Published 5th July, 1995. Carrington Sports Ground
The pavilion was set alight recently, allegedly by a couple of lads.
The Hyson Green sports club is to seek money for a replacement from the Foundation for Sports & Arts & the National Lottery; the insurance money can make up the rest.
Meanwhile, the Leisure Dept. has directed groundsmen to bring the cricket pitch up to scratch and the first cricket match should take place soon.
Beechwood
These lads are not from Beechwood so I expect a new campaign to launched for the closure of a private semi-detached house from a well to do street in Mapperley Park - oh yes!
Elliott Durham
£200,000 for refurbishment has been granted following the closure of Manvers Pierrepoint.
The school has suffered from works to remove asbestos and rewire for some time so they will pleased when all the works are complete in October.
Arts prize
The school and two of its pupils won County Council prizes in a competition for posters that campaign against racial prejudice.
Forest
I was sorry to see Ofsted have failed the Forest school. There is concern about the quality and fairness of the judgement.
Walter Halls
The Education Cttee. has considered a 3 page report on the death of the school secretary on a canal boat accident.
Ozanam House
I attended a public meeting with residents of Blyth Street. They alleged the conduct of visitors to the hostel for homeless young women has got out of hand.
There is a popular mood to call for the home to be closed. I have written a letter to the home highlighting the concerns. We now await a meeting between the home and the residents.
I have spoken to a member of staff who says situation has improved recently.
Cases
124 in 1995.
Unemployment
610; 15.4%.
County Council issues
Green Transport week
This national event was hosted by the County Council,
and launched by Brian Mawhinny, Minister for Transport, who was lobbied on LRT & GNARDS, before opening the new entrance hall at the station.
Transport to schools
One of the events was a public meeting highlighting on transport to schools.
It seems junior children are very aware of that parents should not drive them to work; but as they grow older, the preference to be driven grows.
Meanwhile, parents drive because of fear of road accidents, "stranger danger", lack of time & having opted for schools other than the nearest comp.
Problems in society like these show why green issues and public transport matters cannot be treated in isolation from tackling the inequalities in Britain today.
Road Safety
Even at a green meeting, I was challenged on the design of The Wells Road road safety chicanes!
GNARDS
Cllr. John Bell and I were briefed on this plan to create a commuter rail network.
At a cost of £20m - £27m, new rail services could be run to Ilkeston, Stapleford, Bingham & Gedling. Much cheaper than LRT line 1 (£67m).
A Gedling park & ride would cost £2.5m and could relieve traffic flows on Woodborough Road and The Wells Road.
Victoria Centre Car park
And yet we find the City Council granting 1500 extra car park places in the city, with apparently no green charter implications.
Extra car park spaces will encourage more cars into the city centre.
It may be that the planning permission for the extra places was given in the '60s and cannot be rescinded.
However, the bus station will be moved further away from the city centre and be one third of its current size; and the Woodborough Road - Huntingdon St. junction does not work well.
We need fresh thinking…
Evening Post
This paper is almost certain to go tabloid sized; whether it goes metaphorically tabloid is open to debate.
It seems certain to be printed in Derby; and the Forman offices put up for redevelopment.
Recycling paper
The price of recycled paper does fluctuate and at times members of the public have been led to believe it is better to let the paper be burnt at Eastcroft to provide heat.
However, currently the price of recycled paper is high, and Eastcroft is running at full capacity - the excess being tipped, costing the County more for to provide land fill sites. So please, re-cycle your paper and save money!
£40m cuts
The Labour Group considered its spending priorities at a full day session.
Looking at £20m cuts to meet expected Govt's cap;
and £20m to make up for loss of grant and having used up reserves.
Education
The impact of £23m cuts this year has probably meant the loss of 420 posts in education.
With schools using their reserves this year, the next set of cuts could mean the loss of 1,000 posts.
Councillor's Allowances
The County Council is set to confirm the basic allowance for Councillor being increased from £750 per year to £3,000.
This has caused some controversy, whipped up by Evening Post, Andrew Mitchell & (unfortunately) the Labour Party HQ's press department.
Reasons
The level of allowances were dramatically cut in 1991; Gov't recognised it was causing a problem and this year increased limits on allowances.
The Labour Group increased allowances to meet the pressing needs of some Councillors who's political activity makes them unemployable.
The Group did want to target allowances more to those who did more Council work, but the expansion of the tasks that constituted a Councillor's duty, promised by the Gov't, was withdrawn.
The Labour Group has defended the principle that people should not expect unfair remuneration to keep services they provide going - e.g. pay rises for teachers.
To meet public concern, Coopers & Lybrand are being invited to provide an independent view on the increased allowances.
Timing
There is no ideal time to do this. I stand fully behind the Group decision.
Local Government Review
Tomorrow's full council will discuss the Government's decision to review the case of unitary status for Broxtowe, Gedling & Rushcliffe again, even though the District Councils concerned no longer want it.
Honours
An OBE has been awarded to the former Tory County Councillor for Sherwood - who would not have been re-elected in 1993 - & an MBE to the Tory County Councillor for Arnold West.
An OBE for helping a school to opt out of LEA control in Notts.
An MBE for speaking up for the interests of the City Technology College in the Council Chamber.
But someone should tell them, there isn't a British Empire to be a member of any more.
These political awards are ridiculous.
John Thierry
Councillors ought to find gratification from constituent's thanks instead.
Labour lost another member who will have received many thanks during his life.
John was our Group Secretary and had a Frankie Howard style of public speaking that could keep you in fits of laughter.
Nationally Conference
Thanks to the branch for nominating me to Conference; I was elected.
It's an exciting time to go; with controversy over education policy, minimum wage, nature of economic policy.
I shall be asking, why, when we are presenting policy, are we always on the back foot?
Will Hutton
As preparation, I went to hear Will Hutton talk on the themes of his best selling book, "The State We're In".
These themes are that Britain's political, economic and social problems are all part of the same problem - the growth of private power and the lack of citizenship.
I've written some detailed notes if anyone's interested.
Single currency
I was surprised to hear Will Hutton oppose the single currency. Not because a single currency to reduce the impact of currency trading wouldn't be welcome; but because it will be so difficult to organise and if it failed could destroy the European Union.
Tory leadership
The xenophobia displayed by the Tories during this leadership election is alarming and may drive business to support Labour!
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