Councillor discusses the importance of Wesgt Norfolk Riding for the Disabled at Runcton Holme and budget amendments
In our latest Friday Politics column, Cllr Pallavi Devulapalli discusses visit to a riding school for the disabled and Chinese New Year…
Whatever else one can say about council meetings, it makes for an interesting study of human beings.
It's fascinating to watch councillors who have no problem with passing budgets that cut disability living allowances at Norfolk County Council, and then making a big deal of wanting to give away sums of money to charities in West Norfolk.
We had a councillor propose various amendments to the budget at the last full council to give away random sums of money to organisations that he felt were suitable for the extra support.
The additional money proposed for food banks was passed unanimously.
Other proposals were debated - including a sum of money for the night shelter and another for domestic abuse charities, not because they were unworthy of being financed but because there had not been enough scrutiny to ensure the money was going to be utilised most cost-effectively and provide long-lasting benefit to those for whom it is intended.
I believe as councillors, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that any public money we commit to spending has undergone a thorough review process, with all the options considered and the best one chosen for value for money, and quality of service.
Of course, none of this stopped a few councillors from political point scoring on the night and subsequently in the press.
I do think though, that people see through such empty words and gestures.
Especially when the Conservative Party is nationally presiding over the worst devastation of public services in living memory- with the NHS, social care, trains, roads, water and sewage systems, schools and dentistry services, all barely functioning at best.
They seem to have run out of ideas, and I think many people will be glad to see the back of them at the end of their term of office. For most of us, a general election cannot come soon enough.
In other news, I had the pleasure of being invited to the Magpie Centre following a successful grant application from my councillors allowance.
The manager Bee Ford was welcoming and showed us around the site with its open fields, well-looked-after horses, sensory garden and outdoor learning shed.
This short video on their websitegives a feel for what they are doing at the Centre - offering riding, carriage driving, Equine Assisted Learning and Tea with a Pony to people living with disabilities in our community.
They currently have between 100 and 120 participants per week and are supported by 77 volunteers and seven part-time staff. If anyone would like to apply to volunteer, ride or carriage drive with them, they can use the website or email their administrator at MagpieCentreWNRDA@hotmail.co.uk
I also attended Chinese New Year celebrations hosted by the Downham Market International Club at Downham Library.
The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month between 5.30 and 7pm. All are welcome to drop in - and it's free!
In their own words: "The Downham Market International Club brings people of all ages and nationalities (Chinese, Ukrainian, Turkish, Bangladeshi, Indian, and Welsh, to name a few!) together for friendship, to learn about different cultures and sometimes to share food, music and even dance from around the world.”
One regular said: "Sometimes I feel alone and if I come to the library I feel very good because I meet many people, I learn languages, new experiences, and new cultures."
Another regular summed up the club's Chinese New Year celebration and said: "It was a very joyous evening."
