Councillor Graham Stokes Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

MARCH 2005

If you tell me, I will forget
If you show me, I will remember
If you involve me, I will understand

Anonymous Chinese poem

QUEENS VISIT
The queen is visiting Wakefield on 24th March to distribute Maundy Money to 79 men and 79 women all over the age of 75. It is expected that 800 people will attend the service at Wakefield Cathedral.

HAROLD SHIPMAN
The report on Harold Shipman’s time as a junior doctor at Pontefract Infirmary was released at the end of January. The horror of his crimes was really brought home to me as I began to realise that he had been murdering people from around here, the locality where I live.

Of 137 deaths in Pontefract the inquiry was unable to reach a decision on 45 cases, which is not surprising bearing in mind the passage of time and that so few medical records have survived. However the likelihood in these cases was that they were natural deaths. 68 of the deaths were almost certainly natural while 14 deaths were suspicious. There were 4 deaths where the report had very serious suspicions and 3 deaths where it was decided Shipman probably killed them.

HOUSING RIGHT TO BUY
It is self evident with soaring house prices that it is difficult for people now to buy their first home. I just do not know how young people today can afford such large mortgages.

The Government have been looking at how we can give people the opportunity to own or at least purchase a stake in their own property and they have announced a five year housing plan which will include new home ownership schemes to help more first time buyers and key workers buy or part buy a home of their own. There will be a New Homebuy equity share scheme available to council house and housing association tenants who can’t afford right to buy; the building of new low-cost homes for first time buyers on public sector land, and a new housing role for local authorities, including an extra £500m Private Finance Initiative credits to build new homes and use vacant council owned land for key workers and first time buyers. The Government intend to cut by half the number of people in temporary accommodation by 2010.

There will be an extra £65m to tackle low demand housing in West Yorkshire, Tees Valley and West Cumbria, and planning rules will be strengthened to protect the Green Belt.

Cycle Path
Funding is now all secured for the footpath/cycle route works between Throstle Farm School and Englands Lane. This is to be funded from the Safe Routes to Schools budget, with SRB and a contribution from Knottingley High School. The first phase adjacent to Throstle Farm and to the rear of the allotments is complete. The remainder up to Englands Lane will be undertaken this month.

BEACON COUNCIL STATUS
Two researchers from Warwick University Business School recently interviewed me. They had been commissioned by the ODPM and the I&DeA to produce a research report into Round five of the Beacon Council Scheme. The aim of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the scheme for local authorities. They were interested in Wakefield’s views generally about Beacon status and particularly around the theme of transport. They wanted to find out more about our participation and involvement with other council’s who have attained beacon status, whether we have attended seminars, learning events and visits to other Beacon Council’s and how Wakefield views or uses the sharing of good ideas and practice.

The scheme was launched by the Government in 1999. Each year around 10 themes are selected that Councils can apply to achieve Beacon status. (e.g. Affordable Housing and Crime reduction in Rural Areas) It is coordinated by ODPM & I&DeA. Round 6 for Beacon is currently underway for 2004-2005 and the themes for Round 7 2005-2006 are currently being finalised, which Wakefield have commented on. The themes for round 8 are also currently out for consultation

Beacon councils are recognised for excellence within specific crosscutting service areas, demonstrate a clear vision, effective partnership working, and high community satisfaction the scheme plays a crucial role in helping local authorities share excellence and innovation and learn from one another.

Wakefield is keen to put in an application for round 7 for Beacon Status. Achieving this would build on and enhance our reputation considerably as a fast improving, innovative and learning organisation at National level.

CHILDREN'S ROADSHOW
A roadshow on Children’s services is to be held at Simpsons Lane School on 7th March at 2pm. Services to be represented there will include Homestart, Libraries, Adult Education, the Children’s Information Service, the Parent Partnership, Wakefield College, and the Pre-School Learning Alliance - along with lots more to benefit you and your family. The Roadshow is open to all, so pop in and have a look.

Older People
I never realised how much goes on in Knottingley for older people!

On Monday’s there is Bingo at Knottingley Town Hall 1.30pm
Yoga, Knottingley Sports Centre 7.45 – 9.15
Bingo and Coffee, St Andrew’s Church 7.30pm
Bingo at the Golden Lion, Ferrybridge from 7pm – 8.30pm (temp)
Ladies Bright Hour Group, Ropewalk Methodist Church 7.15pm.
On Tuesday’s we have a Luncheon Club at the Salvation Army starting at 1pm and an over 60’s Club, Salvation Army 2.15pm.
Wednesday, Kellingley Club Bingo 2pm
Craft Group, Doncaster Road Methodist Church 7.30pm and a Painting Group, Doncaster Road Methodist Church that meets fortnightly.
Thursday, Mature Ladies Keep Fit & Swim, Knottingley Sports Centre 11.15 – 1200
Ferrybridge over 60’s Club, Golden Lion (temp) 1pm
Darby & Joan, Knottingley Town Hall
Men’s Fellowship at Salvation Army
Warwick Lunch Club, Warwick Community Campus 12pm and Lady Toppers at the Green Bottle Pub 7.30pm.

COAL INDUSTRY SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATION
The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) is offering a new service that is completely confidential and will be facilitated by the Selby Response Team. They are offering ex-miners who worked in the Selby Coalfield one to one support, help and advice in the community. This includes offering former miners advice and information on alternative employment, education, volunteering, re-training or active retirement.

The Selby Response Team can offer home visits when requested and have access to grants or bursaries for ex-miners or their children entering university. A link will also be provided with the Local Primary Care Trust for ex-miners with health problems.

The Selby response Team will be holding surgeries in our area subject to the demand and individual needs, they can offer help with job searches, interview techniques, training opportunities, completing application forms and compiling CVs. They will shortly be contacting all ex Selby miners to give details of assistance that is available, but if you feel you would like further information contact Steve Shaw-Wright at The Yorkshire Coalfield Resource Centre, Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract Telephone 01977 703384. Alternatively telephone Freephone number 0800 3891374.

POLICE COMMUNITY FORUM
At the end of January, I attended the Police Community Forum held in Knottingley, which covers the Knottingley, Pontefract and Featherstone area. We were given statistics on police work within the area which shows that within the Wakefield District there are 67 Sergeants, 506 constables and 30 P.C.S.O’s.

Crime figures reduced by 27% from 38,279 in 2003 to 27,918 in 2004 - that is over 10,000 less victims.

As you know the Neighbourhood Action Station is currently based in Ferrybridge, with officers working all over Knottingley and Ferrybridge. At present we have 3 mobile stations rotating around the Wakefield District and a fourth team that deals with town centre policing.

Staffing for Neighbourhood Policing Teams is set to increase from July. The present level is one Inspector, three Sergeants, 18 Constables and 18 PCSO’s. The projected staffing is for four Inspectors, 10 Sergeants, 47 Constables, 36 PCSO’s and 15 Special Constables. This is good news for our area as it means that when the Neighbourhood Station moves on there will be the capacity to leave a small team here for continuity of policing. The Police are also interested in recruiting volunteers for desk duties if anyone is interested. The mobile station holds a surgery every Wednesday from 4pm – 6pm.

There is also a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership led jointly by Police / Local Authority and chaired by the divisional Commander, with representatives from the responsible authorities, including the council, Probation, Youth Offending Team and the Primary Care Trust. Within it there are three area groups, one of which covers the 5 Towns area. They have five district wide theme groups on Young People, Substance Misuse, Alcohol, Anti Social Behaviour and Crime.

GEOFF NORTON
In February a friend to all the Knottingley Councillors and someone very well known within Knottingley passed away. Geoff Norton was an active member of the British Legion and was very much involved in organising the Remembrance Day Parade. As an ex railway worker he had a good knowledge of how the railway system worked and often advised us on transport issues within the town assisting in our efforts to improve the rail service. Most of all Geoff was a good fellow and well-liked by everyone that knew him. Our deepest sympathy goes to his widow June.

KNOTTINGLEY WETLANDS AWARDS
Have you seen this news taken from the Environment Agency Website?

The new flood alleviation scheme for Knottingley, completed in 2004, has received a commendation for being bird-friendly. The Environment Agency’s project was commended by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) Living Wetlands Award 2005.

The judges congratulated the scheme "in particular (for) the outstanding bio-diversity contributions on such a small site."

The site provides a valuable wetland habitat in the West Yorkshire area, which has very few other similar sites. The design and location of the site mean it will become home to birds such as red shank, snipe and lapwing, all og whose populations have declined in recent years, reed bunting, reed warbler and sedge warbler, which will live in the reed beds, and dabbling ducks. Birds of prey like barn owls and kestrels are also likely to hunt on the site and it is hoped that water voles and otters, which already live in other places along the banks of the River Aire, will eventually colonise the area. Dragonflies are also likely to be a feature attracted by the year-round ponds the site will sustain.

Environment Agency project manager for the scheme, Sarah Burtonwood said:

"We’re delighted our efforts to add value to the environment in Knottingley as well as protect the homes there have been recognised.  We strive to bring as much benefit as possible to communities when we devise flood alleviation schemes and it’s great that this effort has been recognised."

The flood alleviation scheme consists of raised embankments set back from the waters edge to create a barrier against high flows as well as to the wetland areas, which provide valuable habitat year-round. A network of washlands provides essential storage of floodwater. The project took approximately seven months to complete, costing just under £2 million. The wetland area will be opened to the public later in the year. The commendation was announced at the CIWEM World Wetlands Day conference in London on Monday 31st January 2005.

Graham Stokes
Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

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