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Council leader invites PM to city

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Cabinet have been invited to meet in Portsmouth.

The invitation came from Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, following a historic Cabinet meeting in Birmingham today.The gathering was the first Cabinet meeting not to be held in London or at Chequers since 1921.

Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: "I'd like the PM and his ministers to see what a successful city Portsmouth is, but also to understand some of the challenges we face."

Cllr Vernon-Jackson's invitation letter follows:

 

Dear Prime Minister

I was extremely interested to hear today that the Cabinet was meeting in Birmingham, the first time they have met outside number 10 or Chequers in the last 80 years.

I understand that it is the intention of the Government to have meetings in other cities within the UK to give Ministers the chance to see the effects of Government policy on the ground.

I would be very happy to welcome yourself and your Cabinet colleagues to Portsmouth if you wish to have a meeting here. I think it would be a good opportunity to see some of the areas where government policy has worked and also to look at some of the areas where things have not been so positive.

I would like to highlight the following six areas, which I think could be interesting to yourself and your colleagues:

1. Housing for Local Families – Local council tenants continue to be taxed on their rents and this money removed from Portsmouth, whilst it should and could be used to either improve housing for residents in Portsmouth, or to provide new desperately needed new homes.
2. Health has seen significant investment over the last 10 years and waiting lists have fallen substantially, but there is still a lack of NHS dentists and hospital beds have been closing.
3. Transport – There is a need for enhanced public transport, but I understand funding for tram systems has now been downgraded by government when this could have a major effect on increasing public transport usage in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas. Allowing local councils more ability to pressure bus companies might help reduce the very high bus fares in Portsmouth, and everyone knows about the unmitigated disaster that train privatisation has been.
4. Flooding – Portsmouth is a coastal city and flooding is a real issue. We would welcome support with increasing flood protection.
5. Jobs and Economy – Portsmouth has dramatically increased its economic position in the UK and is now a major net contributor to the wealth of the country. Unemployment has significantly fallen and the decision to retain the Naval Base is extremely welcome.
6. Education – Schools in the city have made significant strides forward, although coming from a low base. We share the government’s commitment in driving up standards in Maths and English, but the government’s policy on forcing schools to compete with each other instead of co-operating seems to add nothing in capacity and just detracts schools from their core responsibility.

We would very much like to welcome you and your colleagues at your earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Leader of the council

Date : 08 September 2008

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