Archive for November, 2012
Friday, November 30th, 2012
Staffordshire’s newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, has welcomed Government proposals on minimum alcohol pricing.
Mr Ellis said, “I welcome and support the Home Office proposals. It’s wrong that strong, harmful alcohol can be sold so cheap and in large quantities. In the hands of some it can fuel anti-social binge drinking in neighbourhoods and town centres – particularly at night.”
The legacy of alcohol harm in parts of Staffordshire is significant and wide reaching. It affects individuals and families and puts massive demands on Staffordshire’s public services.
Mr Ellis continued, “I support this because it’s not just another tax, it’s targeted at cheap, harmful booze. It sends out a strong message that there are boundaries to behaviour and it reinforces personal responsibility.
“We do need to get the balance right with the night time economy. We all want thriving town centres, which are vibrant and benefit everyone – not the few.
“Minimum pricing isn’t a solution in itself, but it is an important part of a bigger picture. I want to work with partners to develop more detailed, wider plans to tackle the problem.
“I look forward to my experience with front line staff when I go out on patrol on a busy Friday night on 7th December. This isn’t about stopping people enjoying themselves but there shouldn’t be areas where people think twice about taking family and friends at certain times of the day.”
Friday, November 30th, 2012
Cllr Sue Arnold
Local Conservative District Councillor and successful businesswoman, Mrs Sue Arnold, is being put forward for the role of Staffordshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.
The appointment is being proposed by Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis and will be discussed at the county’s first Police and Crime Panel meeting on Monday 17 December.
Mr Ellis said, “Sue will bring her amazing drive and commitment to this exciting role. She has a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to everything she does. As well as an enviable 30-year track record in successfully building and developing businesses, Sue has also been Chairwoman of Business Link Staffordshire.
“Sue has served local communities as a councillor in the Mease and Tame ward of Lichfield and is keen and eager to deliver better public services for the people of Staffordshire. She will use her experience of engaging with communities and her strong business and human resources skills to help me hold the force to account and drive further improvement in policing services across the county.”
Mrs Arnold said, “This is an exciting new role and I intend to bring all of my business skills and experience of local-community working to serve the people of Staffordshire.”
Thursday, November 29th, 2012
The Mayor of Tamworth, Conservative Party Cllr Tina Clements, has thanked everybody involved in helping local residents during the horrific floods that hit Tamworth last weekend.
Cllr Clements said, “I would like to thank all the emergency services who have been working round the clock to ensure we are all kept safe in this week of the worst flooding most of us have ever seen. The Environment Agency who have also been working 24hrs monitoring the river levels, helping with evacuations and keeping us up to date with road closures.
“Also all staff from Tamworth Borough Council who have been called out to assist and the media department, who have kept the websites, twitter and Facebook accounts up to date with all info. To Alex Farrell and the team from TCRFM who have kept everyone locally informed of bridge closures road closures and all flood warnings.
“And finally, to the residents who have headed those warnings and have also phoned in to let us know where there have been problems.”
Anyone who requires info please contact the Environment Agency or check Tamworth Borough Council’s website.
Thursday, November 29th, 2012
Trevor Soult, Christine Still, Colin Still, Christopher Pincher MP
Tamworth’s Conservative Association hosted a successful Olympic dinner on Friday evening, 23 November, at Drayton Manor with guests from the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Christine Still, BBC Olympic Games commentator, talked about how she started as a gymnastics coach and some of the Olympic Games she has worked at for the BBC, Los Angeles 1984, Atlanta 1994, Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Her husband, Colin Still (Team GB Gymnastics Head Coach) then talked about life for the athletes at London 2012 and gave a slide show, with photos taken in the Olympic Village.
Cllr Jeremy Oates introduced the guests, The Mayor of Tamworth, Cllr Tina Clements, gave the loyal toast, Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, then gave the vote of thanks and Tamworth’s Conservative Chairman, Mr Trevor Soult, gave a speech thanking all for attending.
Over 60 local members and friends attended the event, which included a meal followed by a disco.
Thursday, November 29th, 2012
Christopher Pincher MP & Dan Byles MP
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, together with Dan Byles, North Warwickshire MP, met with Simon Burns MP, Minister of State for Transport, to discuss their concerns relating to HS2.
On the agenda was the latest compensation package announced earlier this month and the on-going battle for the best mitigation measures for local villages in Staffordshire and North Warwickshire.
Mr Pincher said afterwards, “It was a good opportunity to meet Simon Burns to discuss the impact of HS2 on local communities in Tamworth. I want villagers in Hints, Drayton Bassett, Knox Grave Lane, Swinfen and Packington in Lichfield District to receive the best mitigation and compensation package available. The new Long Term Hardship Scheme includes improvements on the current Exceptional Hardship Scheme but I remain concerned that it is too inflexible and still difficult to get.
“The Minister promised to look at this issues we raised and particularly the mitigation proposals submitted by local communities. HS2 is causing unasked for blight to businesses, families and communities. It is only fair that they receive a decent compensation and mitigation package.”
Mr Pincher is shortly to take more representatives of local villages in Tamworth constituency to see Professor Andrew McNaughton, Chief Engineer to HS2, to raise their concerns about mitigation measures.
Dan Byles MP commented, “All local MPs are working together to try to do the right thing for our communities. We both argued that compensation should be more freely available and flexible. It is far too rigid at the moment and not delivering compensation where it is clearly needed.
“I also raised concerns about the “safeguarding” approach which, around Gilson for example, leaves several homes effectively stranded and without any compensation.”
Specific issues, which were raised, included:
- The exact measurement of the proposed Voluntary Purchase Zone in North Warwickshire and Staffordshire. Mr Burns has committed to providing this information to both MPs
- The approach to safeguarding
- The definition of “long term” in the new Long Term Hardship Scheme (officials admit that “long term” only extends to a three year time horizon)
- HS2’s engagement in local Consultation Forums
- HS2’s lack of provision of adequate maps and briefing materials
- The lack of available and affordable alternative housing for those families and businesses that will be uprooted by the development of the railway
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
This week in Parliament, Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, asked the Secretary of State for Education what steps have been taken to support parents who wish to home-teach their children.
Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education, Elizabeth Truss, replied, “The Government respects the right of parents to educate their children at home. Parents who home educate their children have always taken on the full responsibility for their education.
“Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that provision set out in statements for children with special educational needs is met, including for those who are home educated. Local authorities also have wider duties towards children in their area who have special educational needs, and can support home educators in providing for such children.
“From 2013-14, parents of home educated young people wishing to send their child to a further education college will be able to register directly with the college without needing to seek the agreement of the local authority.”
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012
Cllr Ian Parry
A deal to safeguard school support services, protect thousands of jobs and bring in over £50m of investment, will go to Conservative Party controlled Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet for approval next week.
On Wednesday (5th December), Cabinet Members will be recommended to select Capita as the County Council’s partner in a new joint venture.
The partnership would have its headquarters in Staffordshire and provide an extensive package of services from school improvement to catering, ground maintenance and performing arts.
Under the proposed deal, 1,613 additional jobs will be created in Staffordshire in addition to the almost 4,000 staff transferring into the new joint venture. Capita will also bring over £50 million of investment, £40 million of which will be dedicated to staff and services over the next three years. The county council will receive a capital payment of nearly £32 million, which will be available to reinvest in a wide range of council projects and services including education, care for the elderly and looking after children in care.
Capita have committed to protect jobs and transfer all existing staff under TUPE regulations, meaning that their current pay and conditions will be protected. The deal will bring about vital investment and commercial expertise, meaning services to schools are sustained and around 4,000 jobs are protected. These would otherwise be lost in the face of reduced funding to schools and growing competition from the private sector. Rather than being forced to keep scaling back services, the county council has formed a radical solution that will avoid a potential ‘death by a thousand cuts’ situation.
County Councillor Ian Parry, Cabinet Member for Education, Finance and Transformation said: “This joint venture offers a once in a generation opportunity to both safeguard and improve services to schools, bring over £50 million of new investment into Staffordshire, and create 1,600 new jobs.
“Staffordshire is a well-run county council that takes an innovative approach to deliver the very best services. This decision will be taken after one of the most extensive, rigorous and robust procurement exercises we have ever done. We looked thoroughly at all the options and will make this decision based on a clear business case.
“Although both shortlisted bidders matched our values and objectives, the offer from Capita represents the best value for money for the council tax payers of Staffordshire. They are a top 100 FTSE company with extensive experience in the education and schools sector. They have a strong presence in education with 85% of schools in England using Capita products, and are involved a number of successful partnerships with other local authorities.
“Our partnership with Capita will be a joint venture. It is an innovative solution that will combine the best of the public sector – our knowledge and expertise in delivering services to schools – with the commercial acumen of the private sector, so that we can compete in the marketplace and ultimately safeguard around 4000 jobs for the future.
“We have engaged with schools and other stakeholders throughout the process, and will continue to engage with them as the new joint venture is formed. The offer from Capita represents a massive vote of confidence in both the excellent staff that work in these services, and in Staffordshire as a place to invest and do business.”
The recommendations will be taken to Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet, who will make the final decision on December 5.
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012
Cllr Michael Greatorex
Following publicity in the local press last Thursday about Tamworth Borough Council’s annual “Rent First” Campaign, Conservative Party Cllr Michael Greatorex, Housing Portfolio Holder, was asked by the BBC to participate in two discussions on BBC radio on the same day.
The first was on Radio WM’s early morning programme on 23rd November followed by Radio Five Live’s late night national programme. Both programmes concentrated on the Christmas Card sent to the Council’s tenants already in arrears with their rent in November and sought listeners’ views as to whether this was “a good idea or not.”
This year’s card was designed by a Tamworth schoolboy and it urged tenants to make payment of rent over the Christmas period a priority to avoid possible eviction for non-payment of rent. The card’s design and message that by paying rent it preserved the “best present ever Christmas present – your home” will also be appearing on the inside and outside of Tamworth’s buses in the run-up to Christmas.
However, it was the targeting of the Christmas card to those in arrears of rent, which provoked an exchange of opposing views over the radio and provided some welcome publicity for the Campaign.
Monday, November 26th, 2012
Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council is celebrating after becoming the first local authority landlord in the country to receive a prestigious accreditation for its work to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Council landlords and social housing providers across the country are inspected and rated by Independent body HouseMark on how effective they are at working to reduce ASB and make life better for tenants.
Tamworth Borough Council is the first council landlord in the UK to be awarded a three-year accreditation for its RESPECT charter, after 18 months of intensive assessments by HouseMark.
HouseMark scrutinised all aspects of the council’s work to reduce ASB and compared them against what other authorities and social landlords are doing.
Areas highlighted by the inspectors as best practise include commitment to reducing ASB, support to victims and witnesses by keeping them involved and informed at all times, the use of a service directory to improve accessibility of the service, a range of enforcement measures, a zero tolerance approach to ASB, and encouraging individuals and communities to take responsibility.
The community safety hub, based at Tamworth police station, acting as a one-stop shop where council staff and other organisations work together to tackle ASB, was singled out for special praise and held up as an example to be copied nationally.
The accreditation will be held by Tamworth Borough Council until November 2015. However, TBC is not resting on its laurels and an action plan is already under way to make the best even better and build on the existing success.
Plans include the appointment of a new Housing ASB co-ordinator based at the community safety hub, a new IT system to better track cases and keep action plans up to date, and more efficient budgeting.
Cllr Michael Greatorex, Cabinet member for Housing, said, “Tackling anti-social behaviour was rated as one of the top priorities by our tenants and this is about responding to them. We are now more confident that tenants can expect a good service when they experience difficulties.
“The housing team remains at the forefront of service improvement, and I am delighted that this has been recognised with this national accreditation.”
Sunday, November 25th, 2012
Conservative Party Mayor Consort for Tamworth and Deputy Mayor of Fazeley, Cllr Simon Clements was voted in as the new Chairman of Tamworth’s Twinning Association at its AGM held last Thursday, 22 November.
After his election as Chairman, Cllr Clements paid tribute to the outgoing committee and thanked them for all their hard work.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Clements said, “Tamworth twinning was started over 30 years ago with our twin town in Germany Bad Laasphe and just over 10 years ago we twinned with Vaujours in France.
“The ethos of twinning is to allow like-minded groups of people to twin with the same sorts of groups in the twin towns and over the years, many sporting triumphs have been had with teams from both sides of the water. More recently with Bolehall Swifts Juniors going over to France for a tournament. Next year Tamworth Voices are visiting to sing with the choir in Vaujours.
The Twinning Association are looking for other people to join them and anybody interested should contact the Membership Secretary by phone 07971 230 383 or email susan.eleanor.powell@gmail.com. The fees for 12 months are individual £7.50 family £15 and corporate £25.
The Association also holds regular fundraising events, the next event is a quiz night at the Royal British Legion on Friday 11th January 2013, and ticket prices are £5 per team of four.
If you are a group that is interested in twinning with a group the same as yourselves then please contact the Membership Secretary or Association Chairman Cllr Simon Clements by phone 07852 301 931 or email simon.clements40@ntlworld.com.
Staffordshire’s newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, has welcomed Government proposals on minimum alcohol pricing.
