Council criticism was a little unfair
The letter from Francis Holland ("No confidence in district council", Mailbox, March 9) was critical of a Blaby District Council of some 20 years ago and there can be few, if any, members or officers still around from that time.
Even then the criticism is unfair.
For example, neither the provision of a doctor's surgery or a school was the responsibility of Blaby District Council – health was an NHS responsibility and the school was the responsibility of the county council.
It is also the case that the law around developer contributions was much weaker in those days.
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Nevertheless, the key point made by Francis Holland is accepted – that the council needs to turn its mind from processing a planning application to delivering the new community of Lubbesthorpe.
Our plans are already well advanced and if Francis Holland – and his neighbours if they wish – would like to visit me at the council offices on a date to be agreed, I would be more that happy to outline where we are with our plans and listen to any comment or advice that may be offered.
I can be contacted at:
cllr.white@blaby.gov.uk
Ernie White, leader, Blaby District Council.
Following the news that foreign doctors who want to work for the NHS in England will have to prove they can speak English well enough to treat patients, I think all people who come here to work should attempt to pick up the language sufficiently well to get by.
Those who intend to make Britain their home should aim to be fluent in English, in the fullness of time.
In the case of doctors and medical staff, they must become fluent in the context of medical practice without delay.
That seems so obvious to me I believe they should be required to pass a language test before taking up a medical appointment.
The EU does not help. In a report voted on last week, a note comment on migrants in the labour market included the line "wants to stop a lack of national language being a bar for settlement".
Derek Clark, UKIP MEP for the East Midlands.
Comments
by TomBirdMH
Monday, March 18 2013, 8:05PM
“The key issue here is Blaby's credibility in delivering a new community.
It's no good Cllr White bringing out the usual corporate bull of it was a previous administration, nothing to do with me, we've learnt lessons etc.
I have to agree with Mr Holland. Blaby simply are not up to the job.
The council is too concerned with the rural areas of the district and have turned their back on suburban residents. They simply unwilling to engage with the large scale populations of Braunstone, Glenfield, LFE and Kirby Muxloe. The councillors there are weak and do not work together to ensure that these areas get the best deal from Blaby.
Apart from getting their bins emptied, they get little from bankrolling the district. To all intents and purposes they are extensions of Leicester city.”