A lot of people pop out and start up the car to warm it up in the winter to clear the windows. In Stockton some vehicles have been stolen, so don’t leave your car warming up.
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
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:
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!
Featherstone Road pothole repaired, repaired, repaired, repaired
How many times does Durham County Council repair potholes before realising that perhaps a better job would save money. Well, looking at this bit of Featherstone Road in Newton Hall it would seem that at £30 every time they repair a pothole, several hundred quid might have been spent by our esteemed Labour run council on bog standard fixing jobs at this location.
We were promised that proper jobs would be done to save money. Indeed the Lib Dems in the Coalition Government provided millions of pounds extra to the council to get these kind of repairs done properly.
Let’s see how many more slabs of tarmac are chucked on the road before this one is done properly.
Brothers and Sisters stay together – Can you help with adoption? Call in New College on Thursday
Durham County Council is appealing for brothers and sisters to stay together when they are adopted and are asking people to step forward.
It comes at a time when some ten sibling groups, two or more, are waiting for caring homes in County Durham.
A drop-in session all about adoption is being held at New College, Durham on Thursday 13 November (6pm to 8pm).
The evening has been organised by Durham County Council’s adoption service and key workers will be on-hand as well as adoptive parents who will be able to give their first-hand experience on adopting children and showing just how rewarding it can be.
Wendy Ellis, adoption team manager, Durham County Council, said: “Brothers and sisters often have to wait longer than other children to be adopted so that we can find a family where they can stay together.
“People can be concerned about adopting more than one child, but there is lots of support available to adoptive families to help. If you are thinking about adoption come along to the Information session and meet adoptive families to hear about their experiences.”
The drop-in session comes during National Adoption Week, organised by the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) to raise awareness of adoption and the need for more adoptive families. This year has a special focus encouraging people to adopt brothers and sisters so that they can live together.
Andrea adopted two sons more than ten years ago. She said: “Our lives and that of our extended family have been totally transformed by the addition of our sons. The boys were seven and five years when they first come to live with us and they always say this is their family. It’s lovely to hear my younger son remind me that I am the ‘best mam he’s ever had’. I’m so proud of the boys they have both left school with good exam results and are excited to be planning their futures at college and in the army.
Continues
“When people ask me about adoption we all say that having the two boys has been one of the best decisions we ever made. Anyone considering adoption should consider brothers and sisters. It is so rewarding to see them grow up together as part of a family.”
The adoption service can be contacted on 03000 269400, emailing adoption@durham.gov.uk or going to www.durham.gov.uk/adoption
The Avenue footpath repair isn’t the final job…but what is?
A rather odd and unsatisfactory repair to part of the footpath on the Avenue in Pity Me is just a top coating.
The area is going to get properly repaired later in the week. However what is less clear is just how much of these pavements are going to be repaired.
Earlier in the year I was refused for the fifth year running action to repair the dreadful state of footpaths on The Avenue, Hartside View and Hudspeth Crescent. Then we decided to use local funding to pay for the resurfacing because it was clear to us that it was dangerous and we simply could’t accept it looking so bad for much longer. At which point the council told us they could’t do it until next year even if we paid for it.
Now it seems perhaps a wee bit is going to be done. I have asked for clarification as to what is being done and will report back. Perhaps all our pressure is paying off at last.