Lib Dems Slam Failures of Regional Fire Control Centres – Project “Should be Scrapped”

The Government’s controversial plans to close England’s 45 Fire Control centres and replace them with 8 Regional Controls received a blow today at a meeting of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Fire Services Management Committee. Leading Fire Authority Councillors voted to oppose the centres on the grounds of cost.

Liberal Democrat national Fire Spokesperson Cllr Paul Shannon successfully moved an amendment asking LGA officers to develop alternative options in the event of project failure.

Cllr Shannon, who is Deputy Chairman of the LGA’s Fire Services Management Committee, said:

“This jinxed project was doomed from the start. The Government have not listened to the many Fire Service leaders who warned that the project was unlikely to succeed.”

“The Regional Control Centres project has consistently failed to meet deadline after deadline, and is millions over-budget.”

“These latest delays mean that Regional Controls will not handle a single emergency call or mobilise a single fire engine till 2011, at the earliest, whilst all the centres would not be up and running until the end of 2012.

It is a scandalous waste of public funds that 8 massive empty buildings stand idle across the country.”

“That’s why the Committee today passed a Lib-Dem amendment asking officers to prepare a contingencies paper setting out some alternative options in the event of project failure.”

Department for Transport will look to support Sat Nav scheme

The Department for Transport will be sending a representative to the next meeting of the South West Regional Freight Forum, following Bath MP Don Foster’s request that they support a local pilot scheme which will see local authorities provide appropriate routes to Sat Nav companies.

In reply to Don’s letter, sent on the 12th August, Paul Clark MP the Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Transport states that the work undertaken “sounds potentially very promising”.

Lib Dems in Bath have been backing calls for more appropriate routes for traffic, especially HGVs, and encouraged Bath & North East Somerset Council to start sending a representative to the Freight Forum. Now the DfT will be represented at the meetings and will “consider what support [they] can provide.”

Bath MP Don said, “I am pleased that the Department for Transport are showing a keen interest in this project. I have highlighted a number of areas in Bath where HGVs are using totally inappropriate routes and getting these routes removed from Sat Nav maps will be a big step to helping resolve the problem.

“With the DfT’s backing, this pilot project could really take off. It is a common sense approach to resolving this issue.”

Bathavon South Cllr Neil Butters (Lib Dem) has been campaigning in Freshford, where large vehicles often use narrow roads to access the village. He added, “Residents in Freshford will be delighted to hear that the DfT are taking this issue seriously, and that moves are being made to try to reduce the impact of HGVs on the village.”

Widcombe Cllr Ian Gilchrist (Lib Dem) has helped highlight the issue in his ward, specifically in Greenway Lane. He commented, “It is great news to get a positive response from the DfT, this could really see the scheme get going.

“Greenway Lane residents are sick and tired of large vehicles trying to use this narrow road as a cut through. Lib Dems in Bath have been working hard to try and tackle this problem and this could be a real breakthrough.”

Burglary at Monksdale Road

Between the hours of 8.05pm on Monday October 12th and 6.35pm the following day, unknown person(s) have gained entry by forcing the front door and have removed property.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Police on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively you could contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Keep safe this winter

From September 29 – October 2 Bath & North East Somerset Council will be carrying out free electric blanket testing across the area.

Appointments at Midsomer Norton, Keynsham, Bath and Chew Magna are available to all local residents but booking an appointment is essential.

Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, (Conservative, Keynsham North) said:

“Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Public Protection team organises this testing every year with the aim of helping to reduce accidents in the home. In previous years at least 20% of electric blankets brought in were unsafe so it’s an important initiative.”

If you use an electric blanket, or know friends, relatives or neighbours who use one, book in for a test at the following venues, which will be open from 10am – 4pm every day:

September 29: Baptist Church, High Street, Keynsham

September 30: Council Chamber, Midsomer Norton

October 1: Bath Fire Station

October 2: – Chew Magna Fire Station

To book an appointment call Kellie on 01225 396759.

Other local organisations that offer services to local residents to help them keep safe, healthy and active will also be at the sessions.

These include Avon Fire and Rescue Service, who will promote free home fire safety checks and smoke alarms, Age Concern, Wiltshire Farm Foods and Care and Repair. Staff from the Council’s Sport and Active Leisure and Community Development teams will also be there with information about activities in local areas.

B&NES endorses Transition movement

A Councillor led motion supporting the principles and ethos of the Transition movement has been unanimously endorsed by B&NES Council.

The motion, tabled by Councillor Ian Gilchrist (B&NES Member Champion for Energy and Climate Change and Liberal Democrat Councillor for Widcombe), sought to set up a principle whereby Transition teams in B&NES can take their suggestions and requests to the Council and get a sympathetic hearing. The motion does not set up a budget which the Transition teams can use but does at least open a door to enable ideas for funding to be heard.

Councillor Gilchrist said:

“I was delighted at the level of support for my motion, and absolutely thrilled that it received the unanimous support of Council.

“By adopting this I think it shows that B&NES is ready to face the environmental challenges which the coming years will throw at us.”

Representatives of Transition Keynsham, Transition Bath and Transition Bathford spoke at the meeting to welcome the motion.

Peter Andrews, Chair of Transition Bath, said:

“We are enormously pleased by BANES’ adoption of the LibDem motion that the council recognises Transition principles. It shows that at last our elected representatives are taking both Climate Change and Peak Oil seriously. We at Transition Bath can now continue to create positive futures for our city heartened that we have the support of the Council”

B&NES Council rejects Bristol airport expansion

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee has opposed the expansion of Bristol International Airport at its meeting this week. This follows the similar position adopted by Bristol Council last month. The application is to be determined by North Somerset Council, but B&NES has is a consultee on the application.

Councillor Nicholas Coombes (Liberal Democrat, Bathwick) tabled the following wording which was adopted by 8 votes to 4:

That Bath and North East Somerset Council considers that the causes and effects of climate change should be the principal considerations in a development of this nature and therefore recommends that the airport expansion application should be refused on these grounds.

Councillor Coombes welcomed the vote and said:

“The expansion of airports is incompatible with attempts to cut carbon emissions. Indeed, it goes against common sense to imagine that Bristol International Airport can double its emissions over the next 10 years but that carbon emissions overall can be reduced in line with government targets.

“Only this week the Climate Change Committee that the UK will have to cut emissions by 90% by 2050 for the aviation industry to continue to grow.

“I am glad that none of the Liberal Democrat Councillors voted for airport expansion, but it is very worrying that most of the Conservatives put questionable economic gain ahead of protecting the environment.”

Conservatives refuse to try for hostel cash

Conservative politicians on Bath and North East Somerset have refused to re-open negotiations with the Government to try to secure funding for a hostel for the homeless in Bath.

Government funding for the hostel scheme was withdrawn in May due to concerns about timetables and deliverability. However, having made direct contact with the Homes and Communities Agency, Councillor Will Sandry (Liberal Democrat co-Shadow Cabinet member for healthier communities and older people and Liberal Democrat Councillor for Oldfield), was in a position to propose re-establishing dialogue with a view to reapplying for funding.

Cllr Sandry’s amendment was rejected by the Conservative administration of B&NES Council, although a smaller, local package of funding was adopted unanimously.

Councillor Sandry commented:

“My proposal offered the Cabinet member the opportunity to review the project, re-engage with the HCA and bring in local homelessness organisations, such as Julian House and others, on to the new project team.

“The money allocated by Council tonight was welcome, but it can only provide an incomplete solution to the complex needs of homeless people in Bath.

“Even though my proposals were unsuccessful on the night, I hope that the Cabinet member will reflect on them and, for the benefit of some of those most at need in our community, implement them.”

Questions over resignation of PCT Chief Executive

Councillor Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst, Liberal Democrat co-Shadow Cabinet member for healthier communities and older people, has put the Council Leadership on the spot over the sudden resignation of the Chief Executive of B&NES PCT, announced this week.

Cllr Morgan-Brinkhurst said:

The merger of B&NES social services with the Primary Care Trust is one of the biggest structural changes facing the Council. This is a long process which is only part way through.

I am very concerned that we have only just lost the Council’s social services Director due to the merger and then, within three months of her leaving, we hear that we will be losing the other key officer in the local health service within the next six months.

“I am concerned about the uncertainty this may cause and I am not reassured by the answer I received from the Leader of Council.

The PCT Chief Executive, Rhona McDonald, steered us through this the beginning of this merger; we’re not there yet so we need a steady hand at the tiller – who knows what icebergs are ahead?

Crime rate continues to fall

We have received the following letter from the top Police Officer in Bath and North East Somerset, Chief Superintendent Gary Davies:

Dear Colleague

-7.4% crime reduction compared to last year
36.5% detection rate
86% customer satisfaction rate

As we entered an economic recession I think most of us anticipated an upward shift in crime levels. On reflection that was probably a little naive to have expected it to occur so soon. With more consideration the greatest risk of it happening is toward the latter end of the recession when some of the more negative aspects such as unemployment have reached their peak.

Currently, however, the levels of crime continue to decline with very positive downward trends in many key areas. With five months of the year gone we are showing an overall reduction in crime of 7.4% compared to last year. Reductions in burglary, and vehicle crime also continue their steep decline.

Out of curiosity I decided to compare this five month period with a period eight years ago when crime was higher. The results are quite remarkable and should instil some confidence in people that the community we now live in suffers far less in these crime types than in years gone by.

Type of crime 2001
April – September 2009
April – September Percentage
Reduction

All crime
6,007 crimes
4,138 crimes
30%

Theft of motor vehicles
422 crimes
113 crimes
73%

Theft from motor vehicles
828 crimes
234 crimes
72%

House burglary
581 crimes
210 crimes
64%

It is important that we hold on to, and sustain, these levels of reductions. Almost 2,000 less victims of crime in a five month period compared to eight years ago is a major success.

We have seen a considerable improvement in the service we provide victims of crime. As a consequence the feedback surveys have started to reflect improved satisfaction. I have now implemented improvements to the service we provide to people contacting us about antisocial behaviour issues and ensuring they receive follow up information about what happened and an offer to meet someone from the Neighbourhood Team.

I very much hope that this new initiative will enhance the service we provide and reassure people that we are trying to do something about the issues that matter to them the most. As soon as I get results on this work I will feed them back to you.

Kind regards.

Gary Davies
Chief Superintendent
B&NES District Commander