Concerns are being raised by local Liberal Democrat, Vic D’Albert about the state of the Councils housing policy following revelations about a young Prestwich mother desperate to find a new home.

Young mother of 2, Sonya Hardy of Heaton Street, Prestwich has been on the Council’s housing list for 2 and ½ years and is now approaching her twelfth month facing eviction.

Cllr D’Albert said, “This is an appalling situation. This young lady and her family are facing an increasingly intolerable situation with endless uncertainty and stress. I was approached last September by the family and immediately took up what appeared to be a basic problem initially caused by staff shortages. I have become increasingly frustrated by this situation but that pales into insignificance compared to the frustration faced by Sonya. The situation is now looking increasingly more like maladministration and a failing service rather than more mundane staffing issues and I am beginning to wonder how many other people find themselves in this situation. One thing is for sure this is no way to treat vulnerable local residents.”

Sonya’s family have provided crucial support over the last 2 and ½ years for Sonya who suffers from depression, and her two young children. Mother Christine, commented, “If Bury Council cannot care for it’s own community and especially those who have lived here all their lives (my daughter is 25 and has never lived anywhere else), how on earth are they going to care for all the Asylum Seekers and Refugees that they say they will take. They are failing local people.”

Since a possession notice was served by her landlord, Sonya has applied for a string of local council properties to no avail – there appears to be too few houses or too many applicants.

Vic D’Albert added, “I am now convinced that something is going wrong with Bury’s Housing strategy when they clearly fail to provide a satisfactory, efficient service for young people like Sonya who are eligible for re-housing and meet all relevant criteria, Sonya and others like her are being failed and we need to know why. I have as a result of this issue written to Bury Councils Chief Executive calling for an enquiry into this whole issue and will be demanding a speedy response by the Council‘s housing department.

Tonight I attended Bury’s service to remember the victims of the holocaust and subsequent victims of genocide, ethnic cleansing, race hate and discrimination in all its forms. Alongside the Rembrance day Service on November 11th, I feel it’s my duty to attend such events as this as a local councillor - essentially on behalf of the 9000+ local residents I have been elected to represent, many of whom are jewish or whose families may have fled persecution at one time in their past. And so I joined the Mayor of Bury, Party leaders, Chief Officers, Faith leaders - representing Muslim, Christian as well as Jewish faiths and about 200 local people including holocaust survivors.

All present were presented with a very moving collection of readings and holocaust accounts and performances of dance,  music and images all knitted together to create a moving reminder and remembrance of the horrors perpetrated and the lessons we must learn to ensure that a holocaust is never repeated and that we need to ensure that no future government can be aloud to pepetrate such policies and genocide, ethnic cleansing and race hate.  Very very moving - a powerful reminder. I wish more could attend.

Last night I attended 2 important community events.

First of all I attended the Play Area consultation event at Heaton Park school on Cuckoo Lane.

Following the identification of funds to provide additional facilities for local children it is hoped that some suitable play facilities can be provided on the school site (across the front of the school) along Cuckoo lane.

Many residents have expressed deep concerns following years of vandalism, nuisance and dodgy goings-on on the school field!

As an immediate consequence of consultation to date the plan for a “teenage” ball zone have now been dropped  and following last nights even officers are revising plans to take into account residents concerns.

Polefield Tenants & Residents

Following the school consultation I attended a meeting of Polefield Tenants & Residents Association. Plans are now being progressed to recruit more helpers and volunteers to enable the TRA to be more effective in highlighting and dealing with local issues.

Local councillors fully support the TRA and Six Town Housing Officers involved and are looking to support a special social event being planned for March - so watch this space!

Meanwhile if you are a tenant, live on the estate and would like to help, please get in touch.   

Following my Governors meeting I joined the FPFP meeting , which was conveniently being held in another room of the same pub!

Although because of my previous meeting I missed the first half of this meeting, I can report that a number of repairs and maintenance issues were raised regarding various aspects of the park.

In addition re-organisation of the Park Ranger service was discussed with concerns raised about possible implications for Prestwich Parks in general and the Forest Park specifically.

Progress was highlighted on preparatory work towards obtaining Heritage Lottery funding for the Church yard/cemetary conservation project. St.Mary’s church and churchyard really is a local treasure.  As an aside it was pointed out that St.Mary’s church is now attracting tourists from far and wide in its alter ego as “Wetherfield Parish Church”.

In a bid to crackdown on illegal quad bikes and scramblers new warning signs are to be erected at all access points. These will effectively serve as bikers’ first warning and then enable the police to confiscate bikes immediately. Currently the Police have to issue a first warning and then hope to catch them again. This new strategy has apparently been very effective elsewhere.

I attended the Governors meeting last night at the Church Inn.  Following the recent Ofsted Inspection that removed the school from Special Measures  the mood was still very upbeat and good spirited. Congratulations again to Mr Fish and all the staff for the way they pulled together and got stuck into the tasks facing them. Clearly there was also a determination last night that the school should now maintain its good recent progress.

The Governers received a number of reports. Notably thieves recently stole roofing lead from school. A new alarm is to be fitted to the school.

Following a meeting with the School Advisor new and more challenging Maths and English targets are to be set .

The school holiday patter for 2008/9 was also confirmed. There were no reported incidents of racial harrassment or health and safety incidents.

Parents who wish to see full copies of the Governing Body minutes and reports should contact the school secretary.

The next Governing body meeting is on March 12th.

At 7.00pm last night  - 30 minutes into the meeting I made the rash comment that “at this rate we will have finished by 7.30″. The meeting finished at 9.15! However what led to that late finish was a number of important issues raised by residents :

• HEATON PARK SCHOOL PLAY FACILITIES - A number of residents attended to raise their concerns about proposals for 3 small play areas across the front of the school. Main concerns were about supervision, potential crime and vandalism, noise nuisance and damage to property.A drop-in consultation event is being held on Wednesday January 23rd from 3.30pm to 7.00pm to gather views and concerns from local residents and to more fully inform residents about proposals.   
• HIGHFIELD ROAD TRAFFIC ISSUES - The Area partnership learned that a report into traffic problems has now been completed. It was agreed that we should now proceed to meet with residents and Officers to discuss the report and the way forward.
• WHITTAKER LANE - A local businessman attended to raise concerns about parking, traffic enforcement and other issues at the shops end of Whittaker Lane. It was agreed that councillors should meet businesses to discuss solutions to problems and the AP would deal with minor issues immediately.
• THE STATE OF THE PRECINCT AND STREETS - A resident attended to complain about the state of the precinct paving and generally the dirty pavements around the town centre. We agreed to press the council to carry out a promised “deep clean” of the precinct.
• TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION - My colleague, Cllr O’Hanlon updated the meeting about progress. Consultants (URBED) have now been appointed and a “walk-about” has been carried out. They are now well into investigating options and ideas and have started consulting. They hope to make a presentation to the next Area Partnership and then go out to public consultation during the summer. 
• RAINSOUGH SHOPS - My colleague, Cllr Ann Garner updated the meeting with progress in getting these derelict shops refurbished. A meeting has now taken place with Salford and Bury Councils and the matter is now being addressed.
• We also received presentations from the NHS Primary Care Trust , local Police,  Fire and the leader of the Council accompanied by the Director of Finance outlined options for this years council budget - which include a potential 5% council tax rise and £5 million cuts!

Now I know why the meeting went on and on! All in all a very packed meeting albeit with (as usual) some frustrating issues that are unfortunately difficult for the Partnership to address speedily and some worried residents. The next meeting of the Area Partnership will be on March 4th, Sedgley Park School from 6.30pm. All Welcome!

The next meeting of Prestwich Area Partnership is tomorrow, tuesday 15th January at St.Monica’s RC High School on Bury Old Road (opposite Heaton Park).
The meeting starts at 6.30pm with the Public open Forum commencing about 7.30pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the whole meeting and raise questions and issues in the second half commencing 7.30pm.

If you are unable to attend the meeting but need to raise an important issue please don’r hesitate to contact your local councillors. That’s what we’re here for!

Bury Councils ‘Age of Opportunities’ initiative is one year old and in celebration of the successful first year of this Initiative (supported by all parties), Bury Council have organised a One Year on event on…

Date: Wednesday 13th February 2008
Time: Drop in between 11am-7pm
Venue: The Elizabethan Suite, Bury Town Hall

This is an event to celebrate being 50+ and promote all of the activities and opportunities that are currently available to people aged 50+ living in Bury. It is also an opportunity for you to find out what we have been doing and influence our plans for the future.

There will be various activities taking place throughout the day. There will be lots of information, freebies and refreshments available so please come along!!

For more information please contact:
Christine Maksymowski, Bury Adult Care Services
Tel: 0161 253 6587
E-mail c.maksymowski@bury.gov.uk

I look forward to seeing you there.

Key items to report back on from last nights meeting are:

MIDWIFE LED UNITS
Members were briefed on a feasability study under way into the creation of Midwife led maternity Units. NHS Trust Officers confirmed that the outcome of the feasabilty study would be brought back to the next meeting and that if proposals get the go ahead there would be a public consultation exercise during the summer.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCY TO MANAGE HOME ADAPTATIONS
I had real problems with this report despite supporting the creation of such an agency- which is much needed. The Council wish to give the contract for this service to Six Town Housing. There was no case made (as far as I can see) for Six Town Housing to get the contract – and the Council don’t see the need to go out to tender. I told the committee that it all “smacks of deals being done”. I was assured that this wasn’t the case. In my opinion the report was inadequate to the extent that there was too much missing information – for instance no details of the contract to be offered, no details of targets and no details of the budget! I proposed that the matter be deferred pending the provision of appropriate information. This was supported by the committee.

HOME CARE REORGANISATION
This was a good news report. We received a presentation on changes to Home care provision. As a result of a review the department are now focusing on providing more flexible integrated services in an attempt to better meet needs and expectations. Changes already implemented have save significant funds which have been ploughed back into services. They now offer extended cover and can spend longer on site and all in all seem to be developing a more user led service.

IMPLEMENTING THE AGE OF OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVE
This initiative , supported by all parties is now 8 months into a 3 year commitment. The aim is to develop projects and services that offer a “little bit of help” to the over 50’s as required. Promoting independence, health and well-being. Dozens of projects have been set up and are clearly having a beneficial impact. I raised the issue that the council needs to start looking shortly about how this success story can be maintained after its initial 3 year stint and that the management of the initiative will need to move towards monitoring the sustainability and on-going success of projects , especially if (as is planned) they are handed over to voluntary organizations and charities to run in the future.

MODERNISATION OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR OLDER PEOPLE
We were due to receive a report on proposals but the item was withdrawn on the night!

The meeting started at 7pm and finished at 9.55pm

Thursday, January 10th - Healthier Communities Scrutiny Committee (Bury Town Hall)
Wednesday, January 9th - Bury Council Executive Meeting (Cllr Pickstone reps Lib Dems)
Tuesday, January 15th - Prestwich Area Partnership (St.Monica’s RC High School)
Tuesday, January 22nd - Planning Committee (Lib Dems - Cllr Davison and Cllr O’Hanlon)
Wednesday, January 23rd - Heaton Park School Ballzone and play facilities consultation event.
Wednesday, January 23rd - Bury Council Executive Meeting (Cllr Pickstone reps Lib Dems)

Monday, January 28th - Holocaust Memorial Service
Wednesday, January 30th - Simister Village Community Association