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Notts Cuts Watch #6

anon@indymedia.org (Concerned of Notts) | 21.11.2010 20:23

An (incomplete) overview of how the age of austerity has affected Nottingham and Notinghamshire over the last week or so. This is largely culled from various local media outlets, so apologies for some of the dodgy analysis.

Campaigning

1) HUNDREDS of protesters marched from The Forest recreation ground to the city centre on Saturday to demonstrate against cuts to public services.

The Save Our Services Campaign organised the march from The Forest to Old Market Square.

Traffic including, bus services, came to a standstill on Mansfield Road around lunch time.

Protesters included union members, service users and parents and children at the Gedling School, which is threatened with closure.

Demonstrators had placards calling for Notts County Council and Nottingham City Council to protect public services.

The gathered at Speaker’s Corner after the march.

Hundreds demonstrate against cuts to public services in city centre, Nottingham Post

2) THE Tory headquarters in Nottingham have been vandalised for the second time in a week in protest at Government cuts and “in solidarity” with the Millbank riots.

Police received a report of smashed windows and graffiti at the HQ in King Edward Court, in the city centre, at 4.40am yesterday.

The words, “Tory Scum” and “Fight the Cuts” were written across the wall and two windows were smashed. Police have confirmed a similar incident occurred a week earlier on Thursday, November 11.

Tory headquarters in Nottingham strewn with graffiti and windows smashed, Nottingham Post
Smashed Windows & Graffiti @ Conservative Offices, Nottingham Indymedia
Tory offices in Nottingham smashed, Nottingham Indymedia

Economy

UNEMPLOYMENT in the East Midlands increased by 12,000 between July and September, new figures have revealed.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that a total of 182,000 people were unemployed in the region during the period.

This was a 7.1 per cent rise from the previous quarter, with the region’s unemployment rate reaching 8 per cent, figures showed.

Countrywide, unemployment fell by 9,000 between July and September, but the number of people working part-time, as they could not find a full-time job, was at a record high.

ONS surveys people about their employment status. Their figures record the number of people who consider themselves unemployed.

In Nottingham, the number of people claiming jobseekers’ allowance – a different measure – reached 11,500 people in October, 5.3% of the population. In Notts, the claimant count was more than 14,000, or 2.8%.

Unemployment rises in East Midlands as it falls nationally, Nottingam Post

Education

1) It is hoped proposals to bring together South Nottingham College and Castle College will pave the way for a new city-wide further education federation.

Nottingham City Council wants the combined college to forge a new working link with New College Nottingham if the merger goes ahead next spring.

A public consultation is due to take place over whether Castle College should become part of South Nottingham College from April 1 next year.

The city council will outline its views towards the proposal during an Executive Board meeting today.

A report due to go before councillors recommends they support the merger.

The board of Castle College voted in principle to merge earlier this year in light of a £6 million deficit.

Support for the plan is needed from the Skills Funding Agency.

It will also require the approval of the Secretary of State for Education, with a decision expected in the new year.

Council calls for college merger to lead to city-wide link, Nottingham Post

2) More than 500 pupils were off for two days because of the state their school is in, as a Government minister prepares to visit and address the lack of investment in local schools.

Pupils in years seven to nine at the Grove, Balderton, were sent home on Thursday and Friday because a leaking roof and broken boiler meant a large part of the school could not be used.

Changing rooms have also been out of action because of problems with the roof.

One parent is so concerned he has written directly to the Prime Minister.

The latest problems have added weight to calls for desperately needed investment ahead of Tuesday’s visit by schools minister Lord Hill to the Grove, Orchard and Magnus schools.

All three were promised millions under the Building Schools For The Future scheme, which was scrapped in the summer.

Pupils out in the cold, Newark Advertiser

Gedling Borough Council

PLANS to close public toilets across Gedling have sparked anger among residents and politicians.

Gedling Borough Council wants to close seven of its 12 public toilets in a bid to save £69,500 a year.

It is hoping to let the public use toilets in nearby private businesses.

Toilets that could be closed are those in Front Street, Arnold, Milton Drive, Ravenshead, St Wilfrid’s Square, Calverton, Haywood Road North car park, Mapperley, Albert Avenue, Carlton, Morris Street, Netherfield, and Church Street, Burton Joyce.

Toilet closure proposals in Gedling borough spark anger, Nottingham Post

Health

PEOPLE power is gaining momentum for a group which is campaigning to save vital services at Bassetlaw Hospital.

Over 200 people have joined the Save Our Services (SOS), set up to safeguard A&E, maternity and children’s services which are currently under review by NHS Bassetlaw and Doncaster.

Group spokesman Adele Mumby said people are concerned the proposals will reduce Bassetlaw to a “cottage hospital” with a range of GP services.

“We are all for new services but not at the cost of what’s already in place,” she said.

“We all want the best healthcare, but not when it means taking away perfectly-well run services we already have.”

The group say they are particularly concerned about a suggestion Bassetlaw Hospital’s capacity could be reduced by half to accomodate GPs.

Minutes obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from a meeting held in June this year show the suggestion to ship GPs in to the hospital could “offer a solution” to the Kilton Hill premises issue.

Save our services say patient group, Worksop Guardian

Leisure

The future of the Grove site at Balderton continues to be debated as councils seek money to upgrade or replace aging facilities.
While campaigners fight for a new Grove School the future of the neighbouring leisure centre, used by pupils, remains uncertain.

It was planned to replace the leisure centre at the same time the Grove was rebuilt as part of the Building Schools For The Future programme.

However, cuts by the new Government meant the Grove rebuild was shelved, although parents hope to persuade Coalition ministers to reinstate the scheme as the fabric of the Grove school buildings are the worst in Nottinghamshire.

Both the school and leisure centre sites are owned by the county council, which runs the school.

However, Newark and Sherwood District Council is responsible for leisure provision and runs the leisure centre.

Leisure talks continue, Newark Advertiser

Nottingham City Council

1) PLANS to close a city centre domestic violence refuge could put the lives of more women and children at risk, Nottingham City Council has been warned.

More than 400 women are referred to refuges in Nottingham every year.

But if plans to close the Central refuge go ahead, the cost-saving cuts would reduce the city’s capacity by almost one fifth.

It means some women in urgent need of safety from an abusive partner will have nowhere to turn.

A council scrutiny group set up to consider proposals to close the refuge has criticised the authority’s decision.

In order to save £245,800 from domestic violence services, the council is closing two more refuges in December, and replacing them with a new one. If Central also closes, the number of self-contained flats or rooms for women and children will drop from 39 to 31.

Plans to close domestic violence refuge ‘could risk lives’, Nottingham Post

2) ADULT day centre charges are going up by 75 per cent – only weeks after Nottingham City Council introduced a £2 charge.

Under the latest plans, it will cost people £3.50 to visit any of the city’s 15 day care centres, which were free earlier this year.

The council is also planning to increase the charge for transport from £2.60 to £4 for a return journey, meals at home from £2.60 to £3, and home care from £9.20 to £11.50 an hour.

The maximum charge of £81 per week for home care will also be scrapped, which could leave some residents with much higher bills.

Nottingham City Council plans to put up day care and transport costs, Nottingham Post

Nottinghamshire County Council

CASH-STRAPPED council bosses have suggested sharing their chief executive with the police authority to save money.

County Hall has approached Notts Police Authority about whether Mick Burrows could run both organisations.

Notts County Council is seeking to make £150 million of cuts over the next three years and sharing the costs of the chief executive’s salary would save it £52,000 a year.

Mr Burrows said he would be happy to take on both roles in order to save money.

He said: "The police authority is based at County Hall and is currently looking to fill its chief executive post.

“It is an opportune moment to share the role of chief executive. We are looking at all options at Notts County Council.”

The job-share offer was one of the proposals which members voted to accept at a full council last month.

The council has now written to the police authority and is waiting to hear its thoughts.

County council could share its chief executive with police authority to save cash, Nottingham Post


anon@indymedia.org (Concerned of Notts)
- http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/686

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