Things that affect us all

Despite the Boundary Committee recommending to the government that the best way of governing Norfolk in the future is by way of ‘The Single County Unitary Council’. The government has decided to implement the original City of Norwich single council proposal which would leave the rest of Norfolk  as two/three tier administration, which is economically a backward step for Norfolk as a whole. Leaving all services in Norwich to be run by Norwich with their history of poor management. These points plus the Norwich case being an expensive and questionable option have been made to no avail. Thus after all the aggravation and expense we have ended up with a solely political solution

When campaigning I did not come across anybody who wanted to be involved in the Norwich solution as everybody fears that over time Norwich will seek to extend its boundaries into the suburbs to gain greater economies of scale and influence. This is also bad news for the rest of the county as one can see Norwich being the centre of investment in the County and the outlying districts will come off worst.

The decision is still subject to a possible judicial review and even the governments own advisors say that there is a good prospect of a successful legal challenge. Additionally there is a severe time constraint on the government in its attempt to get the order through parliament and finally the Lords may just ‘throw a spoke in the wheel’

The Northern Distributor Route has taken a major step forward

Government backing for the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR) to the A140 and the release of £21m for the improvement of the Postwick junction, where the NDR joins the A47, has been warmly welcomed

This is great news for Norfolk and especially for businesses and residents to the north and east of Norwich. The release of the £21m for the Postwick Hub will, subject to planning consents*, allow work on this critical improvement to start early in the New Year.

The Northern Distributor Road will bring much needed traffic relief to our communities, deliver access improvements to a wide area of north and north-east Norfolk, and open up exciting opportunities for further public transport improvements, such as Bus Rapid Transit and enhanced cycling and walking routes, for Norwich.

It also means that the greater Norwich area will be much better placed to cope with the major growth in housing and employment that is anticipated in the years ahead.

Although ‘programme entry**’ is for the NDR as far as the A140 Norwich to Cromer Road, NCC will continue to progress proposals for the scheme to the A1067 Norwich to Fakenham Road.”

Our Parish Councils work hard to represent the concerns of their local communities.  As your County Council member I attend Parish Councils and then represent their views at the County Council.  Some recent issues have included:

Every where I have been has been pleased with The County Councils efforts in keeping the main roads open and passable during the extended bout of bad weather. But now repair of potholes is a major issue on which the transport maintenance department are working hard.

Day Care Centres

Possible changes to Day Centre provision for the elderly across Norfolk are causing a great deal of concern. 

This is not a cost cutting proposal, but one that will help to focus on providing good services for the increasing number of us that succumb to dementia, and those of us who become very frail and our families and loved ones who support us through these difficult times. 

These changes will also continue to provide appropriate care via the voluntary sector for those with other needs.

Transport for our college students

Naturally as I represent a rural division I am pleased that the Cabinet has decided to continue to support transport subsidies for our post 16 students to use public transport to get to college.

Things that affect us all

There are two big items of news this month.

The Boundary Committee has recommended to the government that the best way of governing Norfolk in the future is by way of ‘The Single County Unitary Council’. However apart from doing nothing, the government could return to the original City of Norwich single council proposal, which would leave the rest of Norfolk  as two/three tier and be an administrative disaster.

When campaigning I did not come across anybody who wanted to be involved in the Norwich solution and if they could not have the status quo then the ‘single county ‘ was the preferred option.

The government will be consulting and the period will run from 8 December 2009 until 19 January 2010. You can make representations on these proposals by emailing norfolkStructures@communities.gsi.gov.uk  or by writing to:

Unitary Structures Team

Department for Communities

and Local Government

Zone 3/J1

Eland House

Bressenden Place

London SW1E 5DU

The Northern Distributor Route has taken a major step forward with

Government backing for the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR) to the A140 and the release of £21m for the improvement of the Postwick junction, where the NDR joins the A47.

This is great news for Norfolk and especially for businesses and residents to the north and east of Norwich. The release of the £21m for the Postwick Hub will, subject to planning consents, allow work on this critical improvement to start early in the New Year.

The Northern Distributor Road will bring much needed traffic relief to our communities, deliver access improvements to a wide area of north and north-east Norfolk, and open up exciting opportunities for further public transport improvements, such as Bus Rapid Transit and enhanced cycling and walking routes, for Norwich.

It also means that the greater Norwich area will be much better placed to cope with the major growth in housing and employment that is anticipated in the years ahead.

Although ‘programme entry’ is for the NDR as far as the A140 Norwich to Cromer Road, NCC will continue to progress proposals for the scheme to the A1067 Norwich to Fakenham Road.”

Our Parish Councils work hard to represent the concerns of their local communities.  As your County Council member I attend Parish Councils and then represent their views at the County Council.  Some recent issues have included:

Day Care Centres

Possible changes to Day Centre provision for the elderly across Norfolk are causing a great deal of concern. 

This is not a cost cutting proposal, but one that will help to focus on providing good services for the increasing number of us that succumb to dementia, and those of us who become very frail and our families and loved ones who support us through these difficult times. 

These changes will also continue to provide appropriate care via the voluntary sector for those with other needs.

Transport for our college students

Naturally as I represent a rural division I am pleased that the Cabinet has decided to continue to support transport subsidies for our post 16 students to use public transport to get to college.

Finally may I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Good New Year

Our Parish Councils work hard to represent the concerns of their local communities.  As your County Council member I attend Parish Councils and then represent their views at the County Council.  Some recent issues have included:

Day Care Centres

Possible changes to Day Centre provision for the elderly across Norfolk are causing a great deal of concern. 

This is not a cost cutting proposal, but one that will help to focus on providing good services for the increasing number of us that succumb to dementia, and those of us who become very frail and our families and loved ones who support us through these difficult times. 

These changes will also continue to provide appropriate care via the voluntary sector for those with other needs.

Transport for our college students

Naturally as I represent a rural division I am pleased that the Cabinet has decided to continue to support transport subsidies for our post 16 students to use public transport to get to college.

You may remember receiving an “In Touch” from me, during the run up to the County Council elections.  I told you a little about myself and my background, the County Council, and my role as Cabinet Member for Commercial Services and Efficiency.  

Based on talking with many of you, and receiving feedback from our Parish Councils I selected the following priorities to focus on:

• Develop Norfolk’s economy while protecting our environment

• Ensuring our young people get the best start in life

• Well  maintained – safe roads

• Effective care and support for those in need

• Efficient cost effective services

I intend to report to you regularly on progress against my priorities, via this and future issues of “In Touch”, via my blog www.tony-williams.co.uk, and by regular attendance at our Parish Councils.

Recent Local Issues

Our Parish Councils work hard to represent the concerns of their local communities.  As your County Council member I attend Parish Councils and then represent their views at the County Council.  Some recent issues have included:

Norfolk County Council’s Future

In September, Daniel Cox the Leader of the Council presented a report Norfolk County Council Organisational Framework 2009-2012, to the Council.  This report sets out a vision for the development of Norfolk County Council over the coming years.

Norfolk County Council is a high performing 4* council, over the last five years we have made some significant improvements for residents across Norfolk.  We have provided strong community leadership, minimising increases in council tax and generating £72m of efficiency savings.

Our overall ambitions for Norfolk remain unchanged, to be:

·        An inspirational place with a clear sense of identity

·        A vibrant, strong and sustainable economy

·        Aspirational people with high levels of achievement and skills

However, in the current economic climate, and with a strong priority to minimise council tax rises we will need to implement change, co-ordinating and leading the following types of activities:-

·        Drive out waste and duplication through streamlining processes and sharing functions where it makes sense to do so.

·        Use the best practice from the public and private sector to transform and modernise our ways of working.

·        Make the most of economies of scale in procurement across the organisation.

·        Sharing of services with other public sector agencies.

·        Reviewing ‘core’ business – identifying where the council needs to invest, sustain and divest resources.

As Cabinet Member responsible for Corporate and Commercial Services I will work with my colleagues to ensure we deliver £140 million of efficiencies and savings over the next three years

. 

Well it turned out to be wonderful weather for the Aylsham Show this year, and I’m sure that contributed to a record attendance (19000) on the Bank Holiday Monday.

I’ve had a long association with the Show, as has Reepham & District Rotary, who I’m also proud to work with.

I would like to start by congratulating the fabulous team effort from the Show Council and other members.  Without the efforts of all these local people the show wouldn’t be the success it is. 

I got to see a lot early on Monday morning as I helped with Trade Stand allocation and various issues.  This year some of the show highlights included:

• Show-jumping
• Food Court
• Fun Fair
• Dog shows
• Livestock
• Vintage tractors
• A great array of locally produced produce
• The Grand Parade 

But for me the Trick Motor Cyclists were fantastic, some of their stunts are quite breath-taking

The Art Exhibition which is set-up by the Reepham & District Rotary was a great success.  Rotary members were very busy, spending Sunday hanging pictures, before hosting a “Viewing Reception” on Sunday afternoon, then after the exhibition on Monday they spent the evening taking the picture down again.  It was definitely worth it, raising a record £3,000 profit which will support local charities and the show. 

Here’s hoping for another wonderful show next year

This month has had a real emphasis on local highways issues, indeed I spent a morning with a County Council Highways engineer visiting key locations around the locality.  Specific issues that we discussed are described below

Hevingham:

We met representative from Hevingham Parish Council and discussed the following:

The crossing on the A140 from the Street, this is now in the top 20 priorities for assessment, against a list of over 200 highways issues that require specialist assessment.  The case for action is weakened because thankfully no injuries have occurred, in the last five years, at this junction.  However if all schools that have students using buses here identify this as a key crossing for the bus stops, this will help the case

Westgate Street, the Parish Council have been asked to get local residents views on the possibility of a one way system

The engineer was advised that the promised No Entry sign for the lay-by near the church has not yet been implemented

Stratton Strawless

We met the Chair of the Parish council and other representatives:

We discussed the crossing to the bus stop, outside the Hall, there have been no recorded accidents at this junction, in the last five years, and therefore this location has been allocated a lower priority but is now on the list for assessment from Highways specialists

Parish Road Bridge spraying has been completed in order to keep vigorous woody plant growth under control.  This has been successful, although there was some feedback that it might have been done earlier for aesthetic reasons.

The engineer has also visited and reviewed key locations with the Spixworth Parish Clerk

St Faiths,  I have again received complaints about parking in proximity to the school and crematorium.  However the engineer has advised that as people are only able to park on the school side of the road, this causes a general self regulation of speed due to the parking which generally slows traffic down.  Time based flashing lights were discussed, but have not proved very successful elsewhere

Frettenham, an innovative solution has been found to provide affordable school transport for children attending Broadland High School where this is their choice, but not their allocated school and therefore the provision of school transport is not strictly the responsibility of the County Council 

I will continue to keep you updated on this and other highways issues

Local Issues First

It’s been another busy month in the area.  Before I move on to specific issues for some of our Parish Councils I’d like to update you on two things which many of my constituents are watching closely

Planning application for an engine testing site at the airport - This may be submitted this autumn – I will keep you posted and, if and when we have more details I’d be grateful for your views

Reepham Sixth Form – although not strictly in my area, this sixth form will offer huge benefit to many young people in the area.  The building is almost complete and will open this September offering vocational as well as academic subjects.  This will provide our young people with the skills needed to enter the workplace in rural and other disciplines, as well as options to move on to university.

Highway Repairs – in the coming month or two, I shall be travelling round our area with a County Council Highways Engineer to look at highway safety issues.  I’ll report back to you on what I find and subsequently the action I take.

At Spixworth Parish Council real interest was expressed in the County Council’s proposal to introduce a Highways Ranger Service.  If implemented, this would provide people to proactively travel the area identifying road defects and getting them resolved promptly. 

County Issues

One of my responsibilities as a County Council Cabinet member is for the County Councils NORSE group of companies.  Last month NORSE had the following successes 

• Secured a Facilities Management contract with Enfield Borough Council worth £3.8 million a year
• .Contracts were signed to provide design services for two schools in Lincolnshire
• Event Guard won a contract to provide security service for Norwich City College
• We also won a contract to provide cleaning services for Norwich Primary Care Trust 

All of this continues to bring jobs and money into Norfolk. 

Moving forward, I will represent your local concerns at the County Council, alongside my Cabinet role, where I will seek to drive improvements and efficiencies, to benefits the whole of Norfolk.

News on Local and County Issues

Local Issues First

In my last Blog, I said during the coming weeks and months I would pursue issues you had raised with me in the run up to the County Council elections and report back to you, so here’s an update relating specifically to some of our parishes.

At Spixworth Parish Council I was pleased to report that the County Council will be implementing flood prevention improvements at Godfrey Road, subject to funding, we will complete this work by end March 2010, and if funding cannot be found this year, definitely the following year.

Further improvements to the Lillian Road footway will be completed this summer.

At Hevingham Parish Council last week we discussed three issues affecting Hevingham road safety:

• Many Hevingham residents have expressed concerns about the safety of pedestrians when attempting to cross at the junction at the A140 and The Street.  The County Council’s transport department has agreed to review with me and the Parish Council Chairman, the situation with a view to improving safety
• The County Council has agreed to investigate local concerns that there is no “No Exit” sign, at the Aylsham end of lay-by near the church on the A140.

At Hainford Parish Council I was pleased to confirm that as your local County Council member I have approved the re-appointment of a local governor at the primary school.

At Stratton Strawless Parish Council concerns have been expressed about the safety of people crossing the A140, at The Hall, to reach the bus stop although there have been no reported accidents.

County Issues

As I mentioned in my last Blog, I shall be continuing as a County Council Cabinet member, with expanded responsibilities for Corporate Services including Finance, Human Resources, ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) and property assets, as well as my previous responsibilities for the County Councils NORSE group of companies and our Efficiency Programme. 

In this role during the last month I have:

• Taken up the Chair of the Eastern Shires Procurement Organisation (ESPO).  This organisation seeks to bring together Local Government procurement across the Eastern Regional to drive savings based on the economies of scales that are possible by bulk buying
• Presented the NORSE Company Annual Report to Norfolk County Council Cabinet, I was pleased to explain that the company had continued to grow and the majority of it’s profits were made from outside Norfolk, mostly for the benefit of Norfolk. 

Moving forward, I will represent your local concerns at the County Council, alongside my Cabinet role, where I will seek to drive improvements and efficiencies, to benefits the whole of Norfolk.

I would like to start by thanking all those whose votes ensured I was re-elected.

In the run up to the election, I met many people “on the doorstep”, as I visited all the communities in my division.  You re-iterated many of the things you have told me over the last four years, in person and via your Parish Councils:

·         You want a continued focus on improving road safety

·         You want to see our roads maintained, particularly where potholes are concerned

·         You want the issue of Affordable Homes addressed

During the coming weeks and months I will pursue these things and report back to you, via Parish Council, this Blog and, as and when I meet you.

By far the largest feedback came concerning recent events at central government - MP expenses.  You are very angry with all the main parties, for what has happened and many of you predicted that UKIP would benefit from “Protest” votes in the European elections – and I believe you have been proved correct.  To build confidence in your local County Council members we will be publishing our detailed expenses on the Web from now on, I hope this will demonstrate that we take our responsibility to protect your Council Tax money very seriously.

On the subject of ensuring we are safeguarding public money, I shall be continuing as a County Council Cabinet member.  With expanded responsibilities for Corporate Services including Finance, Human Resources, ICT (Information, Communications and Technology), as well as my previous responsibilities for the County Councils NORSE group of companies and our Efficiency Programme.  This is very important to me, as it will allow me to build on previous success, but also learn from past experience.  Some key things to build from include:

• The Norfolk County Council’s Efficiency Programme, which provided £58 million savings over the last four years.  This helped to minimise council tax rises
• County Council companies that now make a significant contribution to the Norfolk economy, by providing 6,000 jobs, spending £100 million a year in Norfolk and contributing £5 million a year to council funds. 

So, moving forward, I will balance my responsibility to represent you well, with my Cabinet role, where I will seek to drive efficiencies to benefits the whole of Norfolk.

In recent years Holt Farmers Club has hosted an annual day for local sixth form students.  The aim of the day is to provide an intensive introduction to farming for our Norfolk students.  This event is very close to my heart, my life long involvement in farming inspired me, with two others, to establish this event.

Last years event was well attended with approaching 300 sixth formers who learnt about topics as varied as, bio-fuels, modern arable crop production and livestock farming.

Our local farming community has always supported this event well, providing the training for the day.

This years event will take place on Thursday 25 June at Wickmere, north of Aylsham.  If you would like your sixth form to participate ask them to contact me