Darren Barrenger, community activist and former parliamentary candidate

Darren attended the Harwich Town Council meeting on Wednesday 16/09 as part of his engagement with the various communities across the Harwich & North Essex Constituency. At the meeting were presentations from the current Conservative cabinet member for Leisure at Tendring District Council and the previous cabinet member Councillor Pierre Oxley. Until recently a coalition of parties including Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Tendring First and Independents controlled Tendring District Council and Councillor Oxley described the improvements he had proposed and got agreed for Dovercourt Swimming Pool, including new changing facilities and access to the gym for people with disabilities. The meeting then heard from the current Conservative cabinet member who tried to explain to an increasingly frustrated audience that as reserves had not reached their own determined level of £4m then no expenditure in Harwich & Dovercourt would be possible. This is particularly disappointing since TDC reserves currently sit at around £3.8m with an Audit Commission recommendation of only £1.6m.  Darren was pleased that a large number of local people attended the Town Council meeting so they understand the damage that the current Tory Administration is doing to Harwich & Dovercourt.