.    work you are carrying out?

b.    ongoing ward budget?

c.    key local news?

I would hope to be doing that anyway via my blog iannorris.limewebs.com and twitter @ian_norris but would welcome using mytunstall or myburslem as they are both very popular sites that do great work for community

7.    What green initiatives do you think can benefit all in the ward?

The City is full of large open spaces which could possible be used for a ground source community based heat pumps, or solar panels if listed constent could be gained for Tunstall pool. 

8.    Which members of the community are your priority?

Anyone that asks for help or advice or support 

Questions by Matt Burke, Bankeyfields

1.    What power have you got ?

myself none only together will like minded residents or at councill with like minded councillors

2.    Where did it come from ?

it will come from people of the city

3.    In whose interest do you use it ?

in the interests of those that provide it

4.    To whom are you accountable ?

Voters and my conscience

5.    How do we get rid of you ?

Oh thats not nice but even if not elected I will continue to ask questions and challenge where challenge is needed

Questions by Mick Williams, The Internet

1.    How will you communicate what you plan to do / have done with us?

Leaflets, internet and Resident Associations and Action groups if they ask or invite would not want to appear jump on bandwagon by joining action groups such as those fighting save Tunstall Pool and Ford Green. Although has been killing me last few weeks wanting to shout lets save our services but I know there all doing there best and such things take time.

2.    How will you engage the electorate?

As above 

3.    Where do you see the line being drawn between the community solving their problems and the local government doing it?

The line is local government coming in attempting to solve issues that don't exist, so community need to express what they desire and local governemtn needs to listen not dictate

4.    What are your views on a Big Society?

Can't see anything wrong with local communities forming food co-ops for bulk food purchase and/or growing as well as community based energy etc

Questions by Lawrence, Bankeyfields

1.    In your view, what are the major challenges facing this ward and what do you think a councillor's role is to address them?

At the moment with summer on way ASB and motorbike usage, along with closure of local shops and the opening of takeaways and closure of Ford Green Hall Councillors roll ensuring & encouraging reporting asb , ensuring emerging planning laws are used to get good mixed of shops, ensuring officers work with friends of groups

2.    General question that would probe local knowledge and their interpretation of what they can do/achieve

The memorial shop is getting a much needed tidy up.

Questions by Clare White, Burslem

What are your connection to this ward, why have you chosen to represent this ward?

Ford Green & Smallthorne were are part of the old ward I live in, and the existing Councillor, Cllr Dave Conway is restanding in the new ward I live in.

Question by Ian Norris, Tunstall

1.    Can you explain -in detail- your strategy to bring big business into the area, particularly in sectors such as finance which is a well paid sector and is entirely under represented in Stoke on Trent?

(Remember the business rates on office premises is much lower here than in other areas.)

See above

2.    If you do manage to attract businesses into the area, what will you do to ensure that a high proportion of managerial and supervisory jobs go to local people rather than allowing companies to import their top paid employees from outside the area? (As is the case now)

I believe the Council used a clause with Dransfield in Tunstall to similar effect

3.    What will you do to bring local salary levels up to the National average, or at least the average in the West Midlands?

If business do move here for low business rates, hey will need to pay higher wages otherwise people will continue to move out of stoke to the high wages 

Questions by Andy, Bankeyfields