Fourteen complaints were made to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman about Gedling Borough Council between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019, a new report has revealed.
Of those complaints made, none were upheld against the local authority
In
2018-19, 284 complaints were received about the nine councils covering the
county. Of these, 41 were upheld, meaning the council was at fault, new
data shows.
Two councils received far more complaints than the
others – Conservative-led Nottinghamshire County Council and Labour-run
Nottingham City Council – with 104 complaints each, 36 of which were
upheld.
This is partly because those two councils are
responsible for adult social care, which attracts more complaints than other
issues.
Residents are being encouraged to have their say after Gedling Borough Council launched a review of where people cast their votes at elections.
A public consultation began yesterday (Monday, August 5) and will run until Monday, October 7.
The consultation is being carried out to review all of the borough’s polling stations and locations.
The council is also keen to hear from people with disabilities who may have any issues accessing their nearest polling station. The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 requires local authorities to complete a review of their polling districts every five years.
In Gedling, there are over 60
polling stations, which are used for voting at local and national elections,
and there are nearly 90,000 eligible voters in the borough.
A Calverton chutney producer is celebrating after earning the highest accolade at this year’s Great Taste awards.
Matthew’s Preserves is among the Great Taste winners of 2019 and one of its products been awarded a three-star Great Taste award — the highest prize on offer.
The local producer’s Spicy Pineapple Chutney was judged by
over 500 of the most demanding palates, belonging to food critics, chefs,
cooks, as well as a whole host of food writers and journalists.
Matthew Slaughter is managing director at Matthew’s Preserves
and started the firm this year.
He said: “I’ve been making chutneys like this for years and
giving them out as birthday and Christmas gifts. Never did I believe I would
ever sell them, nor win an award for them.
“I started my company this year (2019) to coincide with the awards, so I could enter my Spicy Pineapple Chutney, therefore I am quite simply overwhelmed with the three stars. As a new company, I plan to use my Great Taste three stars to get my products into local, regional and possibly nationwide shops.
“Not only have I received this important accolade, I have
received two nominations for Golden Fork Awards, one for my chutney, the other
for my business.”
Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and
retailers alike, Great Taste values taste above all else, with no regard for
branding and packaging. Whether it is vinegar, granola, bacon or cheese being
judged, all products are removed from their wrapper, jar, box or bottle before
being tasted. The judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which
products are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-star award.
There were 12,772 entries into Great Taste this year and of
those products, 208 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,326 received a 2-star and
3,409 were awarded a 1-star accolade.
This list contains only the roadworks considered to be most likely to cause delays on key routes as well as those involving road closures and temporary traffic lights.
The list is not exhaustive and does not feature some minor or emergency repairs that come up after publication.
Other roadworks may finish or start before schedule or be cancelled altogether.
All information from Highways England, local authorities and utility companies.
Burton Joyce
Bridle Road
August 12— 14
Delays likely due to road closure as workers maintaining
flood monitoring equipment in the dirty water system to help prevent drains
backing up into properties and streets.
Carlton
Chesterfield Street
August 12— 16
Delays likely due to road closure
Foxhill Road East
August 12 — 16
Delays likely as it will be a diversion route during Chesterfield
Street works
Delays likely due to traffic control (multi-way signals) From
outside 34 Gedling Road to outside 58
Gedling Road
August 7 — 9
Delays likely due to traffic control (Stop/Go boards)
Mapperley
B684 Woodborough Road
August 7
Delays likely due to lane closure as workers disconnect
power to bus shelter, replace existing advertising unit with upgraded digital
unit, install feeder pillar & connect power and carry out reinstatement
Woodthorpe
A6211 Arno Vale Road
August 7
Delays likely due to traffic control (multi-way signals)
Lobelia Close, Nottingham, Nottingham City
13 August — 30 August
Delays likely Road closure
Somersby Road
August 7
Delays likely Traffic control (multi-way signals)
Works location: Arno Vale Road junction with Somersby Road
to replace damaged lamp column (23)
Somersby Road
August 12 — 30 August
Delays likely due to traffic control (two-way signals) to
allow for resurfacing scheme on the footway
Welcome to my update for July. It has been another busy month for the team at Gedling.
Firstly we have seen some staffing changes within the Neighbourhood Policing Team at Arnold. We have said goodbye to PC Dave Jennings and PC Kulvinder Dosanjh who have both moved on having been temporarily promoted. We have now been joined by PC 1759 James Hague and PC 4560 Allie Batty. All of their contact details are available on our force website under www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/neighbourhoods
We are now into the summer holidays where anti-social behaviour will traditionally increase due to the schools being closed. We have been doing a lot of work around anti-social behaviour in terms of working with partners to look at diversion opportunities to reduce anti-social behaviour on our streets. Early in July I met with colleagues from Nottinghamshire County Council to discuss youth provision across the county and the Gedling Borough. Our colleagues at Gedling Borough Council have also put together a ‘Youth Summer Programme’ and I’m hopeful that this will help to reduce ASB across Gedling.
In terms of reported anti-social behaviour I know that this is a key issue for the community and this year (to date) we have seen around 40 less reported ASB incidents which is a -5.2% reduction across the Gedling Borough. It’ll continue to be a priority for us throughout the year. We continue to work closely with partners around ASB including housing providers in the area. In July the Gedling team made two arrests for breaches of civil injunctions which have been imposed by the courts following repeat ASB issues. These include injunctions issued following repeated reports of noise and nuisance behaviour. Our Special Constables will continue to support us with increased ASB patrols over the summer holidays.
PICTURE: The damaged play equipment in Arnot Hill Park (IMAGE: Friends of Arnot Hill Park)
On July 15 I went for a ‘walk about’ of Arnold Town Centre along with the Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping and partners from Gedling Borough Council. We visited the site of the damage caused to the play equipment in Arnot Hill Park before making our way through Arnold Town Centre to look at the additional CCTV installed on Smithy Crescent. The additional camera was funded by Gedling Borough Council and has had a real impact on the amount of ASB reported in the area. The PCC and I spoke with numerous members of the public and updated them as to our policing activity across Gedling. PC Dosanjh provided an update around ASB in the Town Centre about our work around Knife crime.
The investigation into the arson on the play equipment in Arnot Hill Park is now complete. It’s great to see the park repaired and open in time for the summer holidays. I’m pleased to report that a 17-year-old male has been reported for an offence of Arson and will be appearing in court. A second 17-year-old male has been issued with a ‘conditional caution’ which means that he will now be working with the Youth Justice Service in order to prevent reoffending. This has been a great investigation by PC Dosanjh and I’m grateful to everyone who shared our media appeal.
On July 23 I visited a St Albans Parish Council meeting. I provided an update on policing in the area and talked about ‘Operation Reacher’ running nearby in the Bestwood area. We talked about ways that we could work together to prevent crime and ASB particularly in the Bestwood Country Park. We also talked about ways that we could share information with the public such as crime trends in order to try and reduce reported offences. I also visited a Calverton community meeting along with the PCC Paddy Tipping and members of the Gedling Neighbourhood team. We talked about working together with volunteers in the area to improve road safety and I provided an update on police activity across the Gedling Borough. It was great to meet with Parish Council colleagues and members of the public and I hope to attend more meetings over the coming months.
I wanted to touch on two of our other local priorities Residential Burglary and Autocrime. We have reported an increase in burglary and autocrime in the Woodthorpe area where we saw a number of car key burglaries. It seems that Mercedes cars have been targeted by offenders who have entered properties during the night in order to steal car keys. An excellent investigation has been carried out by a number of resources across the force including our Response teams, Neighbourhood Policing team and the County Burglary team. A 16-year-old male has now been arrested and charged with two car key burglaries in the Woodthorpe area. He has been remanded in custody and a number of other burglaries remain under investigation.
In terms of autocrime we have seen a number of reports of vans being targeted for tools. Most offences have taken place overnight with tools stolen from the rear of vans. I know this has a huge effect on members of the community who rely on equipment for work. I’d ask that tools are removed from vans, particularly overnight and that any suspicious incidents are reported to the police. There is crime prevention advice available on the Nottinghamshire Police website under Advice and Crime Prevention Guides. The majority of offences have been in the Colwick and Arnold areas. Officers from across the area are patrolling overnight under ‘Operation Kinkle’.
‘Operation Scorpion’ has been continuing across the Gedling Borough. Officers have been carrying out increased patrols across the area with a focus on reducing violent crime. We know that this is closely linked to reported anti-social behaviour and patrols will continue throughout the summer.
PICTURED: A volunteer with a speed gun on Longsdale Lane (PHOTO: Nottinghamshire Police)
Finally I met with residents in Ravenshead to discuss updates around road safety. We are continuing to work with volunteers following reports of speeding vehicles around the Longdale Lane area. PCSO Kirsty Szeluk worked with the volunteers in the area to carry out another session and we were joined by colleagues from Notts Fire and Rescue. Both services are hoping to continue working together in order to promote road safety. We are now discussing expanding this scheme with other volunteers across Gedling Borough.
Please look out for forthcoming engagement events which will be held by the Gedling Neighbourhood team. Details will be published on our social media pages and where possible these will be advertised in public spaces.
My next update will be at the end of August and for those of you taking some time off over the summer have a great time.
A petition has been set up calling on Gedling Borough Council to declare a climate emergency and work to become carbon-neutral by 2025.
Carlton resident Ciaran Hickey is calling on the authority to join over 100 other councils across the UK and fully commit to tackling climate change.
So far over 175 people have so far signed the petition.
The petition states it wants ‘Gedling Borough Council to declare a climate emergency and review the council’s current carbon reduction plans to establish the actions needed to be compatible with 1.5 degrees warming and to bring the timescale forward to 2025.’
“Further we ask the council to call on government to give Gedling Borough Council the powers and funding to enable Gedling Borough Council to become carbon neutral by 2025 .’
It added: “We welcome action by the London Assembly, Bristol City Council and other city councils around the world declaring and committing resources to tackling the climate emergency and becoming carbon neutral regions by 2030 at the latest.”
Mr Hickey, who is also a member of Extinction Rebellion member told Gedling Eye: “We have already seen Nottingham City, Rushcliffe, Newark & Sherwood and Broxtowe do this and set clear dates aimed at achieving net zero emissions between 2027 and 2030. This is a far quicker and ambitious target than the governments poor and disastrous target of 2050.
“We are happy and ready to assist the council in putting an appropriate motion forward and have tried and tested templates used around the country. And with the Labour Party having already declared a climate and Ecological Emergency we see no reason Labour councils around the country shouldn’t be doing this too.”
“Gedling Borough Council could show some serious ambition and be a global leader in tackling climate change.”
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said one of the council’s key priorities was creating a sustainable environment for Gedling.
He said:” The Gedling Plan, approved by Full Council in May, sets out how we are reducing our carbon emissions through a number of ways.
“We are a Plastic Clever Council, reducing the amounts of single use plastics we use. We have installed water fountains in our parks to encourage reusable water bottles. We are reducing contamination levels for recycling whilst increasing recycling rates.
“We have several electric car points in the borough and we have more energy efficient lighting than ever before. We are also establishing a robust plan to become a carbon neutral council.
He added: “The long-term sustainability of the borough is of upmost importance to us and we welcome any residents who want to get involved and help us shape this key priority for Gedling and help us seek innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Roach was stopped in the vehicle at 3.15pm on May 18, 2019.
Officers found a bag on the back seat of the taxi which contained the shotgun.
Investigator Kerry Paterson, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said: “This is another fantastic result, in which we utilised regional capabilities in intelligence and investigation, and worked alongside Nottinghamshire firearms officers, to take another dangerous individual and deadly weapon off the streets.
“By taking this proactive approach, I’m in no doubt we’ve prevented a subsequent firearm-related incident in Nottingham.”
A new environmental group formed by teenagers in Gedling are calling on people in the community to start living more sustainable lifestyles
Notts Environmental Action have begun a campaign that they hope will encourage people to start having important conversations about how to save the environment.
They have produced a series of coasters which have been distributed around local pubs and restaurants in the area that feature a series of important environmental statistics. The group hope the coasters will encourage customers to have some important conversations about the damage being done to the environment.
Jade Oram is one of the members of the new group and has written a blog for Gedling Eye about why they formed the group and what they hope to achieve with their new campaign.
PICTURED: The new coasters being distributed as part of the new campaign
Blog by Notts Environmental Action
As of 2018, it was announced by environmental scientists, that this planet officially has until 2030 to turn everything around for the environment, or the damages will be irreversible.
How does it make you feel reading that? For me, and my colleagues who have helped me write this article, it is petrifying. As 15 year olds, words cannot express how it feels to know that by time we reach the modest age of 26, the planet may well be at a stage where the damage already sustained to it is irreversible.
WE ARE NO LONGER WILLING TO BE BYSTANDERS. WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
We have formed ‘Notts Environmental Action’. We are small but efficient group of 15-16 year olds from Gedling and recently launched our ‘Coaster Campaign’ to encourage the local community to live more sustainable lifestyles. All being well, you will see one of our coasters in a restaurant near you…
So what is our ‘Coaster Campaign?’ Well, we have liaised with local businesses, bars and pubs in Gedling and the surrounding areas and can confirm that, from next week, they will be actively using coasters provided by us during the normal course of business.
When you come across one of our coasters, you will know about it! Not only is their design bright and eye catching, but each coaster has written on it an important statistic about our environment. We hope this will help start those all important conversations. So – say goodbye to awkward silences whist on a date with a prospective partner – use one of our coasters as a conversation starter!
The harm being done to our environment is huge – but nonetheless, there are still small steps we all can take. If our coasters can help educate you, and in turn, encourage you to be more aware of environmental matters – we will be delighted.
Reports of heartbreaking puppy farms have soared by a staggering 308% per cent in just 10 years in Nottinghamshire.
The RSPCA is now urging families thinking of getting a puppy over the summer holidays to consider adopting a rescue pet following the release of figures earlier today (August 1).
RSPCA dog welfare expert Lisa Hens said: “It is distressing that we are still seeing so many reports about puppy farms but part of this increase is probably due to people being more savvy about what to look out for when getting a pet.
“We know there’s a spike in people searching for puppies and buying dogs at the beginning of the school holidays but we’d urge families to carefully consider whether getting a dog is right for them. Dogs are a huge commitment and need lots of time and attention, even once summer is over and the kids are back at school.
“If you do have the time and money for a dog then we’d urge you to consider rescuing instead of buying a puppy. Not only will this give a rescue dog a chance at finding his forever home but it’ll also save any potential heartache caused by unwittingly buying a dog from a puppy farm.”
The
warning comes as new figures reveal that last year (2018) was the worst yet for complaints about
the
puppy trade in England* to the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency
hotline. The charity received 4,357 complaints last year – a 390% increase on 10 years ago (2008) when it took just 890 reports related to the underground industry. In Nottinghamshire, the charity received 24 complaints in 2008 compared to 98 last year.
Lisa added: “After the RSPCA campaigned for years, the Government last year finally introduced tougher licensing regulations around the selling of animals – including breeding and selling dogs – which we hope will help crackdown on this multi-million pound industry.
“The Government has also committed to a ban on the third-party sales of puppies and kittens which, alongside tougher licensing conditions will also help to tackle puppy farms and dodgy dealers. However, we also need to educate the public to ensure that they only buy puppies from responsible breeders who prioritise the health and welfare of their dogs over profit.”
Top
tips for families buying a puppy this summer
Do lots of research and
make sure you can commit to a new dog before
looking for your new family member;
Adopt don’t shop – visit
your local centre to see if you can offer a rescue dog a home;
Use
The
Puppy Contract – a guide to how to responsibly source a puppy which can help you find
a happy, healthy dog;
Always visit more than once
and the see the mum and puppies interacting together. Be wary of any breeder who won’t let you or pressures you into buying;
If you’re concerned about
something you see at a breeder then walk away, do not buy the puppy and report your concerns to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, police on 101 or your local council.
To
offer a rescue dog a new home visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet.
To help the RSPCA continue investigating the puppy trade and rescuing dogs please donate by visiting
www.rspca.org.uk/give.
