Councillor Graham Stokes Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

NOVEMBER 2003

THE HALL, GROVE LANE
I have to commence my column this month with an update on The Hall, Grove Lane. I reported last month that Morrison’s had agreed to rebuild this on another part of the site. Although this was correct at the time of writing, it has since proved too difficult to relocate, and a decision was taken to demolish the building. When the building was looked at it was found that the facade, which we wished to protect, was just render and not stone, so it was not possible to relocate it, there were also concerns expressed about it’s proposed new setting, with the scale of the Hall in relation to adjacent residential properties and problems of traffic that may be generated by any subsequent use. The Hall had also prior to demolition suffered from the usual vandalism (Why can’t people just leave things alone), Morrison’s tried to keep the building secure but were worried that an accident might occur in the building and they would be responsible.

I have to say the loss of this building of local interest is a matter of regret to me as buildings of this kind cannot be replaced, and are part of our heritage.  At least we have the comfort of knowing it is making way for a much awaited and needed resource a supermarket that will be a feature and bring a modern new look to that area of Hilltop.

The Planning permission for the new supermarket was granted on 17th October, after initially being deferred to consider objections from residents regarding 24-hour deliveries and noise.  Morrison’s have promised to do all they can to minimise any noise, they will not use reversing bleepers, unloading will be done completely under cover and straight off the back of the lorries, there will also be a building between residents properties and the unloading area which should mitigate the noise nuisance and provide a sound barrier, in addition Morrison’s will set up a meeting to talk and consult with residents.

NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION
One of the most positive things that has happened recently is Neighbourhood Action, which is the council’s biggest ever clean-up and community safety campaign, it is not a one off event and will continue for the foreseeable future. We now have a Neighbourhood Action Helpline which is staffed 24 hours a day, the telephone No is 0845 8 506 506. If you have problems with litter, fly-tipping, graffiti, dog fouling, or abandoned vehicles, give them a ring.

There are 2 rapid response teams working 7am to 7pm deployed across the district dealing with your issues and complaints 7 days a week, during the first 6 weeks of operation they have collected 212 tonnes of inert waste, 16 tonnes of green waste, 128 fridges / freezers, 31 washers and driers, 24 cookers, 13 TVs, 837 wheels and tyres, 75 carpets, 60 mattresses, virtually all was fly tipped material.  In addition we have 2 Neighbourhood Action Teams carrying out planned programmes of work, they spend two weeks in each ward twice per year, cleaning up areas that have been identified by the community and local councillors.  All this is in addition to the day-to-day work that is carried out on an ongoing basis.

ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENTS
The new Neighbourhood Action Team will be deployed in Knottingley during December 2003 and June 2004, if you are aware of an area that requires a clean up contact your local Councillor.

HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS
Letters have been sent out to tenants of the following areas informing them of the installation of a door entry system to the communal entrance door to their block of flats. The work commenced in July with an anticipated completion date of February 2004

Knottingley
The Island 5 Blocks
Tythe Barn Road 2 blocks
Cow Lane 1 Block
Aire Street 1 Block
Aire Walk 2 Blocks
Redmayne Grove 2 Blocks
Simpsons Lane 5 Blocks
Ingram Crescent 2 Blocks
Sycamore Avenue 1 Block
Yew Tree Walk 4 Blocks
Rowan Green 1 Block
Hazel Road 2 Blocks
Rydale Ave 5 Blocks
Garsdale Walk 2 Blocks
Bedale Drive 1 Block

Some tenants in Vale Avenue and Vale Crescent are to have new kitchen modernisations, work includes remodelling the layout, with new units and worktops, a new external door, walls and ceiling decorated, a new vinyl floor finish and a new roof to the kitchen.

HOUSING ONECALL
There is now a OneCall service that offers advice and assistance to all council house tenants outside normal office hours seven days a week. You can ring this number for information on:
Allocations
Arrears and debt
Estate Issues
Repairs
General Enquiries
The telephone number (charged at local rates) for tenants to call is 0845 8 507 507

LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK
Local democracy week was held from October 13th – 19th, it is a national initiative that we as a council have been involved with since it started 6 years ago; this year’s theme was aimed at involving young people. We as councillors should be listening to the views of young people and encouraging them to become involved in local issues. We need to be raising the awareness of the political process and the roles and responsibilities that we all have, how we are involved with the public and represent their views. A number of events were organised during the week.

I along with Cabinet Colleagues attended 3 Lane Ends Primary School in Castleford, where the school council had some very searching questions to ask the district councillors, I was asked how elections could be made more exciting for young people, other questions included car parking problems at the school, the future of Hightown hospital, road safety, recycling, and leisure facilities. I was really impressed with the breadth and depth of the questioning, they certainly gave us something to think about.

On the 15th October we Webcast our Council Meeting, that is to say we videoed it and made it available on the Council Webpage and Internet. A young peoples debate on financial issues has also been videoed and broadcast on the Internet.

We held a poster campaign in 6th form Colleges and Youth Clubs encouraging young people to register to vote and raising awareness as to why it is important. We also broadcast a video on "Fast Forward" made by young people on how they see the authority developing over the next 25 years.

Locally I have been invited to attend an assembly at Simpson’s Lane School on 6th November, they have previously invited people in to talk about their professions, and have had visits from a bank official and a fire officer, I have agreed to talk about my role as a councillor.

STRATEGIC RESERVE
On Saturday 18th October, I along with Cr. Graham Clarke and Cr. Glen Burton presented strategic award cheques £700 to Knottingley Library, and £949.70 to Knottingley Stained Glass Group for new equipment and rent.

ABANDONED VEHICLES
We have recently seen an increase in the number of abandoned vehicles within the district; the council are working in partnership with the police to deal with the problem through the employment of a dedicated Police Officer who ensures the swift removal of abandoned vehicles.

If you need to report an abandoned vehicle you can contact the cleansing helpline on 01977 722090 or alternatively you can e-mail, cleansing@wakefield.gov.uk. You will be asked for the vehicles location, make, model, colour and registration number along with tax disc details and the general condition.

Up until the end of May 2003 we dealt with 1056 reports, 92% of these were responded to within 2 days and as a result 315 cars were scrapped.

UPDATE ON THE A1 REALIGNMENT
On 2nd October I attended a meeting with RMG and council officers to discuss the A1, Daphne Knowles the council’s senior licensing officer attended to give us information on compensation claims that could be made by people affected by the development, both for noise and loss of property values. Alistair Snart from RMG then informed us that they had made good progress with the scheme taking advantage of the weather, contractors are currently working 7am – 7pm but this will reduce as the nights get darker.

Work on the bridge where the A1 is to pass underneath the M62 is going well, they will start to excavate the middle section in mid November, at which time the traffic on the M62 will flow either side of it. They are committed to keeping 6 lanes of traffic open during the works.

An Iron Age burial site containing a Chariot has been found during the excavations.

HEALTH
I recently attended a meeting where Lord Lofthouse Chair of Mid Yorkshire Health Trust was present along with David Rivell Project Director and Neil Woodall, Pontefract Hospital Manager. They were there to give us information on the redevelopment of Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals, which will cover 100,000 sq metres  We were told that the work would commence in a matter of months, they were taking a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) route, there are two bidders in competition for the contract and the winner will be chosen next April / May. One contractor is a consortium of New Hospitals and Taylor Woodrow, the other is a consortium of Consort Healthcare and Balfour Beatty.

Final priced bids would be received in January, the successful bidder will deliver all ancillary services e.g. catering, cleaning and maintenance of the building and grounds. The medical staff would be employed by the trust. The development is to take approximately 5 years.

Pontefract will deliver the full range of Accident and Emergency, Children’s and Rehabilitation Services, in conjunction with this there will be intermediate care across the area and an umbrella of services with health providers across the district so that people can receive care near to their home.

FINA / TOTAL OIL
This company has joined with York University to sponsor a science teacher in the community. The teacher will be working at Vale School for three sessions with year 6, in November. He is to concentrate on practical experiments and at the end of the project the pupils are invited to see how science is used in industry by visiting the factory.

Graham Stokes
Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

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