Bruce's latest news...
Councillor allowances enquiry
I understand that a member of the public has made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to obtain details of the allowances I have been paid as your county councillor over the last ten years.
I am not quite sure why the approach was made in this manner because this information is made freely available each year, but for the avoidance of doubt I am happy to reproduce the figures below.
Allowances for Councillor R B Laughton (£)
|
Year
|
Basic Allowance
|
Special Responsibility Allowance
|
Travelling Allowance
|
Subsistence Allowance
|
Dependants’Carers’
Allowance
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 / 2011
|
12,904.80
|
10,635.36
|
2,939.26
|
-
|
-
|
26,479.42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 / 2010
|
12,940.92
|
9,707.66
|
4,211.20
|
154.25
|
-
|
27,014.03
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 / 2009
|
12,783.82
|
6,932.24
|
4,349.10
|
370.20
|
-
|
24,435.36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 / 2008
|
12,435.00
|
6,765.48
|
4,101.86
|
327.01
|
-
|
23,629.35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 / 2007
|
12,135.00
|
6,530.05
|
4,290.03
|
399.36
|
-
|
23,354.44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005/ 2006
|
11,787.00
|
5,895.00
|
3,510.15
|
240.63
|
155.50
|
21,588.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 / 2005
|
11,448.00
|
5,724.00
|
3,835.63
|
229.86
|
1,655.37
|
22,892.86
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 / 2004
|
11,140.80
|
5,570.40
|
4,679.69
|
282.11
|
1,205.25
|
22,878.25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2002 / 2003
|
10,712.40
|
5,356.13
|
4,718.14
|
404.32
|
-
|
21,190.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2001 / 2002
|
8,337.50
|
3,853.43
|
2,968.28
|
247.94
|
-
|
15,407.15
|
(Posted 19/4/2012)
Council plans to adopt a committee system
Pending approval at the Council’s Annual General Meeting on 17th May 2012, Nottinghamshire County Council plans to exercise its new power under the Localism Act 2011 to adopt a committee system of decision-making. This will replace the current Leader and Cabinet model adopted under the Local Government Act 2000.
The rationale for a committee system is that it is the most democratic and transparent form of governance. It ensures all 67 democratically elected Councillors are able to fully participate in decision-making and shaping the policy of the Council. It ensures greater transparency in that all reports are publicly available prior to any decision being made, and all decision-making meetings are held in public.
Reports were taken to the Full Council meetings in January and March (Item 11), with final approval being sought, as stated above, in May.
(Posted 17/4/2012)
Council tax frozen again in 2012/13
At the Nottinghamshire County Council budget meeting on 23rd February it was agreed to freeze county council tax for a third consecutive year. With public finances under strain across the country, the council has saved £87 million so far, £44 million of which has been reinvested directly into frontline services. In the coming financial year we will spend: -
- £2.8 million more safeguarding children;
- £5.2 million more on care for older people;
- £2.7 million more on adults with mental health & learning disabilities;
- £1.4 million more on adults with physical disabilities; and
- £1 million more to support young carers.
We are also committed to invest £289 million in capital over three years on:-
- Improving school buildings;
- Modernising day centres;
- New youth clubs;
- Improving libraries;
- Improved broadband services;
- Improved roads and pathways;
- New and improved bus stations.
Councillor Reg Adair is the council's Cabinet Member for Finance & Property. In his speech presenting the budget, he outlined the results of the council's budget consultation. In response to public feedback, we are: -
- providing additional library opening hours at 15 locations across the county;
- holding Meals at Home charges at £3.95 for 2012/13; and
- not increasing charges for Blue Badge holders in 2012/13, unlike many other local authorities.
(Posted 28/2/2012)
Success! The A453 gets the green light!
I am absolutely delighted by the Chancellor’s announcement that the Government is fast-tracking the widening of the A453. This is the best Christmas gift that businesses and residents in Nottinghamshire could have, bringing a £540m boost to the East Midlands economy.
In May this year, Nottinghamshire County Council pledged £20m towards the scheme if it was bought forward. Since that pledge was made, the campaign to widen the road has garnered support from the local business community and other local councils, including a pledge of £500,000 towards the scheme from Rushcliffe Borough Council in October.
The A453 has been on the Council’s wishlist since the 1970s. At last it is going to happen and I am thrilled for local businesses and commuters alike. I want to particularly thank East Midlands Airport, Boots, RH Freight, Hardstaffs, the Nottingham Post newspaper and partner authorities for their support in this campaign.
In the five years up to October 2010, there were 185 accidents involving personal injury on just the Nottinghamshire part of the A453. The Nottinghamshire section of the road is the second most congested part of the national road network after a short section of the M25. This congestion has been costing larger businesses as much as £100,000 a year because of increased fuel usage, difficulty reaching customers, abandoned journeys and accident costs.
Finally, we can look forward to smoother and safer journeys on this vital road link through Nottinghamshire from the M1 and I am immensely pleased that the Government has listened to our determined campaign.
(Posted 29/11/2011)
Budget Conversation underway
Nottinghamshire County Council has announced proposals for its 2012/13 budget.
Nottinghamshire residents are invited to give feedback on the budget proposals and take part in our Budget Conversation, which is open until Friday 29th January 2012. The results of last year's consultation led us to change some of our proposals and we will be listening very carefully once again. Please let us know your views.
(Posted 17/11/2011)
Strategic Flood Risk Management Board
As Nottinghamshire County Council's lead spokesman on flooding issues I am now a representative of the authority on the new Strategic Flood Risk Management Board. This follows a Government review of how drainage and flood risk is managed, following the severe flooding affecting Nottinghamshire and other areas of the country during the last decade. This is an important development for all those dwelling in small towns and villages in the county that were affected by flooding. It should help us get proper drainage schemes and ensure the people of Notts are less likely to be blighted by flooding in the future.
(Posted 10/11/11)
Improved facilities for disabled children
A scheme to improve changing facilities for disabled children at leisure centres in Nottinghamshire has now been completed thanks to money from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.
Southwell Leisure Centre has had its changing rooms revamped to include a changing bed, a hoist in the changing room, support rails and a pool chair. Specialist equipment has also been purchased to make sport more accessible across the county including off road wheel chairs, sports chairs, hand bikes, Inline Sledge Hockey equipment and funding for new sports clubs and sessions.
The aim is to help transform the lives of disabled children and their families across the county. We want Nottinghamshire to be a great place for all children and young people to grow up. I am delighted with the new facilities and equipment and hope that they will help young people across the County lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
(Posted 10/11/11)
New Tuesday night provision for 10-14 year olds in Southwell
In keeping with Nottinghamshire County Council's commitment to improving youth opportunities, The Core youth centre in Southwell will soon be running a session for 10-14 year-olds on Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. This is in addition to current opening hours catering for the 13-19 age group on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. A Disability Support Team Link Club will be opening on Mondays in the near future.
(Posted 10/10/11)
Pedestrian Crossing for Holy Trinity School
At the Full Council meeting on 3rd November I presented to the Chairman a petition from Southwell people calling for a pedestrian crossing outside the Holy Trinity School in Westgate. A formal response will be published at the next Council meeting.
I am also currently pressing the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, Councillor Richard Jackson for an improved crossing on The Ropewalk.
(Posted 10/11/11)
Southwell King Street Saturday Closure - please have your say
I have held an initial meeting with teaders and residents to examine the feasibility of a temporary summer only daytime closure of King Street in Southwell, to facilitate a contrinental style pedestrian atmosphere with stalls, outdoor eating etc.
It is now my task to come up with proposals for an initial pilot period, although no form commitments have been made and the views of everyone will be taken into account. To have your say, please get in touch (see contact details to the left of this page).
(Posted 10/11/11)
Traffic weight restrictions for Cromwell and Carlton-on-Trent
The approach from the A1 into Cromwell is used by many lorries and HGVs on a daily basis, leading to unacceptable levels of noise, road damage and pollution around the area. A number of pets have also been killed by HGVs in Carlton-on-Trent.
On behalf of local people I am working to try and introduce a weight limit restriction to significantly reduce the number of lorries passing through these villages. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, Councillor Richard Jackson has visited the villages at my request and has undertaken to introduce the weight restrictions in due course.
(Posted 27/10/11)
Mobile Youth Service visiting Caunton
Nottinghamshire County Council's Mobile Youth Service will be visiting Caunton on alternative Tuesdays. For further information, please contact Lindsay Woolmore, Locality Manager for the County Council's Newark & Sherwood Youth Service on (0115) 977 4220.
(Posted 27/10/11)
New Post Office and footpath for Sutton-on-Trent
With assistance from my Newark & Sherwood District Council colleague, Councillor Christine Rose and Newark MP Patrick Mercer, I am delighted to report that we have succeeded in working with the Post Office to find a new venue after the closure of the existing Post Office in Sutton-on-Trent.
More than £80,000 of Nottinghamshire County Council funding has also been secured for a new footpath in Sutton-on-Trent to help local children get to school safely. I thank Sutton-on-Trent Parish Council for their support with this project.
(Posted 27/10/11)
Three Spires
The Three Spires Day Centre in Southwell is to be one of thirteen high quality multi-purpose day centres across Nottinghamshire to benefit from a total £4.3 million investment by Nottinghamshire County Council. This decision was taken following consideration of a report to Full Council on 30th June 2011.
(Posted 15/7/11)
Kirklington Road
Residents have contacted me about the poor state of Kirklington Road despite some 'patching up'. I have spoken to the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways about this issue already and will continue to press for action. Despite financial pressures, a signioficant sum of money has been spent to improve the roads in Southwell.
(Posted 15/7/11)
More grass cuts
Nottinghamshire County Council is increasing the number of times it will be cutting grass verges this year.
As part of this year’s budget savings it was originally intended to reduce the frequency of routine grass cutting in urban areas from six to four times a year. However, we have listened to public feedback and have now increased that frequency to five cuts. In rural areas the frequency remains at two cuts a year.
At the same time we have issued guidelines for a growing number of residents who are happy to cut the grass verges outside their homes. Again, this is a direct result of feedback from the Council’s Big Budget Conversation consultation process, when hundreds of people said they would be prepared to cut verges if it helped to release money for use on other priorities, such a repairing potholes.
The guidelines highlight what needs to be considered when cutting grass near the roadside. They can be found online at: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/roadverges
(Posted 14/7/11)
Southwell Library Poetry Festival
Southwell Library Poetry Festival is bringing the bards back for another year of poetry pub crawl, open mic night, a poetry and jazz fusion tribute to American Independence Day and much more.
Organised by Nottinghamshire County Council, the festival will run from Sunday 3rd July to Saturday 9th July. It also promises another superb line-up including poet, novelist and playwright Simon Armitage, who is regularly featured on the BBC, and Pauline Prior-Pitt with her one-woman show.
Promoting the event, my colleague Councillor John Cottee, Cabinet Member for Culture & Community, said:
"The purpose is to bring poetry to people of all ages by making it more interactive and accessible. Last year’s highlights included readings from former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion and children’s poet laureate Michael Rosen.
"The festival is an excellent example of how libraries aim to create inspiring opportunities for people to enjoy and take part in culture in the heart of their community. I hope people can come along and be inspired to write their own poems."
(Posted 2/6/2011)
Maypole celebrations successful again
On 30th May I again had the honour of opening the Maypole celebrations at Wellow. It is more than sixty years since the Maypole celebrations were reintroduced after a break for the Second World War and a good day was had by all. The County Council has supported this event over a number of years and this year helped fund the installation of a new maypole, recognising the importance of community events to local residents. Despite the rain, the English spirit showed through!
(Posted 2/6/11)
School buildings investment
I am delighted to report that Kneesall C of E Primary in Southwell & Caunton division is one of the schools set to benefit from the first phase of Nottinghamshire County Council's new £100 million programme to refurbish and improve school buildings.
At the Annual General Meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council on 19th May, the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People's Services, Councillor Philip Owen set out the full Schools Capital Refurbishment Programme List, covering three years up to 2014.
In line with the "Three R's" set out by the Government for school building works (Refresh, Refurbish, Re-use), Nottinghamshire County Council has set the criteria to prioritise the schools most in need of improvements for the first year. The condition of roofs, external walls and windows, electrical arrangements and mechanical issues such as boilers have been considered.
More in-depth surveys of the schools in the first year list will take place from June and works on a small number of schools will begin during the summer holidays. The Council started a review of school buildings across the county following the cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
The County Council will be funding around £30m of the programme with the remaining money coming from the authority’s Government grant for school maintenance.
(Posted 1/6/2011)
Southwell first for '20's Plenty' speed signs
Nottinghamshire County Council has installed its first ‘20’s Plenty’ speed signs on Church Street and Easthorpe Street in Southwell. The three signs, which ask drivers to slow down to 20 miles per hour, are the first in Nottinghamshire. The only other 20mph streets in the county are around a school or ‘home zone’ and have different signs.
The signs are only advisory as Government guidelines require mandatory 20mph roads to have physical traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, which would not be appropriate on this main route through Southwell.
The Council worked with residents to design the scheme, which is being paid for with £3,000 from the Nottinghamshire Local Transport Plan. It will be monitored for a year to see whether it is effective and similar schemes could be installed in other parts of the county in future.
(Posted 1/6/2011)
Council Budget 2011/12
At the Nottinghamshire County Council Budget Meeting on 24th February 2011 I joined my Conservative colleagues in voting to freeze Council Tax for a second successive year. In doing so, I approved £4.1 million of changes to the Council’s original budget proposals in direct response to the outcomes of the Big Budget Conversation. Extra money has now been found from reserves for the Supporting People programme, grant aid to voluntary groups, libraries, country parks and welfare rights advice.
With less formula grant funding from the Government, Nottinghamshire County Council has to find more than £80 million of savings in 2011/12 by reducing management and administration costs and reviewing expenditure on non-essential services. Just over half of this is being reinvested to meet growing demand for our most vital services, including: -
The budget was approved at the Council meeting by 34 votes to 29.
(Posted 28/2/2011)
Resurfacing The Ropewalk and Lower Kirklington Road
I am pleased to report that resurfacing work on the Ropewalk is due to start in Febuary 2011, weather permitting. It will be a substantial piece of work taking several weeks but should be concluded shortly after Easter.
Lower Kirklington Road from the Burgage to Norwood Gardens has also been earmarked for resurfacing of the carriageway and footways. I will provide further updates on the timescale for this in due course.
(Updated 17/11/10)
Gritter Twitter
Nottinghamshire County Council will now be advising the public of when the county’s roads will be gritted, using Twitter. During the cold weather last winter there were a number of calls to the Council’s Customer Service Centre asking when the roads would be gritted. Now people can sign up to the Council’s Gritter Twitter feed to receive the latest gritting alerts.
In an age of social networking and 24-hour news, the Council recognises the need to give people ‘live’ information that will help them plan their journey. You can sign up to follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nottscc
(Posted 11/11/2010)
Lowes Wong pedestrian crossing
After a long campaign I am delighted that a zebra crossing has been installed at the front of the Lowe's Wong school site in Southwell. I received a letter from the Chair of the Lowes's Wong Infant School governing body expressing delight at this success and looking forward to a "much less fraught start and end to the school day from now on". Credit must go to all those, including both head teachers, who helped to campaign for the provision of this facility.
(Posted 8/11/10)
Improvement Programme latest
At the full meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council on 21st October I joined my Conservative colleagues in supporting the recommendations for action contained within the Nottinghamshire County Council Improvement Plan Progress Report.
The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Martin Suthers set out the financial challenges facing local authorities across the country and stated that Nottinghamshire County Council needed to save £150 million over the next three years.
He said this would require savings of £69 million in 2011/12, to be achieved through a series of major initiatives including reprioritisation of services, improvements in business management and a review of property owned by the Council.
Of this £69 million, it is intended to reinvest £39 million largely in services for our most vulnerable service users. The council has faced a 59% increase in children’s social care referrals over the last year and a 25% increase in the number of children in care over the last two years.
For Children and Young People, a proposed reinvestment of £22.5 million will provide:-
Our Adult Social Care & Health services are under similar pressure, with 500 extra people aged over 80 and 4,000 extra people over the age of 65 in Nottinghamshire every year. Our proposed reinvestment of £13 million in 2011/12 will provide: -
- the care and support services necessary to meet this increased demand
- more support for adults with physical disabilities
- more support for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs
- extra resources for independent sector care.
I joined my Conservative colleagues in arguing that Nottinghamshire County Council must live within its means and ensure frontline statutory services are maintained.
(Posted 5/11/2010)
Heritage Information Board on Church Street
I recently had the pleasure of unveiling the new Heritage Information Board on Church Street.
(Posted 22/7/10)
Sensory Garden at Caudwell House
I was pleased to be invited to open the new Sensory Garden at Caudwell House. I made reference in my speech to the help given by the late Phil Squires of A & V Squires Plant Co. Ltd, who generously provided support, both financial and practical, for this excellent scheme that will benefit the children of Caudwell House for many years to come.
The County Council is to be applauded for continuing its support for this development, which was hampered by adverse weather conditions and has taken more than 2 years to deliver.
(Posted 22/7/10)
Norwood Gardens parking
A Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) budget application has been accepted for parking at Norwood Gardens. Officers are in the process of formulating a scheme.
(Posted 9/7/10)
Speeding on Lower Kirklington Road
The residents of the top end of Lower Kirklington Road have contacted me with reference to speeding issues and a meeting was held recently with a Nottinghamshire County Council Highways Liaison Officer and the local police to seek to resolve the problems occurring at that end of the town.
(Posted 9/7/10)
Highway resurfacing at Easthorpe
There has been an active lobby for the A617 at Easthorpe to be resurfaced following a partial collapse of the highway caused by drainage problems. This work has now been carried out and I would like to thank all residents for their representations on this matter. Many of those affected have since contacted me to say they are satisfied with the resurfacing work and I have passed your positive feedback on to the relevant officers.
(Posted 26/5/10)
Social Services in Southwell
Further to my request, the Director of Nottinghamshire County Council's Adult Social Care & Health department, David Pearson will be visiting Southwell Town Council to give a presentation about the future provision of adult social services in the town. This will take place at the next full council meeting on Wednesday 16thJune 2010 and members of the public are, as always, welcome to attend.
(Posted 26/5/10)
Youth provision in Southwell
The County Council is taking forward plans to expand opening hours of 'The Core' Youth Club in Southwell Library by one night a week. The Core will now open on Fridays as a result of the funding being made available to recruit an extra full-time youth worker in the Newark & Sherwood area. This forms part of the Council's commitment to improving services for young people in our communities.
(Posted 26/5/10)
Improvement Programme
Like every council in the country, Nottinghamshire County Council faces ongoing, significant and unavoidable increases in demand for key services. At the same time, it faces an unprecedented and long-term reduction in the resources available to it. Present forecasts are that the Council must reduce its current expenditure by at least £88m, or 18% of its revenue budget, over the next three financial years. Most of this reduction will be used to fund increased demand in other service areas. £30m of reductions have already been identified for 2010/11, leaving a further £58m to be found in 2011/12 and 2012/13.
In the past, reductions have been achieved through a process of allocating savings targets across departments. However, the scale of the financial challenge is now such that a more strategic approach is needed to achieve reductions in a structured and consistent way.
At the County Council meeting on 25th February 2010 the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Suthers gained approval for a new Improvement Programme to deliver these aims, called ‘One Council - One Business - One Plan’. This will involve an estimated investment of £21 million over five years to deliver total aggregated savings of over £200m over a five year period.
The Improvement Programme will include: -
-
a complete overhaul of the Council’s approach to procurement
-
implementation of an integrated Business Management System and changes in processes
-
rationalisation of the Council’s property portfolio and improvement in flexible ways of working
-
a fundamental review of all services followed by a comprehensive programme of organisational redesign
-
departmental improvement programmes that deliver service-specific developments and
-
the Chief Executive’s own programme to deliver improvements in partnership working, communications and organisational development.
The aim of ‘One Council-One Business-One Plan’ is to drive out inefficiency, target resources, minimise the impact on service delivery and create an organisation that is fit for purpose and financially sustainable in the long term.
(Posted 8/3/10)
New Stategic Plan
Nottinghamshire County Council's new Strategic Plan 2010-2014 sets out our promise to the people of Nottinghamshire; our priorities for the next four years; and how we aim to support the people of our county to be aspirational, independent and to share with us responsibility for the future.
This Plan complements the wider Nottinghamshire Sustainable Community Strategy which is the collective plan that outlines how organisations in the county will work together to promote and deliver a better Nottinghamshire.
Our plan is ambitious. It is a plan based on what local people tell us they want, and what they want to see happen. The success of our plan relies on us working well together with local people and organisations. Whilst we face challenging financial times, nevertheless we have opportunities to promote and deliver a better future for Nottinghamshire.
(Posted 8/3/10)
Housing problems
Residents have approached me with concerns about significant overcrowding in their rented accommodation. Although this is not strictly a County Council matter I have been able to work with Newark & Sherwood District Council to get two families reassessed for priority housing.
Flooding
This is still an ongoing problem in Southwell. I am now the County's representative on the Regional Flood Defence Committee and also the Local Government Association representative for Nottinghamshire on the Flooding Forum.
I have already used this influence to secure an assessment on possible diversions to the stream entering Southwell via Dudley Doy and the Merryweather development.
We are examining the process of gulley cleaning with a view to prioritising those gulleys that, if blocked, cause flooding to properties. It is important to have them cleaned out more regularly.
Road resurfacing
Resurfacing work will take place on a number of roads in Southwell during October. Work will be undertaken on C25 Newark Road, Chimes Meadow, Templemans Way, Marrison way, Greet Park Close, Burgage Lane and Meadow View.
I will continue to lobby to get The Ropewalk and Lower Kirklington Road resurfaced as my next priorities.
30mph speed limit in Cromwell
I have already put in a priority bid to have the current 40mph speed limit reduced to 30mph on the main road through Cromwell. We are in the process of examining the criteria for speed limits because there are issues that need to be resolved across the County.
New community centre in Sutton-on-Trent
I continue to support the Sutton-on-Trent Community Centre development and will be arranging a meeting with the committee and Nottinghamshire County Council representatives once the committee members are ready to look at possible funding.
Sutton-on-Trent Library
I have asked the new Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries to visit the smallest facility in the County, which happens to be in Sutton-on-Trent, to show our commitment to this well used facility.
