This is a review of some things that have happened recently or are happening now, at the “turning of the year” (hence the image).
In the late autumn I visited two children’s homes as I am on a related committee. The first was a home for a teenager who couldn’t live with their parents. As I walked in, I initially felt uncomfortable as the place was spotless: it felt like a show home and I couldn’t really understand how someone could live there. But then I saw the pet rabbits in the shed, and learnt that they belonged to the resident and were allowed in the house, and then I knew this was simply a young person being cared for really well – staff taking pride in their surroundings for them. I am so grateful we have staff in Nottinghamshire looking after our young people like this.
Shortly afterwards I visited a secure childrens home. Obviously this was more institutional but again it was very clean and tidy with lots of staff very focused on helping young people develop and prepare for life, often in adult prisons sadly. I saw some truly amazing artwork, and there was some music being made which not surprisingly I was less able to appreciate! (Funny that art is ageless but music is less so- for me anyway).
In November I substituted on Health Scrutiny Committee which is one of the most interesting committees as I feel that I am actually contributing to getting something done. There was quite a heated debate between councillors and staff on how to reach people. There is a move in health care to move things into the community and make sure ‘hard to reach’ communities are properly served.
There was an argument over whether endometriosis services should be advertised on the wall in doctors surgeries- the staff member knew this wouldn’t reach people who weren’t engaged and so was not that keen on doing it. I must say I was on the side of the other councillors who thought this was a missed opportunity. I’m all for making sure health care is for all and doesn’t end up being provided on the basis of “if you don’t ask you don’t get”. But on the other hand it seems a bit daft not to make use of the free walls in doctors’ surgeries.
Full council for both Nottinghamshire and Rushcliffe were on the same day. Sadly at Nottinghamshire the new Council Plan has no direct comments on climate change, despite the fact that Nottinghamshire is so prone to flooding. It all also a bit “motherhood and apple pie” without many hard measurable goals.
We discussed Local Government Reorganization again, and the Council approved the scheme that puts Rushcliffe with the north of the county, probably led from Ashfield or Mansfield. This will lead to West Bridgford being the only urban area in an otherwise rural authority, which as I have said before, I think will end up being very bad news for West Bridgford.
The same vote was taken at Rushcliffe. I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry as I realised more and more people on all sides of the chamber were starting to agree with my position, which is there should be a single Nottinghamshire (i.e. the City is subsumed into the County)- like it has been since 1066. Sadly it is probably too late for that now.
Since then it has been an eventful Christmas.
The number 11 bus is being reduced in frequency from 11th January which is a shock to the people of Lady Bay who rely on it. This has brought to light many issues with the buses, and I will be doing a separate post on this shortly.
Meanwhile Forest have put in yet another planning application to Rushcliffe… yet another one but it needs our full attention, and we have arrange a meeting for interested councillors (cross party) to discuss this this week.
These last two issues are a clear example of why we need to be close to the City: both involve people on both sides of the Trent, and neither can be resolved by one council alone. We have taken the initiative and have started meeting with the City Councillors occasionally so we can work together to lobby relevant groups and raise awareness of our issues.
The Labour Party in Rushcliffe 