Residents Condemn Toilet Closures

Survey Results

RESIDENTS' SURVEY SENDS MESSAGE TO THE COUNCIL
Linda and I asked our constituents in a recent  newsletter about their views on the town centre. 100% of the respondents said that there were not enough toilets in the town centre. Some respondents said:

"I am disabled and diabetic when you need a toilet and you're diabetic there can be no waiting time. It's not possible for me to get to the shops on Market Place"

"Everyone wants toilets even when you shut them"

This issue is going to be discussed at the Council's meeting of the Town Forum on 6th February. The five toilets in the town centre: Dalkeith Place, London Road, Wadcroft, Ebenezer Place and Rockingham Road will be closed between April and May 2012.

So, the question are there enough toilets in the Town centre is answered yes now, but what will happen when the five close? There will be a community toilet scheme (CTS), with windows of businesses taking part stickered. These will include the library and the council offices.

What hasn't been said is the cost of paying businesses to be part of the scheme and the fact that the council offices are closed from 1pm on the busiest shopping day of the week- Saturday!

There will be some questions for the Council to answer at Town Forum next week.

News Update

LEADING COUNCILLLORS FAIL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
One of the ways in which democracy functions at our council is by being able to ask a question to executive councillors (those in charge) and hold them to account for the things they do and the decisions they take.

Of the 15 questions submitted to Council, there was a pretty poor response from the portfolio holders give the task of answering (and for which they are allowed to claim up to £4,713 a year of taxpayers money in the office they represent as a special responsibility).

But there was no responsibility in sight when a question was asked about how much rent had been lost on 6a Station Road, Kettering since it's tenants were evicted in 2005. The answer: "This is a hypothetical question". Okay, let me refresh readers' memories, the market worth of the building as was offered in 2005 is around £24,000 per annum. Times by 6 years.... £144,000 possible income down the drain. No wonder the answers were not given.

NATIONAL GRID GAS WORKS TEARING UP OUR ESTATES
I reported over a month ago that following a complaint I made to the National Grid about the way they had left the verges in Gorse Road that they would take corrective action.

None so far has been taken and sadly, the rest our our estates which are under miles of cones and diversions on pathways needs inspection form the National Grid to ensure it is left in good state.

ANIMAL WELFARE DEBATE FOLLOW UP REQUESTED
This is a copy of the letter written to the Chair of Research & Development Committee to consider the issue of Animal Welfare:

Dear Chair

RE: WORK PROGRAMME

At December 2011's Full Council meeting, a motion was carried on Animal Welfare.

During the debate, there were contrasting views, however, in principle it was agreed that the animal welfare issue merited further discussion.

I am writing to request that you consider a Task & Finish group into Animal Welfare, which will consider our Council's policies and current activities in this area.

I know from recent letters and emails I have had from residents of our borough that there are many who would be prepared to give evidence and see the need for some new approach.

I look forward to your response on this issue.

Yours faithfully

Cllr Paul Corazzo

CUTS UPDATE
There are a whole number of cuts coming the way of Kettering people. The Coalition is busy arranging to charge single Mums £50 or £95 depending on circumstances to chase partners who don't pay for their childrens' upkeep. That's not even to mention sweeping changes to the NHS with the Social care bill as it goes through parliament. Similarly, the number of Kettering schools considering academy status has shot up as LEA services at the Northants County Council begin to dwindle.

But, there is something that can be done. Under the name "Helping You to help Yourself", the county council is beginning the process of working out who to cut money from PREVENTATIVE services: they are...where perhaps a carer is needed or if a family needs help, or if the council intervenes when there is a danger to children in a household.

But in the consultation document available here, there are some interesting hints as to the vision of a reduced-budget service.

FOR EXAMPLE, a direct quote from the consultation document:

The Government has emphasised the idea of localism and a role for a "Big Society‟. Council and the Government want to see active communities taking responsibility for their citizens. Local councils are required to act in the capacity of community catalysts to provide tools and guidance to communities to find solutions to local problems.

Ah the Big Society coming to the rescue. Now that we learn there are 75 less frontline police in Northamptonshire since the end of 2011... maybe there will be some community volunteers to take on their role. Perhaps some more in the community to do preventative services.

The point is, that this sort of cut affects us all. I urge all readers to attend the Kettering consultation on these cuts on 14 February 2012, 2.30pm to 4.30pm at the Cornmarket Hall. You must book in advance to let them know you are going. The form for that is available by clicking here.

News Round Up

DOOR TROUBLE

After the Council told the BBC Northampton Radio reporter they had "no further comment" to make on a constituent's door being replaced, I had to appear on Stuart Linnell's lunchtime show to discuss the matter live on air. The issue is down to responsiveness of our repairs programme - unfortunately, they advised a 90 day time frame for a replacement of a front door, but did not keep the tenant informed.

Keeping tenants updated when the request a repair will surely take us from a 78% approval rating to where a good council should be - on average 85%.

VOLUNTARY SECTOR GROUPS NEEDED

Labour Borough Councillors have secured a scrutiny committee "Task and Finish" group into Voluntary Sector and transition funding to help groups that have had grant funding cut. This is likely to run for a few months, with evidence from groups across the borough. Its terms of reference are:

1. Understand the present situation with regard to NCC and KBC funding agreements
2. Identify other sources of support/funding available to the voluntary sector now and in the future
3. Establish and capture what is known about current needs within the borough
4. Investigate how other areas support the voluntary sector
5. Develop options for sustainable service delivery for future years.

Anyone who uses a group OR runs a group should contact me on 07906 971 041 or email paulcorazzo@kettering.gov.uk. 

NATIONAL GRID UPDATE

The verges on Gorse Road will be replaced after a site supervisor visited the area and agreed the works needed to be rectified. This will likely happen in the next month and will ensure that the community looks the way it was before the replacement works were carried out.

Gas Replacement ruins Verges

GAS REPLACEMENT: THE GOOD AND THE BAD
National Grid is embarking on a programme to replace 91,000km of iron gas mains around the country. The programme targets iron mains within 30 metres of property, and will see the iron pipes replaced with yellow polyethylene pipes. Polyethylene is a plastic material; it is flexible and highly resistant to corrosion.

Neat pathway resurfacing on Weekley Glebe Road

As you can see this is happening in Kettering, but in the haste to replace everything, some pathways are looking fine, but grass verges are taking a beating, with little attention paid to how they look once work has finished.

scared verge on gorse road

This is inconsistent and I have today asked for the National Grid to return to this site and make it good.

Animal Welfare Motion Passed at Council

On Wednesday last week, the following motion – slightly amended by Conservative councillors who believe we are already doing enough on animal welfare – was passed: “This Council will use all the powers at its disposal to encourage the highest standards of animal welfare in our Borough”.

Residents' cat found after Twitter appeal last year. they would benefit from a citizen reporting scheme for missing cats

My thanks go to a member of the public who spoke to Councillors, after a Boxer dog attacked her  puppy and was advised by the warden they can do nothing about it. This motion was about the alarming numbers of animal cruelty, such as, the legs cut off a parrot; dog on dog attacks and abandonment of pets.

I suggested the following charter on animal welfare that the borough council should adopt. Hopefully this will happen:

·         Publicise Citizen Reporting scheme for missing animals

·         The compulsory scanning of road kill cats

·         Road kill animal identification surgery to be run from Telford Way giving members of the public a chance to attend site to see if their beloved pet has been killed.

·         Use of Wardens to manage difficult situations with dog on dog attacks – engagement with both parties

·         Publication of a set of protocols for dog-on-dog attacks

·         Stronger approach to ecological issues in our planning committees

·         Reassessment of work done by the borough’s grounds team in terms of hedgerow management and tree-felling

Traders treated with contempt over car parking petition

What an absolute farce at council tonight. Traders in Kettering - ratepayers - handed a petition to the Council to say that they believe car parking charges are too high for the immediate survival of shops in our town centre.

Two traders wanted to speak but only one was allowed to. Then when the floor was opened to councillors to debate the petition, the mayor allowed Cllr Wiley to speak then closed the matter from any further discussion. Cllr Wiley said quite simply that the council was doing its best, having absorbed a 5% VAT increase in recent years - conveniently forgetting that they never passed on the difference when VAT dropped to 15% in 2009.

Likewise they said that free parking from 5.30pm on Thursdays during Christmas was a winner. Again, not sure that they even realise that the majority of these local traders shut their doors at 5.30pm.

Its a typical example of arrogance from our council - a pretence that we are open and transparent and democratic, yet anyone who wants to have a voice is stopped from doing so.

So much for Christmas cheer from our tory politicians.

Appealing a Street Lights Appeal...

In Victorian Britain, streetlights were championed as a sign of a safe and civilised community. The evolution of local government in this time is well documented. Just like the public health acts were designed to deliver properly sanitised water and clear slums, so street lights became an important part of the drive for Victorian civic change.

Fast forward to 2011, and the lights are off, our streets plunged into darkness. Helpful advice from politicians such as "you must try harder"  (Russ Roberts, Leader of KBC) to get your lights turned back on really doesn't wash with me. Even appeals against appeals have failed.

Its worse when you have constituents who fear to go out at night becuase they live alone or its just too dark.

So here is published the reply I had for an appeal against an appeal decision. Note the profuse apology (over 30 days to deal with it) and the blame on politicians.... (correctly too). Its just an utter shambles and is ruining people's quality of life:

"I sincerely apologise for the delay in responding to your emails but as I’m sure you can appreciate the Council have received a high level of correspondence in regards to this programme which has regrettably lead to some delays.

In our previous response on this matter we had endeavoured to explain the Council’s position and how the decision to remove Street Lighting in certain areas has been reached.

As a result of your continued concerns a further review of the areas has now been carried out. Although some changes have been agreed and made to increase the lighting on Almond Road I am sorry to inform you that the outcome of this further review has identified that the reduced lighting in theses areas is consistent with the rationale and priorities for these types of road and therefore I am unable to agree to alter these street lights any further.

Whilst we recognise your continued dissatisfaction, this is ultimately a policy decision which has been agreed by the Council’s elected members. Therefore we are not in a position to revoke that decision or to provide a further response".

Merry Christmas to you too...

Strikes Round-Up

Kettering Borough Council more or less ran a full day of services on Wednesday last week during the biggest disruption to public services for 30 years. The reasons that the strike happened were all to do with pensions and the level of contributions being made by workers to back up those pensions.

Andy Sawford, Labour PPC for Corby speaking at the March in Northampton on 30th November

The action was necessary as it is becoming increasingly clear the the public sector is having to subsidise the bailout of the banks in 2008. The Borough Council has not been too badly affected by lack of central government money, however, as staff leave, they are not being replaced and this in itself means less skilled officers around to deal with the day to day running of our services.



Placard outside Kettering Town Hall

News Round-Up

DROP THE BILL CAMPAIGN

There is a big campaign building against the Tory Government’s reckless Health and Social Care Bill. A GP, Dr Kailash Chand has set up a Government e-petition calling on the Government to drop the Bill. Click here

The drop the bill campaign run by Labour

I signed it today because I believe that day by day, week by week I hear of more damage being done to our NHS – waiting times increasing, waiting lists growing and nurses’ posts being cut. David Cameron's Health and Social Care Bill will not just make matters worse it will change the NHS as we have known it, creating a postcode lottery and pitting hospital against hospital.

This is a great opportunity for readers of this blog who disagree with the bill to pile the pressure on the Government, and to sign the e-petition as well.

WARD WALKABOUTS SLASHED

The ward walkabouts - which happened every year and gave big focus to our ward have been slashed to one year in every three. This is possibly a political decision by the Tories  - who knows - it appeared in a letter to members on email.

One thing is certain, this is a cut. That said, the walkabouts would generate many jobs for the officers to do - BUT very little came of them - a bagfull of promises usually not backed up. Good examples include renovation of Maple Road railings first requested in 2007 and part-finished last year.

Maybe the one year in every three gives three years to make good the promises made on the walkabouts.

Secret Working Group on Playing Fields



Green Space behind Avondale School

A working group was set up by arrangement of the Borough Council's Executive in September 2011. 
It looked at the sites to be protected under the Qeen Elizabeth II Playing Fields Challenge which can help to protect green spaces from asset disposal. I don't know who was on the group or how it was constituted, but they recommended the following fields be protected:


§  Mawsley – Hawthorn Avenue Recreation Ground

§  Broughton – Gate Lane Recreation Ground

§  Desborough – Dunkirk Avenue Recreation Ground

What a shame they did not have the vision to include the fields under threat from development at the rear of the former Avondale Junior and Infant Schools.

This protection would make it all very difficult for field sales to take place.

In a further development, the disposal of Laburnum Crescent site is likely to happen via obtaining an outline planning consent on the area including the fields. This could compromise the buildings being left for public use in an area short of communual facilities.

As soon as any more information comes to light, it will be published.