Published 25th January, 1995. Sherwood Shopping
Sainsbury's
The supermarket has temporarily withdrawn its plans to develop a supermarket at the City Hospital.
A report from the County Council criticised the plans on highway grounds and strategic planning grounds.
It's thought however, that Sainsbury's may have withdrawn their report for other technical problems with their plans.
KwikSave
Meanwhile, the City Council has received an application for a larger KwikSave's to be achieved by an extension onto a car lot; followed by the demolition & replacement of the existing cinema building. The idea is in line with the City Council's Local Plan.
Beechwood
Evening Post
Another page 6 article has been given over to the Close Beechwood Cttee. An Evening Post editorial has called for Beechwood to be moved to a rural area.
Do the Evening Post now want to save Bill Bradbury?
Beechwood
One of the main roles of Beechwood outh Court Services is to save kids from being placed in homes or institutions long term. Institutions don't have the best record and bringing kids round.
Social workers try to place the children back with their parents (or if that is not possible to place them with specially trained foster parents) - one of the reasons why Beechwood needs to be in the city.
Better staff - child ratio
For Beechwood, it's hoped to reduce the 17 beds there to 8; whilst only reducing the staffing from 21 posts to 15 staff.
Amazingly, on an issue of which County officers are absolutely certain and assured about the facts, Bradbury has written to the Post to say the ratio is getting worse.
Crime figures
Bill Bradbury has constantly harped about 160 offences committed by Beechwood residents in the first 9 months of 1994.
The figure for the total year is 189.
These figures refer to offences committed throughout the whole county.
In fact, Arnold division report 40 offences throughout the year locally, of which 12 were on Beechwood staff.
The last local offence was a TWOC (taking a car) 4 months ago in Ebers Road.
Arnold Police
Arnold Police say Beechwood is not a problem; hardly any crime is committed on the patch by residents of Beechwood.
Indeed, even in the Evening Post article, campaigners recognised that things are quiet.
Now the campaigners are to write to local, rural Tory MPs if they support the campaign for Beechwood to be moved to a rural area. Er....
New fence
Meanwhile, a fence around the back of Beechwood is on offer to residents.
Complaints from residents need to be handled correctly; and we must recognise that Police offences will not record matters like trespass.
Social Services Cuts
Home help charges
Extra money for Social Services is being raised by new charges for home helps and higher prices for meals.
The Govt. expects 15% of money to be raised through charges, and 85% of local authorities do.
Still, our Labour authority would rather not, and has only taken this step because of the difficult financial situation, and after consultation with clients and voluntary organisations.
Nevertheless, you'd expect some criticism at the Committee meeting.
Friendly Centre
Instead, the meeting was dominated by the closure of the Friendly Centre at Chapel Bar, representing £79,000 of the budget. The centre occupies a shop, and the lease runs out in June. Other places in the city centre ought to be able to provide the service.
TV cameras and journalists turned up to see us fall flat on our face.
Instead Dennis Pettitt announced a new package which keeps the centre open a further 3 months to find alternatives.
Cllr. George Miller
George died earlier this month.
Blind since 14, the Evening Post presented a fulsome coverage to him in their news pages - though they did not mention that he led the journalists against the Post during the period of the Nottingham Free Press.
County Council
George's funeral preoccupied the Labour Group which was hurried to all members to attend.
Baby Milk Campaign
As a result, Labour members were granted a free vote on a Liberal motion seeking to promote the boycott of Nestles because of the way they promote baby milk powder, and because 1.5 million babies around the world die each year because the milk is made up with unsafe water.
The motion was defeated because of legal worries about the actions requested.
Job Seekers Allowance
The Council did condemn this allowance, which penalises the jobless whilst doing little to reduce unemployment.
Mapperley Road
The result of the survey was 58 out of 67 respondents wanted highway signs warning of Police video surveillance.
BBC Radio Nottingham interviewed me about the consultation - but didn't use it. Oh yes.
Economic Development
This function is unique in that the County has to record it's intent to carry on every year.
Much of the work can be viewed as venture capital. The usual failure rate is 30%. Only 17% of ventures Notts. C.C. supports fails; and in part Council support can attract other private capital to support the venture.
The Cttee. has also launched a code of practice for employers of outworkers; a group of workers who are frequently exploited.
Finally, there was an assuring report on the future of Boots Pharmaceuticals now it had been taken over by BASF.
Liberal Focus
Their latest, and first for over 18 months, gives over its first page to a calendar.
The rest of the stories are very weak.
Unemployment
635 in November '94 (16.0%).
It is now higher than in Bulwell.
Cases
30 in 1995.
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