Time to support our own!

One Swallow doesn’t make a summer! It is not one good quality that makes a man!

These are certainly two sayings that could well be used to paraphrase the Festive shopping period in Waterford City. Some, quite wrongly assumed, that as there appeared to have been large numbers of people visiting Waterford in December, taking in the wonders of Winterval, exploring the architecture of Ireland’s oldest city, visiting our retailers, that businesses have, figuratively speaking, made a “killing!”

This of course could not be further from the truth.

Many businesses have done well over the festive period, with the hotels, restaurants and entertainment establishments being particularly buoyant. There can be no doubt, that general retail had at best flat sales when compared to 2016 and some sales were even slightly down on last year. Many will ask just how this could be, when guesstimated numbers for Winterval could be in excess of half a million, going on the 2015 figures (we are still awaiting the official bean counter announcement)!

All the data released so far, will back up the fact that Christmas sales were, for many retailers, very disappointing. As these could account for up to 30% of a businesses’ annual turnover, the real cost of a poor Christmas, in terms of sales, hits home during the months of January, February and early March.

There are many contributing factors to these poor sales and there can be no doubt that countless shoppers, are simply holding on to more of their hard earned cash due to continued uncertainty in the economy. In addition, Waterford and across the wider southeast, we continue to be a low wage economy with higher unemployment, when compared to national averages. This in turn means that we have less disposable income to spend in our local shops. After all, if you only have €50 of disposable income in Waterford, compared to €150 in another city, then who will have a stronger, better economy – it really is that simple. WE have far less to go around.

 

For years we have suffered, as regional strategy, after regional strategy, has left Waterford City and the southeast’s economy trying to play catch-up.  We have been running the 100m, against the likes of Mr Bolt. But we have been wearing wellies that are two sizes too big, filled with custard and our lane has been coated in treacle! It is proving impossible to get on even terms, let alone be in with a chance of winning the race.

To throw even more fuel on the fire, we have very low third level attainment and we are the only region not to have a University. This in turn means that we have limited higher education capacity for our children. The lack of IDA visits is a constant thorn in our side and for the period 2011-2015 the southeast accounted for only 4% of new IDA jobs created. There are many other metrics that clearly show we have much to do to get back on an even keel. But then you the readers already know this! Don’t you?

But here is the crux of the issue. Getting people to talk openly and honestly about where our economy is, proves very, very difficult, time and time again. There are very few people willing to speak up, because they somehow fear that speaking the truth, will sound negative! Yet, our very own excellent academics, in WIT, have been saying the above for many years. So why can’t we be more honest and say it like it is?

If our businesses do not start speaking loudly enough to be heard, then many of those in power (locally and nationally) will, wrongly assume, that Waterford’s economy is “booming”. Come the Council budget next year, scores of our Councillors will vote for commercial rates increases. Maybe increased car parking charges, increased property taxes and who knows what else.

We need to stop being the “Quiet people of Waterford” and start to shout just a wee bit louder. In the meantime get out and support your local businesses – because once they are gone they are gone!

A New Year revolution – I mean resolution!

As we move into 2017, I wonder just what is in store for Waterford and its people.

2016, as many have pointed out on social media, has been another year, which could only be described as an “Annus Horribilis!” The year started off with so much promise. A very early general election was announced and there was much talk about “New Politics” for 2016. But alas, there was absolutely no movement away from the traditional parish pump political delivery of old. Something unfortunately, we in Waterford seem to be particularly bad at.

One of our nearest neighbours has this down to a fine art and perhaps we should take a lesson or two from him. People vote in their thousands, for the Teflon Mr Lowry, because he is like a tin of Ronseal and does exactly what it says on the label. Apparently, he does a good job for all his constituents, runs a very efficient constituency office, unequalled in the whole of Ireland, gets involved with public bodies, service providers and tackles the inefficiencies of officialdom, all for the good of his beloved County.

In fact, whilst our newly elected TD’s were enjoying themselves in Dublin, arguing amongst themselves or waving various pieces of paper, a certain Mr Lowry was working the corridors of power. He was achieving as much as he could, for the people who allowed him to return to Dublin. The fragile Government, that he found himself a part of, could be manipulated to his sole benefit and that is exactly what he did. In under a year he has delivered in spades for his constituency. All it seems even more impressive, having managed somehow, to do this with no significant negative media coverage. He also appears to have been able to get blood from a stone and all without having to “Be bought and sold for foreign gold”.

This is one politician, who has quite clearly has put his people first. First above all other matters and that is why he has been so successful at the ballot box.

In addition to a world with yet more blatant “Parish pump shenanigans”, that other sin of Irish politics, namely cronyism now seems to be de rigueur. There have been people appointed, on a seemingly “willy-nilly” basis, to boards, committees, quangos, high profile roles, senior civil servants posts and so on. Now, in theory, there should be no real issue with this, but when friends, family members and people with little or no experience are shoe-horned into roles, we have to ask “WHY?”

It is against this backdrop, we need to look more closely, at just what 2017 might or might not bring to Waterford and the wider south east region. Clearly, we have some very serious, continuing issues. There are NO political heavyweights, punching for us, in Dublin. In truth, we have no one fighting on the undercard.

Regionally we are suckered. There are just too many Mr Lowrys surrounding Waterford, all looking after and protecting their own patch to worry, or be concerned with Ireland’s oldest City. We appear to have found ourselves in one of Mr Boyle’s vacuums and getting out of it will unquestionably take more than a few New Year resolutions. I fear we’ll need a whole political revolution, to get this City back to its rightful place as the fourth City of the Republic.

But just how do we go about making that revolution happen?

The non-stick Mr Lowry knows, from the many thousands that interact with him, whether he is or isn’t delivering for Tipp. The people of his constituency are, quite rightly, involved with their very local political affairs. They want to know what is being delivered, locally and nationally, for their taxes. Making sure that Tipp gets not only a look at, but is allowed to choose from the A La Carte menu.

My hope for the year ahead, is that we the people of Waterford, simply get involved to make sure that those elected on our behalf, deliver for us and not for themselves.

Here’s to 2017 and some new politics. Happy New Year.

Time to find out who has the “Biggest Cojones!”

At the time of writing this wee column, Monday 5^th December, our Councillors had rejected the CEO’s proposed 2017 budget for Waterford Council. A budget which was presented to our 32 Councillors, at a plenary session, on Tuesday 29^th November. The basis of this overwhelming rejection, was due to the proposed Commercial Rates increase, to fill the now perennial black hole in the budget of around €1.3 million.

The meeting last week was watched by a “Packed” public gallery and press core. In reality, there were 5 members of the public in attendance. Only two stayed the course, for the three hour marathon meeting. In the end the members of the local press outnumbered the public by one!

Not really a great turnout for such an important meeting and the most essential function of our 32 Councillors.

The Pact, made up of our Fianna Fail, Fianna Gael and Labour Councillors, to a man and one woman, rejected unequivocally, the proposed budget. Based on the fact, that it was not the right time to be seen to be increasing Commercial Rates across Waterford City and County.

We even had Councillors Cummins (FG) and Quinlan (FF), who were both across the start line before any gun was fired! Reaffirming their position on the local airwaves, immediately after the budget meeting. Stating the position of their respective parties that a budget cannot be passed if it contains any Commercial Rates increases for 2017.

Now, I have no doubt that in the last seven days since the budget meeting, there has been an awful lot of shuttle diplomacy, Council Executive pressure cooker meetings with various Councillors, threats, counter threats and probably even the odd personal text message. Each side has been jockeying for position to try to see how a balanced budget can be passed.

The Pact laid down a very sizeable marker last week, when they rejected the CEO’s budget proposal. This was history in the making and a first for Waterford. Whilst, they did not show their hand there and then, or come up with an alternative budget, they did ask for two adjournments and another seven days of grace, in order to align their ducks. Seeking alternatives for the proposed budgetary increases in insurance, payroll and Irish Waterford fallout, to name but a few.

Now, the question must be, “Do the Pact have the Big Cajones to stick to their promise of a no rates increase?”

Seven days is a long time in politics and pressure influences people in many different ways. Many see pressure as a challenge and some just simply fold under it. With previous battle hardened cries simply turning into whispered whimpers, by those who don’t have big enough testes, to follow through with their promises.

So, if your are reading today’s newspaper and the headline news is a Commercial Rates increase for 2017, then we have Councillors who are frightened and are scared to carry out their one of their primary functions. Their spin after last week’s initial budget meeting was all for nothing and the dirty face of local politics has once again blighted Waterford’s progression.

However, ‘tis the season to be jolly and I for one, as a Scottish rugby fan and therefore an eternal optimist, hope that the Pact stand by their promise, to deliver an alternative budget with NO Commercial rates increase for 2017.

Waterford has yet to see significant green shoots and we need to get the message out that we are open for business. What we don’t need is yet another political charade. Bear in mind our competitors are slowly but surely sneaking ahead of us on many fronts. A wee trip to Wexford for example and you will see a significant amount of building, construction, cheaper car parking, heavy footfall....all done on the Q.T. They are not the only ones forging ahead of Waterford!

In many ways, having now aged several years, by being in attendance at last week’s landmark budget meeting, my appetite has only been whetted, as I await to see which of our Pact members delivers on their promise.