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John Cox - Independent Banff & District - The Enterprise & Tourism Ward
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Letter to Fishermen
Tourism
April, 2011
Blog
Accommodation & Leisure Industry
4/29/2011 6:00:37 PM

Tourism is high on all political agendas however the reality is, it is the poor relation when it comes to financial support and Government policies.


As a comparison, when major new sports facilities are built for the Olympics or Common Wealth Games, Football World Cups or any other major event along with the new sports facilities is new accommodation.

Scotland is expected to attract people here, spend money and come back again. Is this possible without modern, appropriate accommodation?

Modern quality accommodation required to meet demand is from small B & B’s, Bunker type (for Back packes & Cyclists), Hostels to 5 star hotels.

Banks have put the licensed trade at the bottom of the list for finance. Who can blame them when the market is depressed. With increasing overheads and bureaucracy there is very little appetite for private investment.

If the Governments are serious then they must take lessons from other EU countries. Huge capital investment and reduced VAT in restaurants. They also have adequately financed marketing strategies.



 


We require a new commercial approach by Governments if tourism is to capitalise in its full economic potential. People treat the Hospitality trade as though it is low skilled. We can demonstrate it is a good professional trade to be in, can be rewarding but it requires the same intervention as Banks, Car Industry, Agriculture, Renewables Etc. 
General Letter Updated 28-04-11
4/28/2011 12:39:46 PM

 


I am an Independent MSP Candidate for the Scottish Parliamentary Election on the 5th May.

My manifesto can be downloaded from www.john-cox.co.uk I am updating my website daily with blogs so please read them for the latest news and views.

I appreciate many people are non political, or may have a strong affiliation to a political party, however putting this aside voting for me on the Regional List could have huge impact on the balance of power and who will lead the next Scottish Government. The outcome will be very close and Independent MSP's will have the opportunity to play an influential role in the next term of the Scottish Parliament. Party Politicians put their political party first. My priority will be North East communities.

Key issues to consider.

·There will be many more cuts to council services. Unlike previous cuts, you and your family will be affected. From schools, leisure facilities, health care, roads, education and many other front line services. The North East loses out in Government funding despite the national wealth generated from Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Engineering, Whisky etc,etc. The North East is financing the rest of the country south of the border.

·The debate regarding a Single Police and Single Fire Service contradicts previous commitments to decentralise public services. There is a further push centralising procurement and issue large local authority and central government tenders and contracts. This will have a dramatic impact on small rural businesses especially in the North East as only large national companies will be able or allowed to tender. As an example, several of our medium sized builders are no longer invited to tender for large housing or new school projects. It was not that long ago many rural bus operators went out of business after losing school bus contracts because many of the contracts were pooled together and Stagecoach picked up most of the work or were the only company tendering.

·Roads and Transport. Some political parties are committed to the Aberdeen Bypass but have not guaranteed a start date. At the last election there were promises it would be built and almost complete by now. Other examples of the North East not receiving the same support for road investment in comparison to the central belt receiving investment in trams, scrapping toll charges, new rail links and extensions to motorways are;

oNo guarantee to address the Haudagain Roundabout bottleneck

oGreen Party will not support the Aberdeen Bypass (WPR) (This is in their Manifesto)

oNo guarantee for a Dundee Bypass

oNo guarantee to upgrade the A90 to a motorway

oNo guarantee to upgrade rail links and provide new stations.

oNo guarantee to improve the A96, A947, A93, A92, A957 and A932 main routes in the region

·Relocation of Government departments. This policy was to spread the economic benefit government departments with many staff bring to an area. This policy or strategy did commence but it has come to a standstill.

 No further commitments to relocate any other department or sectors to the North East for example;

§Marine Scotland

§Arts, Culture and Sport

§Farming and Rural Affairs

§Climate Change

§Business and Industry

·Support to Regenerate Towns & Villages. The strategy that the economy will improve with the focus on city centre investment and regeneration is flawed. We require equity of support to both rural towns and villages as well city centre regeneration programmes.

·Education and life sciences. Both Aberdeen and Dundee have renowned reputations in pioneering new technology for health and medicine. In contrast several schools in the region perform to very low levels. Pupils deserve to be better prepared and have the qualifications and skills required to suit local business needs. This is the norm in several other countries. With today’s communication children either in large schools or those in remote parts of Scotland can have access to world renowned educationalists. Teaching methods have to be modernised to meet today’s economic and social demands. The benefits of building new schools are limited if there are no up to date or adequate teaching resources to go with them.

My manifesto covers many other important issues, although very briefly. The follow are my key national objectives:

·         Retention of regional democratic control and management of Emergency Services

·         Local empowerment of public services

·         Regional economic policies to generate prosperity and employment

·         Investment in educational facilities, personnel and modernise so Scotland is recognised for high achievement and opportunity for all

·         Increase provision of nursery and childcare facilities and resources

·         Reduction of public bodies and greater reform of public services to reduce unnecessary tiers of bureaucracy

·         Equity of local public services including sports and leisure facilities

·         Investment in housing, social & health facilities and services

·         Development of improved road and public transport infrastructure and services

·         Investment in law and order including pro active intervention and appropriate custodial & non custodial sentencing

·         Safeguard Scotland's assets and business and retention of headquarters in Scotland

·         Develop high technology, engineering and manufacturing

·         Scrutiny to ensure financial support for businesses and not profiteering for city bankers bonuses

·         Regional control and management of fish stocks and introduction of new Scottish fishing policies to replace political EU policies and control.

If you require further detail or questions on any matter please do not hesitate in contacting me.

Please note I am on the Region List (you have 2 votes for the Scottish Parliament, 1 for the Constituency and the other for the Regional list).

Don’t waste your 2nd vote. If your preferred candidate is near the bottom of the political party list, this could be a wasted vote as they will have little chance of securing enough votes for all candidates in their list they way the system works.

 I believe I have demonstrated I am more than capable to speak up for the North East. You must choose and decide which MSP is needed to represent you or alternatively someone filling a seat wearing a political badge.

Please, please forward this email to as many of your own contacts as possible as it is impossible for me to meet and talk to everyone from Buckie to Dundee.

Yours sincerely and thank you for reading this message.

John Cox


Facebook John Cox for MSP
Business Rates
4/27/2011 11:14:06 PM

Received a good comment about business rates.




 


A small business turnover about £1m (my guess) 30 plus employees pays business rates which are a very large part of the overhead.




 


An office in London with a few employees turning over £bs pays very little business rates. Something not right.

Another Greenpeace attack on the Fishing Industry
4/24/2011 7:29:48 PM

A Greenpeace sponsored study has found fish sold in supermarkets wrongly labelled. Although there were only a few samples found containing different fish than the label the newspaper headline was enormous.


The only solution to the Scottish Fishing Industry is to hand it back to Scotland's control not centralised and policy managed by land locked country's politicians.


They blame the fishermen to hide their gross incompetence for distroying an industry and culture.


 

Manifesto Mistake
4/21/2011 9:29:25 PM

Despite the proof reading and checks it should be DEPRIVATION not DEPRAVATION.


Apologies if I have offended anyone.

Letter to Fishermen & Fishing Communities
4/20/2011 10:36:41 AM

Dear Fishermen


You may be aware I am an Independent MSP Candidate on the North East Scotland Region list.

Although no longer a stake holder in the industry I have kept closely involved through the council sitting on the NE Scotland Fisheries Partnership and more recently Chair of Moray Firth IFG.

A few years ago now I was Chairman of the Scottish Fish Merchants Association so I have a track record over many years of looking after the industries interest.

I do not wish to criticise current or previous Fishing Ministers or Governments as there are too many to mention. It would be fair to say they have not left a very good legacy following their terms in office.

Scottish Fishermen have come through great turmoil but they have demonstrated professionalism and forward thinking. Despite this there are still threats with new regulations and policies coming from all Governments.

With all the conservation steps the industry has and is taking, the external pressures such as Marine Protected Areas, Strategic Sea Areas, Scottish and Uk Marine Plans, Offshore Renewables, Political Conflict with other fishing nations and the various Environmental groups putting economic prosperity of our coastal fishing communities into further decline, the industry will require experienced political and knowledgeable representation .

The North Sea and Moray Firth has changed considerably since the discovery of Oil & Gas and without the crystal ball it is difficult to imagine all the further changes and threats that will lead to more fishing restrictions.

Some changes that would be beneficial ;

·         Marine Scotland relocated closer to the Scottish Industry.

·         Finance provided to sustain the fleet rather than decommission unnecessarily.

·         Total regional control and not talking shops.

 I offer an understanding of the industry and our fishing dependent communities. As an independent MSP I will not be influenced to keep to any party political manifesto or to trade the industry for other political priorities.

I would be more than happy to meet with you or any representatives should you wish to interrogate me for more of my thoughts in supporting the Fishing Industry.

Please forward this letter to as many of your colleagues and persuade them if you are minded to vote for me on the Regional list, their 2nd vote.

Yours sincerely

John Cox

Independent Candidate Scottish Parliamentary Election 5th May, Regional List
Letter to Newspaper Editors - Talk no Guarantees
4/19/2011 4:50:40 PM

Dear Editor


Lots of Talk no Guarantees


Much of the debate regarding the forth coming election has been about personalities not the issues that affect our communities here in the North East.


Prior to the last election there was a commitment for the Aberdeen Bypass. As far as I am aware the development was in 3 parts. The appeal was only in regard to the middle section so why has the Northern Leg not started.


The following routes should be an economic priority and all candidates should address the following;


Why?


No guarantee to address the Haudagain Roundabout


No guarantee for a Dundee Bypass 


No guarantee to upgrade the A90 to a motorway 


No guarantee to upgrade rail links and provide new stations.  


No guarantee to improve the A96, A947, A93, A92, A957 and A932 main routes in the region


During the last term of Government there were several initiatives to help central belt transport infrastructure and costs. Bridge Tolls scrapped, Edinburgh Trams, new Rail Links and funding for the new Forth Road Bridge.


Putting things into perspective there is no definite guarantee  the North East Region will see major improvements to our roads and public transport infrastructure.

The North East Scotland Region is the economic driver not only for the rest of Scotland but the UK. As an example the North Sea Oil is being taxed to subsidise 60m drivers south of the border. The huge increase in the price of a barrel of crude oil is paying massive dividends to the Westminster Treasury. Do we receive any benefit from this! No just increasing fuel pump prices.


Along with the proposed centralising of the Fire and Police services, bias to central belt transport infrastructure and the trading away North East Scotland’s assets such as fishing requires a stronger voice representing the communities of the North East not the political aspirations of central belt politicians and their policies.


John Cox

 



Independent Candidate North East Scotland Regional list for the Scottish Parliamentary Election

Jobs Jobs Jobs
4/14/2011 3:22:05 PM

Lots of talk about investment and creating jobs coming from the main Political Parties.


Very interesting to read about the new support for apprentices. I think it is good both for youth and for businesses. The problem I have is where the jobs will be after they have gained the skills. What is not being discussed is the number of people who will be coming  onto the job market and with retirement age increasing this will also reduce the opportunity for new employment.


So it is easy for me to point out the obvious but what are the solutions. Taxation has to be relaxed for business start up and job recruitment. Current telecommunications, roads, rail and shipping constrain economic growth.


Can we learn the lesson from the Swiss and the world wide reputation for Swiss Watches as an example?


What ever happened to Scotland the brand. We have the world class products, the technology. By establishing Made in Scotland and www.anybusiness.scot on every product, not only will we sell more products but attract new business to Scotland.     

Renewables
4/6/2011 7:02:11 AM

I agree with the leader Highland Council, local communities should benefit from offshore renewables. I thought we would learn the lesson from the Oil Industry. We missed the opportunity of a levy similar to Norway instead the Crown Estate are cashing in on Scotland natural asset.


More on this story follow link to BBC website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12969980

New Web Site
4/1/2011 9:11:28 AM

My new web site was launched today. Have a look at http://john-cox.co.uk/

10 items total

Councillor John Cox Aberdeenshire Council - Banff & District Ward