Coop Bank Stress Failure

The Coop Bank has failed the Bank of England Stress test. Now that doesn’t mean we all need to run for cover, as residential customers are protected to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds in the event of a problem and it is highly unlikely that there will be a problem for the bank.

HOWEVER I raised a question about this on the 3rd December at a full Council meeting over my concerns that the newly formed Durham Housing Group  will have to use the CoOp. And for that matter that the council uses the CoOp for daily transactions.

I was told that concerns over the bank failing the test were not founded and a I shouldn’t be concerned because the Council only has money in the accounts of the CoOp during the day, and not overnight. Fingers crossed it doesn’t have a problem during the day then.

 

How hard is it to move a fridge? Harder than moving a horse apparently!

A resident contacted me this week to say that there was a fridge in the River Wear at Clements Wharf.

They had contacted the Council who had then referred it to the Environment Agency, who said that they would not attend to it unless it was causing flooding.

As the resident said “So much for civic pride”

So I forwarded the residents’ email to our Director of Neighbourhood Services and Head of Service to see if they could find a solution, and they are now going back to the Environment Agency to find out what can be done because the Council doesn’t own a boat.

Interestingly the Environment Agency helped out last year to remove…….a horse.

 

UPDATE:

Following pressure from the Council’s neighbourhood department, the fridge has been removed – a lesson in common sense learnt by the Environment Agency!

 

Part success on 20 mph zones – but Labour proposals woefully inadequate

Next week Durham County Council’s cabinet will discuss introducing 20 mph zones outside 33 schools in the County. We have over 200 schools in County Durham, and what they are proposing is woefully inadequate.

We have been calling for 20mph zones on residential streets and outside schools for years, and I am quite frankly disgusted with Labour’s plans. They are implementing an apartheid system of safety for school children in County Durham.

Their proposals are going to take at least 3 years to implement because they are not putting in enough resource even for the 33 schools they propose. Indeed even if they amended their policy to do all schools, it would take 20 years to complete the job just for schools.

I find the whole approach distasteful. In the Durham City area, only one school out of dozens will see the 20mph introduced. This is simply unacceptable and as Lib Dem councillors we will be campaigning for equality for all children in County Durham.

One way or another we will get safer streets in our area.

 

 

Living Wage for staff confirmed

At full council today it was confirmed that our campaign to make sure that staff get paid a decent wage has been rubber stamped. 2500 staff in schools and working for the council will get paid a minimum of £7.43 an hour.  For some staff this is a significant pay rise. As Lib Dem councillors we are very proud of the work we have put in to achieve this and now want to push to ensure that as many employers in the County sign up to the local living wage.

Dog Fouling hits a brickwall – time to call up reserves

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

For months, we have been trying to crackdown on dog fouling in the area.

However, one particular canine reprobate has been running rings around the council.

It might not seem such a big issue to some, but if a child happens to come into contact with dog mess, it can have serious health implications.

Unfortunately unless we have photographic evidence at the actual moment of a stray dog visiting the men’s room or manage to actually catch it and record it as being stray, we can’t fine the owner or get the issue sorted.

So it is time to call for help from the wider community. If you live in Pity Me and spot the dog in the picture or any other stray dog, particularly if you spot it doing its mess, please photograph it in the act.

Although this one doesn’t look like the kind of pooch that would bit your arm off, please don’t try to catch it or any other dog as we don’t want anyone getting injured.

 

Nearly 70 jobs at Council and Schools – If you can find the link

Every now and then I go and check out the jobs advertised at the Council, which also advertises school jobs in the County. Right now there appear to be 68 positions. Finding the link is not so easy so I have asked for us to promote it better on the website – in the meantime here is the link:

http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/4428/Current-job-vacancies-and-apprenticeships

The youth worker job dated 08/05/2014 is no longer available.

Update: The council has responded saying that on checking how people visit the site it doesn’t matter that its difficult to find the page as most people bookmark the page or find it in other ways. That’s me told then!

Free Parking after 3pm in Durham City in December

You can park for free after 3pm in Durham City in December on-street and in Durham Council car parks. This is to help promote businesses in the City centre – this comes after your Lib Dem councillors pushed in previous years for action to promote our city centre businesses.

This will include other council owned car parks in the county too.  And on Saturday 6th December (Small business day) parking will be free all day in Durham City. Last year we challenged the council to do more to promote Small Business Day. This year they have listened.

2500 Staff get Living Wage as Labour Council caves in to Lib Dem pressure

I am delighted to be able to confirm that 2500 staff in our schools and council offices will now get paid a minimum of £7.43 an hour. A LOCAL LIVING WAGE.

We have been challenging the Council on this for two years and in July I tried to force this through the Council but Labour refused. Now they have caved in and many staff who were earning the minimum wage will now be paid a local living wage – a fantastic success which we hope will open the floodgates to other employers in the county paying their staff more.

I am convinced that this will more than pay for itself in higher moral and productivity as well as better living standards.

Just goes to show that as councillors now and then we really do make a profound difference to our local residents. Here’s the Northern Echo report on this:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11612563.Thousands_to_benefit_from_Durham_s__local_living_wage_/?ref=rss

Now we carry on the battle to make sure that this increases each year, and seek to challenge other employers to do the same.

Good day to check the drains or go to M&S

If it does happen to stop raining today. Please check any pavement or road drains outside your house and if the water isn’t going down a while after it has stopped raining either report it to hal@durham.gov.uk or send me an email.

I have today reported the flooded mini roundabout inside the Arnison centre and blocked channel drains which are soaking people’s feet in part of the parking area just outside the M&S store – which incidentally has a pretty good offer on for the next few days with 25% off vouchers when you spend £20 or more!