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Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited
by David Watts, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Broxtowe Borough
Council.

28th January 2012

1. Councillors
The only place really to start this week is with the developments on the
borough council itself. On Monday Toton Conservative borough councillor Craig
Cox resigned from the council, triggering a by election. Mr Cos has obtained a
new job in London and so is moving away. I fully understand that but it is
disappointing that someone who has been elected has served less than twelve
months, especially when the Tories dumped their sitting councillor in favour of
Mr Cox at the last election.

However that news was overshadowed on Thursday when it was reported that
Council leader and Labour leader Milan Radulovic has been charged with a fraud
worth £45,000. When the news broke I issued a statement on behalf of, and with
the agreement of, the Lib-Dem group, saying that we were aware of the
allegations and we believe in the concept of innocent until proved guilty, and
we won’t make any further statement until the court proceedings are
concluded. You can see the full statement on our website at
www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk.

2. Nest Box Event at Attenborough
There will be two events at the nature reserve during half term. They have
declared it nest box week and there will be opportunities to help wildlife by
making a bird or bat box, and some bird feeders to take home. The events are
suitable for children aged six and over, accompanied by an adult - please bring
a saw and hammer if possible. Adults can come along on their own too! Two dates
are available, on Thursday February 16th it is a free event for members of the
wildlife trust only, so to book please ring the Membership Team on: 0115 958
8242 or email: membership@nottswt.co.uk. You can come along from 10.15am. On
Tuesday February 14th it is open to all. Drop in between 10.15am and 12.15pm.
Bird boxes £6 each, subject to availability. Contact: Attenborough Nature
Centre on 0115 972 1777 for more details. It's a good time to visit the nature
reserve at the moment, I saw a Bittern there this afternoon, a bird I have
never seen before.

3. Volunteer Wanted for Wildlife Trust
Do you have a few hours to spare each fortnight? Based at their Nottingham
office, Notts Wildlife Trust are currently looking for volunteers to help
maintain their pool cars: ensure oil, screen wash, anti-freeze and water are
all topped up; generally check the condition of the cars, including
cleanliness; make sure tyre conditions are good; and clean the cars when
required. Also, they need help with minor building maintenance and repairs. If
you think you can help, please get in touch with Julie Reed, Volunteering
Officer, on: 0115 958 8242 or email:jreed@nottswt.co.uk.

4. Asbestos at Toton Sidings
There was some asbestos dumped at Toton sidings this week. This is of course
totally illegal and I’m very grateful to the members of the Toton
Environmental Protection Society who contacted me about it so that we could
make arrangements to have it cleared up and investigate whether we could prove
who dumped it in the first place.

5. Home Wanted For Local Film
A local filmmaker is looking for a house in Beeston to use as a location in a
short film. The advert reads:
The film is set in a modestly furnished semi or detached house. The 2/3 min
film will be shot over a weekend at the end of Feb. We need to film in the
dining room, sitting room, kitchen and a double bedroom. I will pay some
inconvenience money. The film will be for submission to all the major film
festivals. Contact Steve by email: steve.deery@ntlworld.com, or call on 07985
199 054
If this is of interest to you please give him a ring.

6. Stapleford Poems In Action
The 30th January 2012 Perambulatory Poems in Action at Stapleford - 2 - 3pm
has no spaces left. But come back/stay for 3.30pm – 4.30pm; join in or sit
back and enjoy the quirky world of Instant Theatre. No British Sign Language
provided. Supported by Stapleford Town Council. Refreshments too! These are
performed by local poet Dave Woods. For those still wanting to see poems in
action, books for the following performances...
13th February. 6.30pm - 7.30pm Edwinstowe Library, Edwinstowe.
25th February - 11am - 12noon - Friends' Meeting House, Clarendon Street,
Nottingham
All poetry performances are free, suitable for all ages and include British
Sign Language interpretation. Phone O77O9 977684

7. Notts Police Budgets
Lindsay Donnelly (Police, Administrator, Nottinghamshire) writes on behalf of
Nottinghamshire Police Authority:
During 2011/12 Nottinghamshire Police with the help of partner organisations
has continued to deliver improvements in reducing crime and at the same time
achieved significant financial savings through reducing back office costs,
collaboration with other Police Forces across the region, voluntary redundancy
of police staff and the compulsory retirement of Police Officers after 30 years
service. For the year to date the Force has delivered a 7.7% reduction in total
crime and achieved the £10.3m savings required for 2011/12.
The Police Authority is considering increasing the Police precept to allow
investment in Police officers and Police Community Support Officers to maintain
the improvements and achieve further reductions in crime and anti-social
behaviour.
I invite your comments ahead of the formal budget setting process at the Police
Authority meeting at 10 am on 22nd February 2012 at County Hall. The
information is available on the Police Authority website www.nottspa.org.
Any comments on the budget proposal should be sent to the Police Authority by
close of business on 10 February 2012.
Feedback can be made to the Police Authority either by post to:
Nottinghamshire Police Authority
County Hall
West Bridgford
Nottingham
Via our website www.nottspa.org, or by email on
npa@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk

8. Housing Numbers in Broxtowe
The borough council has delayed plans to determine which, if any, sites will be
nominated for new housing in the borough. The decision was due to be made at a
special council meeting in Mid-March, but when I went to meet Andrew Stunnel,
the Minister in the Department of Communities and Local government, he gave a
commitment that the final version of the new Government rules on planning will
be published by the end of March. It seems stupid to agree plans just two weeks
before the rules change, and so the decision will be taken later in the spring.

9. Sale of DH Lawrence School
The disused Greasley Beauvale DH Lawrence School, which the author attended as
a pupil, has been sold this week at auction for £200,000. He building is a
Grade 2 listed building, which means that the new owners will need to apply for
permission from the council before doing any alterations to it.

10. Exam results In Notts
Last years GCSE results in Nottingham were the best ever achieved, and AS
levels also saw an improvement, according to figures released this week. This
is very good news and my congratulations go out to everyone who has been
involved in achieving this improvement. However, even though the results are
the best ever obtained and the County went up 38 places in the league table,
they are still placed 79th and so there is clearly still room for improvement.

11. Cuts To The Voluntary sector
Long term readers will recall that I was very critical last year of plans by
the County Council to significantly cut the funding it provides to the
voluntary sector, especially at a time when their services are needed more than
ever. I’ve now been supported in this by a very unlikely ally, none other
than Eric Pickles himself. The Secretary of State for Local government has
written to the county questioning whether these cuts provide best value to the
county council and asking them to think again.

12. Police Crime Figures
A report by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabularies has concluded that
Notts police are one of the most accurate forces for recording crime figures in
the country. They concluded that 96% of crimes were correctly recorded. This in
itself may not be very exciting, but given that in the last couple of weeks
figures have been released showing significant drops in crime levels in the
county it means that we can be confident that crime is actually falling here,
which is good news.

13. Online Sports Bookings
Broxtowe Sports online bookings for their calendar of events in 2012 is now
available. Broxtowe Sports' Sports Events are suitable for people who are new
to sport and exercise or for those who are looking to try something new! The
Sports Events calendar includes a 5K Run, a Triathlon and a Duathlon, not to
mention the Kimberley and District Striders 10K and Beeston AC's Trent 5 Mile -
There's something for everyone to try! To book visit the council website at
http://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5333.

14. Nominations for Community Champions
Local people are being invited to celebrate the achievements of real-life
community champions who help make their community a more pleasant place to live
by submitting their nominations for this year’s Broxtowe Borough Partnership
Community Champion Awards by Wednesday 29th February.
The Broxtowe Borough Partnership is inviting local people to come forward with
their stories of individuals and groups who have carried out good works,
battled adversity or worked selflessly to make their community a better, safer
and more pleasant place to live.
Nominations are being sought across seven categories to recognise those who
work
tirelessly to improve their borough:
• The Safe Borough – For those who work to reduce crime and make our
borough a safer place to live.
• A Growing Borough – For those who have helped businesses improve.
• A Healthy Borough – For those who have helped put better health services
or facilities into their community or help people lead a healthier lifestyle.
• A Clean and Green Borough – For those who have worked to make the borough
cleaner or greener or helped people to become more environmentally friendly.
• Children and Young People – For a child or young person up to the age of
18 years who has made improvements to their community or to the people living
there.
• A Happy Borough – For those who have helped to make their community a
better place to live and help everyone get on and work together.
• Good Neighbour Award – For an individual who has helped people in their
community to live more comfortable or safely in their homes.
The 2012 Broxtowe Borough Partnership Community Champion Awards aim to find
remarkable and inspirational real-life heroes who have volunteered or carried
out work in their own time to improve Broxtowe Borough.

Nominations are open for individual Broxtowe Borough residents and for groups
who provide services within the borough. The deadline for entries is Wednesday
29th February 2012. The eventual winners will be announced at a special awards
evening later this year.
For more information, please contact Broxtowe Borough Council on 0115 917 3395,
email richard.lea@broxtowe.gov.uk or download an application form online at
www.broxtowepartnership.org.uk

As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. Any feedback is
gratefully received. You can send that using the Lib-Dem website at
www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk, at my personal website at
www.davidwatts.org.uk, or by email at d.k.watts@ntlworld.com.

Best wishes

David

21st January 2012

It’s been a busy week this week. On Wednesday I attended a reception with
Norman Baker, the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, to mark the launch of
NET Line 2. I had a chat there with the chairman of Tramlink, who are building
Line 2, and have invited them to open an office in the Broxtowe Council
building in Beeston, so that local residents have a contact poimnt for any
concerns. The next day I was in London to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister,
discussing a range of issues relevant to local government, and then had a
session with Andrew Stunnell, a Minister at the Department of Communities and
Local Government. It is this department that produces the planning rules that
are causing so much of a problem for Broxtowe, and was there to lobby him for
changes. Effectively I was doing what our MP should have been doing, but she
has decided that it’s more fun to attack the council instead.

1. Beeston Town Square
There was an interesting interview with Henry Boot plc in the Nottingham Post
this week. Henry Boot is the company who own the lease to Beeston Square. They
were blaming years of indecision over the tram for the delays in redeveloping
the square, but say that they are now committed to pressing forward. I don’t
accept this fully as Henry Boot themselves have caused significant delays, but
it does show how the delays around the tram have already had a knock on effect.

2. Tram works
Tramlink have now started to take possession of the properties in Beeston which
they need to demolish to make way for the tram. Fifteen properties have so far
been compulsorily purchased, and more will be needed over the next few weeks.
After the years of delay things are now rushing ahead. Trees are also being
cleared, and these need to be done now before the bird nesting season starts.

3. East Midlands Trains
East Midlands trains, who run through Beeston station, have a 92.5% punctuality
rate, according to Network Rail. This is above the national average which is
91.6%. Well done to them but I hope that they will continue to press to achieve
closer to 100%.

4. Broxtowe Youth Mayor
There is a really interesting piece in yesterday’s Nottingham Post by Tilly
Stone, the Broxtowe Youth Mayor, about her work. This can be accessed here:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Today-s-teenagers-doing-bit-society-s-future/story-14984604-detail/story.html

5. Notts County Council
The County Council have decided to scrap their cabinet, and return to a system
where decisions are made by a number of different committees. This was the way
that councils used to work but the Labour Government of Tony Blair insisted
that this system was scrapped. The coalition Government have relaxed this ban
and said that councils can choose the method of operation which is best for
them, and the County Council are one of the first in the country to change
back. In Broxtowe the current system seems to work relatively well and we have
no current plans to change.

6. Pensioners Electricity Bills
Age UK Nottingham and Notts have launched a new partnership with Eon to help
pensioners claim fuel rebates that they are entitled to. Pensioners can often
claim a £120 rebate on their fuel bills, and the new partnership is aimed to
help them do this. Anyone who may benefit from this is invited to ring 0115 993
9982 for more details.

7. Road gritting
The County Council have issued a statement this week confirming that they are
ready for any drop in temperatures, and the situation that was faced last year
where they ran out of salt is unlikely to be repeated. So far this winter
gritters have been out 31 times, compared with 72 times by this point last
year.

8. Armed Forces Community Covenant
Broxtowe Borough Council has signed a community covenant with the armed forces,
creating closer links between the borough and the military. I was present at
the signing ceremony, which was presided over by our mayor, Lib-Dem councillor
Jacky Williams. Part of this commitment will be making sure that proper
provision is made for ex-service personnel within the borough. This is a very
important step for the borough and it was very disappointing that not a single
Conservative Councillor attended the ceremony.

9. Barncroft Day Services Centre
Work has started to refurbish the Barncroft Day Services Centre in Chillwell.
This project, which is being carried out by the County Council, is costing
approximately £800,000 and work will be finished by the summer. The centre is
used each week by about 180 local residents, and this will increase after the
work has finished.

10. Early Blooming Flowers
The County Council are asking for copies of photos flowers appearing in parks
across the County because of the recent mild weather. Pictures should be
submitted via the council’s Facebook site at facebook.com/Nottinghamshire.

11. Free swimming
The borough council have now confirmed that they will be offering free swimming
again next summer to children aged under 16, throughout the summer holidays.

12. A453 Roadworks
The A453 will be closed overnight from tomorrow for four weeks. As a result
traffic is likely to divert along the A52 instead, so drivers need to be ready
for a significantly larger amount of night time traffic.

13. Eastwood Youth Centre
The new youth centre in Eastwood, which opened in September, is being credited
with helping to reduce crime in the town. Crime in Eastwood has dropped by 20%
overall, and the £2million spent on the youth centre will be seen as a very
good investment if this continues.

14. Beeston Library
Beeston library has closed for four weeks for refurbishment. It is expected to reopen on 13th February. The County Council says that a number of essential
repairs are needed, and they are taking the opportunity to make some
improvements as well.

As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. Any feedback will be
very gratefully received.

Best wishes

David

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