At last weeks Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting an officer commented that it was good news that sickness absernce figures it had risen to over 9 days a year per employee (average) because this meant that the figures were more accurate. So for the last 3 years and possibly for the near future we still will not know the real sickness absence figures. What we do know though is that the council thinks these figures are OK because “they compare similarly with the other councils in the North East”. I hardly think that a sickness absence rate double the private sector average is anything to be happy with at all. At a cost of perhaps £20m a year or upto £90 per household on council tax.
Then again the mess the council has made of local government reorganisation it doesn’t surprise me that staff may be stressed or ill. Though work colleagues are clearly having to take up more work and not all of the absence can be justified otherwise the rate would be only slightly higher than the private sector.

It is clear to me that there is a core small minority spoiling it for everyone and costing the council a fortune. It is grossly unfair on the rest of the staff who have to pick up this extra workload and is unacceptable to the taxpayer too. We need far better management to tackle those who are abusing the system, and Labour seems either incapable or unwilling to crack down.

A councillor working group has been sent up to look at how to deal with this, and I hope it will result in some serious action, not more talking.

At yesterdays Corporate Issues Scrutiny, one of the Labour councillors tried to blame the coalition government for the atrocious delays in processing benefits claims for housing and council tax in County Durham.

This was a disgraceful attempt to hide the truth of a council in chaos. Three years in to a new authority, and vulnerable people are waiting on average 33 days for a new benefits claim to be processed – that means some are waiting much longer. This is almost entirely down to the failure to sort out the computer systems and the bringing together of the now defunct district councils.

Council officers admit the chaos, and hope to have everything merged onto one system by December,  some Labour councillors, like Councillor Joe Armstrong are living in denial however. They try to blame an increased workload, the reality is complete failure to get to grips with running the Council

Labour councillors would be wise to think how they would feel if after over a month their benefits claims were still not processed and they were threatened with eviction because of council incompetence. Perhaps in a couple of years time some of these councillors will be out of a job for forcing this County Council on us and failing to make it work properly!

The council is consulting licence holders on  proposed changes to tariffs for hackney carriages following the introduction of a single taxi zone for County Durham. The proposals are below:

Dear Licence Holder

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE HACKNEY CARRIAGE TARIFF

On 16 June 2011 Durham County Council’s Corporate Management Team agreed to a proposed harmonisation to the hackney carriage tariff’s to coincide with the introduction of a single zone within the County on 1 September 2011.

This letter, which provides an overview of the potential changes, is to inform you of the proposed single table of fares (tariff’s) and invite you to give your views.

The attached table of fares and copy of the press advert gives an overview of the proposed tariff’s:

Your comments on the proposed amendments to the hackney carriage tariff’s are now invited and you may comment via the following methods:

Completing and returning the enclosed comments sheet

• E-mail licensing@durham.gov.uk

Comments must be received no later than 28 July 2011

Click Hackney Tariffs Pricing proposals

Hackney Tariffs – 2 Legal Notice with prices

Peter Hall (Chair of Abbey Steering group) and I attended a meeting with leisure officers and the Portfolio Holders for Finance (Alan Napier) and Leisure – for this issue (Bob Young) after my request yesterday for a meeting.

This was a constructive meeting with discussions of our bid and the current situation, with frank discussion about how we propose to run the centre, some disagreements but also some agreements.

We still do not know which way the council will decide to go, and though it would not surprise me if a leak found its way out as has happened before, it looks like we will have to wait until the 6th July to see the cabinet report and to find out if the group or any other group are progressing to the next stage.

What I am very clear about and all members of the Steering group are too, is that we are confident the group could successfully run the centre, protecting staff, improving facilities and making it sustainable for the future. Whether the Council agrees – we have to wait and see.

Big thanks to the neighbourhood team for clearing the window high weeds from Pity Me Front Street today. It looks 100% better.

The burnt out dog waste bin on The Carrs, Pity Me will be replaced shortly. I chased up the replacement today and we should see an new bin very quickly thanks to the local neighbourhood warden.

Abbey Steering group was asked last Thursday night to answer specific concerns the County Council had about the bid to take over the leisure centre. The deadline was Tuesday Morning. This morning chair of the group Peter Hall submitted amended information. We have been working for several weeks now to do all we can to get as near a perfect bid together as possible with a lot of work over the weekend, and must now wait to see if the Council feels that they can move forward to the next stage with the group.

There is at least one other organisation still involved in bidding to take over Abbey, though we do not know yet the outcome of their bid. The County Council cabinet report is supposed to be released on the 6th July for the following weeks cabinet. This should be the point at which we know if the Steering group bid has been successful jumping the first hurdles.  I think the council have now been provided with an excellent proposal and a great opportunity to assist in keeping open the centre and protecting the jobs of the centre staff.

The 6th July will be an interesting day as will cabinet on the 13th.

DIVERSION WILL BE IN PLACE

A693 Northlands Roundabout, Chester le Street – Perkinsville

Temporary Road Closure

The County Council intend to close to vehicular traffic, from 10.00pm on Friday 1 July 2011 a 1.9km length of A693 near Drum Industrial Estate between its junctions with A167 Northlands Roundabout, Chester le Street and C5 Ouston Lane, Perkinsville.

The closure, which is being effected by means of Notice under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, is necessary to enable carriageway resurfacing works which will probably take until 6.00am on Monday 4 July 2011 to complete, to be carried out to that length of road.

Throughout the period of closure an alternative route will be available to vehicular traffic from the eastern side of the closure from A167 Northlands Roundabout via B6290 Park Road North to A167, then southerly to Sniperley Roundabout, Durham then north westerly along A691 via Lanchester, north along A6076 Maiden law to Annfield Plain to A693 which leads easterly through Stanley – Perkinsville to the western side of the closure and vice versa.

Emailed one of the directors at County Hall today as I have run out of patience waiting for the council to sort out all the weeds turning our villages into a mess.

Roundabouts and footpaths are a disgrace at the moment. Apears it is because the Council chose to outsource the service this year but somewhere in County Hall it got delayed- I’m told in procurement.

Interestingly other parts of the county are in a better shape!

Some weeds are nearly up to window sills – come on DCC get your act together. It’s nearly July and nothing done.

Take a look at a roundabout next time you are out and see if you can find one where the block paved area is clear of weeds. Perhaps we could have a competition to see who finds one in the Durham City area first.

The council is running a campaign to cut food waste, which I fully support as it saves residents money and cuts the council bill disposing of waste – a no brainer in my view.

Council Press release:

Residents across County Durham are being provided with tips that could save families up to £50 per month this summer by reducing their food waste.

The love food hate waste campaign advises what measures can be made to preserve food and save cash both at home and when travelling on short breaks and holidays.

Durham County Council Strategic Waste Team are supporting the national campaign and encouraging County Durham residents to make a difference and reduce their food waste.

Vicky Bell, waste strategy and policy officer from Durham County Council said:

“Summer food tips from the love food hate waste website will help all of us to turn leftover food we already have into some truly fabulous seasonal dishes. If we all stop wasting food that could have been eaten, the CO2 impact would be the equivalent of taking one in four cars off the road whilst saving us money at the same time.”

In total, 8.3 million tonnes of food waste is thrown away every year and costing the UK   £12 billion.

Tips to save cash through reducing food waste include:

If you have cooked too much for a meal such as fish pie, chilli or lasagne, simply pop it in an airtight container and store in the freezer as a homemade ‘ready meal’ or take with you for an easy first night supper.

If you take some lettuce or salad leaves with you and they’re looking tired and wilted after the journey, put them in a bowl of water with a couple of ice-cubes and they will become nice and crisp again.

Filling sandwiches with tasty and unexpected combinations of leftovers, such as chicken, bacon and mayonnaise, lamb and mint sauce or cheese and coleslaw.

Making leftover potatoes into a tasty potato salad with sliced red or spring onions and mayonnaise – a tasty salad that also travels well.

Make quiches to help use up eggs and spare cream. Add flaked, cooked fish or fry that last rasher of bacon and some onion for classic quiche lorraine; a perfect, simple dish to take away in your cool box for the first meal of a short break or holiday, whether it be for lunch or supper.

Make lollies from leftover smoothies, apple juice or orange juice. You can buy plastic lolly making moulds to use in the freezer.

For more tips, recipes and inspiration for a cost-effective summer home or away, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com