Archive for June, 2013
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Christopher Pincher during a previous meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport
On Tuesday 25th June Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, will lead a delegation of local people to meet the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick Mcloughlin MP, to discuss their concerns about the impact of Hs2 on their communities.
Representatives from Hints, Drayton Bassett and Weeford, together with County Councillor Alan White, who chairs the local HS2 Community Forum, will present Mr McLoughlin with a list of mitigations they want to see for their villages and communities. Proposals will include the rebuilding of the Knox Grave Lane community’s homes in another area away from the line and a tunnel at Hints.
Mr. Pincher said, “I am pleased that the Secretary of State has found time to meet us so we can raise with him directly our concerns about HS2 and ask him to take action. I will also raise my concern that there is no Property Bond compensation mechanism explicitly linked to the proposed Paving Bill on HS2, which will be tabled in the House of Commons next week. I will be discussing this Bill, which is partly about compensation funding, directly with the responsible minister, Simon Burns MP, this week.”
Mr Pincher also visited the HS2 Environmental Statement “road show” at Hints village hall on 18th June. A steady stream of concerned residents arrived at the hall to quiz a bevy of HS2 experts on everything from the impact on ancient woodland to noise mitigation.
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Cllr Robert Pritchard, Deputy Leader of Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council, is calling on councillors to support his proposal to honour LCpl Watchman V (and his successors) by presenting him with the “Freedom of the Borough of Tamworth.”
Cllr Robert Pritchard believes this is a very important proposal that will honour our historic links with the Staffordshire Regiment (now 3 Mercian).
LCpl Watchman V is the former regimental mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment and still carries out numerous duties. He is loved by former Staffords, current 3 Mercian soldiers and most of all – the public. LCpl Watchman V is the fifth mascot to carry the name Watchman, and it has been handed from one mascot to the next.
The Staffordshire Regiment was merged with other regiments in 2007 leading to the formation of the Mercian Regiment here in Tamworth. The Staffordshire Regiment became their third battalion and like the rest of the regiment adopted LCpl Derby (a ram), who was the mascot of the Worcester Foresters.
The Mercian Regiment no longer officially recognise LCpl Watchman V as a mascot and this has ended a very long and treasured tradition of the Staffordshire Regiment. Although LCpl Watchman V no longer has any official position in the Mercian Regiment, he is still serving and working to promote the actions being carried out by all soldiers in the Mercian Regiment. Furthermore, he still actively engages in local events including the Olympic Torch relay celebration here in Tamworth last year.
This lack of official recognition LCpl Watchman V no longer has the Freedom of the Borough and would be present with the Regiment when it marches through Tamworth. This honour was enjoyed by previous Watchman when the Staffordshire Regiment held Freedom of the Borough.
Cllr Robert Pritchard’s proposal would further cement Tamworth’s special links with the Mercian Regiment, while remembering the local significance of the Staffordshire Regiment.
Cllr Pritchard said, “I think it is important that we have such a powerful and significant symbol of Staffordshire regaining the honour and joining the Mercian Regiment when they return home to Tamworth. I am very confident that most other Staffordshire towns will follow our example.”
He added, “As you can imagine there is a lot of passion over LCpl Watchman V’s importance, especially as many regular army veterans in Tamworth are former Staffords. Like them, I would very much like to see LCpl Watchman V again in Tamworth, carrying out his duties with unique the Staffordshire links he provides, while backed up with restoration of the important “Freedom of the Borough of Tamworth” status.”
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, attended the HS2 Road-Show in Hints village hall on Tuesday 18th June, as part of the Draft Environmental Statement Consultation.
The Environmental Statement sets out the fine details of the construction phase for the project including mitigation.
Mr Pincher said, “I discussed a number of issues with HS2 experts including further mitigation for Hints Drayton Bassett and Weeford and what further measures can be taken. I also raised some concerns about train noise and the volume of construction traffic around Drayton Basset, Fazeley and the Sutton Road.
“I still hope the government will consider a Property Bond compensation scheme to underwrite the value of homes affected by HS2 and so help reduce the blight that afflicts many homes and entire villages.”
Mr Pincher will also lead a delegation of community representatives from Hints, Weeford and Drayton Bassett to the Department of Transport in London next week (Tuesday 25th June) to meet Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP, so he can hear directly local concerns.
A steady stream of concerned local residents arrived at Hints village hall throughout the day. Within half an hour of opening, more than twenty residents were in the hall talking to HS2 experts.
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council has agreed an extra £3.8m a year for private residential care homes across the county.
The County Council have approved a 13.2% increase in the amount it pays for private care places, an average rise of £46 per week. The authority currently spends about £58m a year for 3,500 people in private homes and council-run care facilities.
Cllr Robbie Marshall, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said, “Our review of fees for care homes for our vulnerable people has taken into account all of the relevant care costs.
“If someone needs residential or nursing care but is unable to pay for it, we must make arrangements to provide care in a place of the person’s choice.”
The council have also confirmed that the increase in fees will apply from the start of the current financial year, and will be backdated to the start of April 2013.
Saturday, June 15th, 2013
Saturday, June 15th, 2013
Cllr Robbie Marshall, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
An ambitious five-year plan was officially launched this week (Thursday) by the Conservative controlled County Council to help transform the lives of people who live in Staffordshire.
The “Living Well in Staffordshire” strategy aims to focus on prevention, better care in the community, equal access to quality healthcare and addressing the wider factors, which impact on health.
Cllr Robbie Marshall, Joint Chair of Staffordshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board and Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said the plan would result in a radical overhaul of how care is delivered.
Robbie said, “Our plan sets out how we want to see health and social care delivered in the county between now and 2018. For far too long, we have prioritised spending around people once they need treatment in hospitals, when it would make much better sense to invest in preventing illness in the first place. Helping people to make the right choice to lead healthier lives is essential.
“Wellbeing is influenced by a wide range of factors such as education, jobs, experience of crime and while Staffordshire is “healthier” than many other areas, this plan will help to reduce any inequalities that exist and provide people with appropriate quality care at every stage of their lives.”
The plan covers five key areas from birth to supporting residents continue to live an independent life for as long as possible in their twilight years. This include supporting families to be active and eat well, reducing harm from avoidable causes such as alcohol, offering tailored support to help people live independently in the community and investment in dementia care.
Staffordshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board was set up in April 2013, and brings together partners across the public sector including county borough and district councils, clinical commissioning groups, public health, NHS and Healthwatch – to represent the views of patients.
The board meets today to officially launch the strategy and over the next 12 weeks, residents will have the chance to have their say on the plan. Staffordshire has a population of around 850,000 and in the past decade the county has seen a surge in the number of people aged 65 and over.
If current trends continue, the cost of providing social care and NHS services would rise year on year and by 2018 it forecast that an extra £62m a year would be need to meet the social care bill alone.
Cllr Marshall added, “The issue of funding adult social care is a growing national concern and in Staffordshire we have been quick to react to the challenge with the NHS and the county council working together to provide integrated care.
“We want to support people in the community to live independent, fulfilled lives and believe this plan gives us an unprecedented opportunity to radically overhaul how health and social care is delivered and really transform the lives of people in Staffordshire.”
Have Your Say
Residents can also access a summary and full versions of the plan, find out more and share their views about the “Living Well in Staffordshire” plan by visiting www.engagingcommunitiesstaffordshire.co.uk/conversation-staffordshire
Other ways to ‘Have Your Say’ on the Living Well In Staffordshire Five Year Plan include
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ConversationStaffordshire
Twitter https://twitter.com/convostaffs
Saturday, June 15th, 2013
Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council is set to invest an extra £3.8 million into residential care to provide older people with a quality service at an affordable price.
A report to its next meeting of Cabinet on 19th June sets out proposals for an increase in fees the County Council pays to local residential care homes. If approved by cabinet those fees, which have not changed since 2010-11, will increase by an average of 13.2 per cent in a bid to balance the need to support local businesses with providing a high quality care to those who need it most and value for money for council taxpayers.
The County Council sets out what it usually expects to pay for care home places before each financial year, something called the usual cost. In light of financial challenges across the entire public sector, Staffordshire set the usual price in 2011/12 at the same level as 2010/11. Care providers sought to challenge this and the County Council subsequently agreed to carry out a review of the fees, including consultation with providers.
Robbie Marshall, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Staffordshire County Council, said, “It is essential we provide the right care to our most vulnerable residents in Staffordshire and we expect our residential and nursing care home providers to offer quality services to the residents who need our help.
“The County Council has a duty to assess the care needs of local people. If someone needs residential or nursing care but is unable to pay for it, the Council must make arrangements to provide care, in a place of the person’s choice.
“Our review of fees for care homes for our vulnerable people has taken into account all of the relevant care costs faced by care home providers in Staffordshire. But we expect our care homes to offer the best possible quality of service and value for money to local council taxpayers and we will not be afraid to address this in a robust way if they fall short.”
The increase in fees will apply from the start of the current financial year, and if approved by cabinet, will be backdated to the start of April 2013.
Saturday, June 15th, 2013
People and businesses in Staffordshire should see real benefits from the proposed new consumer rights laws unveiled today, the Conservative controlled County Council’s communities leader has said.
County Councillor Mike Lawrence said streamlined consumer laws would help people to understand their rights more clearly whilst ensuring businesses can operate on a level playing field. He added that the Consumer Rights Bill would be beneficial for trading standards teams – giving clear direction on business support and enforcement and enabling teams to prioritise and focus resources.
The laws, if approved in their current form, would set out a definitive return period of 30 days on faulty goods. Laws regarding unfair terms and conditions would also be reformed and digital goods such as music downloads included. The Bill, backed by consumer group Which? could become law by early 2014.
County councillor Lawrence said, “The draft Consumer Rights Bill is a welcome reform of laws which can lack clarity for many people and businesses. While we still need to see more of the detail, streamlining the legislation and bringing it up to date to include digital goods should benefit people in Staffordshire.
“The county council’s trading standards team works closely with businesses to support them and the local economy. Having more clearly defined consumer laws will help it to work more efficiently and ensure businesses can focus on improving and growing their operations – not get bogged down by confusing regulation.”
People can find out more about the draft Bill by visiting the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills website.
Saturday, June 15th, 2013
New planning guidance on wind turbine applications, which would ensure public consultation at the earliest possible stage is good for communities and backs Conservative, controlled Staffordshire County Council’s position, the county’s infrastructure leader has said.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and infrastructure Mark Winnington welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities Eric Pickles.
County councillor Winnington said people needed a greater say in decisions affecting them and their area. He added that the new Government guidance echoed the position approved by the county council’s cabinet last October.
“We are pleased that the Government has formally recognised that wind turbine development must be in appropriate places and not at the detriment of the landscape or where it could blight people’s homes.
“In October last year we set out our position on large scale wind turbine development, namely that it needs to be away from residential areas and not damage the countryside and potentially the local economy.
“Staffordshire has some outstanding landscapes and architectural landmarks which we must protect. They are an asset to the county and an integral part of our expanding tourism industry.
“Of course, we understand the need for renewable energy sources but they must be in the right locations and have proper assessments and checks carried out during the planning process. We hope the new guidance will help to refocus significant planning decisions with local people and economy as a priority.”
The county council defines a large-scale wind turbine development as having the following features:
- Any single turbine with a hub height in excess of 50 metres
- Any development of more than two turbines with hub height in excess of 30 metres
- Any development of more than 10 turbines regardless of hub height
- Any development which exports its power to the national electricity grid at 33 kilovolts (kV) rather than to a specific user or the local grid network at 11kV
Friday, June 14th, 2013
Staffordshire’s Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, has said this week that controversial proposals to update communications and data laws are essential to tackle the changing face of terrorism as well as the growing menace of serious and organised crime.
He has called on local MPs to support efforts to reignite the debate in Parliament on legislation, which was originally labelled by some as the Snooper’s Charter and abandoned in April following pressure from Nick Clegg.
Mr Ellis says his instincts would normally be to oppose intrusion by the State but his experience since taking office and having seen challenges the Security Services face every day he is convinced that legislation needs updating to account for changing technologies.
Mr Ellis said, “Communications data is used in 95% of all serious organised crime investigations as well as in every major Security Service counter-terrorist operation in the last decade. But changing technology and new ways that the internet is used to communicate means there is now a serious capability gap for police and intelligence agencies to track the activity of those who are a threat through high-level crime, paedophilia or terrorism.
“I’m concerned that estimates put that capability gap to be equivalent to the ability seven years ago because of the changes in technology and use of social media. If we expect security services and police to protect us from growing and changing threats, it is essential they have the tools to do that, including the ability to identify patterns of communications across different mediums which could provide early warning or substantiate known risks.
“The balance between privacy and protecting lives and interests must be reassessed by all of us but, and it’s a big but, there must also be the toughest and most intrusive safeguards to ensure proper scrutiny and exacting application of the rules by those who carry out this critical work. That’s what Parliament needs to urgently look at again sooner rather than later.”
“Service providers are already required under law to maintain records around email and telephone contact data and new legislation would expand that to the raft of new technologies now in everyday use. The principle is primarily about trawling to identify patterns of behaviour and contacts across millions of communications rather than any details of the content in what’s sent.”
