Something is happening and I don't know what it is

Since installing Google Analytics on this blog, it has apparently attracted 6,774 unique visitors, including one in Madagascar, two in Kenya, four in Argentina, 181 in Australia and, I hope, a few from Cornwall. Despite plagued by technical difficulties for most of last year, the blog has survived. I appreciate that a "unique visitor" is simply a computer terminal and probably not an accurate reflection of how many real people are reading. Nevertheless I'm fascinated by the Google data which tells me the primary language of some of my readers: 19 Spanish, 24 German, 26 Russian and 69 French. Anybody got any ideas what's going on here? Could these just be random landings?

Dwindling support for Cabinet Support Members

As we hurtle towards the first anniversary of Cornwall Council leader Alec Robertson's creation of Cabinet Support Members, it seems that the coalition partner, the Independent group, is so fed up with the idea that it's about to withdraw any support for it. Back in April 2011 this issue was "urgent." So still no majority in the council chamber. And bad news for those CSM councillors hoping to get Special Responsibility Allowances.
UPDATE: I should have made it clear that there is no council majority for CSM allowances, rather than the existence of CSMs per se (as long they as they do it unpaid.) Apologies for any confusion.

Outstanding schools face relegation

OutstandingProvidersList201011.xls
Scratching around the Ofsted website, it appears that four of Cornwall's secondary schools achieved "outstanding" status last year. They are Helston Community College, Newquay Tretherras, Penrice Community College and The Roseland Community College. But the new Ofsted criteria will require the quality of teaching to also be "outstanding" - and only Penrice meets this test. The teaching at Helston, Newquay and The Roseland was classed as only "good." No wonder the teachers were not very impressed with the new Ofsted yardstick.

Blood on the carpet?

Next week's full council meeting promises to be the most fun we've had in a long time. Motion proposed by Councillor Wallis, seconded by Councillor Long and supported by Councillors Robinson, Rowe and Rushworth:-

"The Local Government Act 1972 sets out that the Chairman of the Council is the civic head of the authority and is given precedence at civic events (this is not the case where there is an elected mayor or in the case of royal events where the Lord Lieutenant takes precedence). Therefore this Council recognises the intent of the Act and ensures that the Chairman, as the civic head of Cornwall Council, is lead and in attendance, at all events relating to the Olympic Torch Relay including the receiving of the Flame at RNAS Culdrose, at Lands End, at Truro and, if possible, at the handing over at the border with Devon and, beyond that at all future events of this stature and significance."

The price of greatness

Several Cornwall Councillors have asked me to post yesterday's Special Responsibility Allowances report from BBC Radio Cornwall's Breakfast programme, so here it is.

Don't mention the stadium

Quite possibly one of the more controversial recommendations for approval from a planning official for some time, advocating the construction of 1,500 houses on a mid Cornwall farm. The report says:

"The loss of 37ha of best and most versatile agricultural land is a significant adverse impact but at approximately 57% of the total site this is similar to that likely to result from development of any major green field site around Truro."

The adjacent land already has planning permission for the proposed Cornwall Stadium, but of course the two applications have to be dealt with separately. The housing proposal will need referal to the Secretary of State, there are objections from two local councils, the target date for a decision is November.

Calling all bar room lawyers

The recent excitement over Cornwall councillors who didn't pay their council tax on time prompted me to inquire into the responsibilities facing town and parish councillors. They also vote on taxes. On the basis of no evidence whatsoever, I suspect there might be more than a handful of town and parish councillors in Cornwall who at one time or another are behind with their council tax payments. Yet town and parish clerks don't have the information they need to prevent a breach of Section 106 of the 1992 Local Government Finance Act. Is this a law in need of review?