HAVE A HEART APPEAL

Helping the homeless


Derbyshire Housing Aid, based in Phoenix Street Derby, launched their ‘Have a Heart’ Appeal today, Tuesday 28th October 2008.

The Patron High Sherriff Lord Ralph Kerr, assorted Mayors, celebrities, Councillors and my fellow Parliamentary Candidates Pauline Latham and Stephen Mold all attended this launch for this excellent cause.

The appeal is to combat homelessness across the county. To help local people in desperate circumstances to change their lives positively.

The appeal funds go directly to extending services for local people in need of food, provisions, shelter, accommodation, and support towards independent living, education and employment, as well as provide essential support ensuring that no one is left in the cold this winter.

Here in South Derbyshire we team up with Derbyshire Housing Aid with their attendance at the CVS offices in Swadlincote one day a week, offering help, advice and signposting to services.

This is an excellent cause and I wish them well.
You can contact them at DHA
Phoenix Street
Derby, DE1 2ER or by phone on 01332 287850 to make a contribution

Photo Heather outside DHA offices in Derby 28th October 2008

Council of Governors for Queen's Hospital Burton Trust

This Thursday (24th October 2008) I attended my first meeting as a Governor of the Council of Governors Queen's Burton Hospital Trust.
There are people representing all the feeder areas that send patients to Burton: Tamworth, Lichfield, Leics and of course Staffordshire. From South Derbyshire we have three other representatives Sheila Jackson (Castle Gresley Parish Council Chairman); Gill Farrington (Swadlincote 50+ Forum Chairman) and Peter Bailey-Bligh from Netherseal. I sit on the Board as the Local Authority representative for SD, NW Leics, Derbyshire and Leics County Councils and will report back to them as the meetings unfold.
I was hugely impressed with the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and our Trust (Company) Secretary who took us through our initial 'need to know' induction process.
We had a chance to meet a number of the Directors and have a taster of their responsibilities and finally the Chief Executive Paula Clark.
The whole process and what the future holds is still awaiting a final announcement about the Hospital receiving Foundation Trust Status. When this hopefully arrives, in the next few days, then the real work begins.
What do we want our Hospital to provide for us? What specialities? What are the priorities for the future?
I am looking forward to being a Governor enormously and will keep you posted on progress.

Meeting with the local National Farmers Union

Following my recent ‘farm walk’ with Angela and Barry Sargent the local NFU kindly invited me to speak to their monthly meeting in the Hawk & Buckle, Etwall.

The Chairman Ian Crabtree and Group Secretary Jim Watt opened the meeting and gave me the opportunity to speak and answer questions for an hour and a half. A really interesting evening.

As I have mentioned before the red tape and regulation that farmers have to follow is horrendous. Comments ranging from caring for wildlife (particularly hedgehogs) to the price of wheat to importing of milk from Europe led to lively discussions.

I was extremely grateful to be able to meet a real cross-section of our local farmers. Without a doubt they love what they do and are stewards of our countryside but my goodness they do not have an easy life.

We left on good terms and hope to continue the dialogue in the coming months.

Party Conference Birmingham 2008

South Derbyshire was well represented at the Party Conference in Birmingham this year with 14 of us attending. A hectic round of catching up with friends, catching up with news and making speeches. I was lucky enough to be asked to take part in the LGIU’s fringe meeting with Eric Pickles. A good crowd found there
way to the Central Library to hear our views on Local Government and Democracy.

Apart from speaking at Fringe meeting I managed to get to talk to Liam Fox and William Hague. Two of our superb front bench spokesmen.

ROSLISTON FORESTRY CENTRE

UPBEAT LAUNCH FOR THE GLADE

Flags, voices and clapping hands were all raised in South Derbyshire on the 12th September at a Last Nights of the Proms concert staged to officially launch Rosliston Forestry Centre’s new outdoor arena, The Glade in the Forest.

Around 150 people enjoyed a feast of music by Newhall Band that invoked national and local pride. Among the prommers’ favourites included in the programme was The Dam Busters March, Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory and the Radetsky March.

The guests included representatives of the Rosliston Forestry Centre partners – the Forestry Commission, National Forest and South Derbyshire District Council - and organisations including The National Forest Company and Derby and Derbyshire Economic Development Partnership that have helped fund the new facilities, with contributions totalling in excess of £500,000.

As well as The Glade in the Forest, the new features on the award-winning site include new forest lodge accommodation. Our guests at Friday’s celebration were given the opportunity to have a look at these ahead of the concert.

John Foxcroft, Chair of Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DDEP), myself and South Derbyshire Chairman Councillor Mrs Ann Hood, carried out the official opening ceremony of The Glade in the Forest.

We cut a ribbon across the stage, after which Newhall Band played a rousing fanfare written specially for the occasion.

Commenting on the evening, Debbie Chesterman, one of the Centre Managers, said: “Rain may have dampened the grass and trees in and around The Glade, but the spirit of the occasion remained very upbeat.

Flooding

Flooding - what can be done?

The issue of flooding and how it devastates families and homes when it happens is upper most in my mind. As you will have read before our Conservative Administration have made sure it stays in the Council’s Corporate Plan and appears in our Budget.

Our Officers have found an amazing product to protect against flooding and we are rolling this opportunity out to the 73 family homes that were flooded July 2007and September 2008.
I was shown an example of how it works on the front door of Mrs Hall in Swadlincote, who kindly agreed to be a guinea pig for the press. The story was taken up by the Burton Mail, Derby Telegraph, Radio Derby and Touch FM. I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to get this information out there. Of course it will not stop the rain falling, the water run-off or even the flood but at least we are doing what we can to help protect people.

The article below appeared in the Burton Mail 7th October 2008 and says it all.

Flood victims get protection shields
by JAMES BRINDLE
RELIEF is on the way for householders struck down by flooding as a new protection scheme is to be piloted in South Derbyshire.It was confirmed at a full meeting of South Derbyshire District Council that £10,000 has been allocated to help flood victims to install special shields.Staff at the council are in the process of contacting the 73 residents who have suffered from flooding, both during last month's floods and those in the summer of last year.Those affected will be invited to take part in the scheme to have the door barriers fitted to their homes to protect against flood damage.Residents can put the flood shields - supplied by the council via specialist supplier UK Flood Barriers - on their front and back doors for just £50 per door, directly from the council. The usual price for each door guard is £249.Those claiming certain benefits or who are registered disabled, will have the shields provided at no charge.Council leader Heather Wheeler said: "It's the South Derbyshire way to work with local people to help them to help themselves."Sandbags can do an effective job but these flood shields are even better, as they can be fitted in a few minutes by the resident to help seal up doors and holes in air bricks at flood level."Labour member Trevor Southerd told the council meeting he congratulated Councillor Wheeler on her work at bringing this scheme to the district.He said: "I have to say I think it is a fantastic idea and I congratulate the leader on bringing this forward."I also presume this will affect insurance positively for these homes, so that must be a good thing."Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for the scheme flooding should telephone Tim Summers on 01283 595950 or visit the council's website at www.south-derbys.gov.uk for further information.