Getting my new model By-laws for controlling dog-fouling on Little Paxton Playing fields today
Getting my new model By-laws for controlling dog-fouling on Little Paxton Playing fields today

Working on my plans for this evening’s Little Paxton Parish Council Meeting and then getting approval this evening for my new suggested Byelaws for The Playing Field to combat dog fouling. In between times, taking Debbie horse-riding again.

A much more blustery and showery day. Pete was only here for two hours, mixing some more top dressing, but then a very heavy rain shower put paid to that. I worked on my plans for the Parish Council meeting tonight, copying enough of my papers to circulate there. First, I had to cut-and-paste up extracts from the sample bylaws to form a suitable model for the Little Paxton Playing Field rules. Also, a letter or two of reply to constituents’ queries which took me up to lunchtime. Then an amount of financial work, reconciling accounts and updating my summaries etc that occupied the afternoon. Had to take Debbie to horse riding after tea and a riding companions’ mother kindly offered to bring her home afterwards as I had to get along to the Parish Council meeting.

The meeting this evening was another stressful affair; but at least the mood is changing and we are seeming to be getting somewhere at last. There were two members of the public each for planning committee before and then the main meeting which was welcome. The council accepted my bylaws draft with a few minor amendments, and then my proposal to put off a vote on the Parish Council vacancies until we had more information from each of them upon which to base our choice. The middle of the meeting was soured by Martyn Mawer going over the top on the contract conditions for the handyman again. The chairman wanted the F and G purposes committee to handle it and I pointed out that, under standing order number 29, employee’s terms and conditions should not be discussed in open meeting. Martyn decided to make a scene and resign which he is always threatening to do. Later, the meeting heard my plea for better public relations between the council and public, after a round of defeatist moaning about apathy and the problems of change, the idea of a Parish Council newsletter was accepted as worth discussing by the Leisure and Amenities committee. The two constituents descended on us afterwards with a grass cutting case query which Michael and I sorted out.