These questions relating to important issues in our city, have been waiting to be presented in person to the council when, they actually meet with representatives from Occupy Nottingham for open dialogue to discuss the reason we are here... we are still waiting!

OCCUPY NOTTINGHAM QUESTIONS TO NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL

1. This initial set of questions relating to current local issues, was compiled and collectively agreed upon to be presented to the council and to be put to the councilors and MP's of Nottingham, by Occupy Nottingham at the Public Assembly on 18th January 2012.
2. We do not see how making even more cuts to our essential local services are going to help our communities or improve the people of Nottingham's standard of living. As such why is the council cutting services yet holding events such as goose fair, the beer festival, and markets on the square and charging high rents to local traders when we do not gain any benefit for our communities, and we would like all the cuts that have been made to our local services to be justified, as we do not see them as necessary or acceptable. We ask what is the council spending its money on that is so much more important than the citizens, services and communities of Nottingham?
3. Our city is becoming increasingly impoverished with tax avoidance, cuts and underfunding, what are our councilors and MP's doing to stand up against this for our city in parliament? Why are companies such as Boots being allowed to get away with avoiding paying tax, and therefore taking revenue away from this city unchallenged, what are the councilors and MP's doing about this?
4. Old age pensioners have suffered from a reduced care & winter allowances, resulting in increased hardship & suffering, how can this be justified?
5. Why are we having to pay increasingly more for basic services in our city, yet see no benefit to our communities for such fees? We have seen millions spent on refitting shopping centers for businesses and building fancy new offices for the city's bureaucracy, why aren't the communities, services and people of Nottingham being put first?
6. Why do dogs have to pay for travel on buses when they do not use a seat, you don't pay for babies, toddlers, pushchairs, prams, wheelchairs or luggage so why should people be charged for dogs?
7. We have highlighted the homeless issue with the council. What is the council now doing towards helping the increasing numbers of homeless people on the streets of Nottingham, and the problems this creates for the city?
8. With many people struggling to pay their bills, live and make ends meet financially, increasing council tax will bring even more people below the poverty line. Considering the poor employment situation and that basic pay & pension rates do not reflect inflation, what are the council and our MP's doing about this, and how do you justify such an increase?
9. We would like to know why the citizens of Nottingham are not allowed to drink on public parks, but the students are? Furthermore we believe the council has no right to restrict Nottingham's citizens enjoyment of our public places in nicer weather, by barring us from enjoying a drink with a picnic, or whilst relaxing.
10. We have raised the issue of a complete lack in late night toilet facilities for anyone going out, traveling, or working in or around the city center very late night or early morning. Consequently this has created a serious health and hygiene hazard in the city, with the amount of people using the streets and alleyways as a toilet. Has the council now initiated adequate plans to resolve this problem?
11. Nottingham Castle is one of the city's most important historical buildings, and most famous and well loved pieces of heritage. It was well maintained and preserved, and free entry for Nottingham's citizens, now it is run down, understaffed and underfunded, yet Nottingham's citizens now have to pay entry to the site. Furthermore private licensed events which now take place there and yield a high revenue, but do not raise any finance for the castle, nor do they essentially respect the castles heritage. Rather they create more expense through the damage and wear resulting to the historical site from such a large amount of extremely drunk people being there at one time. Why is the council allowing this famous site to fall into disrepair?
12. Why is our Brewhouse Yard museum being closed to the public, apart from pre-booked visits?
13. Why is the council planning to build a toxic waste disposal site on our very doorsteps at Eastcroft, without clearly explaining to the public the risks and implications of such a plant to our local communities, peoples health and the environment, of a chimney doubled in height, & a plant increased to three times its current size?
14. What gave the council the authority to lay claim to ownership & sole rights of the Old Market Square on 12th December 2011, when it had remained in undisputed ownership by the Citizens of Nottingham since 1275 until that date? As far as we are aware only a royal decree can grant such permission, and if this was given, why were Nottingham's citizens not informed, what has happened to Nottingham's deeds from 1275 which the land registry documents say no longer exist, how has the council managed to lose Nottingham's historical documents which detail the citizens ownership of land?
15. Why has other land and property gifted to the citizens of Nottingham been sold for profit by the council, where was the authority for them to do this, and if the council had authority, why were the citizens of Nottingham not clearly informed of what was being done, and furthermore if the council had the authority to sell these, why didn't each of Nottingham's citizen's get a share?
16. We are the new merry men and women of Sherwood Forest, we stand together and fight against greed, corruption, injustice, inequality, oppression and tyranny. Robin Hoods spirit is with us, we are from Snottingaham where the Snots come from, we are proud of our history and heritage. We stand against the greedy and wicked Sheriff's men and women, and we will not give up nor ever forsake our people and land, we will not be pushed away.