The SouthGlos Post

All eyes were on South Gloucestershire during election night on May 6 and the council certainly didn’t fail to deliver!

In fact, the three counts at Kingswood, Filton and Bradley Stoke and Thornbury and Yate, ran so smoothly, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr John Calway has praised all the staff and volunteers involved.

Cllr Calway said: “I was delighted to see South Gloucestershire declare all three counts in the district just over three hours after the polling stations closed, which was down to the tremendous hard work and professionalism of the staff and volunteers involved. Their efforts ensured we were one of the quickest in the country.”

Kingswood was identified from the outset as a ‘seat to watch’, with a swing indicative of the national picture. A long night was predicted, however, not only was a result declared shortly before 1am, but the hordes of local, regional and national media were there to witness the first seat in the country swing from Labour to Conservative.

While stories were flooding in of residents left stranded outside polling stations, counts stretching to 4am and possible recounts, all of the counts in South Gloucestershire were declared by 1.15am – a fantastic achievement to announce all the results just over three hours after the polling stations had closed.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Detectives investigating the murder of Barry George Rubery have released details of property missing from Crossing Cottage a month on from his death.

On Wednesday April 28 Mr Rubery returned to his home on the Latteridge Road in Iron Acton, following a night out with friends. The following day he was found with fatal head injuries.

Officers investigating this crime have identified a number of items which cannot be located at the property. These items include a gold Masonic pocket watch (similar to the one pictured) an old Makita drill and an extension lead.

The forensic scene examination continues at the cottage with chemical treatments designed to raise fingerprints beyond conventional retrieval now underway.

Detective Chief Inspector Garry Reeves said: “At this stage we have identified that these items have been removed from the cottage. Further searches will take place once the forensic examinations are complete.

“Forensic retrieval continues to be a priority in this investigation; we remain at Crossing cottage and will continue to do so over the coming days.

“We are determined to find those responsible for the death of Mr Rubery and bring them to justice. Information and intelligence continues to be analysed however I would again urge anyone who may know something to come forward and talk to us.”

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Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Social security fraud, including bogus claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit, costs the country billions of pounds each year.

South Gloucestershire is no different. The council is committed to identifying, investigating and preventing benefit fraud and has a zero tolerance approach to fraudulent claims. There are tight measures in force to crack down on housing and council tax benefit fraud.

Last year the council successfully took 96 fraudsters to court – a 30% increase on the previous year. All the claimants were found guilty of fraud, with 37 being prosecuted, 50 receiving cautions and another nine were fined.

During the year, South Gloucestershire Council’s fraud team identified benefit overpayments totalling some £418,000, of which £264,000 related to housing and council tax benefits paid to people who were not entitled to receive them.

Cllr Allan Higgs, executive member for corporate affairs, said: “The council takes all allegations of fraud very seriously and I would urge residents to inform us if they have worries that someone isn’t entitled in the confidence that we will investigate.

“With public funds being so limited it is essential that money goes to those who are entitled to help and we stop those who are committing fraud.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

The Sunday train service from Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth has been extended to serve Severn Beach for the first time in some years.

South Gloucestershire Council is funding the extension from Avonmouth to improve transport provision in the area and also to attract tourists and encourage families to have a day out travelling around the region by train. The service to Severn Beach runs hourly on Sundays through the summer until September 5 with certain trains running beyond Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-super-Mare and Taunton.

This picturesque line is ideal for family days out, as it runs along the Severn estuary into the heart of SevernBeach where there are many scenic walks and wildlife to discover and cycle routes for visitors to enjoy.

The council have been working jointly with the Severnside Community Rail Partnership, First Great Western and Bristol City Council to promote the route.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Conservative councillors on South Gloucestershire Council have welcomed the pledge by the new Coalition government to ‘rapidly’ scrap the previous Labour Government’s controversial Regional Spatial Strategies.

The pledge was contained in the Coalition’s ‘Our Programme for Government’ document published on Thursday 20th May.

The South West Regional Spatial Strategy (SWRSS) had proposed huge new urban extensions in order to accommodate 32,800 new houses in South Gloucestershire – plans that caused uproar amongst residents and councillors.

Last year, South Gloucestershire’s Conservative councillors submitted a Sustainable Communities Act proposal to abolish regional planning, including the government’s RSS. But Labour Ministers simply sat on the proposal and took no action.

Efforts to scrap the RSS have been made in an effort to discourage speculative planning applications, in areas such as Chipping Sodbury and Oldland Common.

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Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council