Log, February 2006

Here’s a quick summary of news, events and casework for February 2006

February

27th – MSN declare Nottingham the new international culinary capital of Britain;

27th – discuss housing issues with the Housing Manager from Southglade office; 

24th – fatal accident involving a motorbike and a car on The Wells Road; this time, at junction of Heaton Close; the 3rd death in 18 months;  plans exist to slow traffic down near schools (using plateaux at the top of The Wells Road and between Botany Avenue and Kildare Road junctions); chicanes with some plateaux on St.Ann's Well Road have reduced accidents and saved lives - 11 people died in the 13 years before the chicanes were put in 11 years ago, none since;  have raised the matter again with City Council officers and will do so again on Thursday;  

24th – One Nottingham partnership meet;  

23rd – the University of Nottingham's new campus in Ningbo — the first western institution inside China — is opened by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott MP;

22nd – Meet David Johnson, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, with co-Councillor, Mo Munir; 

21st – "All Quiet at the Western Front" at Nottingham Playhouse; 

21st – Executive Board; announce City Council budget; review Council's quarter 3 performance and re-state plans for further performance improvement;

21st – announce Nottingham bid for Digital Challenge;

14th – P.C. Rachael Bown shot whilst attending burglary in Lenton; 

13th – announce transport capital projects for Mapperley ward in 2006/07;

13th – announce Council tax increase of 4.8%;  aim is for all extra money to be spent on new services, more services or higher quality services;  budget proposals include -  - 6.8% increase for each child's education;  - help for those who need help most, like helping people with physical or learning difficulties to live better and more independent lives;  - free passes for the older people including on the tram and on the buses across the whole conurbation;  - more action on tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and grime through the Respect for Nottingham campaign;  inflation and fuel price increases are to be met within existing budget; measures include efficiencies and savings totalling over £4.5 million;  final decision on March 6th;  

13th – Alistair Darling, in Derby, say decision on the extension of the tram system is due in months;

12th – celebration of Chinese New Year at Albert Hall;

12th – The centenary of the formation of the Parliamentary Labour Party;  Radio 4 quote me on the Labour party's new methods of policy formation; Minister, David Miliband says - National government passes legislation; local government changes lives; and Labour in local government is changing the country: - in Manchester by leading regeneration - in Nottingham by tackling anti-social behaviour - in Derby by devolving power to neighbourhoods - and in London, Labour London, Olympic London, Labour boroughs and a Labour mayor building the most diverse, most tolerant and the most vibrant city in the western world.

11th – discuss Nottingham tram with Minister, Derek Twigg;  Leon Unczur presents "Respect for Nottingham" to Association for Public Service Excellence;

11th – Elliott Durham swimming baths are to be 'mothballed'; 

10th - I'm interviewed 3 times by the media on views on the Dunfermline by-election - despite knowing nothing other than the result; talk instead for the drive to renew in Nottingham and I'm featured on BBC 10 O'Clock news;  meanwhile, it transpires a Lib Dem City Councillor did campaign in Dunfermline and missed Monday's full Council as a result;   

10th - 12th – Labour Party’s winter conference (including local government conference) – at Blackpool;

9th– meet to Nottingham Trent Students Union to talk about litter;  

8th– progress at Elliott Durham using a new discipline system - consistency management and co-operative discipline - is featured in the Evening Post; 

7th– SIGOMA meet to discuss local government finance and gov't policy on councils and local strategic partnerships; 

6th– full Council - debate - Education White Paper; Transforming Nottingham's Neighbourhoods;

4th - 5th – East Midlands Regional Labour Party’s conference – “Partnership into Power”; at Skegness;

3rd – John Hutton, Minister for Work and Pensions, visits Nottingham to talk about the new plans to help the long-term unemployed back to work;  

1st – Glenis Willmott (pictured bottom left) becomes a Member of the European Parliament, to replace Phillip Whitehead;