A consultation has been launched at virtually the 12th hour seeking views on the future provision of music in Central Bedfordshire.
Bedfordshire Music is currently managed for the whole of Bedfordshire by Central Bedfordshire Council. From July 2011, Central Bedfordshire Council will be delivering a new music service.
The consultation, which ran until 9am on Monday 28 March, and provided an opportunity for parents, pupils, schools and other interested parties to contribute to the planning for the future provision of music services in Central Bedfordshire.
Through the recently announced Henley Review, the Government has given its commitment to support music education. The Government has advised that, from 2012 onwards, local music services should be provided in line with the National Plan for Music Education and music hubs based on local authority areas will be introduced.
The music hubs will deliver music services at a local level from April 2012 and will place partnership at the centre of a larger aspiration to provide all children with the music education they deserve. Feedback from the consultation will be used by Central Bedfordshire Council to support the bidding process for these music hubs.
To have your say on this consultation, please respond to the online consultation questionnaire at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/surveys/Music/service.htm
Hard copies of the consultation questionnaire are available on request from the Customer Service team on 0300 300 8102 and from the reception of the Council Offices in Dunstable and Chicksands.
While CBC asked for responses to this consultation to be received by 9am on Monday 28 March 2011, this was thoroughly unreasonable given that they didn't press release the launch until 20 March, so I urge anyone with a view to submit it ASAP, regardless.
Thursday 31 March 2011
Private Fostering Awareness Week
Private Fostering Awareness Week ran from 21 to 27 March. This year named "Somebody Else's Child', the campaign aimed to raise awareness of the issues around private fostering and change people's response.
Private fostering is when a young person under the age of 16, or under 18 if disabled, lives with somebody who is not their immediate family for a period of longer than 28 days.
Examples of private fostering arrangements might include an older teenager who is living with their friend's parents due to a family breakdown or a child living with a family friend whilst a parent is recovering from an operation. Other examples could be a young teenager attending school in this country and living with a family cousin whilst their family live abroad or a child staying with a host family previously not known to them whilst they complete their education.
Sometimes parents will arrange for their children to live elsewhere and sometimes teenagers decide themselves to live with a friend or friend's parents. The Fostering Service needs to be made aware and has a responsibility to offer advice and support to all parties involved in these kind of arrangements.
There are an estimated 10,000 children living in private fostering arrangements in England and Wales, yet last year only around 1,500 notifications of these arrangements were made to local authorities. While most of these children will be safe, others may be at risk of abuse and neglect at the hands of their private foster carers. Without children's services intervention, this could go on for years.
Although the legal responsibility lies with the parent and the carer, the campaign is also urging anyone who works with children - teachers, childcare and health care professionals - to play their part. Those who come into regular contact with children can help identify these potentially vulnerable children and help by either speaking to the child's carer, if appropriate, or informing children's services. Help us keep children safe and support families.
It is a legal duty for parents or the private foster carer to notify Central Bedfordshire's Fostering Service if a child is staying with somebody who is not an immediate family member for more than 28 days. An immediate family member is defined as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, or step-parent.
If you are part of, or aware of, any Private Fostering arrangements please contact the Private Fostering Coordinator on 0300 300 8090 for more information and advice.
The Bedfordshire Adoption Service is a shared service that covers both Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council areas. We strive to find families for children who cannot live with their birth families and who have a plan for adoption.
Private fostering is when a young person under the age of 16, or under 18 if disabled, lives with somebody who is not their immediate family for a period of longer than 28 days.
Examples of private fostering arrangements might include an older teenager who is living with their friend's parents due to a family breakdown or a child living with a family friend whilst a parent is recovering from an operation. Other examples could be a young teenager attending school in this country and living with a family cousin whilst their family live abroad or a child staying with a host family previously not known to them whilst they complete their education.
Sometimes parents will arrange for their children to live elsewhere and sometimes teenagers decide themselves to live with a friend or friend's parents. The Fostering Service needs to be made aware and has a responsibility to offer advice and support to all parties involved in these kind of arrangements.
There are an estimated 10,000 children living in private fostering arrangements in England and Wales, yet last year only around 1,500 notifications of these arrangements were made to local authorities. While most of these children will be safe, others may be at risk of abuse and neglect at the hands of their private foster carers. Without children's services intervention, this could go on for years.
Although the legal responsibility lies with the parent and the carer, the campaign is also urging anyone who works with children - teachers, childcare and health care professionals - to play their part. Those who come into regular contact with children can help identify these potentially vulnerable children and help by either speaking to the child's carer, if appropriate, or informing children's services. Help us keep children safe and support families.
It is a legal duty for parents or the private foster carer to notify Central Bedfordshire's Fostering Service if a child is staying with somebody who is not an immediate family member for more than 28 days. An immediate family member is defined as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, or step-parent.
If you are part of, or aware of, any Private Fostering arrangements please contact the Private Fostering Coordinator on 0300 300 8090 for more information and advice.
The Bedfordshire Adoption Service is a shared service that covers both Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council areas. We strive to find families for children who cannot live with their birth families and who have a plan for adoption.
New Transport Policy for 16 to 19 year olds approved
Central Bedfordshire Council has approved a new policy on the provision of free or subsidised transport for students in further education. The new Post 16 Transport Policy is being introduced following a public consultation with students, parents, carers and other interested parties that was completed in December 2010.
While Central Bedfordshire is not legally obliged to provide free or subsidised transport for students aged 16 to 19, it must consider how it will help learners access further education. A key element of this in what is a very rural area is the provision of transport.
The new policy replaces existing guidelines which were carried over from Bedfordshire County Council. It brings transport for 16 to 19 year olds in line with that for school aged children and meets the standards within the Department for Education guidance issued in June 2010.
The new policy provides a clear set of criteria to assess the eligibility of students enabling a fairer and more consistent assessment process. Under the new policy eligible students will be able to access the most suitable education, training or work based learning provision available.
Central to the new policy is a change to the maximum distance for which a student can receive free or subsidised travel. Subsidised travel will now only be available to students who live more than three miles but less than 20 miles from the school or college they wish to attend. It will mean that students who wish to take advantage of subsidised travel will be required to study at the nearest school or college to their home address that offers the qualification they are studying for. It will also include new criteria for those on low income, with medical and special educational needs and looked after young people.
The new policy supports Central Bedfordshire's key priority of educating, protecting and providing opportunities for children and young people and will be implemented from September 2011. The council is required to keep its policy under regular review.
While Central Bedfordshire is not legally obliged to provide free or subsidised transport for students aged 16 to 19, it must consider how it will help learners access further education. A key element of this in what is a very rural area is the provision of transport.
The new policy replaces existing guidelines which were carried over from Bedfordshire County Council. It brings transport for 16 to 19 year olds in line with that for school aged children and meets the standards within the Department for Education guidance issued in June 2010.
The new policy provides a clear set of criteria to assess the eligibility of students enabling a fairer and more consistent assessment process. Under the new policy eligible students will be able to access the most suitable education, training or work based learning provision available.
Central to the new policy is a change to the maximum distance for which a student can receive free or subsidised travel. Subsidised travel will now only be available to students who live more than three miles but less than 20 miles from the school or college they wish to attend. It will mean that students who wish to take advantage of subsidised travel will be required to study at the nearest school or college to their home address that offers the qualification they are studying for. It will also include new criteria for those on low income, with medical and special educational needs and looked after young people.
The new policy supports Central Bedfordshire's key priority of educating, protecting and providing opportunities for children and young people and will be implemented from September 2011. The council is required to keep its policy under regular review.
Sunday 20 March 2011
PCSOs at your service
Did you know there is now a dedicated PCSO in the Barton Parish Council Building once a week (details below)? They will be in the office between 09:00 – 11:00 hrs and then will be out patrolling the area for the rest of the day.
Date Officer
Thursday 31st March 2011 PCSO 4829 Walker
Monday 4th April 2011 PCSO 4828 Young
Monday 11th April 2011 PCSO 4937 Glen
Tuesday 19th April 2011 PCSO 4825 Bell
Tuesday 26th April 2011 PCSO 4829 Walker
Wednesday 4th May 2011 PCSO 4825 Bell
Thursday 12th May 2011 PCSO 4937 Glen
Monday 16th May 2011 PCSO 4828 Young
The Safer Neighbourhood Team can be contacted on 01234 473418 or SNT.LeightonRural@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk.
If you wish to speak to them in person, they will be holding 'Let's Talk Together Community Meeting' events, where your Safer Neighbourhood Team and their partners meet with people from your neighbourhood, listen to everyone's views and make the decision about the new set of Neighbourhood Priorities. The Let's Talk Together Meetings are an enhancement of the previous Community Safety Forums that were held in Central Bedfordshire. They will bring together a wider number of partners and communities than has previously seen.
Date: Tuesday 22 March
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Location: Toddington Fire Station, Dunstable Rd, Toddington, Dunstable, Beds. LU5 6DR
If you have any issues or concerns that you would like to discuss or you would just like to pop by and meet your local Safer Neighbourhood Team please feel free to drop in at Safer Neighbourhood Team surgeries, to be held on 19th April 2011.
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 hrs
Location: Barton Library
Or meet them at Barton Parish Council Meetings:
Monday 11th April 2011 at 19:30 hrs
Monday 9th May 2011 at 19:30 hrs
Monday 13th June 2011 at 19:30 hrs
Location: Barton Village Hall
If you would like to get in contact or report anything to the Police please call 01234 841212 or in an Emergency call 999. If you would like to speak to your local Officers please call in on the general number and you will be put through, and provided with a direct dial number for the Officers in your specific area.
Date Officer
Thursday 31st March 2011 PCSO 4829 Walker
Monday 4th April 2011 PCSO 4828 Young
Monday 11th April 2011 PCSO 4937 Glen
Tuesday 19th April 2011 PCSO 4825 Bell
Tuesday 26th April 2011 PCSO 4829 Walker
Wednesday 4th May 2011 PCSO 4825 Bell
Thursday 12th May 2011 PCSO 4937 Glen
Monday 16th May 2011 PCSO 4828 Young
The Safer Neighbourhood Team can be contacted on 01234 473418 or SNT.LeightonRural@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk.
If you wish to speak to them in person, they will be holding 'Let's Talk Together Community Meeting' events, where your Safer Neighbourhood Team and their partners meet with people from your neighbourhood, listen to everyone's views and make the decision about the new set of Neighbourhood Priorities. The Let's Talk Together Meetings are an enhancement of the previous Community Safety Forums that were held in Central Bedfordshire. They will bring together a wider number of partners and communities than has previously seen.
Date: Tuesday 22 March
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Location: Toddington Fire Station, Dunstable Rd, Toddington, Dunstable, Beds. LU5 6DR
If you have any issues or concerns that you would like to discuss or you would just like to pop by and meet your local Safer Neighbourhood Team please feel free to drop in at Safer Neighbourhood Team surgeries, to be held on 19th April 2011.
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 hrs
Location: Barton Library
Or meet them at Barton Parish Council Meetings:
Monday 11th April 2011 at 19:30 hrs
Monday 9th May 2011 at 19:30 hrs
Monday 13th June 2011 at 19:30 hrs
Location: Barton Village Hall
If you would like to get in contact or report anything to the Police please call 01234 841212 or in an Emergency call 999. If you would like to speak to your local Officers please call in on the general number and you will be put through, and provided with a direct dial number for the Officers in your specific area.
Sunday 13 March 2011
Central Bedfordshire Council’s Budget 2011-12
Feathers flew and tempers frayed at the last Council meeting where Members adopted the budget for 2011-12. In a marathon session lasting some four hours, there were numerous challenges, prompting reference to the Constitution for points of order and a recorded vote taken on Councillor allowances. These are to be cut by 2%, in line with a cut in staff earnings over £21k, although a Lib Dem proposal for a cut in the generous Special Responsibility Allowances of 10% was not supported by the Tory majority.
Council tax rates in the former South Beds Council area still remain marginally higher than those in the former Mid-Beds area, despite promises at the inception of Central Beds to align them within three years. But a Council tax freeze was the price to be paid by tax payers in order for the Council to receive a 2.5% increase in handout from central government, which Central Beds can ill afford to pass over. The aim is to align the Council taxes in a year's time, provided nothing else gets in the way, of course.
For more details, read on.
The average (Band D) household in the north of Central Bedfordshire will pay £1308.33 and a household in the south will pay £1344.15 for Central Bedfordshire Council services, which include roads, libraries, support for schools, social care, planning and environmental services. They will pay a further £144.77 for Police and £82.44 for Fire and Rescue services bringing the total bill to £1535.54 in the north and £1571.36 in the south. Town or parish councils may make a small additional charge for their services on top of the basic rates.
More than £180 million will be spent on public services, including additional investment in both Adult Social Care and Children’s Services to meet increasing pressures.
There will also be a council tax freeze and £20M savings.
The savings come on top of the fact that the Council:
• delivered £10M budget savings and addressed transitionary issues in its first full year (2009/10)
• is on track to deliver a further £12M savings in 2010/11.
In response to comments and representations made during the budget consultation process the Council decided to adjust some of the proposals that had been made in the draft budget:
• no reduction in school crossing patrols from 1 April 2011 but that contributions be sought from communities and partners during the course of the year, with a view to securing the patrols beyond 2011/12;
• the creation of a fund to facilitate the transfer of services to partners and communities and that the costs of public conveniences be a first charge on this fund during 2011/12; and
• a reduction in the proposed increases in car parking charges.
Bedfordshire Police – Budget Cuts
The Government has announced details of police funding for the two financial years from April 2011 and indicative figures for the following two years.
In total, the reductions equate to approximately £19M over the next four years, with £6.3M of this needing to be found in 2011/12 and £5.5M in 2012/13.
For more information about the Police Authority’s reaction to the cuts and proposed actions see http://www.bedfordshirepoliceauthority.co.uk/Funding-and-Finance.html
Transparency
The Council is committed to being open and transparent about the way it delivers its services. It has a duty to ensure that residents are informed about how it is spending public money by providing financial information about the delivery of services.
The Council has now published on its website:
• what it pays the Chief Executive, Directors and Assistant Directors;
• the job role of the Chief Executive and Directors;
• the number of staff employed by the Council;
• details of spending over £500; and
• a register of all its contracts.
The details can be found at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/Council_departments/default.aspx
Local Authorities and Public Health
As part of its fundamental reform of the national health service the Government has set out its ambition for the future of public health, including:
• the establishment of a new body – Public Health England;
• the return to local government of public health leadership and responsibility, with key roles in improving, promoting and protecting the health of their local communities; and
• a ring-fenced public health grant and a new ‘payment by results’ system to reward councils for making progress in improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
See below for more about the features of the health service reforms.
Let’s Talk Together
Central Bedfordshire Council and its local partners are running a series of meetings at each of the seven Safer Neighbourhood Areas in Central Bedfordshire. They are chaired by a Ward Councillor.
These Let’s Talk Together meetings will give residents and community groups the chance to:
• find out more about volunteering, community safety, health services and business support as well as a range of council services such as roads and transport;
• discuss any issues that residents are concerned about within their community; and
• engage with representatives from all key agencies and organisations, such as the police, fire, health, the council and many others who will be at the meetings.
More information about times and venues of meetings can be found at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/news/news/january-2011-press-releases/talktogether.aspx
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are sub-regional partnerships which bring together businesses, universities and colleges, community groups, social enterprises and local government. Together these partners work closely with government to support inward investment, innovation, economic growth, new enterprise and job creation. LEPs are eligible to make bids to the Government’s £1.4bn regional growth fund.
Central Bedfordshire is part of the South East Midlands LEP which also includes the local authority areas of Bedford Borough, Luton Borough, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury Vale, Cherwell, South Northamptonshire, Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Daventry and Dacorum. The LEP area has a population of over 1.8 million people and 75,000 businesses and accounts for 3.7% of the English economy.
More details can be found on the South East Midlands LEP website http://www.southeastmidlands.org.uk/
The Council’s new Website
The Council has been developing the Central Bedfordshire Council website as part of its overall customer management programme. The objectives of the website are to:
1. save money by switching customers to the web from telephone and face to face contact;
2. give better customer service by enabling self-service through the web; and
3. better community engagement through the use of social media.
When the website goes live in the spring of this year residents will find:
• information is easier to find;
• information that is clearer and easier to understand;
• more opportunities to request services and pay for them online (instead of needing to phone or visit the council); and
• they can get involved in council consultations and decision making through social media.
Nirah
The Nirah concept is to create a world leading research centre, science park and visitor attraction. Central Bedfordshire Council's Executive are supportive of the Nirah vision, in anticipation of its potential to support economic growth and job creation in line with our economic aspirations and will signal a clear step change in our prospects. An estimate of job creation both directly and indirectly is in the order of 5000 jobs.
Nirah Holdings Ltd. is the private company that leads the project. Nirah has secured outline planning permission and the land option for Quest Pit from Hanson’s.
The next stages for the development of this project are:
• to secure the seed capital funding of £41.5M;
• to take the project into full design and gain full planning permission; and
• to secure next stage development capital funding of approximately £500-600M.
Nirah Holdings Ltd is engaged in active negotiations with prospective investors and hopes to secure the investment agreement to proceed with the project in 2011. Those negotiations remain commercially confidential.
Local authorities and public health, contd. (see above)
As part of its fundamental reform of the national health service the Government has set out its ambition for the future of public health, including the establishment of a new body – Public Health England – and the return to local Government of public health leadership and responsibility.
In its public health white paper (Healthy Lives, Healthy People) the Government intends to give back to councils a leading role in improving, promoting and protecting the health of their local communities.
The White Paper is wide ranging and further details on a number of issues are still outstanding including details of public health funding and a further 10 consultation documents on specific aspects of health improvement and health protection. At this stage it is difficult to have a completely clear picture of the proposed new landscape for public health and the role of councils within it.
The main features of the proposals are:
A focus on outcomes - A national outcomes framework for public health will set the broad public health and health inequalities outcomes for all areas and organisations to address. The Government is currently consulting on the outcomes framework.
Transferring public health - From 2013, public health responsibilities currently undertaken by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) will be divided between Public Health England (PHE) and local councils. The Directors of Public Health (DsPH) will move to local authorities and will be jointly appointed by councils and PHE.
Funding and rewards - From 2013, upper-tier and unitary councils will receive a ring-fenced public health grant to improve the health of the population and to reduce health inequalities. A new ‘payment by results’ system will reward Councils for making progress in improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
Public Health England - PHE is charged with “bringing together a fragmented system, it will do nationally what needs to be done; it will have a new protected public health budget; and it will support local action through funding and the provision of evidence, data and professional leadership” It will also allocate ring-fenced funding to local government and rewarding them for progress made against elements of the proposed public health outcomes framework.
Director of Public Health and transfer of public health staff - All upper-tier and unitary authorities will be required to have a DPH, though they can be shared with other councils. DsPH will be employed by local government and jointly appointed with PHE, and will be “the strategic leader for public health in local communities, deploying the local ring-fenced budget to achieve the best possible public health outcomes across the whole local population”. A critical task for DsPH will be to promote health and wellbeing within local government and advise on health inequalities and develop local strategies to reduce them.
Council tax rates in the former South Beds Council area still remain marginally higher than those in the former Mid-Beds area, despite promises at the inception of Central Beds to align them within three years. But a Council tax freeze was the price to be paid by tax payers in order for the Council to receive a 2.5% increase in handout from central government, which Central Beds can ill afford to pass over. The aim is to align the Council taxes in a year's time, provided nothing else gets in the way, of course.
For more details, read on.
The average (Band D) household in the north of Central Bedfordshire will pay £1308.33 and a household in the south will pay £1344.15 for Central Bedfordshire Council services, which include roads, libraries, support for schools, social care, planning and environmental services. They will pay a further £144.77 for Police and £82.44 for Fire and Rescue services bringing the total bill to £1535.54 in the north and £1571.36 in the south. Town or parish councils may make a small additional charge for their services on top of the basic rates.
More than £180 million will be spent on public services, including additional investment in both Adult Social Care and Children’s Services to meet increasing pressures.
There will also be a council tax freeze and £20M savings.
The savings come on top of the fact that the Council:
• delivered £10M budget savings and addressed transitionary issues in its first full year (2009/10)
• is on track to deliver a further £12M savings in 2010/11.
In response to comments and representations made during the budget consultation process the Council decided to adjust some of the proposals that had been made in the draft budget:
• no reduction in school crossing patrols from 1 April 2011 but that contributions be sought from communities and partners during the course of the year, with a view to securing the patrols beyond 2011/12;
• the creation of a fund to facilitate the transfer of services to partners and communities and that the costs of public conveniences be a first charge on this fund during 2011/12; and
• a reduction in the proposed increases in car parking charges.
Bedfordshire Police – Budget Cuts
The Government has announced details of police funding for the two financial years from April 2011 and indicative figures for the following two years.
In total, the reductions equate to approximately £19M over the next four years, with £6.3M of this needing to be found in 2011/12 and £5.5M in 2012/13.
For more information about the Police Authority’s reaction to the cuts and proposed actions see http://www.bedfordshirepoliceauthority.co.uk/Funding-and-Finance.html
Transparency
The Council is committed to being open and transparent about the way it delivers its services. It has a duty to ensure that residents are informed about how it is spending public money by providing financial information about the delivery of services.
The Council has now published on its website:
• what it pays the Chief Executive, Directors and Assistant Directors;
• the job role of the Chief Executive and Directors;
• the number of staff employed by the Council;
• details of spending over £500; and
• a register of all its contracts.
The details can be found at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/Council_departments/default.aspx
Local Authorities and Public Health
As part of its fundamental reform of the national health service the Government has set out its ambition for the future of public health, including:
• the establishment of a new body – Public Health England;
• the return to local government of public health leadership and responsibility, with key roles in improving, promoting and protecting the health of their local communities; and
• a ring-fenced public health grant and a new ‘payment by results’ system to reward councils for making progress in improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
See below for more about the features of the health service reforms.
Let’s Talk Together
Central Bedfordshire Council and its local partners are running a series of meetings at each of the seven Safer Neighbourhood Areas in Central Bedfordshire. They are chaired by a Ward Councillor.
These Let’s Talk Together meetings will give residents and community groups the chance to:
• find out more about volunteering, community safety, health services and business support as well as a range of council services such as roads and transport;
• discuss any issues that residents are concerned about within their community; and
• engage with representatives from all key agencies and organisations, such as the police, fire, health, the council and many others who will be at the meetings.
More information about times and venues of meetings can be found at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/news/news/january-2011-press-releases/talktogether.aspx
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are sub-regional partnerships which bring together businesses, universities and colleges, community groups, social enterprises and local government. Together these partners work closely with government to support inward investment, innovation, economic growth, new enterprise and job creation. LEPs are eligible to make bids to the Government’s £1.4bn regional growth fund.
Central Bedfordshire is part of the South East Midlands LEP which also includes the local authority areas of Bedford Borough, Luton Borough, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury Vale, Cherwell, South Northamptonshire, Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Daventry and Dacorum. The LEP area has a population of over 1.8 million people and 75,000 businesses and accounts for 3.7% of the English economy.
More details can be found on the South East Midlands LEP website http://www.southeastmidlands.org.uk/
The Council’s new Website
The Council has been developing the Central Bedfordshire Council website as part of its overall customer management programme. The objectives of the website are to:
1. save money by switching customers to the web from telephone and face to face contact;
2. give better customer service by enabling self-service through the web; and
3. better community engagement through the use of social media.
When the website goes live in the spring of this year residents will find:
• information is easier to find;
• information that is clearer and easier to understand;
• more opportunities to request services and pay for them online (instead of needing to phone or visit the council); and
• they can get involved in council consultations and decision making through social media.
Nirah
The Nirah concept is to create a world leading research centre, science park and visitor attraction. Central Bedfordshire Council's Executive are supportive of the Nirah vision, in anticipation of its potential to support economic growth and job creation in line with our economic aspirations and will signal a clear step change in our prospects. An estimate of job creation both directly and indirectly is in the order of 5000 jobs.
Nirah Holdings Ltd. is the private company that leads the project. Nirah has secured outline planning permission and the land option for Quest Pit from Hanson’s.
The next stages for the development of this project are:
• to secure the seed capital funding of £41.5M;
• to take the project into full design and gain full planning permission; and
• to secure next stage development capital funding of approximately £500-600M.
Nirah Holdings Ltd is engaged in active negotiations with prospective investors and hopes to secure the investment agreement to proceed with the project in 2011. Those negotiations remain commercially confidential.
Local authorities and public health, contd. (see above)
As part of its fundamental reform of the national health service the Government has set out its ambition for the future of public health, including the establishment of a new body – Public Health England – and the return to local Government of public health leadership and responsibility.
In its public health white paper (Healthy Lives, Healthy People) the Government intends to give back to councils a leading role in improving, promoting and protecting the health of their local communities.
The White Paper is wide ranging and further details on a number of issues are still outstanding including details of public health funding and a further 10 consultation documents on specific aspects of health improvement and health protection. At this stage it is difficult to have a completely clear picture of the proposed new landscape for public health and the role of councils within it.
The main features of the proposals are:
A focus on outcomes - A national outcomes framework for public health will set the broad public health and health inequalities outcomes for all areas and organisations to address. The Government is currently consulting on the outcomes framework.
Transferring public health - From 2013, public health responsibilities currently undertaken by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) will be divided between Public Health England (PHE) and local councils. The Directors of Public Health (DsPH) will move to local authorities and will be jointly appointed by councils and PHE.
Funding and rewards - From 2013, upper-tier and unitary councils will receive a ring-fenced public health grant to improve the health of the population and to reduce health inequalities. A new ‘payment by results’ system will reward Councils for making progress in improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
Public Health England - PHE is charged with “bringing together a fragmented system, it will do nationally what needs to be done; it will have a new protected public health budget; and it will support local action through funding and the provision of evidence, data and professional leadership” It will also allocate ring-fenced funding to local government and rewarding them for progress made against elements of the proposed public health outcomes framework.
Director of Public Health and transfer of public health staff - All upper-tier and unitary authorities will be required to have a DPH, though they can be shared with other councils. DsPH will be employed by local government and jointly appointed with PHE, and will be “the strategic leader for public health in local communities, deploying the local ring-fenced budget to achieve the best possible public health outcomes across the whole local population”. A critical task for DsPH will be to promote health and wellbeing within local government and advise on health inequalities and develop local strategies to reduce them.
Council saves early morning concessionary bus travel
Twirlies can still use their passes before 9.30am after Central Bedfordshire Council reached a significant agreement with local bus companies.
At a meeting in December, members of the Council's Executive decided to make savings on the cost of the Council's concessionary fare scheme by prohibiting free travel for elderly pass holders before 9.30am between Mondays and Fridays.
This wasn't well received by users and after pressure from the Lib Dems and others, the Council went back to the drawing board. A cut of 4.5% in the sum paid to Beds bus service providers for the concessionary service was agreed, to ensure that concessionary bus travellers can continue to use their passes before 9.30 a.m. for the next year.
Are you an early bird? Which bus services do you appreciate? On what days of the week do you use the line? How would it affect you if you had to pay full whack? Do please call phone me to let me know, tel: 0300 300 8550
At a meeting in December, members of the Council's Executive decided to make savings on the cost of the Council's concessionary fare scheme by prohibiting free travel for elderly pass holders before 9.30am between Mondays and Fridays.
This wasn't well received by users and after pressure from the Lib Dems and others, the Council went back to the drawing board. A cut of 4.5% in the sum paid to Beds bus service providers for the concessionary service was agreed, to ensure that concessionary bus travellers can continue to use their passes before 9.30 a.m. for the next year.
Are you an early bird? Which bus services do you appreciate? On what days of the week do you use the line? How would it affect you if you had to pay full whack? Do please call phone me to let me know, tel: 0300 300 8550
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