Just a reminder that the next Community Action Group is to be held at Streetly Community Association, Foley Road East on Tuesday 25th November2008 between 18:00 - 20:00.

The aim of this CAG meeting is to look at the following issue: Communications

To see details of Local Neighbourhood Partnerships or CAG notes visit the LNP site: www.walsall.gov.uk/local_neighbourhood_partnerships

To see a website packed with lots of information about Aldridge visit:

www.aldridge-web.com

The findings of the Organ Donation Taskforce have been published today, and their major finding has been not to recommend the introduction of “Presumed consent” - ie where doctors can remove organs for transplant unless the person has opted out.

Currently donors have to opt in by registering and carrying a donor card. There are 8,000 people awaiting transplants and 1,000 of these are likely to die because no organ donor will become available.

I hope that the publicity will give a push to the campaign to get more donors. I have attached a link to the Organ Donor website if you are interested in signing up:

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp

Thank goodness the Government have finally ended the uncertainty that had been caused by the delay around the award of the contract for the next 5 years of the card account used used by 4.3 million benefit claimants and pensioners.

The award of the contract to the Post Office will help secure some 3000 branches there likely to close if the card contract had been awarded elsewhere. It will also ease many concerns users had, particularly pensioners, about the way in which  they could get hold of their money. At least their concerns have been listened to for once!

As advised previously the Council’s Planning Committee when they meet on Tuesday 28th October (5.30pm in the Town Hall) refused the application regarding the installation of plant equipment (08/1149/FL) at the rear of 27 Paddock Lane.

I have now spoken to Tesco who have advised the siting of the plant is to be changed and  the store will not be able to open until this planning issue is resolved.

I’ve contacted the Council who advise they have just received a new planning application in respect of the plant equipment - 08/1752/FL. The earliest the new application could be heard would be 9th December - if the necessary consultations could be progressed quickly - otherwise the next meeting is 6th January 2009.

The opening of the express store on 20th November did not proceed, and it may well be delayed until the New Year depending on how things go!

The next 2 Blood Donor sessions in Aldridge are:

Friday 28th November 2008 at Compass Suites, Aldridge; and

Friday 2nd January 2009 at Aldridge Community Centre.

Sessions run from 13:30 to 15:30 and then from 16:30 up to 19:30.

I don’t particularly like needles, but I can assure you that it isn’t that painful or frightening!There’s always then biscuits and tea you get afterwards to focus on and take your mind off the actual donation bit…

If you want to know more then you can click on the link I’ve added for blood donor services on the left hand side.

At the Aldridge South & Streetly Community Action Group meeting held recently I raised the issue of the Bail Hostel on Stonnall Road, Aldridge. This followed concerns raised in the local newspaper  by residents over an incident involving one of the residents from the bail hostel.I have received the following reply from Sgt Finch, Neighbourhood Sergeant at Aldridge Police Station, in respect of this question:

“The Bail Hostel is run by the probation service and is Home Office approved and regulated. Although the police have a good working partnership with the probation service and on our part with the staff at  the bail hostel we have no influence over policy and procedures. On a reassurance point, over the many years that the bail hostel has been in Stonnall Road there have been very few incidents that have  come to the notice of the police or required police intervention. It is a controlled environment where influence can be exerted over the residents. This would not be the case if they were released elsewhere which they are entitled to, having served their sentence.”

Also at the Aldridge South & Streetly Community Action Group meeting held recently I raised the issue of the opening hours of the Police Station in Aldridge. This followed concerns raised in the local newspaper by a resident who went to report knife crime involving her son but found the station was closed apparently because the staff were taking a “tea break”.
I have received the following reply from Sgt Finch, Neighbourhood Sergeant at Aldridge Police Station, in respect of the question:

“Aldridge Police Station is open to the public 7am till 10pm Monday to Friday and 10am till 6pm Saturday and Sunday. The front office is manned by civilian members of staff who are entitled to breaks. To accommodate this the station is occasionally closed for a short period of time. The alternative would be to take an officer off the streets to cover the front office which we are reluctant to do. Although the station is closed to the public outside of the times given it remains an operational station 24/7 with neighbourhood officers and support teams officers coming and going throughout the day and night.  A policy decision was made to close the station to the public of a night time as experience showed that the demand did not justify a member of police staff being posted to the station 24/7. This remains true and I do not envisage a time where the station will remain open 24hrs a day every day.”

The economic crisis means everyone’s worried about the future. Many are struggling to get by from day to day. The banks have been bailed out. I believe now it’s time for action to help people and their families through these tough times.

While Labour and the Conservatives argue about who is to blame, the Liberal Democrats are focused on practical help for people and families. We have developed a simple action plan that will really make a difference, putting money in your pocket, cutting unfair bills, and keeping people safe in their homes. There are four urgent changes we’re calling for:

1. Cutting taxes for struggling families so you’ve got more money in your pocket. The Liberal Democrats will cut taxes for people on low and middle incomes, raising them for the richest so the tax cuts are affordable.

2. Lowering energy bills so you can afford to keep warm this winter. As wholesale fuel prices fall - they have dropped 28% since August - utility companies must lower people’s bills too.

3. Keeping people in their homes, so you don’t need to fear unfair repossessions. We must ensure that banks only ever repossess people’s homes as a last resort.

4. Lower mortgage payments and cheaper business loans through big interest rate cuts. People and businesses need help paying off their mortgages and loans, so we need substantially lower interest rates.

This package of measures would make a real difference to people’s everyday lives. You can read more details at www.libdems.org.uk/recoveryplan.

However I need your help. To really represent everyone, it’s crucial that Lib Dems understand exactly how people’s lives in Aldridge are being affected. We’ve already seen a number of big firms closing, jobs being lost and businesses close. So please get in touch with your stories about the impact the credit crunch is having on your family and your area. I will ensure Nick Clegg gets to know what you think and even what further help we should push for with the Government!

Previously I advised that the Council had decided to proceed with marketing the land - to see if any developer was interested in  purchasing it. The Council’s marketing section were awaiting confirmation of the Cabinet decision in order to start the process.

Well imagine my amazement when I contacted them to find out what  latest position was to be informed that they have not been instructed to undertake the process.

On contacting our Ward councillors Tom Ansell and John Rochelle were unaware of this delay. However John O’Hare, who is the Leader of the Council, has advised that he decided not to continue with the process to market the land.

I’ve written to him asking a number of questions which I would like the answer to:

1.Who, and for what reasons, determined not to pursue Cabinet decision to instruct disposal ( Cabinet meeting 16th July 2008, agenda item no 8)? Particularly as in the report to cabinet it states that a consequence of not selling would be an impact on the Capital Receipt target for 2008/9 and affect education proposals at Aldridge & Barcroft Schools. Also given that two other former school sites (which may be felt to be in less sought after location than Aldridge) are, according to the local press, going through marketing process by council?

2.When was this decision taken?

3.Why were interested parties not notified, apparently even one the Ward councillors is unaware of this?

4.Who, and under what authority, carried out the “extensive canvassing to ascertain whether or not it would be possible to attract a purchaser in the current economic climate”, referred to in your letter? Can you provide details of their findings?

5. Why was it felt this could not be undertaken by the Council’s own marketing section, who after all are tasked to find the best price for the Council in such circumstances?

6. Your letter states that “there is presently no interest which would produce a single capital receipt to the Council other than at a figure which we would not be prepared to contemplate”. As the site has not been marketed how can anyone have made an offer?

7. Who is now responsible for determining when the time is right to progress the sale of the site, and how will they decide this?

I’ve had a reply I’m not happy with, as it claims that he cannot answer these because of “commercial confidentiality”, so I am trying to get more information. I find the fact that the Council Leader can make the decision not to proceed with the established process without reference to the elected council (especially two fellow ward Councillors), the marketing section or in fact anyone at all an abuse of democracy.

National tests for 14-year-old school pupils in England are to be scrapped, following this summer’s Sats marking “shambles” reads the headlines.

Another day and it seems another sensible decision is implemented.

It’s just a shame it has taken so long for sense to prevail and sad that they have decided to retain the SATS for other age groups.  Maybe we can but hope that we will see these, and the devisive league tables, scrapped soon.