Parliamentary Candidate for Newark
Liberal Democrat Councillor For Bramcote, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Newark, Editor of Challenge Magazine for the Green Liberal Democrats and Crime and Policing Spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Learn more
by David Watts on 2 March, 2014
Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Lib-Dems on Broxtowe Borough Council. May I give a special welcome to the new readers that we have this week.
I was hoping that my brief mention of this last week would explain a few things but it is quite clear that it didn’t. It certainly wasn’t helped by a typo or two in the article, for which I apologise. Full details about the scheme can be found at http://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1349.
A number of residents have expressed concern about the demolition of this building in Eastwood, which is currently underway. Concerns have been raised about the possibility of asbestos being present. My colleague Bob Charlesworth has been checking onto this and we have been assured by the officers that they have checked the work and there is no danger to health by the methods being used.
Rumbletums café in Kimberley has a programme of events running most weeks. On Tuesday 4th March, from 10.00am to 12.00 there is a Craft drop-in taster sessions, organised by WEA, which is an opportunity to have a go at some crafts with an experienced tutor. These sessions are free. Following this on Thursday 6th March from 6.00pm to 8.00pm there is a Retail Secrets Workshop, organised by Broxtowe Borough Council.
Bramcote CAT meeting will take place tomorrow evening, 3rd March, starting at 7pm. The venue, as usual, is Bramcote Memorial Hall. I can’t attend tomorrow as it clashes with another meeting but my colleagues Ian Tyler (who will be chairing the meeting) and Stan Heptinstall will be in attendance.
The Chilwell East CAT meeting will take place on Tuesday 4th March, again starting at 7pm. This will take place at College House Junior School.
Last week Notts County Council confirmed that they would be making budget cuts of £83 million and increasing council tax by 1.99%. This Wednesday the borough council will be setting our budget. The likely outcome, which the Lib-Dems are proposing, is that we will keep our share pf the council tax at the same level as previously, for the fourth year in a row. We have also managed to protect nearly all front line services, the one major change being the introduction of the garden waste charge.
A new survey of tenants of the Borough Council’s council housing team showed that satisfaction levels are increasing. 85% of residents said that they were happy or very happy with the council as their landlords, compared to 78% of tenants who said that last year. A 7% increase is a very creditable performance and one I’m very pleased with. It still means of course that 15% of tenants are not yet happy and we need to keep pressing for an improved performance. The figures are yet another example of how the borough council is appreciated by local residents. The 97% of respondents to our survey on the Broxtowe Liberal Democrats website who said that they would not want to be joined with Nottingham City Council also show that people like being in Broxtowe.
The latest figures for crime in Kimberley show that there was a fall in anti-social behaviour in the town, which is to be welcomed, but not such good news is that there has been an increase in matters of criminal damage and theft. The police will be making a concerted effort to reduce these in the future. The police will also be holding a community surgery at Greens Lane in Kimberley on Monday 17th March at 11am, when residents can discuss any concerns that they have.
Notts County Council have launched a new appeal to find adopters or foster carers who are able to take in older children or sibling groups. The council currently has 847 children in care, which has doubled over the last six years. Whilst the number of adopters has increased as well it has not kept up with the rise in children needing it. To find out more about adopting you can ring 0845 301 2288 or for fostering ring 0845 301 8899, or you can visit the County Council’s website at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/adoptionandfostering.
The owners of Toton News and Off Licence have applied for planning permission to extend their property to include a residential flat and a fast food takeaway. The council will make a decision on this in due course and residents can send comments about this application by following this link: http://planning.broxtowe.gov.uk/(S(cotlxq45hs0wbbzqe3mzanq2))/ApplicationDetail.aspx?RefVal=14/00067/FUL
The Army Medical Service 212 Field Hospital will e opening their doors to the public at the Army Reserve Centre on Broadgate in Beeston on Tuesday 4th March from 7pm until 9pm. The event will allow members of the public who are interested in joining the army reserves to discuss what is involved with serving troops.
An interesting announcement this week revealed that the Beeston Test Centre has the highest pass rate of any centre in Nottinghamshire with 55.1% of candidates passing. This is 8.9% higher than the next highest centre, which is located in Colwick. Whether this means that Broxtowe youngsters are better drivers or Beeston examiners are more generous is hard to say at this point.
A jumble sale will be held at Awsworth Village Hall next Saturday to raise funds for the Notts and Lincolnshire Air Ambulance. This will take place between 2pm and 3pm and entrance costs 20p.
The Borough Council set up a working group to oversee the issues arising from the plans for the HS2 to come to Toton, along with the planning applications currently around the village. The next meeting on this will be on Thursday 13th March where we have invited all local developers and major land owners to explain their vision for the future of the area. This is a meeting open to the public and will take place at Beeston Town Hall, starting at 7pm. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
It is very early days but arrangements are already starting to be made for a relaunch of Beeston at the end of this year when the tram works are finished and the redeveloped Town Square opens. As and when things are firmed up I will post more details, but I hope that this will be a major event for the town.
As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. Any feedback is gratefully received.
Best wishes
David
www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk
Follow me on Twitter @davidwatts12.
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