. September 2019 - Page 3 of 4 - Wilcop Media

September 2019

Lancashire News

A series of additional electric vehicles charging points are set to be installed in Burnley borough. Burnley Council and five other local authorities across Lancashire submitted a successful bid for Government funding that could see four rapid charging points installed in each area.

Potential sites on council-owned car parks have been identified and are currently being evaluated by Electricity North West. The funding bid was intended to promote the uptake of electric taxis. However, until such time as taxi demand for the chargers is high enough, the aim is to initially make the charging points available for wider public use.

Councillor Cosima Towneley, the council’s executive member for community and environmental services, said: “This is part of wider work by the council to make our borough cleaner and greener. It will help address climate change, protect the environment and improve air quality for our residents.

“One of the limiting factors in rolling out electric vehicles is the availability of charging points. We are delighted to put Burnley ahead of the game by pre-empting demand for charge points in our borough and we will continue to work with the local taxi trade to encourage operators to switch to electric vehicles.

“This project has shown the power of working with partners to access external funding which will cover the cost of the scheme and we look forward to further joint working in the future for the benefit of local people and the local environment.”

The executive has given the go ahead for officers to take part in a joint procurement exercise with the other Lancashire councils to enable the scheme to go ahead.

It’s proposed that the charging points will be installed next year. For those who have already made the change to electric or hybrid vehicles charging points are already installed in Kingsway on the edge of Burnley town centre.

Nottingham News

Charnwood and Rushcliffe borough councils have received a gold award for their support of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Scheme (ERS) Gold Award is the highest badge of honour for organisations which have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrated outstanding support for those who serve and have served.

The award recognises employers who actively support the Armed Forces community in their workplace and encourage others to follow their lead.
Both councils currently have the silver award and are the first local authorities in the East Midlands to now receive gold. Cllr Hilary Fryer, the armed forces champion for Charnwood Borough Council said: “We are extremely proud to receive the gold award for our continued support of the Armed Forces community. “The award is testament to our successful partnership with Rushcliffe and our work within the community to raise awareness of the issues affecting Armed Forces personnel.

“It’s important we continue to acknowledge the sacrifices our armed forces men and women, and their families make, and the work of the covenant gives us an opportunity to give something back.” “Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this top award.” Cllr Debbie Mason, deputy leader and armed forces champion for Rushcliffe Borough Council said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the gold award from the Armed Forces Employee Recognition Scheme together with Charnwood Borough Council.

“The award acknowledges our work with our Armed Forces community with initiatives such as Veterans’ breakfast clubs, encouraging social enterprises and businesses to sign the covenant and events such as Proms in the Park that raise the profile of military causes and charities.
“We also introduced a guaranteed job interview scheme for Veterans and Reservists at the Council and if appointed, a buddy support system will help them settle into their new work place.

“We will continue to do everything we can to support those with a military background and to explore further ways we can assist hard-to-reach veterans and families with the support they may require.” Charnwood and Rushcliffe have made pledges under the Armed Forces Covenant to help support the Armed forces community including serving personnel, reservists, veterans and families to ensure that they do not face any disadvantage as a result of their service.

The partnership was formed in 2017 and involves Melton Borough Council.
A ceremony will be held in London later this year when the Council’s will formally receive the ERS Gold Award.

Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care

A Home Improvement Agency (HIA) caseworker employed by Lancaster City Council has been recognised for going that extra mile in transforming people’s lives by being shortlisted for a national award. Georgina Smith who has been working for the council for five years has been shortlisted in the Caseworker of the Year category of the 2019 Foundations National Healthy Housing Awards. Foundations is an organisation appointed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to oversee a national network of nearly 200 HIAs and handyperson providers across England.

The awards recognise the important work that is carried out every day by HIAs to support people across the country to live comfortably and independently in their own homes and celebrate the individuals who strive for excellence in their work.

Coun Caroline Jackson, cabinet member for housing, said:
“As a valued member of a committed and dedicated team of caseworkers, Georgina is well known for being a tirelessly compassionate, caring and committed employee with an absolute determination to ensure every client receives the best possible outcome.

“It’s wonderful to hear that Georgina’s work is being recognised nationally for the positive impact she continues to have on ensuring some of our most vulnerable residents get access to the help they need to make those essential adaptations to their homes so they can continue living there safely and independently. Georgina regularly receives praise from clients and key partner organisations.”

Patricia Gerrard of Heysham who recently benefitted from Georgina’s assistance in arranging for a wet room, rails and other minor adaptions to be installed in and around her home, said: “The adaptations that Georgina helped me arrange to have done in my home via the council’s Home Improvement Agency have transformed my life and as an ongoing customer of the council’s handyperson scheme, I can always rely on Georgina to come to my aid when I need her support in filling in forms or contacting other agencies so that I can continue to enjoy living happily and comfortably in my own home.” The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony next month.

For more information on how Lancaster City Council’s Home Improvement Agency can be of assistance to you or someone you know, visit – www.lancaster.gov.uk/homeimprovement

Nottingham News

At last months Chief Officers’ Employment Committee the committee passed the recommendation to appoint Carol Cooper-Smith as the interim Chief Executive of Ashfield District Council. Carol, who has previously been the Interim Service Director, Place and Communities at ADC, will be the first female Chief Executive for Ashfield District Council or the Urban Councils that proceeded it.

Carol said “I am delighted to be returning to Ashfield District Council as the first female CEO. The Council has a strong history of female senior leaders, with two of the Council’s five current senior leaders being female. This will rise to three on my return, and I will be proud to lead an organisation that values equality.” Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council said “It is a conscious decision of this administration to recommend that a female is appointed to be the interim CEO. Carol has a wealth of experience, including four years at Ashfield District Council and I am pleased that she will be returning to the authority to take on this role. “Carol will be in position for up to ten months whilst we recruitment for a permanent Chief Executive.”

Carol Cooper-Smith will take over from Rob Mitchell the current CEO, when he leaves the authority in September.

Lancashire News, Lancs Sport

Burnley Leisure has announced the launch of its new “bistro” dining experience in the tranquil surroundings of Towneley estate and golf club.
Bistro 197 has relocated to the golf clubhouse from its former premises just across the road from the Todmorden Road entrance to the golf course, into a larger venue and offering a new menu.

Husband-and-wife team Daniel and Natalie Stevenson met working in a local resturant at the age of 15 and have built up a passion for creating delicious food. Daniel later travelled the world, spending time in Spain and two years working on the Queen Mary Cunard cruise liner.

Mark Dempsey, the leisure trust’s hospitality general manager, said: “We’re really proud to be partnering with another great local family business.
The opening of the new Bistro 197 has enabled both Burnley Leisure, and Daniel and Natalie, to invest in Towneley Golf Club’s future. We have extensively refurbished the bistro and bar, introduced a new wine list and added premium lager and cash ales with excellent food and service to match.” Burnley Leisure’s head of group operations Neil Hutchinson said: “This is another exciting expansion of our portfolio of facilities.

We are proud to be investing in and securing the future of another of our local iconic buildings, supporting the local economy and complementing our other facilities in the borough.” The partnership is a further extension of the hospitality arm of Burnley Leisure whcih already has bistro and food outlets at the Mechanics Theatre, Prairie Sports Village and Thompson Park.

Nottingham News

This month’s aerial photo shows St Mary’s Church in the Lace Market. It is the oldest church in Nottingham. The church is mentioned in the Domesday Book and is believed to go back deep into Saxon times. The main part of the present building dates from 1377. The photo was taken by Robin Macey who is a member of Nottingham & Derby Hot Air Balloon Club. The club is currently looking to expand. Members take turns being on the chase crew as well as flying in the basket. For further details about how to get involved phone 0115-8541028 or visit www.facebook.com/ndhabc.

Lancashire News

A company with properties in Padiham has become the latest to be recognised for its professional approach to looking after its houses and tenants. A representative from Premier Property Management was presented with an accreditation certificate to mark its successful application to Burnley Council’s good landlord and agent scheme (GLAS).
Through property inspections and an audit of its management procedures, Premier, which is based in Barnoldswick, showed it has a professional approach and the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully manage private rented properties.

The accreditation certificate was presented to Vicki Turner from Premier by Councillor Ivor Emo, the council’s executive member for housing and leisure. Vicki said: “As a small family owned and run business I was delighted to gain this accreditation from GLAS. It shows that working with good landlords and trades to maintain and look after properties is key.
“We have found that the properties we manage in the selective licensing areas have benefited from the scheme greatly, with the areas improving all the time.”

The latest presentation brings the total number of managing agents accredited to the new code of practice to 15. The others are:
Belvoir Lettings (Burnley)
RPC (Rehman Property Consultancy)
Sycamore Letting Company Ltd (Accrington)
The Bee Hive
Falcon & Foxglove
Eafield & Maple (Lettings) Ltd
IMC (North West)
Kes Properties Limited
Petty estate agents
Jon Simon estate agents
2Let Burnley
Keenans Letting Agents
Etherington Property Management
Discover Property Management

Coun. Emo said: “I am delighted to see yet another property company become part of our Good Landlord Accreditation Scheme. The council has always been more than happy to work with good landlords and to recognise the hard work they put in.”

Accreditation schemes first started in the 1990s, particularly in the student sector, to recognise good landlords who meet a set code of practice.
The council has been administrating an accreditation scheme in Burnley since 2001, attracting many landlords and managing agents. In 2016 the council launched a new code of practice to reflect changes in both legislation and best practice that are affecting the private rented sector.
The scheme recognises both good landlords and good managing agents and, helps to raise property conditions and property management standards throughout the borough.

The house condition standards within the new code go above and beyond the legal requirements of the current national standard and aim to ensure that tenants live in a safe and comfortable home that is well managed. For those landlords who reach the higher standard within the new code the gold accreditation award will be granted.

Many managing agents are unregulated and some are not members of a professional body. If landlords are selecting a managing agent in the borough we would always encourage them to ensure they are members of GLAS.

As a landlord you can also become accredited. For an application form and copy of the code of practice please email GLAS@burnley.gov.uk.
Amongst some of the benefits are free development days, access to empty homes loans, free property marketing on the council’s website and up to date information on new legislation, initiatives or policies affecting the private rented sector.

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Kirkby in Ashfield’s Ada Lovelace House will be one of over fifty buildings across the UK lit up to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Famous buildings across the UK are set to light up to raise awareness of leukaemia this September. Ada Lovelace House on Urban Road will be turning red to raise awareness of leukaemia as part of the charity’s blood cancer awareness activities.

National blood cancer charity Leukaemia Care have organised the lighting of buildings across the UK to raise awareness of leukaemia, as well as its signs and symptoms, as part of their Spot Leukaemia campaign.
Leukaemia is a form of blood cancer. Blood cancer is the UK’s fifth most common cancer and the third biggest cancer killer.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) takes place each September and is a chance for patients, charities and healthcare professionals to raise awareness and share stories of their experience of blood cancer.
Across the country, over 50 buildings are lighting up in celebration of Leukaemia Care’s 50th anniversary as a charity. As well as shining a spotlight on leukaemia, the charity is encouraging members of the public to take its free leukaemia awareness course which will help to raise awareness of the vague symptoms of this cancer. The charity also have free fridge magnets and symptoms cards available to order.

Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said: “We’re very proud to be supporting Leukaemia Care, a fantastic charity who do brilliant work for so many people. “I’m looking forward to seeing Ada Lovelace House lit up just outside our Council Offices in Kirkby. If our support of Blood Cancer Awareness Month can raise awareness for just one family in need then it will be worthwhile.”

Director of Patient Advocacy for the charity, Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, said, “We’re delighted that Nottinghamshire is supporting our initiative.
This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that people are more aware of the vague symptoms of leukaemia which can often be mistaken for other common illnesses, such as the flu. As well as enjoying the light up, we’d encourage members of the public to take our free online course which will improve their awareness of leukaemia”.

To find out more about the #SpotLeukaemia campaign and to take the free leukaemia awareness course, head to www.spotleukaemia.co.uk

Nottingham News

Rushcliffe Borough Council is seeking views on renewing its PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) which seeks to control street drinking and outdoor sleeping within West Bridgford. The authority introduced the order in 2017 to help combat the small number of incidents in public spaces in the town associated with the issues.

More information on the proposed PSPO is available at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/pspo and all are invited to email their views to communitysafety@rushcliffe.gov.uk or in person at Rushcliffe Community Contact Centre on Rectory Road in West Bridgford.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis said: “The Public Space Protection Order has been effective in acting as a deterrent to those street drinking or outdoor sleeping in West Bridgford. “This behaviour can be associated with begging, littering and aggressive or intimidating actions.

“Whilst there has been no significant rise in incidents over the last three years, it continues to give our partners and us a valuable tool to give extra protection to the public should incidents occur.

“In the designated area, police, police community support officers and council officers will continue to have powers to help tackle these behaviours which will help to prevent some of the associated issues.
“We continue to signpost those in need to the support services on offer to help them back on their feet, and with partners, tackle the vast majority of anti-social incidents effectively.”

The views will feed into the Council’s Communities Scrutiny Group and if agreed, the new order will be reviewed at a Full Council meeting later this year with the target date for the order being effective from March 1, 2020.

Lancashire News

Several green fingered Accrington Academy students have been visiting Dyke Nook community garden each week, where they’ve been busy collecting litter, weeding, pruning the fruit trees and planting new flowers, as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

The Council supplied the group with litter pickers, gloves and bags and picked up the litter from a designated spot afterwards. Cllr Paul Cox, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, congratulated the students on their hard work saying; “Dyke Nook Gardens is a lovely spot close to the Academy and we really appreciate the student’s involvement in this local project. They are yet another wonderful example of the fantastic voluntary work that goes on in the Borough by community spirited groups and individuals who give their time and energy to make their neighbourhood better for everyone. Congratulations and thanks to them all.”

Bernadette Knight, Learning support at Accrington Academy said; “The students have really enjoyed looking after a part of their community and are looking forward to continuing in the next academic year.”