The Votes Are In The Bag

The big councillor said to the little councillor “How can we keep our council tax low so that voters are so grateful that they keep voting us into power?” The little councillor said “That’s easy we just increase our parking charges and the periods for which people must pay”. The big councillor replied “But to really make money we need more car parks”. The little councillor’s eyes lit up “Let’s knock down the old Aveling and Porter building and turn it into a car park like we did with the 800 year old Rochester Market – people have forgotten that already!”

“Great idea” enthused the big councillor “And there must be so many other old buildings around that we can turn into car parks – what about THE CASTLE?” They refilled their glasses, toasted the idea, signed off their expenses claims and relaxed on the plush council sofa. “And now that we have managed to get rid of our City Status through our incometance we don’t need THE CATHEDRAL either!” Their faces beamed as their creative juices flowed. “And if we provide a really inadequate bus service people will HAVE to use their cars!” This was too easy, it was obvious to the two dignitaries that special skills, vision, respect for community and heritage were no longer required in modern local government. As if with one voice they said “We could call it REGENERATION nobody can argue with that! They shook hands, drank another toast and agreed that the votes were in the bag.