Archive for April 17th, 2014
Thursday, April 17th, 2014
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, welcomed the announcement of a new Automotive and Engineering Hub (AEH) at Torc Vocational Centre.
The AEH is part of a £2million funding boost from the County Council and the City Deal to meet the demands of the surrounding area as part of expansion plans of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and JCB. The centre will offer courses from anyone over the age of 14 and prepare pupils to work in engineering and the automotive industry across the West Midlands.
Commenting on the opening of the new centre Mr Pincher said, “The investment from Staffordshire County Council and the City deal is fantastic news for the young people of Tamworth who are looking at going into an engineering career.
“In a recent business survey I conducted, one of the main reasons local employers say they are challenged when hiring young local people was a perceived lack of specific skills. I hope that the AEH centre with sector based work and skills will start to address some of these concerns and meet the needs of our local engineering firms as they continue to grow and create jobs.”
The centres will continue to offer existing courses to 14 to 16-year-olds, but from September will be opened up to people of all ages who will be able to benefit from the new provision.
Staffordshire County Council is investing £1million in the project, while new state-of-the art equipment will be installed thanks to a further £1million, which has come as a result of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Enterprise Partnership’s Powerhouse Central City Deal.
Thursday, April 17th, 2014
Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council is urging local bargain hunters to be vigilant about counterfeit goods if they are visiting markets and car boot sales this Easter bank holiday weekend.
The county council’s trading standards leader is reminding people that counterfeit items harm the economy and can harm people. Events will be taking place throughout the county during the first holiday weekend of the year.
Shoppers are being reminded that counterfeit goods are shoddy imitations that will leave them out of pocket and could cause serious harm. Counterfeit electrical goods are hazardous as they can cause fires and electrocution. Harmful substances such as high lead levels in perfume are a risk with counterfeit cosmetics.
Legitimate traders suffer as a result of counterfeit sales; harming the local economy in the process. Money made also goes into the pockets of organised criminal gangs.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Trading Standards Cllr Gill Heath said, “We want people to have a safe and enjoyable time when visiting bank holiday markets and car boot sales. That is why we want them aware of safety risks caused by counterfeit goods and also reiterate that they are bad for our economy.
“Unfortunately these events can attract traders who knowingly sell counterfeit goods, ripping people off and depending on the item, potentially endangering them. We would therefore like to remind people to be vigilant, especially when they see goods, which may appear to be a bargain.
“Counterfeit goods are increasingly hard to detect just to look at, so when something is being sold at a knock-down price, people should be extremely wary. We always say that if something is too good to be true, it usually is.
“Anyone who buys counterfeit goods will land themselves with shoddy goods which may be dangerous and at the same time line criminals’ pockets. We want to protect the public and legitimate business and we will continue to target counterfeiters.”
Some of the hidden dangers of counterfeit goods include:
• Counterfeit alcohol such as vodka contains dangerous chemicals which can cause may health problems such as blindness
• Counterfeit perfume can often burn skin or leave a nasty rash and may contain lead
• Fake sunglasses often offer no UVA protection, causing eye damage
• Fake tobacco often contains unknown chemicals
• Counterfeit children’s toys can often be unsafe with unsuitable small parts and children’s clothes may be inflammable
Anyone wanting to report counterfeit goods sales can call the anonymous Staffordshire Fight the Fakes line on 01785 330356.
Thursday, April 17th, 2014
Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, welcomed figures released this week, which shows, for the first time since the recession, wages are rising faster than inflation.
Figures published by the ONS show that the average wage in Britain increased by 1.7% up from 1.4% in January. At the same time, inflation continues to fall for the 6th consecutive month to 1.6%.
The figures released this week shows that wages are increasing faster than the cost of living for the first time in 6 years.
Responding to these figures Mr Pincher said, “This is good news for my constituents. For the first time in 6 years, average earnings increases outstrip the effects of inflation, a further sign that this economic recovery is going in the right direction and our long-term economic plan is working.
“This government is helping hard working people ensure they keep more of their money and this news coupled with the recent fall in local unemployment and the tax threshold increasing to £10,500 helps ensure families and individuals have more money in their pockets to spend on what they want.
“However we must not become complacent as our economy is still healing. We still have some way to go before we see wages increase at the rate of pre-recession levels and we still must eliminate Labour’s huge budget deficit so we live sensibly within our means.
“We must continue on our long term economic plan of keeping taxes low, encourage businesses to offer more jobs and manage our spending. We cannot tax or spend our way to growth.”
Thursday, April 17th, 2014
Sir Robert Peel hospital
At last Thursday’s Tamworth Borough Council meeting of the Healthier and Safer scrutiny committee, the Chief Executive of Burton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust announced a further review of the day care theatre and surgical ward and the management of the car parking at Sir Robert Peel hospital will take place.
The meeting with Burton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the scrutiny committee was originally called to discuss car parking at Sir Robert Peel hospital, however, following the announcements of changes to services Helen Ashley agreed to give an update on the proposed changes and answer questions from the members.
The Trust’s Chief Executive, Helen Ashley, attended the meeting along with the Director of Operations, Mark Powell, and they answered questions on both current and future services at the hospital and the current car parking scheme.
Mrs Ashley informed the committee that the Trust will be carrying out a further review of the day care theatre and surgical ward despite previously announcing both facilities would close. Cllr Andrew James, committee Chairman, told the Trust that a meeting is being arranged with South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsular CCG to discuss future services at Sir Robert Peel hospital and Helen Ashley said that the Trust will attend the meeting to ensure all questions put from elected members are answered.
Mrs Ashley then informed the committee that elected members from Tamworth Borough Council would be invited to sit on the stakeholders panel, which will carry out the review of future services at the hospital.
The committee was also told that the current car parking scheme in place at the hospital is to be reviewed, although, there are no plans to remove the charges from the car park.
Mrs Ashley also admitted that the Trust had made mistakes with its communication process over the plans, which had led to concerns over the future of the hospital.
After the meeting committee Chairman, Cllr Andrew James, said, “I am delighted with the outcome of our meeting with the Trust, it was to good hear that the day care services will be reviewed and it was pleasing to be told that our members will be taking part directly in the review of future services at hospital.
“I am looking forward to Tamworth’s elected Borough Councillors working closely with the Trust and local clinical commissioning group on the future services at the hospital, we use the hospital and it important that our voice is heard along with the County Council, Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board and the CCG.”
Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, who has raised the issue of Burton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Sir Robert Peel hospital in Parliament and is due to meet both the Health Minister and local CCG added, “I am pleased that the Burton hospitals trust has promised to look again at it’s original proposals. It is important that they consult as widely and as fully with the local community as possible.
“It is not right that changes are “done to” our local community without their involvement. I am still determined to press ahead with my meetings with our local clinical commissioning group, and with Health Minister Daniel Poulter MP to discuss my wider concerns for the Burton hospitals Trust and I will report back to my constituents.”
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, welcomed the announcement of a new Automotive and Engineering Hub (AEH) at Torc Vocational Centre.
