Dorothy Thornhill

I have been a blog free zone for some time and am trying to get back into the swing of things. This week has been eventful. It has contained three major briefings to residents, (I would hesitate to call it “The Sate of Watford” address but it’s my humble version), our Budget Council and a visit to the Palace to get my MBE, plus lunch with our MP today! So tonight is shamelessly sofa night attacking the bottle of bubbly I had for last night, post Palace, but was too zonked out to drink. The joy of the Vbox catch up facility!!

Budget Council well what’s to be said . There is a copy of my speech on the Council’s website plus the slides I have been using for my residents briefing if you want a bit more detail. Budget wise it is not easy to continue to shave money off the budget year after year after year. Standing still costs money (a fact it took me a couple of years to really grasp!). Whilst the staff salaries are frozen many still get increments so that is increasing. Our income from our commercial properties, including the market, is dropping, our interest from savings – dropping, our grant from Government dropping … you get the picture. Yet my ambitions for the town are undiminished. On the night the main row was about my salary (set before I became Mayor by an independent panel and reviewed every year since) and believe me its nights like this that I wish I’d stayed in my old job (Assistant Head at Queens School). I would be better off in salary terms, pension wise and it was certainly less hassle! But would I swap back? No not really. The independent panel recommended a freeze this year which is exactly what I expected and feel is right. They also recommended a freeze for Councillors. Again we agreed with that.

From this you can be reassured that despite posturing to the contrary on budget night, there is a broad cross party consensus about the budget. It goes before a Budget Panel for several months before we debate it in Council. The papers are all in the public domain. It is chaired by the opposition and they make recommendations to cabinet which I always try to accept and have done so again this year.

This year Labour were a bit at sea making contradictory proposals. The Conservatives broadly in agreement with some specifics which they highlighted. Green Party on message for growth and jobs. I got the impression that the Labour Leader’s speech had been written by someone else (a former Labour Leader?) as it had some of his pet whinges in it which can be seen regularly on the WOBS website; unfortunately this made the current Leader look as if he didn’t know what he was proposing! Some people just can’t let go of the strings… I neglected to say it’s a council tax freeze again this year.

I have been very quiet, mute even over the holiday period; So a late happy new Year to everyone.

Last week was very quiet in the office – lots of emails to catch up on, but very few meetings therefore a gentle return. This week is somewhat different so it’s back to hectic days and plenty of meetings with all sorts of people.  I met the police’s new Assistant Chief Constable, who is an interesting character.  After a life time in the Met on covert operations including counter terrorism, he has landed up in lovely  Hertfordshire where and I quote him “it’s quite different”. To keep it so remains a challenge for all of us.

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Readers of my blog will know by now that regenerating the top of the town, specifically making the Parade area more family friendly day and night, is one of my top priorities. Our design team want your views on:

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We are all of a buzz here with the news that Croxley Rail Link is actually happening. Even Geri Halliwell tweeted that when she lived here it was on the cards! It’s actually unfinished business from the termination  of the met line in Gade Avenue rather than at watford Junction so some 50 years in the completion!! Read more »

I was proud to sign the Military pledge yesterday to help work to making our services fairly accessible to serving and ex military personnel. I naively thought they were until I spoke to families , listened and learned. There is work to do to ensure they are not a forgotten minority group.

In partnership with the Watford Community Housing Trust, we’re hoping to create a ‘Sports Legacy Zone’ in Meriden Park. In a nutshell, it’s a super modern adventure playground for all ages, that focuses on fitness and sport. There’ll be a drop-in session tomorrow (14th December) at Meriden Community Centre between 4pm and 7pm for the public to come, find out more and give their views.

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Last week I once again attended the annual toy service at Stanborough Church.  I’m always amazed at the generosity of the congregation, who donate top quality brand new toys in their masses for the children of Watford – and this year it seemed there was more toys than ever.  The toys will go to children at the women’s refuge centre and to families who are supported through our Children’s Centre network.

Regenerating the town centre remains a top priority of mine.  This includes the £4.3 million investment in The Parade area which we’re now moving forwards on and would welcome your involvement (see further on!). 

In this economic climate, announcements about big spends are often met with surprise.  Understandably people are confused to hear us on one hand announcing we’ll be investing millions in project X, Y or Z, yet on the other hand telling the world we’re having to make huge spending cuts and putting jobs at risk.  Read more »

Even with it being budget time, I do still get to do nice things and last week was no exception, when I got to meet some of the new residents of Nascot Grange at their Christmas Tree lights switch-on.

Nascot Grange is the housing development that sits on the old Cassio College site.  It was controversial at its planning stages, but I have to admit that these smart looking homes are more in keeping with the Nascot area than the dilapidated 60s college building! Read more »

At tonight’s cabinet meeting we’ll be asked by officers to approve recommendations on the budget.  Each year we start budget discussions around September time, amending and reviewing proposals, until we approve a final budget in our January council meeting. Read more »