Gosforth eFocus 55

Gosforth efocus 55

In this edition :

* Bins collections

* Prospects for the economy

* Great North Road next phase

* Policing changes

* Broadway Schools

* The People's Theatre - an easy way to help

* Sandy Lane Improvement Scheme

* Broadway West playing fields

* Melbury and Warkworth Woods report

* New Brunton Park play area

* City Council elections

Bins collection chaos

There's a daily update on which areas are affected at http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/news-story/missed-bin-collections-18-april-2016

People are getting pretty cross about the mismanagement of services by the Labour administration, both those paid for through the community charges and for the extra brown bin service. You'll note from the web address this has been going on for two months: Considerable extra expense has been incurred trying to keep up.

This is the reply to an email from Liberal Democrat Cllr David Faulkner asking questions of the responsible Cabinet Member relating to refuse collection, which we publish in full because so many people have been complaining to us about this essential front line service.

I must make it clear that no formal dispute has been declared. Hence there is no 'formal' negotiation process with Unions. Nevertheless, we are in almost daily contact with Unions, staff and managers.

The Leader of the Council has of course been kept up to date with developments on a daily basis, and attended meetings, although as you will understand, I am the responsible cabinet member leading on this.

We have held a number of meetings with the Trade Unions, including the Chief Executive, Cabinet Member, Director and Head of Service to look to achieve an outcome. The Chief Executive, Mick Murphy and myself have met with front line staff to listen to concerns, and further staff engagement sessions are currently underway, chaired by Mick Murphy. We are working very hard with all parties to try to overcome the operational difficulties we are experiencing.

Our aim here is to make the service sustainable and protect jobs in future years while conforming with legislation. We have made no changes to the length of rounds, and have no less front line resource because we have not proposed any redundancies in this area. Changes were outlined in the Integrated Impact Assessment as part of budget proposals approved by Council on 2 March 2016. A copy of the IIA is available on our website ( that's www.newcastle.gov.uk)

It is worth advising that this has come as a result of a difficult budget process. This administration took a decision that the protection of jobs and front line services was one of the key drivers through the process.

IIA's alongside ongoing discussion including numerous workshops with the staff took place from October and at no stage did the issues being focussed on now come to the fore.

As we have not changed any of the rounds, it may be that some areas at the end of each round are consistently not getting bins collected on the normal date. We are considering how to deploy resources to mitigate this issue.

Regarding your point about 'backlog', we have made temporary arrangements so that this does not increase, and are trying to ensure, that no 'backlog' spills over from one week until the next.

You specifically asked about the cost of overtime work so far. The figures are £3,525; £4,775; and £2,649 in overtime payments for each of the last three weeks.

Regards, Cllr Nick Kemp, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services

Prospects for the economy

During a recent debate in the House of Lords, John Lord Shipley spoke about the North East, manufacturing and the referendum. These issues and his warnings about the dangers ahead are so important that we reproduce his speech in full

The NE is a manufacturing region and an exporting region. Many thousands of jobs (around 150,000) in the North East (and millions across the UK) depend on exporting to our European partners. Leaving the EU's single market, which is the world's largest free trade zone, would hit our trade and investment and increase unemployment.

I am proud that my region has a positive balance of trade. This is because we make things. We manufacture cars and now trains. We have huge supply chains in support of our manufacturing. It would increase unemployment significantly if we voted to leave the EU

The NE simply can afford the cost of Brexit. It would be a massive own goal disrupting our economy and the livelihoods of very many households.

Last year 44 foreign inward investment projects came to the NE but this will be put at risk if we leave the EU. Why would an overseas company seeking to expand in the EU want to put itself outside the single market facing tariff barriers to its exports?

The NE needs access to the EU single market of 500 million people, with a say over the rules of doing business across Europe. That means more jobs and more financial security for our region.

In addition to manufacturing, sectors like farming, science, higher education, tourism, and hospitality would also be adversely affected by Brexit and the North East would lose access to hundreds of millions of pounds of EU funding for regional development.

The success of our universities relies heavily on EU research funding, and our businesses rely on free movement of skilled workers (both to and from the UK) to drive growth and jobs.

Manufacturing still provides half of our country's exports, three quarters of scientific innovation and two and a half million jobs.

Almost all UK economists support our remaining in the EU. Amazingly, one economist who favours Brexit, Professor Minford, has admitted that if we left the EU it seems likely that we would mostly eliminate manufacturing. This is an unacceptable. We need manufacturing. We need the innovation, the jobs and the growth manufacturing can bring.

Car manufacturers, rail manufacturers - indeed all manufacturers -who export or plan to export want access to the European single market to enable them to trade freely on common technical standards.

Small businesses need the same, because they form part of the critical supply chain to bigger businesses

• The EU helps all these industries by eliminating barriers - both tariff and non-tariff barriers. The next stage of development of the single market will bring down the remaining barriers to trade in services, energy and digital industries which will be hugely beneficial to the UK.
• Our success at manufacturing depends on our continued membership of the EU.
• In the NE the warnings from Hitachi and Nissan need to be taken very seriously indeed. They want us to be in the single market and their view matters profoundly. The NE needs the jobs and prosperity they bring.
• Our future in the NE depends on our being part of the EU and its single market. Voting to leave would do immense damage to our economy, our growth prospects and the prospects of our next generation.
• We must vote to remain in the EU.

Great North Road next phase going north

There has been an informal update meeting of Parklands councillors, campaigners and officers responsible for Highways plans As a result of the consultations, officers have decided to recommend the reincorporation of a reduction in the speed limit on the Great North Road from 40 mph to 30 mph between Broadway and Brunton Lane. The traffic monitoring has shown that peak traffic levels are around 1000 vehicles and mean speeds just over 40 mph.

They have also reconsidered the closure of the slip/access road from the Polwarth Drive roundabout, and will now propose that it is kept open with physical measures to allow cyclists onto two-way tracks. This is a notable victory for local people who have campaigned so visibly for a rethink.

However, officers see no evidence to change their minds on the removal of the deceleration lane at Greystoke Park. They don't need a Traffic Regulation Order to do so, using their powers as Highways Authority. They have not been able to find any evidence of it being a planning condition, and can over-rule anyway. They point out that there are several other exit/entrances along that stretch of road without a filter lane.

There will be a public announcement shortly about the outcome of consultation, and publication of draft Traffic Regulation Orders. It is possible to object to the Appeals Sub Committee who can't over-rule but can urge thinking again, but this will delay the scheme which is predicated on improving road safety for cyclists.

New neighbourhood policing model launched

This month Northumbria Police Force launches a new neighbourhood policing model to put officers in the best position to deliver the "four pillars" of neighbourhood policing (Safeguarding, Collaborative Problem Solving, Engagement and Targeted Crime Prevention) and deliver a more 'personal' policing style to the communities they serve.

Assistant Chief Constable Farrell says : There will be no reduction in neighbourhood police officers and Community Support Officers but the number of Neighbourhood Police Teams (NPT) will be reduced from 34 to 21. This will allow us to deliver on our promise of a more personal policing style and is supported by a host of estate changes to bring NPTs closer to the communities they serve. He also says :

• Day-to-day operations will continue as normal but the Force will be able to deliver a more co-ordinated approach that puts the 'four pillars' at the forefront of everything we do.

• The new model is supported by a number of estates changes which will bring NPTs closer to the heart of their community to make them more accessible to the people they serve.

• Northumbria Police have also invested in new technology which will allow officers working within NPTs to deliver an outstanding service to the people they serve.

• The Force has also established a new risk assessment process that means we can identify and safeguard vulnerable people at the first point of contact.

• To support this new process the Force has launched a new Safeguarding Department to offer the best possible protection to the most vulnerable people in society.

• It will build upon the positive work already being done in the Force to safeguard victims of some of the most serious crime we have to deal with.

• Our new NPT teams will work closely with this new department to ensure vulnerable victims of crime receive an outstanding, professional and compassionate response.

• Every community will continue to retain a local neighbourhood officer.

• Our officers will continue to serve their communities with pride. We are proud of what we do, proud of who we are. We are 'Proud to Protect'.

The Neighbourhood Inspector responsible for East Gosforth, Parklands and West Gosforth is Inspector Karen Murray. A request has been made for the names of the officers who will make up the neighbourhood teams.

Broadway Schools - agreed traffic management changes

After considerable delays resulting from legal processes, the proposed works to help improve child safety will be carried out during the school summer holidays.

Helping the People's Theatre with just a click

The People's Theatre on the Coast Road in Newcastle is undertaking a major redevelopment project.

It's costing about 1 million pounds! And they're within £250,000 of achieving the money they need.

They're in with a good chance of getting £150,00 if they can win the Jewson's project fund; they're the only theatre in the finals , and one of the top 2 or 3.

Please give them a vote - it could make all the difference!

Here's how they've asked us for our help….

'We're asking you to #VotePTAG but why should you? We won't spend the £150K on shoes, promise, it'll go towards making us a fully accessible venue with a wider artistic scope & better facilities for participants and audiences. And that's worth your vote, right.

VOTE HERE >> http://ow.ly/7B3r300Q4Uo - this takes you through Facebook; all you need to do is 'like' us!'

Or: Please head to https://www.buildingbettercommunities.co.uk/submission/peoples-theatre-redevelopment-project/ and help us bag the top prize!

The A1056 Sandy Lane Improvement Scheme.

North Tyneside Council, in partnership with Capita, is investing £4.8million to reduce congestion, improve journey times, enhance access to Sandy Lane Industrial Estate and support the growth of Indigo Park.

The site compound, from where the improvement scheme will be delivered, has now been set-up on land adjacent to Sandy Lane. The access road for the compound has also been completed and work is now underway to develop it into the permanent access road for Indigo Park.

Current work includes introducing drainage, laying the road's foundations and installing ducts to carry cables for new street lighting. None of these works should affect users of Sandy Lane.

Broadway West playing fields

A liaison group has been established to facilitate dialogue between Red House Farm FC and local residents. It will meet quarterly. Although the club now has planning permission for an all weather pitch, floodlights and some fencing, it does not have Landlord's Consent (from the Council) Without this, it cannot implement its plans nor obtain funding. The FA, a likely source, is in discussion with the City about its playing field strategy and the impact of major housebuilding schemes moving forward to the west of the A1 on the need for sporting provision. (For instance, plans for 529 new homes at Kenton Bank Foot are now being considered by Newcastle City Council, the first stage in scheme which will see a total of 800 homes built there alone. Thousands more are scheduled for the Great Park - see next section)

The Gosforth Sports Association is still awaiting a lease on the cricket and rugby fields. As the plan was approved on the basis of reducing the maintenance charges to the City Council, responsibility - and charges - now fall on the Leisure department. So they have a big incentive to urge their Civic Centre colleagues to get a move on!

Melbury and Warkworth Woods report

This from David Abercrombie, Project Director, Newcastle Great Park

1. Street Trees is still a major issue and two further trees have been damaged in the last few months. At present we have 10 approved tree locations without trees. I am firmly of the opinion that trees in these locations does not work and we need to find an alternative design to allow trees to mature and deliver an acceptable street scene. The Council will not adopt the street trees and I want to find an alternative solution as the current locations can clearly not be sustained
2. The play area at the bottom of Featherstone Grove has been vandalised and so the swings are being replaced.
3. Adoptions have again slowed, basically for two reasons. Firstly the developers were slow in providing an instruction for inspection of street lights but at the same time on the initial inspection we are concerned that it is being suggested that street light locations may need to change. I am working hard with senior highways officers to move this forward and still working towards the same deadline for completion. We have also agreed to the phase 2 inspections earlier. The Council and I are meeting monthly to update this process.
4. The bund. You will receive a newsletter from the council within the next week and either with this or thereafter you will also receive the access leaflet. As soon as this is circulated the new signs will go up followed by the additional planting.
5. Strategic Routes. We have decided to progress with routes and not get them adopted but the management company with maintain on the west of the A1. The work is out to tender and the first stage will deliver all routes from the Ouseburn underpass to the school. We want to get this work done making use of the summer weather and that is still the plan. I have to get work signed off by the Council but don't expect this will delay things.
6. We are holding a public consultation event on 30 June and 2 July about Cell A. This is the development of a further 1200 house but also new schools. Residents should receive notification through their doors (but keep an eye on social media too)

Brunton Park flood alleviation scheme

There's a full report at https://www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/your-account/in-your-area/Brunton-park.aspx

Key points include : NWL started back on site on Tuesday 29 March 2016 and are progressing with the excavation of the final sections of the new Ouseburn channel

They now expect to have completed the bulk of the construction work on the golf course by Friday 29 July 2016 with final resurfacing of the highway and reinstatement of Lincoln Green following.

Having taken into consideration a range of views about the new play area on Lincoln Green, NWL have revised their proposals and expect to have it ready by Friday 15 July 2016 in time for the school summer holidays.

City Council Elections

You've probably already heard the results and had the thank-you Focuses through the door, but Pauline Allen (Parklands) and Nick Cott (West Gosforth) thank all those who continue to place their trust in them, and Dom Raymont (East Gosforth) is grateful both to those who elected and to Peter Leggott, his predecessor, now enjoying a well-earned retirement after his service to the community.