Maria Miller, Shadow Minister for the Family, has launched an online survey to help with the development of our proposal to provide professional home support to new mothers in the first few days.
Maria said "We are looking at adopting the policy similar to that in the Netherlands called Kraamzorg.
Maternity nurses come into your home to provide practical and clinical support to help with the extra work that comes with the arrival of a new baby - for example, with breastfeeding, looking after older children and preparing meals"
Councillor John Coombes commented
"It is vital that we can asses the amount of help needed for young mums, especially when they may not have family living close by, there is a fine balance between Nanny State and providing a service so the feedback from this survey will be useful"
Copy this link into your browser to take part:
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=146553
Monday, 22 September 2008
Friday, 19 September 2008
Council Publishes its 2008 Annual report
The Council has always been keen to capture residents views via a multitude of methods. Listening day, State of the Borough debate and feedback through the website have been the key methods of gathering your feedback, combined with the regular newsletters distributed by Councillors. Recently however we have highlighted the fact that many residents are unaware of many of the good things driven forward in recent years by the Council and the background of some our the challenges being faced not only by the Council but the Borough in general.
As part of our drive to improve the information flow we have dramatically opened up access to committee meetings for residents, invested heavily in our website and have continued to invest in the Fylde in Focus newspaper. But there is still more to do! Below I have put a link to the Councils 2008 Annual Report (copy and paste into browser)This document is a small snapshot of some of the issues and facts affecting the Council this year. By being aware of such information along with the Corporate Plan and Community Plan residents can easily see what it is we are doing and why.
http://www.fylde.gov.uk/Category.aspx?cat=1914
we are keen to keep as many residents as possible up to date with current news and facts and hope that this document will be of use and help you understand better the working s of the Council. I would appreciate your feedback on the Annual Report
As part of our drive to improve the information flow we have dramatically opened up access to committee meetings for residents, invested heavily in our website and have continued to invest in the Fylde in Focus newspaper. But there is still more to do! Below I have put a link to the Councils 2008 Annual Report (copy and paste into browser)This document is a small snapshot of some of the issues and facts affecting the Council this year. By being aware of such information along with the Corporate Plan and Community Plan residents can easily see what it is we are doing and why.
http://www.fylde.gov.uk/Category.aspx?cat=1914
we are keen to keep as many residents as possible up to date with current news and facts and hope that this document will be of use and help you understand better the working s of the Council. I would appreciate your feedback on the Annual Report
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Conservatives welcome another Lib Dem defection
Caroline Spelman has offered Marc Goodwin a warm welcome to the Conservatives after his defection from the Liberal Democrats.
Marc, who contested the High Peak seat for the Liberal Democrats in 2005 and was initially the PPC (Prospective Parliamentary Candidate) for Crewe and Nantwich in May, said he had been listening closely to what David Cameron had to say:
"Whilst the Liberal Democrats are going nowhere and drifting, I believe that the Conservatives are the Party of fresh, new ideas, appealing to people right across the country."
Caroline, the Party Chairman, said she was "delighted" at Marc's decision, and stressed:
"Under David Cameron's leadership more and more people are looking to the Conservative Party to deliver the changes our country really needs."
George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, described this latest Lib Dem defection as "further evidence" that the Conservatives are taking the lead on progressive issues such as poverty and the environment.
Cllr John Coombes added 'the Lib Dems are in turmoil and even the local Party activists in Fylde are fracturing, with the nasty and negative campaigning methods adopted by the Lib Dems it's no wonder! Based on recent polls and election failures it's no wonder that LibDem activists are joing voters and turning to the Conservatives - we are happy to welcome them. After helping with the recent by-election in Crewe & Nantwich is it good to see that our policies not only appealed to voters, but to the opposition candidates as well'
Monday, 8 September 2008
Home Grants and other benefits - Fylde OAPs not claiming
The spiralling costs of energy bills is threatening to force almost 2.2 million pensioners into fuel poverty this Winter. The Council is keen to help as many Pensioners as possible insulate their homes and there are many free grants available for the over 70's.
The Energy Saving Trust has launched a new service to help people save money this winter just copy and paste the link into your browser:
http://estconsumer.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/estconsumer.cfg/php/enduser/doc_serve.php?2=August_webpage_bulletin
There are also 1.2 million pensioners who are not claiming the Housing and other benefits that they are entitled to. Just a quick telephone call to the Town Hall on 01253 658658 and the benefits team will be able to arrange a quick assesment of your entitlements. If you have a parent or grand parent over 60 then please urge them to contact the Council for advise on getting what they DESERVE!
The Energy Saving Trust has launched a new service to help people save money this winter just copy and paste the link into your browser:
http://estconsumer.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/estconsumer.cfg/php/enduser/doc_serve.php?2=August_webpage_bulletin
There are also 1.2 million pensioners who are not claiming the Housing and other benefits that they are entitled to. Just a quick telephone call to the Town Hall on 01253 658658 and the benefits team will be able to arrange a quick assesment of your entitlements. If you have a parent or grand parent over 60 then please urge them to contact the Council for advise on getting what they DESERVE!
Friday, 5 September 2008
TRANSPORT MINISTER IN TALKS WITH MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY ON TEST CENTRE CHAOS
Representatives from the motorcycle industry met Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick today, to press the industry’s case for a six month delay to the introduction of new test procedures scheduled for the end of this month.
The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), the Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA) and Riders Edge (Harley-Davidson rider training) were able to explain their concerns to Mr Fitzpatrick and senior representatives of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The call for a delay is also backed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, the Motorcycle Action Group and the British Motorcyclists Federation.
The industry’s concerns are centred on the road safety risks to novice riders who in many cases will be forced to ride long distances in order to take a motorcycle test. There is also a strong business case to delay implementation of the new test.
The MCI’s Craig Carey-Clinch said: “The Minister was receptive and we had what I believe was a productive meeting. The discussion with Mr Fitzpatrick and the DSA was frank and constructive, and we must now hope for a swift decision to delay the new test procedure until more test centres are available.”
Echoing these comments, the MRTA’s Frank Finch said: As well as hearing our views about the road safety implications, the Minister was also receptive to the business arguments in that the industry faces a £40 million loss of revenue as well as significant job losses, should the new test proceed with too few multi-purpose test centres.”
On September 29th the motorcycle test is due to change, introducing new manoeuvres required under a European Directive. The DSA has chosen to implement the directive by concentrating motorcycle tests at about 60 planned multi-purpose test centres around the UK. Currently there are around 260 motorcycle test centres and the DSA plan, if it had been successful, slashes this number by 80%.
The motorcycle community call has been prompted by the fact that only 39 test centres, nationwide, will be opened ahead of the major changes later this month. There has been rising concern about the DSA’s inability to deliver the promised number of new test sites.
Unless action is taken, there is a real danger that the whole motorcycle test system will fall into chaos, with candidates in many parts of the country unable to secure a motorcycle test. More importantly, the motorcycle industry fears that longer journeys to fewer test centres will bring significant road safety risks. All good advice to novice riders tells them not to undertake long journeys in heavy traffic soon after taking their test, but to build up slowly as they gain experience. Some test candidates could face a journey of 100 miles or more in each direction, coupled with the stress of taking a test.
Craig Carey-Clinch added: The motorcycle industry, MRTA and training organisations are fully supportive of the new test, which should help to produce more competent and safer riders. But we believe that if the new test is introduced in a few weeks as planned, the motorcycle test system is likely to crash and administrative chaos will ensue, discouraging people from taking their riding test, and compromising longer term road safety goals.
The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), the Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA) and Riders Edge (Harley-Davidson rider training) were able to explain their concerns to Mr Fitzpatrick and senior representatives of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The call for a delay is also backed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, the Motorcycle Action Group and the British Motorcyclists Federation.
The industry’s concerns are centred on the road safety risks to novice riders who in many cases will be forced to ride long distances in order to take a motorcycle test. There is also a strong business case to delay implementation of the new test.
The MCI’s Craig Carey-Clinch said: “The Minister was receptive and we had what I believe was a productive meeting. The discussion with Mr Fitzpatrick and the DSA was frank and constructive, and we must now hope for a swift decision to delay the new test procedure until more test centres are available.”
Echoing these comments, the MRTA’s Frank Finch said: As well as hearing our views about the road safety implications, the Minister was also receptive to the business arguments in that the industry faces a £40 million loss of revenue as well as significant job losses, should the new test proceed with too few multi-purpose test centres.”
On September 29th the motorcycle test is due to change, introducing new manoeuvres required under a European Directive. The DSA has chosen to implement the directive by concentrating motorcycle tests at about 60 planned multi-purpose test centres around the UK. Currently there are around 260 motorcycle test centres and the DSA plan, if it had been successful, slashes this number by 80%.
The motorcycle community call has been prompted by the fact that only 39 test centres, nationwide, will be opened ahead of the major changes later this month. There has been rising concern about the DSA’s inability to deliver the promised number of new test sites.
Unless action is taken, there is a real danger that the whole motorcycle test system will fall into chaos, with candidates in many parts of the country unable to secure a motorcycle test. More importantly, the motorcycle industry fears that longer journeys to fewer test centres will bring significant road safety risks. All good advice to novice riders tells them not to undertake long journeys in heavy traffic soon after taking their test, but to build up slowly as they gain experience. Some test candidates could face a journey of 100 miles or more in each direction, coupled with the stress of taking a test.
Craig Carey-Clinch added: The motorcycle industry, MRTA and training organisations are fully supportive of the new test, which should help to produce more competent and safer riders. But we believe that if the new test is introduced in a few weeks as planned, the motorcycle test system is likely to crash and administrative chaos will ensue, discouraging people from taking their riding test, and compromising longer term road safety goals.
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