There was a planning application in February to open a hostel in Westby Rd. There was overwhelming local objection to this.
The local Drug and alcohol action team have a long standing commitment not to provide services in Boscombe due to the overwhelming number of services already here. The Council has also committed to not funding services within this area in recognition that we need a balanced community.
There is nothing in the district wide plan to stop the saturation of these services in the ward, which is one of the most deprived in the country. This may take a considerable amount of time to rectify.
BCHA have withdrawn their application but indicate that they would still consider a similar application in the area. Here is the response I received:
'To advise that our partner organisation Bournemouth Vineyard Church have not been able to secure the funding they had anticipated to commit to the project. This is in the main due to the current financial climate. As a result we have today advised the planning team at Bournemouth Borough Council to withdraw our planning application. Our solicitors will be in contact with the vendors agent shortly.
'I would point out that whilst BCHA were aware of local perception about such a scheme, we will continue to pursue any similar opportunities to help the most vulnerable in society rebuild their lives and regain their independence within the local community in which they live.'
I am overwhelmed by residents in boscombe who have issues with rubbish, both in the street and being able to dispose of their own rubbish. I think the current system for disposing of bulky items or items unsuitable for the little bin are unfair and affect our area disproportionately. Our ward has the lowest rate of car ownership and a high turnover - there for are less settled and likely to have items to dispose of. the current charge if you take items to the dump - even if you go every week is £0, but if you dont have a car, or are not able to manhadle large items, the cost is £38 for 3 items. most other area's in the country charge around £6 for the same service, and I think we should too. If you agree, please sign my latest petition
My daughter was one of the winners from Bethany school today in a competition to design signs warning the public of the fines for dog fauling.
There were five winners and the signs have been produced on metal with the councils wording
The signs will be mounted for all to see in Churchill gardens over the next week
There were big improvements to to the outside area's of St Clements school at the weekend with lots of volunteers coming and helping out with rubbing down, painting and planting in the garden area. The safer neighbourhood team came to help along with parents and children from the school and with the help from a grant from the Local Improvement Fund which the councillors hold. Thanks go to Miss Walker who arranged everything!
There is a feature on Woman's hour about 'Baby led Weaning" at the moment.. What's that? well, Its about the baby starting solids when they are ready rather than spooning puree into their mouth. The way to "do" baby led weaning it seems is that at 6 months you lay out a range of finger foods for your baby to try in their high chair.
Though I agree with the concept of Baby led weaning and have watched as my own children have introduced themselves to solids, I did not follow the method promoted in the programme
Organisations like La Leche League (the breastfeeding organisation) have been saying for 50 years that babies wean at about 6 months. Not that they need to wean or that they should wean no, because it is something the baby does,not the mother! The baby - when he has access to food will start to pick it up and put it in his mouth (isn't that what babies are famous for?) at around 6 months. The main thing to ensure that the baby has access to food. If the mother is the carrying sling using kind she will probably have the baby on her lap whenever she is eating anyway so this whole process is pretty passive for the mother. The only thing to watch is that they don't grab anything they're not meant to have.
Its a shame that the style of baby led weaning that is being promoted is rather prescriptive - and not really very baby led at all, after all it has to be the mother that decides that its time to buy the sweet potato and sit the baby in the high chair, and when will she do that in the "around 6 months" window? she could be preparing organic avocado's for weeks on end if she starts too early.
The reason that a baby should lead the weaning process is that we have got used to introducing solids rather earlier than the baby is ready. not long ago it was as young as 4 months where to get the baby to swallow the food they had to have it liquidised so that the babies gagging reflex wasn't stopping them swallowing. Introducing solids at 4 months meant physically introducing food into the babies mouth and has lead to all sorts of allergies, and displaces the food that they are meant to have - mothers milk, the complete food for babies
The promoted way of doing baby led weaning (that the presenter felt that mothers would need "real confidence" to try ) leaves the concept open to criticism by health professionals. The dietitian guest on woman's hour was very concerned about the baby not receiving enough nutrition and saying that this method is not evidence based - she ended up reccomending combining baby led weaning ith spoon feeding - rather missing the point.
Today sees the Launch of a very exciting beach hut design competition. As part of a grant from CABE, called Sea Change, there is the opportunity for artists to come forward with designs for innovative and accessible beach hut designs. The 4 new beach huts will be located near to Boscombe pier, near to coasters restaurant. This is just one of a number of aspects of the funding for which I am a member of the project board. More updates soon!
I listened to this as an audiobook, It kept me interested, and was a fascinating insight into the mind of a man with a personality disorder. I felt sympathy for the charictor, but it was pretty chilling too, I'm sticking with Faulks for my next read (listen) - and going for On Green Dolphin Street.
Charity Grandparents Plus has called for big changes in the way grandparents who look after their grandchildren while the parents are at work are treated.
Whilst I don't agree with them entirely, there is a rather pointless rule in the childcare element of working tax credits, That is that you cannot claim a percentage of childcare costs back if the childcare is provided by a member of your family - only through a registered childminder or nursery. even if the member of your family has registered as a childminder. Children are happier with people they know best, and family are often more able to provide childcare over awkward hours and adapt to last minute changes. there is no real reason to disallow close family to be paid - the argument that family ought to help out for free does not really hold - grandparents , aunts and uncles need to work too, so cannot be expected to give free endless childcare. Why not actually give all parents te childcare element and allow them to do with it as they wish? For many mothers this would allow them more time at home with their child, rather than the state paying someone else to care for their child whilst they go to work, possibly to look after other peoples children themselves!
Whilst I don't agree with them entirely, there is a rather pointless rule in the childcare element of working tax credits, That is that you cannot claim a percentage of childcare costs back if the childcare is provided by a member of your family - only through a registered childminder or nursery. even if the member of your family has registered as a childminder. Children are happier with people they know best, and family are often more able to provide childcare over awkward hours and adapt to last minute changes. there is no real reason to disallow close family to be paid - the argument that family ought to help out for free does not really hold - grandparents , aunts and uncles need to work too, so cannot be expected to give free endless childcare. Why not actually give all parents te childcare element and allow them to do with it as they wish? For many mothers this would allow them more time at home with their child, rather than the state paying someone else to care for their child whilst they go to work, possibly to look after other peoples children themselves!
COUNCIL MEETING, 24 FEBRUARY 2009
QUESTION ON CABINET REPORT
Question to the Cabinet Member for Resources
Cabinet, 18 February 2009 – Clause 25, Page B.4 – Medium Term Financial Plan 2009/10 – 2013/14 and 2009/10 Budget Options – Budget Update
“What percentage of this budget will be spent with local businesses?”
Councillor Lisa Northover
Cabinet Member reply:
It is anticipated that some aspects of local procurement of goods and services by the Council will be discussed at the Administration and Value for Money Overview Panel meeting to be held on Thursday 2 April 2009.
There are a large number of non statutory activities that this Council undertakes from its revenue and capital budgets which indirectly support local businesses e.g. tourism, parks, gardens and beaches, which attracts tourists to the area and indirectly supports local businesses in that sector.
In addition the BIC/Pavilion attracts large numbers of delegates to the area which supports the local hotel and leisure industries.
The Council has provided £0.65m for 2009/10 and £0.35m for 2010/11 in the budget for a recession fund, to support local businesses and employment during the current economic climate.
Further information can be provided if required although there will be resource implications depending on the level of detail required.
QUESTION ON CABINET REPORT
Question to the Cabinet Member for Resources
Cabinet, 18 February 2009 – Clause 25, Page B.4 – Medium Term Financial Plan 2009/10 – 2013/14 and 2009/10 Budget Options – Budget Update
“What percentage of this budget will be spent with local businesses?”
Councillor Lisa Northover
Cabinet Member reply:
It is anticipated that some aspects of local procurement of goods and services by the Council will be discussed at the Administration and Value for Money Overview Panel meeting to be held on Thursday 2 April 2009.
There are a large number of non statutory activities that this Council undertakes from its revenue and capital budgets which indirectly support local businesses e.g. tourism, parks, gardens and beaches, which attracts tourists to the area and indirectly supports local businesses in that sector.
In addition the BIC/Pavilion attracts large numbers of delegates to the area which supports the local hotel and leisure industries.
The Council has provided £0.65m for 2009/10 and £0.35m for 2010/11 in the budget for a recession fund, to support local businesses and employment during the current economic climate.
Further information can be provided if required although there will be resource implications depending on the level of detail required.
EUROPE
You are invited to meet your local MEP
GRAHAM WATSON, MEP
He will be at Bournemouth Adult Learning Centre, Slades Farm on Friday 20th February
7pm for a 7.30 start, Refreshments available. Free entry.
He will speak about the European initiative on a proposed new SUPERGRID, using high voltage direct current (HVDC), to bring together all the various renewable energy resources within Europe.
He will take this opportunity to launch his new booklet:
MAKING THE GREEN ENERGY SWITCH AT A TIME OF CRISIS.
Graham will be encouraging us all to engage with the EU in a positive way and there will be the opportunity to ask questions.
Please come along to what will be a very interesting meeting.
You are invited to meet your local MEP
GRAHAM WATSON, MEP
He will be at Bournemouth Adult Learning Centre, Slades Farm on Friday 20th February
7pm for a 7.30 start, Refreshments available. Free entry.
He will speak about the European initiative on a proposed new SUPERGRID, using high voltage direct current (HVDC), to bring together all the various renewable energy resources within Europe.
He will take this opportunity to launch his new booklet:
MAKING THE GREEN ENERGY SWITCH AT A TIME OF CRISIS.
Graham will be encouraging us all to engage with the EU in a positive way and there will be the opportunity to ask questions.
Please come along to what will be a very interesting meeting.
7-2009-3371-P
637-641 Christchurch Road
Erection of entrance gates, fencing, cycle parking, highway works including landscaping
Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd
Deadline for comment: 01/03/2009
full details on the Council website
7-2009-5744-E
518 Christchurch Road
Alterations, change of use of premises from Internet Cafe (Class A1) to Hot Food Takeaway (Class A5) and extract ducting
Mr R Walsh
Deadline for comment: 28/02/2009
full details on the Council website
7-2009-12745-G
98-100 Palmerston Road
Amendment to approved applications ref: 7-2006-12745-F and 7/2006/12745/E so to authorise bin and cycle store facilities and boundary screening provisions
Network Developments
Deadline for comment: 26/02/2009
full details on the Council website
637-641 Christchurch Road
Erection of entrance gates, fencing, cycle parking, highway works including landscaping
Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd
Deadline for comment: 01/03/2009
full details on the Council website
7-2009-5744-E
518 Christchurch Road
Alterations, change of use of premises from Internet Cafe (Class A1) to Hot Food Takeaway (Class A5) and extract ducting
Mr R Walsh
Deadline for comment: 28/02/2009
full details on the Council website
7-2009-12745-G
98-100 Palmerston Road
Amendment to approved applications ref: 7-2006-12745-F and 7/2006/12745/E so to authorise bin and cycle store facilities and boundary screening provisions
Network Developments
Deadline for comment: 26/02/2009
full details on the Council website
I am looking forward to the Sustainable Environment Overview Panel tomorrow as there is an item on the agenda which I asked to be looked at nearly 2 years ago! The issue is Bulky household waste. If you have a suitable car you can get rid of bulky household waste easily at the Millhams rd facility, in fact if you live nearer Christcurch you can make use of theirs instead. Use of the tip for those with a car is pretty much unlimited. Lots of people go every month. However if you do not have a car what can you do? The council offer a collection service but it costs £39.77 for up to 3 items.
In Boscombe, through Neighbourhood Management funding there has been a free service in previous years. Though still in place it is only for a few roads now ( and available to those on certain benefits in a slightly larger area) . This gives 2 collections of 3 up to 3 items per year, Then you are back to the 39.77 again...
Te report for scrutiny looks at other area's,
West Dorset - 1-3 items £15 then £6 for each additional item
East Dorset - 24 for 1 item 29 for 2 items 34 for 3 items 44 for 5 items more than 5 items up to a lorry load is £49
Christchurch full load only (transit van) 5-10 items £40
New Forest1-6 items £25
Southampton - 10 items £25
these are all nearby and dont make us look too extortionate - though we are still the most expensive at 39.77 for 3 items
Looking further afield however, and at similar sized towns I picked these at random...
Hastings £15 for 3 items
Bristol £15 for 3 items - free twice a year if on benefits
Norwich£15 for 3 items
Walsall 12.50 for 3 items
I am starting to see a pattern!
So thats why I am looking forward to the meeting, to ask why we have the most expensive bulky household waste collection service I can find, and to call for us to bring in a reasonable charge of £15 for 3 items and a service that brings some equality to those without access to a car!
In Boscombe, through Neighbourhood Management funding there has been a free service in previous years. Though still in place it is only for a few roads now ( and available to those on certain benefits in a slightly larger area) . This gives 2 collections of 3 up to 3 items per year, Then you are back to the 39.77 again...
Te report for scrutiny looks at other area's,
West Dorset - 1-3 items £15 then £6 for each additional item
East Dorset - 24 for 1 item 29 for 2 items 34 for 3 items 44 for 5 items more than 5 items up to a lorry load is £49
Christchurch full load only (transit van) 5-10 items £40
New Forest1-6 items £25
Southampton - 10 items £25
these are all nearby and dont make us look too extortionate - though we are still the most expensive at 39.77 for 3 items
Looking further afield however, and at similar sized towns I picked these at random...
Hastings £15 for 3 items
Bristol £15 for 3 items - free twice a year if on benefits
Norwich£15 for 3 items
Walsall 12.50 for 3 items
I am starting to see a pattern!
So thats why I am looking forward to the meeting, to ask why we have the most expensive bulky household waste collection service I can find, and to call for us to bring in a reasonable charge of £15 for 3 items and a service that brings some equality to those without access to a car!
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