LETTERS
My father worked for Coventry City Council for well over 40 years. He accepted that his wages were lower than in the private sector because it was an honour to be a public servant.
This “public sector ethos”, serving the citizens of Coventry, was shared by his colleagues. In return they did have more job security and a good pension.
Margaret Thatcher wanted the public services to be like private companies and the citizens to be treated like customers.
The result has been that, like the private sector, those at the top get very high wages and bonuses regardless of whether they are successful or not. In large companies fat cats are often rewarded for failure.
The “customer focus” in the public sector means that what is spent on services is more important than what is achieved
It must be difficult for our low paid workers to have a public sector ethos when the bosses are disproportionately rewarded. Why have our councillors allowed this to happen?
Rob Wheway
Coventry Liberal Democrats
Carthusian Road
Coventry
I would like to say thank you to the residents who re-elected me as a Woodlands Ward’s councillor for a third term on Thursday May the 3rd.
The result was amazing having won by 999 votes and taking a 56% share of the vote. This could not have been achieved without their support.
It is real privilege and honour to represent residents on Coventry City Council.
I promise to continue to serve the community to the best of my ability over the next four years, no matter what your political views are. I look forward to continuing to work with Cllr’s Peter Male and Gary Ridley.
Coun Julia Elizabeth Lepoidevin
Woodlands
Coventry
I am delighted to have been re-elected as a Westwood Ward Councillor.
The election was once again very well run under the leadership of Dr Martin Reeves, Chief Executive of the City Council and Mrs Liz Read, who heads the Electoral Services team.
I am very grateful to my good friends Cllr Marcus Lapsa and Cllr Tim Mayer; to students from Warwick and Nottingham Universities; and to the numerous people in the Conservative Party and outside who helped in so many ways.
Above all, I thank the residents of Westwood Ward who so kindly supported me. It is personal honour to serve them in this way and I shall take the duties very seriously indeed.
Coun David Skinner
Westwood Ward
Members Support, Coventry City Council
Council House, Earl Street
In this our 50th year, Anchor recognises that loneliness is nearing epidemic proportions and is something which concerns the older people living with us. According to the Campaign To End Loneliness, more than half the country’s 75 year olds currently live alone which increases the likelihood of mortality by 26%.
As we deliver housing, care and support to 40,000 older people from our 1,000 locations across England, Anchor does its utmost to prevent this. The older people living in retirement housing properties, like mine, benefit from living in a thriving community. I’m also around if they need any support.
That is why I welcome the Government’s decision to appoint Tracy Crouch as its Minister for Loneliness. We wish her every success.
And local retailers can also help older people, particularly those living alone, to reduce their sense of loneliness. Anchor’s Standing Up 4 Sitting Down campaign is asking retailers to provide seating so that older shoppers, as well as disabled people and pregnant women, can rest mid-shop. A shopping trip may be a weekly chore for many but for some older people living alone it’s a chance for social interaction and could be a life saver.
Innocent Chagiye
Manager, Leofric Lodge
Heath Crescent
Coventry
