Report to the People
14th August 2006
Tools
for the Job
With the exception of anyone
caught up in last Thursday’s airport disruption, holidaymakers are usually
full of good intentions when they return from their summer break.
How often have you arrived
home determined to lose weight, or learn a language, or get on with some home
improvements? Sadly, your
enthusiasm often fades as fast as your tan and your newly-purchased treadmill,
Spanish dictionary, or cordless drill remain unused.
At least when we buy all the
tools for a job with which we then can’t be bothered, it’s only our own
money we’re wasting. But, if
public bodies do the same, everyone loses.
The Scottish Parliament, for
example, has invested much in giving local authorities the necessary tools to
tackle antisocial behaviour. Sadly,
however, those who now enjoy these powers don’t seem overly keen on putting
them to use.
As First Minister, Jack
McConnell, heard when he visited the east end of Greenock on Friday, this lack
of action is making decent people’s lives a misery. Options like noise nuisance warning and fixed penalty
notices, dispersal orders and ASBOs are there to be used.
And when they are, they do make the difference.
So what can we do?
The first step in overcoming some authorities’ disinterested attitude
is knowing exactly what powers they have at their disposal and demanding that
they are used. To this end, I have produced a simple guide to the remedies
now available. Drop me a line, or
call my office (791820) for your copy.
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