Plans to reform the way people pay for social care in England have been voted on – and Gedling borough MPs have had their say.
The Conservative-led government’s proposals were approved by 272 ayes to 246 noes.
This tight result was due to significant opposition from other political parties and some Tory MPs, with concerns that not enough is being done to protect the poorest pensioners.
One of the main features of the reform is a ‘cap’ on the amount people will have to pay towards their personal care.
It will be set at £86,000, and after this has been reached, the local authority will take over the financing.
However, this does not include living costs such as food, energy bills or accommodation.
Many argue that the new proposal could lead to people living in cheaper houses having their assets wiped out.
The timetable increase will be delivered in two stages, with the majority of services being reinstated from Monday, December 13. A second and slightly smaller increase will then be delivered from Monday, January 3, as customers return to work and education.
From January 3, EMR plans to increase Liverpool to Norwich services as well as further reinstatements between Crewe and Newark Castle, Leicester and Cleethorpes routes – which all run through the borough.
EMR has said that to help these service reinstatements, a small number of changes will be made on the Nottingham to Skegness route, which occasionally calls at Netherfield, during the Winter period to reflect the reduced passenger demand.
These changes will remain under review and arrangements will be made to either reinstate or supplement through strengthening during anticipated periods of strong passenger demand.
More services will be running to and from Carlton Station
Paul Barnfield, operations director at East Midlands Railway, said: “In recent months, a dedicated team has been working hard to improve the reliability and performance of our services to allow us to reinstate a number of our regional services.
“In doing so, we have aimed to prioritise services which have been the most requested by our customers and local stakeholders while also being careful to ensure our timetable is robust, reliable and as cost efficient to taxpayers as possible.
“These services will be reinstated in two stages either side of Christmas. This is an incremental and sensible approach to reinstating services at what is typically the quietest time of the year to travel. As such, I would ask customers to check their journeys between December 13 and January 3 before setting off, by visiting www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk.”
Energy supplier Bulb has gone bust and placed into special administration – but will continue to supply their customers in Gedling borough as normal.
The company’s demise is the latest in the sector with more than 20 suppliers collapsing since the start of the year amid the soaring price of gas.
Bulb said it would be placed into special administration – a process designed to protect customers when a large energy supplier can no longer trade.
What should Bulb customers do?
Bulb customers do not need to do anything at this stage.
Bulb says: “Special administration is designed to allow Bulb to continue to operate as usual so you don’t need to take any action. Your tariffs are not changing, and the price cap applies to all consumer energy tariffs. If you pay for your energy by top up, your top ups will continue to work as normal. If you’re in the process of switching to or from Bulb, your switch will continue.”
An Ofgem spokesperson said: “Customers of Bulb do not need to worry – Bulb will continue to operate as normal. Ofgem is working very closely with Government. This includes plans for Ofgem to apply to Court to appoint an administrator who will run the company. Customers will see no disruption to their supply and their account and tariff will continue as normal. Bulb staff will still be available to answer calls and queries.”
Bulb customers may want to take regular meter reading and record them in case of any changes in future.
What is a special administration?
Special administration is a process that ensures electricity keeps flowing when large energy companies collapse.
Ofgem and the government will appoint an official administrator to run the business until a more permanent solution can be found. The cost of running the business in administration will be paid for by the government.
What happens next?
Ofgem and the government will appoint an official administrator to run the business until a more permanent solution can be found. The cost of running the business in administration will be paid for by the government.
Will bills go up?
Customers are protected from any price rises until April 2022 under Ofgem’s price cap system, so long as they remain on their current deals with Bulb.
Longer term, the rise in wholesale gas prices and the cost of dealing with widespread failures across the industry means bills are likely to go up next year across the sector when the price cap is reviewed next Spring.
Martin Young, an analyst at investment bank Investec, said: “Consumers look set to shoulder the price of failure, possibly to the tune of £75/dual-fuel customer or more. They will rightly want answers.”
Council officers say ‘lessons have been learned’ about oversight on major infrastructure projects following the £8.619 million price hike on the Gedling Access Road.
Members of Nottinghamshire County Council’s finance committee discussed and debated the ballooned costs on Monday (November 22), with concerns raised over the overspend on the initial £40 million bypass.
The authority confirmed the surging costs were partly related to the Covid pandemic, while issues with site and weather conditions have also caused prices to rise and the project to be delayed.
The 3.8km road, which was due to open this autumn, will now not be open to motorists until next spring.
But members of the committee spoke in favour of the project’s overall benefits, which are estimated to provide a boost of about £73 million to Gedling and the wider county.
Once open, the carriageway will connect Mapperley Plains to the A612 Trent Valley Road/Nottingham Road, easing congestion through Gedling village and also unlocking more land for homes.
Its completion will allow for the remainder of the 1,050 homes on the Chase Farm development – at the former Gedling Colliery land – to be built, with current rules allowing a maximum of 315 homes on-site.
It will also allow for other parts of the Gedling Local Plan to come to fruition, help the creation of jobs and also support other infrastructure around Gedling, Netherfield and Colwick.
Speaking in the meeting, Adrian Smith, corporate director for place, outlined reasons for the cost rise and said the authority has learned from the overspend.
“Inevitably the costs have increased since we started on-site,” he said.
PICTURED: Gedling Access Road
“Predominantly this is due to Covid but it’s also because we’ve taken into account a whole range of different site conditions and other changes to the scope.
“Earlier in the autumn we set out additional costs at that point, and now we’ve undertaken a more comprehensive assessment of the overall scheme and the cost schedule.
“It’s resulted in the [£8.619 million overspend] we have today.”
But he added: “There are lessons we’ve learned around project management oversight.
“I’d expect we will be revising and changing the way we approach this going forward for other schemes.
“We can take some learning from this forward.”
The Gedling Access Road was forecast to overspend by £5.4 million in September before the more detailed assessment revealed costs will increase even further.
Councillor John Clarke (Lab), who represents Arnold South, sits on the finance committee and is also the leader of Gedling Borough Council.
He believes the extra costs will “disappear into the ether” once the road is opened and its benefits come to fruition.
“This is a fact of life, these projects go over budget,” he said.
“But this will prove its worth, it will bring money into the area and has already brought in Sainsbury’s to Colwick.
“The £73 million is a good benefit to us and the £9 million extra will disappear into the ether in a very short time.
“It’s part of a long jigsaw and is boosting the economy of the area, at the end of the day, the quality of life will be improved for people in the village and nearby.”
But some councillors spoke of their concerns over wider increases to major infrastructure schemes.
Cllr Jim Creamer (Lab), who represents Carlton West, said: “I think there’s a responsibility here for monitoring the project more than anything else.
“It’s concerning a huge project like this can suddenly jump, this is millions we’re talking about, it’s just the reporting and the monitoring seems to have fallen extremely short.
“Something has gone wrong along the chain on this. I would like to see an explanation in the future of what went wrong and why it went wrong.”
The extra costs will be funded in part by Covid reserves and Government support, with councillors voting in favour of adjusting the council’s budgets to factor in the overspend.
NHS chiefs in Nottinghamshire are pleading with people across Gedling borough to get the flu jab this winter with Covid-19 still running riot.
The plea comes after local hospitals have begun to see cases of flu already this season.
NHS Nottinghamshire say flu can cause severe illness and even death among vulnerable groups, as well as complications like bronchitis and pneumonia, so it is particularly important to have the flu vaccine.
More people are likely to get the flu this winter as fewer people have build up natural immunity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Research has also shown getting flu and Covid-19 at the same time is likely to make people seriously ill, so getting vaccinated against both will provide protection against both serious illnesses.
People in eligible groups can receive their free flu vaccine at their GP practice, a pharmacy offering the service, midwifery service if pregnant or at a hospital appointment. Eligible children can receive their vaccine via their school immunisation programme or at a GP practice – read more here.
Dr Stephen Shortt, Joint Clinical Leader at the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said: “It’s more important than ever this year that those eligible for their free Flu vaccine take up the offer to help protect themselves ahead of Winter.
“Getting vaccinated will not only help protect people and their families, but it’ll also help to support the NHS at a time where our health service is facing extreme pressures. I would urge all people who fit into the key groups to think about being vaccinated this year, it could save lives and help to maintain key services.”
Michelle Rhodes, chief nurse at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are starting to see flu cases in our hospitals and we are doing all we can to keep everyone safe through our staff vaccination programme. We strongly urge the public to take up the offer of a free flu jab this winter, especially if you are aged 50 or over, have certain health conditions, are pregnant, are in long-stay residential care or if you live with someone who is more likely to get infections.
“Getting your flu jab is particularly important because more people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Chief Nurse for Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Julie Hogg, said: “We have started to see cases of flu in our hospitals, so we would urge anyone who is eligible for their flu jab to get it as soon as they possibly can to help protect themselves.
“We know that flu activity levels were extremely low globally in 2020/21 and as a result, a lower level of population immunity against flu is expected in 2021/22. We know this winter is going to be busy and that the flu season could be up to 50% larger than we have typically seen previously, so we are urging people to protect themselves now ahead of the winter months.”
The Flu vaccine is available free of charge on the NHS if you:
are 50 and over (including those who’ll be 50 by 31 March 2022)
have certain health conditions
are pregnant
are in long-stay residential care
receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
frontline health or social care workers
children in specific age groups or with long-term health conditions.
Beavers set the scene for a bright spring when they planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs in Calverton on Saturday (November 20).
The youngsters from Calverton Beavers buried hundreds of bulbs along the grass verge on Bonner Lane to compliment the newly-installed village sign.
The bulbs were donated to Calverton Parish Council by a village allotment holder.
We would also like to thank the motorists who slowed down when passing the group. Councillors Joan Inger and Lorraine Brown would like to say a huge thank youall those involved.
They said: “We’d like to thank the Beavers and their parents who undertook this task to make the grass verges at this end of the village more colourful in the Spring.
“The Beavers came armed with trowels, spades, gloves and hi-vis vests and undertook the planting with great enthusiasm.
Tom Randall MP has welcomed the news of the success of the Kickstart scheme across Gedling borough.
The scheme has benefited 70 individuals directly in the borough.
Kickstart Scheme pays businesses to create high-quality jobs for 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit. The scheme gives young people the opportunity to find work, develop their skills, and get a crucial first step on the career ladder.
Mr Randall believes that the scheme gives young people in the borough the best possible start in the workplace.
He said: “The pandemic has been tough for young people, especially those looking for a job, and I want to ensure that no young person is left behind as Gedling continues its recovery.
“The Kickstart Scheme is helping deliver on that mission – getting 70 young people into work across Gedling – as part of the 100,000 helped nationwide.
“This will give more young people the best possible start in the workplace – helping them get a high wage, high skilled job they will need for the future.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “Kickstart employers in Gedling borough and up and down the country are giving young people the chance to get on the jobs ladder.
“Having hit the 100,000 milestone, we are now on the last lap and I encourage employers and young people to take advantage of this opportunity as we head towards the finish line of the great Kickstart scheme”.
Shoppers in Gedling borough are being urged to ‘be kind’ in a new campaign amid growing levels of abuse and violence against workers.
The Shop Kind campaign, led by the Home Office, unites the retail sector and encourages positive behaviour in shops as well as acknowledging the important role shop workers play in our communities.
Nottinghamshire Police is supporting the campaign following a series of successes throughout the county, including a crackdown on shoplifting at Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield.
Police say that when officers attend reports of shoplifting, they consider every potential offence, as well as thinking about the steps they can take to better support the staff affected, including patrols and regular engagement with shops.
As well as this, officers also work to refer offenders, where appropriate, for rehabilitation and ensure they get any necessary help for issues such as addiction and mental health.
Operation Reacher officers will also be out conducting proactive shoplifting patrols in throughout the week.
Retail theft incidents often include acts or threats of violence towards officers or staff, and according to government figures, around 400 shop workers are abused everyday across the UK, with reports nationally that some have even been threatened with weapons like knives and hammers.
PC Joanna Baxter, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Retail crime can often be seen as a victimless crime. However when shop staff suffer threats by these offenders they are left living in fear both inside and outside of the workplace.
INVOLVED: Co-op stores across the borough are backing the campaign
“We need to understand that and think carefully about what additional steps we can put in place to protect that person.
“That could include arresting someone for more serious offences such as affray, and also considering other civil measures such as community behaviour orders.
“As well as this, incidents can very often go hand in hand with addiction and mental health issues. So, we proactively look to help refer those who require support for this to the relevant organisations and ensure they get the help they need. By tackling any potential underlying factors, our aim is to prevent any further incidents.
“We’re encouraging local businesses and shop staff to get involved in this local campaign and make use of the resources on the Home Office website.”
Pharmacy giant Boots is one of the retailers backing the campaign and have a number of stores across the borough.
Iona Blake, security and incident manager at Boots, said: “At Boots, we have been very active in working with others in the retail industry as well as local authorities and police forces to tackle retail the rise in violence and abuse towards retail workers.
“Locally, we work very closely with Nottinghamshire Police to tackle these issues and bring perpetrators to justice. It is fantastic to see our local police officers getting involved in this campaign alongside retailers to raise awareness of this issue.
“Our team members in stores have a right work in a safe and respectful environment.”
Victoria Crorken, is group head of Risk for The Co-op, who are also getting involved
She said: “As retailers, our priority is to protect our store colleagues. It isn’t part of their job to be physically assaulted or verbally abused while serving their local communities.
“We want our shop workers to be treated with the respect they deserve and have worked closely with Nottinghamshire Police to identify and prosecute those offenders who have caused the most harm.”
ShopKind is a Home Office backed national campaign to tackle violence and abuse against shopworkers. To find resources you can use for your business, and find out more about the campaign, visit the dedicated ShopKind page.
A man is due in court today (Monday, 22) following a police investigation into blazes in Bestwood Village.
The man has been charged with five counts of arson which took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning (November 16).
A number of officers quickly responded to the reports of a fire in School Walk which was able to be extinguished quickly.
A further fire in Bestwood Village was also discovered that involved construction machinery.
PICTURED: School Walk in Bestwood Village
Blazes also took place at an industrial estate in Wigwam Lane, Hucknall.
A further two fires were reported a short time later at different areas within the industrial estate where another four vehicles were found alight and a skip was found burning.
Following an extensive investigation by Nottinghamshire Police, officers have now charged 28-year-old Patrick Harrison, of Mansfield Road, Carrington, with five counts of arson.
He will appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Monday 22 November).
Detective Sergeant Matt Scott, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The fires caused a considerable impact on both Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on the day but thankfully due to the quick response the damage was minimised.
“Arson is a serious offence and following our investigation we have now charged a man in connection with the incidents.”
Two men who helped to turn a suburban bungalow in Mapperley into a booming drugs factory have been jailed.
Cannabis with a street value of around £1m was seized when officers raided the property in Lucknow Drive, Mapperley, on September 10 this year.
Inside they found a large-scale cannabis grow, with more than 1,400 mature plants crammed into multiple rooms across the detached, secluded property.
The plants were taken away and destroyed, and an array of sophisticated growing equipment was put beyond use.
CS Spray, a telescopic baton and a quantity of cash were also seized.
Jevgenij, Babkov, aged 24, and Noyus Kastenas, aged, 20 were both arrested at the scene.
When they were interviewed by officers they admitted to tending to the plants but claimed they had been employed by others to live and work at the address.
Both men later admitted charges of cannabis production and appeared for sentence at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (12 November).
Babkov, formerly of Lucklnow Drive, was jailed for one year and ten months.
Kastenas, also formerly of Lucknow Drive, was jailed for one year and six months.
PC Brian Dacunha, of Nottinghamshire Police, led the investigation. He said: “Acting on local intelligence we carried out a warrant at a large, detached bungalow.
“The building had been turned into a very large, sophisticated and profitable drugs factory, with mature cannabis plants in multiple rooms in the house.
“As is the case with most similar cannabis grows the electrics in the property had been bypassed and left in a very hazardous state.”
Inspector Karl Thomas, local area commander for Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Clamping down on drug related crime is a top priority for the local policing team. I am aware, however, that some people are still of the view that this ‘is only a bit of weed’ and that we should be focussing on different issues.
“But in reality, these kind of large-scale grows are very often linked to ruthless organised criminal gangs from home and abroad whose members won’t think twice about using extreme acts of violence to protect their investment from other equally ruthless criminals. Domestic cannabis grows can also create a very substantial fire risk to neighbouring properties and will never be tolerated by Nottinghamshire Police.”
