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| Councillor Wallis admits to not being Inclusive ---
07 Feb 2010
Following on from my earlier blog article “protocol for member/officer relations, Labour Councillor Nick Wallis who happens to be the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment and Climate Change has admitted that he arranged a meeting about a major ward issue and choose not to invite us.
The reason he gives for this is “At no point did you or Mike bother to contact me, and I was unaware that you had any interest in the matter”
Now show me a ward councillor who is not interested in ward matters and I will show a very bad ward councillor. Even if we had not been aware of the matter (which we were) it would have been the honest and decent thing to do to invite us, would it not?
It may be worth pointing out, it is only Councillor Wallis who fails his duty as Cabinet member by making council matters in political gains. His colleagues in the cabinet have always to the best of my knowledge been inclusive of us when it comes to ward matters.
We have also sought advice from Labour colleagues in the course of acting in the best interests of the people we represent. We have always received helpful responses.
Relating to this matter we made contact with Officers at the council as is the normal practice within any local authority in the land. Councillors and officers directly give and receive information about local issues or problems.
However, it seems that Councillor Wallis is suggesting differently. We are told had we raised the issue with him, the Portfolio Holder instead of the officers we would have had the opportunity to be kept informed of events happening within our ward.
He has changed the goalposts.
Therefore, we are now saying that ward members have to report issues directly to the Portfolio Holder in order to ensure their future involvement with issues –
Therefore, this “new” method of reporting needs to be –
1. Discussed by all members of the council especially Portfolio Holders who are going to see their workload increase dramatically
2. If agreed added to, the new method of reporting added to the constitution.
3. All members and officers made aware of the new procedure.
I wonder how much Nicks colleagues would thank him for having to deal with all ward matters when simple issues are normally dealt with by Officers!
The best bit is Nick says “What irritates me particularly is that you have never pointed out that I did try to act fairly in this matter by instructing officers after the meeting to copy you and Mike into the minutes and agreed actions, although in strict terms there was no requirement for me to take that step”
So, Mike and I should be happy with receiving second hand information after the meeting took place. As my mum would say “dropping off a rich mans table”.
We are entitled to first hand information as the constitution describes. In the best interests of the people we represent we are not prepared to accept anything less. That very quote sums up Councillor Wallis attitude and perhaps when he re-reads it he may realise how incriminating his blog response really is.
I can quote an example of how the system should work with the plans for the 20mph on Longfield Road, where all members of 2 wards from all 3 parties were consulted. The Cabinet member David Lyonette knows how to be inclusive and I wish he would share some good practice with Nick.
Councillor Wallis should act with professionalism in his role as Cabinet Member and act in a way that the people of Darlington would approve of and I know that they would not approve of the manner in which he acted relating to this incident. It was a pure act of abuse of his cabinet position in order to make a political gain for a fellow Labour colleague
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| A Few Updates ---
02 Feb 2010
Drinkfield Marsh
The Planning Inspectorate has taken the decision to postpone the Drinkfield Marsh Inquiry and also to increase its duration to 3 days. This follows the emergence of a further interested party in the appeal site and their desire to submit statements and evidence. The likely date for the Inquiry will now be some time in April and we will keep you informed of progress.
Longfield Road
Cabinet approved the Local Transport Plan (LTP) budget in March 2009 and the above scheme was one that was outlined in the Cabinet report as being a priority within the travel safety theme. The need for the scheme was raised by pupils and staff through the school travel plan. Highways Department have now produced an outline plan for consultation as well as a consultation pack and questionnaire.
Bensham Park
The contractors are to make a start on site week commencing 1st March.
The results from the soil testing are awaiting results and depending on what comes from this the date may change but we will keep you updated.
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Protocol for Member/Officer Relations ---
01 Feb 2010
Last Thursday night at Full Council we voted on a new protocol which sets out standards for Member/Officer relation.
Protocol for Member/Officer Relations
Protocol for Member/Officer Relations
I would like to tell a story of why this policy came into being.
Whessoe Road Site next to Drinkfield Marsh.
FACTS
We notified the council on 21/8/08 that residents were concerned with work taking place on this site (opposite the marsh and Harrowgate Farm).
The council were already aware of this site which has a long history and there were ongoing investigations dating back a number of years.
WHAT WE WERE TOLD
We were aware that a meeting was to be arranged by officers of the council, the Environment Agency, Planning and Community Services Department to discuss enforcement issues as the planning permissions dating back a number of years are not now legally applicable. We presumed that this meeting would be conducted by officers as “normal” council business that happens everyday in Town Halls across the country and that feedback would be given from officers to ward members. This normal council business conducted by officers as their role demands.
WHAT HAPPENED
A meeting took place in our ward with the Environment Agency, the land owner, Planning and Community Services Department where we as ward councillors were not present, however the Labour ward member and the portfolio members were both present. We had been knowingly and deliberately excluded from a very important multi agency meeting about an ongoing ward issue, which we knew about and were heavily involved with.
RIGHTS OF ELECTED MEMBERS
What does the Councils Constitution Say?
The constitution says “whenever a consultation is organised by the council to consider local issues, all the members representing that ward or wards should be involved”
The role of members and we quote again from the Council constitution is “to represent their constituents”
WHAT TO DO?
We feel so passionately about our role as ward councillors and we will not let anything get in our way us being effective in this role, it is what people who voted for us rightly expect.
Having had a previous experience of being excluded from our ward business, we felt it right to act and after much soul searching and deliberation we decided last year to make a complaint.
THE OUTCOME
After an internal invesigation by the Monitoring Officer our complaint was NOT upheld. This means that the council does not think it is wrong to exclude ward councillors from ward business.
Readers need to draw their own conclusions about a system where this is a two tier system of information sharing!
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| Dog Fouling ---
31 Jan 2010
Since the snow has melted in the ward we have received numerous complaints about dog fouling and about the litter. We have therefore asked Streetscene to make our ward a priority for street cleaning and litter picking. Harrowgate Farm paths have been cleaned and litter picked up from the North including some fly tipping.
A new fixed floor litter bin is to be provided on the pathway outside the Co-op on North Road which can be used for both litter and dog foul. If you know of any problem areas where you think a litter/dog bin will solve help then please let us know. We have arranged for many of these bins over the years in the ward and sometimes are quick solutions for sometime long standing problems.
We had a very successful meeting with the Environmental Warden team last which has resulted in the ward being made a priority for enforcement resources for a week. So there will a “blitz” of the area in an attempt to make the Harrowgate Hill a cleaner more pleasant environment to live. Wardens will be speaking to dog owners, taking enforcement where appropriate and offering bags for dog waste. The number for the wardens is 346841. The mail address to report dog fouling is dishthedirt@darlington.gov.uk
Together we can make a better community.
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| Delayed Blog! ---
24 Jan 2010
I am just doing a quick blog to say sorry for not blogging! As well as technical difficulties with the site, January has turned out to be a busy old month.
We started the year with bad weather which has meant that us District Nurses have been working extra hard to get to the patients in the snow, which has resulted in some frozen shoulder difficulties for me. A quick trip to the GP and a steroid injection into the joint has brought ease. I do pay tribute to the good people of Ferryhill who had to push myself and my colleagues on many occasions. It was nice to see a tribute in today’s Echo praising the efforts of the District Nurses during the bad weather period.
We have had leaked information to the press about the Darlington Stroke Unit, which proved a little premature to say the least. We then had a scrutiny committee meeting about the issue but the chair seemed reluctant to discuss the matter of the leaked information.
The Health and Well-being scrutiny committee has had a long history of working cross-party in order to scrutinise decisions made by all the health trusts to ensure the people of Darlington have the best health services possible.
So, it is a shame that the Senior Councillors in the Labour party choose not to share the information about the Stroke Unit with the members of this committee but to instead give it to a Labour backbench councillor in order to make some “perceived” political gain. This has sadly backfired and instead of political glory all that has been achieved is fear and angst amongst some of the elderly residents in this town.
As a member of the Health Scrutiny Committee and a registered nurse, I would like to reassure people that I will absolutely fight to keep this much needed unit open should the need arise and support the efforts of the Acute Trust to recruit a new Stroke Consultant.
We have the first of the Darlington debates at Lingfield Point, which was well attended, the next one I understand is to be the Parliamentary candidates, the invite list should be interesting. With the election campaigns firing up, we have seen a lot of Mike Barker in the press of late. Flapjack sales must be proving slow, Mike!
There has been much debate about the budget both inside and outside the Town Hall, with 77 redundancies planned and cuts to pay enhancements. It is certainly a politicians budget, with zero raise in council tax planned but is enough to keep the Parliamentary seat this May as well as win the local election next May?
This coming week I have meetings every night and on two nights I am double booked, some prioritising needing to be done. The ward work is busy also, some of this the unseen work that councillors do, helping people with personal issues.
There is much street cleaning to be done now the snow has gone and I have asked Streetscene to make sure that this ward is made a priority as we have received some complaints and we can see for ourselves whilst out with the dog that attention is needed.
Anyway, thought I would blog whilst I had a spare minute and must learn to blog from my I-phone.
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| Merry Christmas ---
23 Dec 2009
I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Year.
I will be busy tommorrow with patients whilst the rest of my family are preparing for the Cartwright Family Christmas. The turkey is defrosting and Mike has baked a Christmas cake today.
Time to reflect, relax and generally have a good time!
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Minster Care Group ---
21 Dec 2009
We were waching Gerry Robinsons programme "Can Gerry Robinson fix Dementia Care" and Minster Care Group were featured in the 8th December episode.
Minster Care group are the company who has purchased Ashleigh House on North Road and are seeking to re-open the unit in February as a Rehabilitation unit for adults.
Dementia Care Failing the Elderly
The episode can be viewed on the BBC I-player, it makes for interesting viewing.
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| Two bits of not so good news ---
07 Dec 2009
A long time ago we submitted request for lighting for the following locations in the ward -
Longfield Road – rear lane
Ridgeway
Lowson Street
Vernon Gardens – rear lane
We have finally received the following response -
"In relation to the Harrowgate Hill lighting requests for anti-social behaviour, the figures for ASB & crime have been assessed for this area and at the moment other areas are in much greater need due to high levels of ASB. The budget is relatively small and we must be able to prove ASB/crime in those areas for us to justify using the budget in that area"
We have asked for the figures to make sure that the ward is not loosing out.
Then, a letter to members of the Forums which the Labour group have been intent on destroying -
Dear Forum Member,
Darlington Transport Forum, Environmental Forum and Town Centre Forum
The Council has decided that engagement with a wide range of organisations and the public can be improved if it uses a range of methods which suit more people and issues better than the Forums have in recent times.
The Forums were an innovative and effective way of the Council consulting specific organisations on the Council’s plans when it was first set up. However, since the Forums were set up, much has changed:
• Local Strategic Partnerships have been set up to provide a more comprehensive and structured way of all partner and stakeholder organisations working together. The Darlington Partnership provides an effective way of all relevant organisations working together on things of importance to Darlington and Darlington people.
• Within the Council, Scrutiny Committees have been set up to allow Councillors to look in detail at issues and to invite organisations and members of the public to present evidence and views to them.
• A wide range of consultation events take place, often badged ‘Talking Together’, tailored to the issue being considered and to the needs of the people who may want to be involved; and these attract a lot more people than the Forums have done.
These different meetings and events have come to duplicate the work of the Forums to some extent, but, more importantly, they provide better opportunities for more people to have their say and influence what happens in Darlington. The Council wants to build on and improve what it is doing to listen to the views of Darlington people, and has therefore decided to use these other more effective methods in future rather than the Forums.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for what you have contributed to the Forums, and to check that you are happy to be invited to future meetings and events which will discuss similar issues to those previously considered by the Forums. If you do not want to continue to be invited to such events, please could you contact Lynne Wood using the contact details above.
Details of forthcoming Talking Together consultation meetings and Scrutiny Committee meetings (which are open to the public) can also be found on the Council’s website.
Yours faithfully,
Head of Democracy and Customer Services
Shocking lack of democracy, no consultation just get rid of, the voters of Darlington will be reminded in 2011. Trouble is the election material on 2011 is going to have to take the form of a novel rather than a leaflet because there is so much to remind people of!
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| Highways Issues ---
03 Dec 2009
A few highways issues resolved -
1. Gully in Harrowgate Village cleared - this has caused North Road to flood during the heavy weather earlier in the week.
2. The lights in Bensham park have been converted to part night which means they should go off around midnight then come back on around 5am.
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| Todays Echo ---
01 Dec 2009
Good news, not so good news and no news.
Good news - The announcement that Hurworth, Longfield and Branksome are to benefit from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme means that every secondary school in the borough will have been rebuilt or significantly refurbished within the past four years. It is hoped work on the three schools will be completed by 2012.
It will be fantastic to see the school revamped. Just a shame that officers did not break the news personally to the ward councillors.
Not so good news- The front page of the Echo today made public that a MULTI-MILLION pound deal for community health care across County Durham and Darlington could be handed to a private company after managers served notice that they planned to cancel a contract with the NHS.
The decision, taken at a closed board meeting, was condemned last night by unions as the first step towards privatisation of key services.
This will directly affect me as part of the district nursing service and I will be very quick to remind colleagues that this step was taken under a LABOUR government.
No News - The scrapping of three public fora at full council last Thursday night which caused a great deal of debate from both sides of the chamber. A named vote followed by an unhappy leader of the opposition given his councillors were publically named and shamed for voting in favour of the disbandment without any consultation.
But strangely it never makes the Echo, a big debate and an important issue....
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| Ashleigh House Meeting ---
30 Nov 2009
Questions and answers for those people who could not attend the meeting.
Ashleigh House Community Engagement Event 27th November 2009
Ashleigh had previously been a home registered for EMI clients with 40 beds available. The number of residents in the home had fallen to 10.
There was a gap in the market for adults with mental health issues coming from an acute setting back into the community. This unit is a halfway house between being in hospital and going home.
The unit will comprise of 20 beds.
10 beds on the ground floor
10 beds upstairs.
Male and Females will be separated.
There will be approx 3 members of staff for each unit although numbers will change dependent on the needs of the residents currently living in the unit.
Lisa Davies has been appointed as the manager. She has worked in mental health for 17 years and is educated in Psychology.
The unit will be staffed 24 hours per day and can take calls from members of the community.
The manager will be on call 24 hours per day.
The contact person is Carol Coxon 07909942553 and the address is Minster Care Group, P.O. Box 424, Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 2AL
Mail carolcoxon@blueyonder.co.uk
Q. Where will the clients come from?
A. The Darlington area.
Q. Who will refer clients to the unit?
A. PCT and Care Managers.
Q. Will it be an open unit?
A. Yes.
Q. What type of mental health problems will people who live in the unit have?
A. Panic attacks, anxiety, mental breakdown, depression.
Q. Are all the clients assessed before being admitted to the unit?
A. Yes, all clients are assessed prior to admission to make they meet the eligibility criteria.
Q. Will any of the residents be involved in criminal activity?
A. No.
Q. Will anyone in the unit have drug abuse issues?
A. No, the unit does not offer drug rehabilitation services?
Q. What training will the staff have?
A. Mental health training.
Q. Will there be male and female staff?
A. Yes.
Q. What will the age range of clients be?
A. 18-65.
Q. Will there be a time when the doors are closed?
A. 11pm.
Q. Will clients have to be compliant with taking their medication?
A. Yes, if not they will have to referred to back to acute care.
Q. When is the unit expected to open?
A. Mid February.
Q. Who provides the registration for the home?
A. Care Quality Commission.
Q. What is the address for the Quality Care Commission?
A. Care Quality Commission National Correspondence,Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PA.
Q. Who do I need to complain to?
A. The Quality Care Commission at the above address in writing
Or by mail enquiries@cqc.org.uk
Q. Is planning permission needed from the council?
A. No, only an application was submitted for a physical change to the building i.e. an extension.
Q. Who would I need to complain to at the council?
A. This issue is not under the governance of the council, however, if you feel it appropriate to make your comments known to the council, then please send your comments in writing to us as your elected members and we will make the representations to the council and make sure you receive a written response.
Gill.cartwright@darlington.gov.uk
Mike.cartwright@darlington.gov.uk
Address 3 Harrowgate Village, Darlington. Co Durham, DL1 3AA.
Q. Will the current registration of the home need to be changed?
A. Yes, there will need to be a variation in registration applied for.
Q. Does the Care Quality Commission need to consult with the local community when they receive the application?
A. No.
Q. Does the owners of the care home to consult with local people?
A. There is again no statutory obligation although it would be good practice.
Q. Can the number of beds be increased from 20?
A. No.
Q. Did Minster Care Group intend to do some community engagement, if the meeting had not been arranged tonight?
A. Yes.
Q. Does the company have an open door policy?
A. Yes.
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| Name and Shame ---
29 Nov 2009
There was a proposal put before council to disband the Environmental Forum, Transport Forum and the Planning Forum.
At the meeting of full council on Thursday night I moved an amendement-
Amendment to Item No. 7(f) ‘Fora’
(To be moved by Councillor G Cartwright and seconded by Councillor W Stenson)
I would like to move an amendment to the recommendation to the Council, previously moved, as follows :-
That recommendation 3 be deleted and the following be substituted :-
3. That the Officers be requested to undertake a consultation exercise with all Members of the Council, members of the Environmental Forum, Town Centre Forum and the Transport Forum and the general public on the proposed disbandment of this Council’s consultative Fora.
This is what I said in the meeting -
"As a member of the Environmental Forum, I was unhappy to read item no 7 (f), where a proposal was being put before members to disband the Environment, Transport and Planning Forums. The reasons for this, it is claimed because their roles can be more effectively carried out by Scrutiny, LSP and Talking Together. However, Scrutiny and the LSP are not open groups and Talking Together event are targeted at a particular topic.
I was even more alarmed to learn that no consultation had been done with members to canvass their opinions. Then, I learnt that the people who attend these forums had not been consulted either. In fact, it appears that there has been no consultation carried out about this issue, which is strange for a council who like to lament their consultation eagerness and Talking Together.
These forums provide an arena for member of the public to engage, bring thoughts, opinions and information to the table. I understand from people in my ward that the Transport Forum is very well attended and very valued by those who attend.
Therefore, I am proposing an amendment to this item. I am proposing a deferment to allow a consultation to take place with members, attendees of the fora and the wider public.
I read a mail been sent to me from a constituent.
It will shameful if this proposal gets the go ahead tonight in this chamber without any consultation and will demonstrate to the public how this Labour council is stifling debate and not interested in their views".
We took a named vote and the results were as follows -
Those against the amendment who wanted the fora to disband without any consultation
Haszeldine I
Burton
Maddison
Lyonette J
Hughes
Haszeldine L
Swift
Long
Baldwin
Wallis
Scott A
McQwen
Lyonette D
Harker
Dixon
Copeland
Chapman
Williams
Francis
Robson
Thistlewaite
Vasey
Walker
Jenkinson
All the above are LABOUR councillors
Those that voted for the amendment to have a consultation period are as follows -
Curry LD
Barker LD
Dunstone LD
Lawton LD
Frietag LD
Swainston LD
Cartwright G C
Cartwright M C
Coultas C
Scott H C
Johnson C
Lee C
Jones B C
Galletley C
Lewis C
Jones D C
Richmond C
Stenson C
Therefore ALL Lib Dems and Conservatives voted to have a consultation period before disbanding three important forums in the town. The LABOUR councillors thought this is not important and the vote was lost.
Transport Forum, Environmental Forum and Planning Forum have been lost.
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| Near Miss ---
19 Nov 2009
There have been some roadworks on the A167 in Harrowgate Village today and the road signs left insitu where confusing motorists. I received a call in my car just as I got home and sat and watched in horror at the braking and swerving going on.
This was an accident waiting to happen as there are thousands of cars travelling the North Road day and night. I have helped many motorists over the years who have involved in road traffic accidents just outside my house.
I have called the emergency highways number from the DBC web site and someone from the highways department attended and agreed with me.
As I write they are out there with thier hi-viz jackets making the road safe!
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| Feethams Planning Application ---
18 Nov 2009
I have just returned from the Planning applications committee meeting where members have given the approval to build 146 homes on the former site of Darlington Football club at Feethams.
I was interested in the application as my family history has had a lot involvement with local cricket and I am the grandaughter of the legendary Tot Miller, who was well known in cricketing circles. I am familar with most of the local cricket grounds in the area and was the offical scorer for the Cleveland Bridge youth team for many years and have still got the trophys to prove it!
I have fond memories of my Mother and Grandmother baking dozens of fairy cakes, pies and strawberry cream tarts for the cricket teas. There was some friendly rivarly bewteen the tea ladies as to who could produce the "best tea".
I digress.
What was interesting about this application was evidence that was brought to light by Paul Bielby who is a local man. He has produced a deed signed in 1903 by three trustees -ED Walker, Dr James Lawrence, CH Backhouse, who were all cricketing men. The deed wants to secure the site for an open space to be used for cricket and athletics.
The planning commmitte were told that this was a matter for civil law rather planning and permission was granted as the application met planning guidance.
However, I full support Paul Bielby is his passionate campaign to retain as much open space for playing sport as possible. He made some valuable references to losses in sport facilites that Darlington has suffered.
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| The Debate Continues ---
15 Nov 2009
Lib Dem, Mike Barker has been taunting Labours Nick Wallis on his blog about the fact that the Labour lot have not made any comments about the newly formed Sparta Security which is offering a rapid response service to people suffering ASB. However, poor Nick claims he is in “no mood to take on Mike over this issue”, clearly not a happy time to be a Labour councillor!
However, it is little ole me that has caused Nick some frustration, I am terribly sorry that I have added to his troubles and I have done that by “making a cheap political point”, he claims.
I am sure that the people involved in the warden service would be really please to be branded “keystone cops” by Councillor Bill Dixon and I am also sure that other local authorities that currently operate the community warden model would be equally welcoming of his comments!
Unfortunately, this council never operated the warden system to its best advantage as other local authorities do, an example being Middlesborough.
What the Labour council did not like was that the outcomes of the warden service were not measurable and we all know much this Labour Government like everything to “tick the boxes”.
The safety and peace of mind of people living in Darlington can not be fitted into one of their boxes.
He asks why local councils should provide a security team when it is the responsibility of the Police, perhaps he should be asking Bill Dixon, they introduced the warden system to Darlington.
Then, he makes a silly comment about introducing Town Hall Paramedics across the Borough, most organisations and businesses have FIRST AIDERS.
In terms of Conservative values, of course I believe in the free market but I also believe that law and order are an important function within our society and should be controlled and legislated by the Government, the Police and authorities.
I formed my opinion on this issue through discussion with the people whom I represent, I am not sure that Bill or Nick are very familiar with this type of genuine consultation where people are listened to. They would be welcome to come to our ward to participate in some community engagement.
However, as said previously Francis Jones has seen a gap in the market and filled it. Feedback so far is good, so I am not going to say that providing peace of mind to often elderly and vulnerable residents of this town is not a good service because it has got to be.
The debate is who should provide it.
I am also wondering if the Labour group are going to follow in the footsteps of their Durham colleagues and disclose to the people of Darlington how much money they need to save?
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| Private Police Force ---
14 Nov 2009
Fellow blogger Mike Barker has told us on his blog that the BBC have picked up on the new Sparta security service started here in Darlington. It has certainly received a lot of media attention.
Sir Ian Blair is saying that there is no place for private Police forces patrolling our streets, however, does not go on to say exactly how this issue of lack of Police resources to deal with ASB is going to be dealt with.
Mike Barker writes "I don't like seeing Darlington portrayed as somewhere with "lawless streets" where residents have to pay out of their own pocket to get protection from rampaging youths"
Neither do I Mike but there is clearly a need for this type of service and people are willing to pay for it and judging by one of the letters in the Echo yesterday, very happy with the service Sparta provides.
and
The fact that this service has began in Darlington is no evidence that Darlinton has "lawless street", it is a reflection of the council not fufilling a need and that someone was savvy enough to recognise this and do something about it!
As I have said since the wardens were lost, they had a role and my opinion of this has been formed by talking to people who live in my ward and have given these views to Councillor Bill Dixon at full council. I beleive Councillor Dixon is unfamilar with this types of geniune community engagement and I am sure if he took the time to canvass opinion from people who lived in his ward he might have a more realistic approach to community wardens.
Francis Jones has acheived what we failed to do as councillors and that is to highlight this gap in service and I now have the hope that we can have a realistic debate with the council and the Police, otherwise we will be seeing private Police forces springing up all over the country and they will be successful because they are needed and provide reassurance to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
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| Sparta Security Services ---
12 Nov 2009
I read with interest the article in the Echo today about the former professional boxer who has launched a warden service.
I have heard a lot in the media about Sparta Security Services and a quick look at their web site, where they offer to -
Enhance Public Safety
Prevent Public Nuisance
Prevent Anti-Social Behaviour
Protect your home and business
Surely the above issues are the responsibilty of the Police and the local authority?
It is no secret that I have never been in favour of the council getting rid of the community wardens. Maybe they didnt have many powers but the point was that they were a rapid response service to people who were suffering antisocial behaviour and brought reassurance, especially to the elderly and people living on their own.
Clearly, Sparta security have seen a gap in the market and filled it, I will follow them with interest and I would be very interested in getting feedback from people who use the warden service.
I think though that people should be gettting this service through the local authority and not have to pay privately.
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| Tackling Underage Drinking ---
08 Nov 2009
How Conservatives plan to tackle binge drinking and antisocial behaviour.
Chris Grayling speaking at the conference -
"We’ll start with the problem of fourteen year olds hanging around with bottles of super-strength beers or ciders.
It’s much too easy for them to get very drunk quickly and cheaply
Big tax increases will be introduced on super strength alcohol.
We will increase the price of a four pack of super strength lager by £1.33
We will more than double tax on super strength cider.
And our planned increase on alcopops will raise the price of a large bottle by £1.50.
These tax changes will not hit responsible drinkers.
The ordinary pint in the pub will not be affected.
and there’ll be exemptions for some local traditional products.
But we’ll call time on the drinks that fuel antisocial behaviour.
Then there are supermarkets which boost the sales of other products by selling alcohol below cost price. That also fuels Britain’s binge drinking culture.
We’ll tear up this Government’s lax licensing regime.
Right now virtually anyone can get a licence to sell alcohol. We even have all night takeaways selling more drink to people as they stagger home from the pub.
We will change that.
Local councils will have the power to stop town centres being taken over by pubs, clubs and off-licences.
We’ll give communities a right of veto over new licences in their area.
There’ll also be tough new rules for existing licensed premises.
Councils will be able to restrict opening hours.
There’ll be strict penalties for pubs and off-licences that break the rules.
Much bigger fines if they sell to under age drinkers.
If they do it again, we’ll close them for a few days as a penalty"
It is time for a real change
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| Footprints ---
06 Nov 2009
Question: When is a footprint not a footprint?
Answer: When is the Beaumont Hill School site footprint.
Ever since the Fabrick group plans were first shown to residents at the community engagement event held at Harrowgate Hill Working Mens club on the 14th October, we have been receiving enquiries by mail, telephone and in person about the “footprint” of the schools.
If we look at the evidence, a report to Cabinet on 30th August 2005, “each of the three school footprints could be developed satisfactorily for housing”. Theres that word, again footprint.
Other evidence can be seen Response to Public Consultations on a Draft Planning Brief May 2007, where it states “I have been told only the footprint of the original building can be built upon (your Councillor Vasey commenting upon planning policy)”.
Other comments state “We were originally told that development would only be only take place on the "footprint" of the school on site 1. Then we were told at a ward surgery by the councillors that this would include the hard standing (any concreted areas) It now appears that any grassed area is also earmarked for development on the latest plans”
Wikianswers definition of a building footprint is “A building footprint is the outline of the total area of a lot or site that is surrounded by the exterior walls of a building or portion of a building, exclusive of courtyards. In the absence of surrounding exterior walls, the building footprint shall be the area under the horizontal projection of the roof”
We know the 'footprint' was enlarged artificially in agreement with DfES +?Sport England? to make it a saleable portion of land.
Residents tell us that somewhere there is a plan with a red outline showing the “footprint” but to date these plans have not surfaced.
However, we have of course made this enquiry on behalf of residents and received the following response “With regard to the 'footprint issue' at the school sites I can confirm that the revised applications when they come in will essentially mirror the land take of the previous applications that received planning permission. The land that is to be disposed of to the new developer remains the same.”
I think the conclusion to this is that the original school buildings plus the hard standing equals the sum total of land that can be built upon. It is reasonable that people would think that a footprint meant just that a mirror of the original buildings.
Two questions spring to mind -
Is this useage of land allowed?
And
Exactly what was the square footage of the original buildings?
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