The South Glos Post

Labour councillors in South Gloucestershire have ‘called in’ a decision of the ruling Conservatives that would lead to massive changes to the way the council runs its services.  The main thrust of the Tory proposals is a “vision” in which the council provides fewer services directly, but instead commissions them from external providers.  The vision was agreed by the ruling Cabinet at the beginning of October.

The call in procedure means that more councillors will meet to look at the proposals in greater detail and be able comment on them.  The meeting, which is open to members of the public, will be held on Tuesday 2nd November at 10am at Nibley Court Offices, Westerleigh Business Park, 3 Turner Drive, Yate, BS37 5YU.

The Labour councillors have given nine reasons why they think the council needs to think again.

Labour Leader Councillor Roger Hutchinson (Labour, Filton) commented:

“We are concerned that the council is rushing towards cuts that have not been adequately discussed with the public, partner organisations, staff or elected councillors.  As the council expects some of its services to be taken up by town and parish councils and community groups, the Tories need to provide some evidence that these bodies are willing and able to step in and that these services would be available for residents across South Gloucestershire.”

“South Gloucestershire is rushing ahead with plans for new structures before the financial position is clear.  I want the council to be in the best position to deal with future difficulties, and rushing ahead on ideological grounds is not the right way forward.”

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Source: Labour Councillors on South Gloucestershire Council

South Gloucestershire Council’s road safety team will be hosting a free educational car seat check clinic with Road Safety GB, the road safety organisation that represents over 200 local authority road safety teams across the UK.

Visit the free clinic at Asda, Cribbs Causeway on Tuesday 2nd November between 10am and 3pm to have your child car seat checked and to receive a copy of the Good Egg Guide, a colourful and informative booklet explaining everything you need to know about child car seats.

The clinic is part of the Good Egg Campaign which is designed to ensure that babies and children are properly restrained whilst travelling in the car, by showing parents and carers the correct way to fit in-car child safety seats. It is important that seats are fitted correctly because:

• An unrestrained child can be killed in an impact with speeds as low as 5 mph
• If properly restrained a child is three times less likely to sustain a head injury in a collision than an unrestrained child

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Local MP Jack Lopresti has re-ignited the campaign to see Concorde 216 returned to public display.

Mr Lopresti, the Conservative MP  for Filton and Bradley Stoke, has tabled an Early Day Motion calling for all interested parties to come together to find a solution to the issue.

The motion is worded as follows:

Public display of Concorde

“That this House recognizes the importance of aviation heritage; notes with concern that little progress has yet been made to find a permanent home to the Concorde 216, as well as being the last Concorde to be built at Filton, it was the last Concorde ever to fly; welcomes the involvement of local organizations and other interested parties in the desire to create a major aviation heritage centre to safe-guard this important part of Britain’s aviation history; and calls upon all interested parties to seek ways of finding the funding needed to ensure that this piece of local and national heritage will be returned to public display and appreciation.”

Mr Lopresti says he has also secured a meeting with the Tourism Minister, John Penrose MP, to discuss the matter.

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Source: Jack Lopresti MP

A call by Labour and LibDem councillors on South Gloucestershire Council to think again on plans to provide hundreds more home care hours for the elderly has been branded ‘bizarre’ by the authority’s Conservative Cabinet Member for Community Care and Housing.

It follows a request by Labour and LibDem councillors for the Conservative-run authority to re-consult on using an external partner – either in the community, voluntary or commercial sector – to build and run 2 new ‘next generation’ residential care homes, following a special ‘call-in’ meeting of its Community Care & Housing Select Committee.

It has been calculated that around 500 extra home care hours a week will be generated if the council were to work with a partner to provide the new homes in Yate and Kingswood in comparison to the council building and running them itself.

And through a contractual arrangement with any partner, the council would still control costs and quality of care and around 30 per cent of the local care market.

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Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council