For a preview of the meeting agenda and meeting reports, please click on the following links:

Meeting agenda

Reports:

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It is fair to say that in recent times I have been rather critical of the Council’s approach to covering the work that Scrutiny committees do. I have reflected somewhat on this and perhaps some of my criticism should be reflected on myself too – I am more than happy to blog about Pelsall issues, so why wouldn’t I try to provide more coverage of the work of the Scrutiny committee which I chair?

It strikes me that if we are to increase awareness of the role of Scrutiny in Walsall then a good place to start might be to give some idea of what it is all about; I guess that readers of this blog (if any!) will tend to be individuals that are more active in social media networks so here is a Podnosh blogger’s initial take on Scrutiny. For those even more interested I’d like to suggest the Centre for Public Scrutiny introduction to Scrutiny and it’s Health and Social Care scrutiny page.

Whether we agree with our governance structures, whether we believe them to be more or less democratic, or more or less effective – these are all considerations worthy of debate. But ‘we are where we are’ and we should not, in my view, allow our personal beliefs on these matters to undersell, and implicitly undervalue, a lot of good work that Scrutiny does through administration and opposition ‘backbench’ Councillors and support officers. We should do the best we can with the tools we have.

The Local Government Improvement & Development agency states that:

“The Local Government Act (2000) established that elected members should hold the cabinet and executive of councils to account. In addition, they are to scrutinise the work of other agencies providing local services. Health overview and scrutiny committees have specific powers in holding the NHS to account…

“Within local government, there is currently a clear distinction between the executive’s role and the role of non-executive members. Scrutiny powers extend to considering matters that are not the responsibility of the council. They can include any matters that affect the local area or its inhabitants.

“Council overview and scrutiny committees can now require executive members and officers to answer questions. They are also able to invite people, including users of services, to attend meetings to give their views or submit evidence…”

I often hear comments from cabinet (the executive) and in full Council that “this report has been through Scrutiny”, as if to imply that it has passed a hurdle that somehow gives the report more credibility. Well, yes, it would be fair to assume that, but these things don’t just ‘happen’: reports need to be studied and  issues challenged; often cabinet reports are actually formulated in parallel consultation with the Scrutiny committee (the ‘Overview’ function). This has the benefit of involving a wider membership in the decision making process and reducing the potential for reports being ‘called in’.

As stated, this doesn’t just happen, it involves a lot of work, work that the vast majority of Walsall people will have no idea about. And they won’t know about it unless we tell them… That’s our responsibility.

I am pleased to say that (for the first time) I have been asked about a press release to cover the next Health Scrutiny meeting and I set this out here:

Busy agenda for Walsall’s Health Scrutiny panel

Cancer cases in Alumwell, mortality rates at Walsall Manor Hospital and quality in the borough’s care homes will all be coming under the spotlight next week.

Walsall Council’s Health Scrutiny and Performance Panel will also look at the Liverpool Care Pathway which is recognised as best practice nationally for people who are nearing the end of their lives.

Members will consider how Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust will consult on its proposed transfer to a foundation trust and the outcome of Dudley and Walsall Mental Health NHS Trust’s consultation on its proposed transfer to a foundation trust.

Councillor Marco Longhi, panel chairman, said: “We’ve got a busy agenda that has been shaped by local people.

“At the panel’s last meeting we heard from patients and service users from the Manor Hospital and they had particular concerns over trust status, the Liverpool Care Pathway and cancer rates in Alumwell.

“These issues will be discussed and examined in detail at next week’s meeting and we welcome attendance from members of the public.”

The meeting will be held at Walsall Council House in Lichfield Street on Tuesday 24 January at 6pm.

So, three cheers for the communications team and for whoever decided we should do things differently.

Maybe we shall have fewer ill-informed ‘letters to the editor’ asking “what is the Scrutiny committee doing about this…”.

Having said that, said letters would have more credence and legitimacy if their writers actually came to committee meetings…

It strikes me that if we are to increase awareness of the role of Scrutiny in Walsall then a good place to start might be to give some idea of what it is all about; I guess that readers of this blog (if any!) will tend to be individuals that are more active in social media networks so here is a Podnosh blogger’s initial take on Scrutiny. For those even more interested I’d like to suggest the Centre for Public Scrutiny introduction to Scrutiny and it’s Health and Social Care scrutiny page.

Whether we agree with our governance structures, whether we believe them to be more or less democratic, or more or less effective – these are all considerations worthy of debate. But ‘we are where we are’ and we should not, in my view, allow our personal beliefs on these matters to undersell, and implicitly undervalue, a lot of good work that Scrutiny does through administration and opposition ‘backbench’ Councillors and support officers. We should do the best we can with the tools we have.

The Local Government Improvement & Development agency states that:

“The Local Government Act (2000) established that elected members should hold the cabinet and executive of councils to account. In addition, they are to scrutinise the work of other agencies providing local services. Health overview and scrutiny committees have specific powers in holding the NHS to account…

“Within local government, there is currently a clear distinction between the executive’s role and the role of non-executive members. Scrutiny powers extend to considering matters that are not the responsibility of the council. They can include any matters that affect the local area or its inhabitants.

“Council overview and scrutiny committees can now require executive members and officers to answer questions. They are also able to invite people, including users of services, to attend meetings to give their views or submit evidence…”

I often hear comments from cabinet (the executive) and in full Council that “this report has been through Scrutiny”, as if to imply that it has passed a hurdle that somehow gives the report more credibility. Well, yes, it would be fair to assume that, but these things don’t just ‘happen’: reports need to be studied and  issues challenged; often cabinet reports are actually formulated in parallel consultation with the Scrutiny committee (the ‘Overview’ function). This has the benefit of involving a wider membership in the decision making process and reducing the potential for reports being ‘called in’.

As stated, this doesn’t just happen, it involves a lot of work, work that the vast majority of Walsall people will have no idea about. And they won’t know about it unless we tell them… That’s our responsibility.

I am pleased to say that (for the first time) I have been asked about a press release to cover the next Health Scrutiny meeting and I set this out here:

Busy agenda for Walsall’s Health Scrutiny panel

Cancer cases in Alumwell, mortality rates at Walsall Manor Hospital and quality in the borough’s care homes will all be coming under the spotlight next week.

Walsall Council’s Health Scrutiny and Performance Panel will also look at the Liverpool Care Pathway which is recognised as best practice nationally for people who are nearing the end of their lives.

Members will consider how Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust will consult on its proposed transfer to a foundation trust and the outcome of Dudley and Walsall Mental Health NHS Trust’s consultation on its proposed transfer to a foundation trust.

Councillor Marco Longhi, panel chairman, said: “We’ve got a busy agenda that has been shaped by local people.

“At the panel’s last meeting we heard from patients and service users from the Manor Hospital and they had particular concerns over trust status, the Liverpool Care Pathway and cancer rates in Alumwell.

“These issues will be discussed and examined in detail at next week’s meeting and we welcome attendance from members of the public.”

The meeting will be held at Walsall Council House in Lichfield Street on Tuesday 24 January at 6pm.

So, three cheers for the communications team and for whoever decided we should do things differently.

Maybe we shall have fewer ill-informed ‘letters to the editor’ asking “what is the Scrutiny committee doing about this…”.

Having said that, said letters would have more credence and legitimacy if their writers actually came to committee meetings…

Yesterday I went to inspect the recent change that residents were concerned about over the x-mas period. The Council had temporarily agreed to position a heavily laden skip at the field entrance. This worked well. Over x-mas this was removed and replaced with heavy duty concrete sections – the sort found on motorways/large carriage ways to separate lanes.

Here are some photos:

Concrete sections

Different view of same...

Sections on other side of track...with baths for good measure!

What I am disappointed about is that these concrete sections appear to have been merely placed in situ without any anchoring or even an attempt at bedding them into the ground. I would not be surprised if these are cannot be pushed out the way with the sort of vehicles travellers have. Basic law of physics, something can be heavy, but if friction is low it will move!

If I was disappointed in this, I was even more disappointed in the awful litter found either side of this track. Disgusting. This may be private land, but I do believe we have a duty of care towards pedestrians (right of way) and immediate neighbours. We should clean it up and send the invoice to the landowners. The Law gives us these powers.

Sleeper taking a bath...or two.

Lost for words...

...same here...

I could go on about the illegal tethering of horses and fencing, there again just arranging to have the rubbish removed would be a pleasant surprise if we could do it… – and BILL the LANDOWNERS!

23/08/2011

Well, they are back. What can I say. Words fail, and a good thing too because the ineptitude and selfishness of certain individuals can only solicit words that I would be duly chastised for using.

In brief:

1. Landowner ignores pleas from local residents and the Council  over many years to install a barrier thus allowing travellers onto fields which the Council then has the problem of removing etc

2. Landowner commits to bollards: toothpicks would have done a better job – and he was warned – so travellers remove said toothpicks (imagine the laughs) and pleased themselves again.

3. Landowner arranges block of concrete; again he is warned that it is not substantial enough. More traveller laughs can be heard -today- from miles away while they drag the block out of the way and establish themselves again.

Jackanory comes to mind.

I know, perhaps we could explain the problem with Lego pieces?

Oh, I was forgetting, the Police were in attendance and guess what they did about the whole thing?

13/07/2011

On the 17th May I posted the article below following the eternal saga of travellers occupying a parcel of land accessed at the junction of Pelsall Lane with Walsall Road, Pelsall.

I remarked at how thin the concrete posts were and wondered how long it would be before these would be vandalised, or simply pushed over.

Broken concrete post

A poor excuse for bollards

I rest my case. I guess my phone will soon start ringing with residents complaining about a new traveller encampment.

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I am posting this information out of sheer frustration – and in so doing I acknowledge that I might put myself in the wrong somehow. Nontheless, I do want to make the case as best I can for the many residents that have contacted me over the last couple of years.

Bacground
Traveller groups have encroached on private land to the rear of Walsall Road, Pelsall on numerous occasions following the removal of a barrier that previously existed at the junction of Pelsall Lane with Walsall Road; and, on numerous occasions, the Local Authority has had to send enfocement officers out to serve notice etc (following all the red tape requirements) to move the trevellers on who, invariably, leave mementos of the presence ranging from bagsful of disposable nappies to conifer cuttings to waste material that has had any metal stripped from it that could be weighed in.

What happened
Nearly two years ago the Local Authority had agreed to erecting a barrier following much lobbying from local Cllrs. This was a big step forward because it did seem very complicated, to be fair. Indeed the onus really should be with the landowners (and there are many) to deal with the barrier and with all the problems left behind – and not with the Council (read taxpayer). Clearly though the landowners have been unsympathetic and local Cllrs have taken a ‘wider duty of care’ approach to all the affected residents and championed their cause. But this became a farce as the barrier was never reinstalled and within days of travellers being moved on, they often returned and the merry-go-round started again.

So to huge relief all around the Council installed a skip full of hardcore to act as a temporary barrier – job done, you might think. To everyone’s dismay and trepidation, causing numerous resident’s telephone calls/emails/tweets, the skip was removed 48 hours ago with a very small mound of soil with blocks of concrete left behind: the new barrier! So effective this was that within hours these blocks had been pushed to one side and the mound driven over by unknown people.

Erm... pushed over barrier left behind.

After further protestations I did receive theis email from the Council:

Good Afternoon Councillor,

For your information.

The land owner is arranging a concrete barrier to be installed a.s.a.p.
He will be leaving a 1.2 metre access for the public right of way to the left hand side, I will inform you when the barrier is in place.
The unauthorised have left the area and indicated they would not be returning until the summer.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Oh dear, a.s.a.p.? Two years to install, and then remove a barrier? You’ll forgive my cynicism but I wanted to see for myself so off I went today, camera to hand…

Toothpick bollards

So there we have it. We now have two thin concrete posts, no greater than 4″ square that will no doubt be obstructive to an oversized baby buggy – but will they stop vehicles or indeed a determined traveller armed with van/tipper/4 x 4? I’m not so sure. The proof of the pudding wll be in the eating and we won’t have to wait long as summer is almost upon us.

Photo of toothpick 'bollards' from rear

The management of the Pelsall Commons (and its pools)

Heath end Pool - photo taken May 2009

is a matter that comes under close scrutiny – and rightly so – by people who care about preserving these lovely assets we are so lucky to enjoy so close to home. People travel from other parts of Walsall, and beyond, to come to Pelsall because of our Commons and we should do everything we can to preserve and improve them. This is a view that is strongly shared by my colleagues Cllrs Oliver Bennett and Garry Perry.

While it is the case that many people do what they can to support Pelsall Commons, and indeed officers of the local authority do as well, a special mention should go to the extremely hard working Chairman of the Friends of Pelsall Commons, Maureen Payton.

Maureen published an article in the Village Voice and I am publishing this in full below because, well meaning as local press articles may have been recently, the article is more detailed and informed in a way that small press articles might otherwise be:

OUR SWANS,   BETTER NEWS !

When I wrote the article about the rapidly deteriorating condition of our Pen on Friday August 26th, we really had no idea what had caused her to be so ill. Various suggestions were made but we were clutching at straws. It has not been a particularly good year for local swans for some reason, with fewer cygnets surviving than normal, and we were concerned that there was a chance that other birds were going to be similarly affected. When the Pen and her mate and cygnet arrived at the Sanctuary, she was so weak they did not even want to give her a blood test which would have added to the stress from any vital treatment she required. Jan had looked after 65 swans with lead poisoning this year already so she was pretty sure what the problem was. The cygnet was put with other young birds and the Cob was looked after separately for a few days.

Eventually tests were possible and proved that the Pen was suffering from lead poisoning. All it needed was a small lead weight to lodge in her gizzard and, without the excellent care from Jan and her team, she would have died. Because swans have long necks it means they can graze on the bottom of a pool where smaller birds cannot reach. The lead could have been there for years as fishing is not allowed at Heath End Pool and fishermen elsewhere do not use lead now because of the risks to wild life. After two weeks there were small signs that she might be improving and so the Cygnet and Cob were brought to the stable where “mum” was being nursed and they could be a family again. After three weeks she managed to stand and eventually attempt to fly.

So what next ?  After such a traumatic experience it was not felt the Pen was robust enough to return to Pelsall and it transpires that a family who have a stately home with lake have taken over their care. So, sad for us but best for the swans. You never know, they may come back but in the meantime it is gratifying to know that there are places like the Wychbold Sanctuary who do such an amazing job looking after sick and damaged swans. Several people have sent donations to the Sanctuary already and if you wish to contribute the address is :-  Jan Harrigan,  Wychbold Swan  Rescue, Walk Mills Farm, Wychbold Nr. Droitwich Worcs  WR9 ODH                              ………………Maureen………..Friends of Pelsall Commons

Participants will pay only £5 for 6 weeks lessons, and they will have the use of a free creche as well. This is a fantastic opportunity to perhaps learn, get fit (I certainly need to shed those extra xmas calories!), at a very low cost with free child minding.

The project is being run by Walsall Sport & Leisure Services in partnership with Pelsall Children’s Centre: see here for further details.

Founder member and bass player of Disarm Goliath Steve Surch said ‘Its a great  opportunity for us to play places we have not visited before and try and make some new fans,we are really looking forward to the tour’.

Steve, a resident of Pelsall village is also excited about the new year ahead, he said :

“We are releasing our new album ‘Born To Rule’ early nexty year and we will be doing as many gig’s in 2012 to promote it”.

Over the past seven years Disarm Goliath played many gig’s, had two cds released through indie rock labels and completed two mini tours of the USA. The band are influenced by other Midlands (with Principality origins!) metal bands such as Judas Priest & Black Sabbath.

Anyone who wishes to  find out more info on the band can go to www.disarmgoliath.com

You can find their gig dates on their site as well as the sound tracks to a couple of songs; I’m sure they’d appreciate a ‘like’ for their facebook page if you do like what see/hear.

Their Birmingham gig date 10th December (Route 44).

Development works for the new combined facilities in Pelsall are progressing well.

I have received very few representations from Pelsall people with concerns about the development and these have been resolved expediently by the contractor ISG or the Council. So far so good.

ISG have published a newsletter which I am pleased to circulate: this contains details of a coffee morning on Monday 12th December between 10.30 am and 12.00 pm in The Club Room, Pelsall Community Association, Station Road, Pelsall. Click here to read it.

I hope that people can come along to meet the contractors, ask questions and be part of the building of this great asset that we are so very lucky to have in Pelsall.

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05/07/2011 Update

July 4th, an important day across the pond, and worthy of a film or two. But that’s not the principality (as I like to call Pelsall).

This 4th July, largely unnoticed, marked a significant day in the lives of Pelsall people. It will in-fact go a long way towards improving independence, not from an occupying force (!) but from the obstacles and grip ill-health can have on so many people’s lives, especially the most vulnerable.

Contractors (ISG) finally moved on site erecting ‘Heras’ fencing with plans to soon erect hoardings around the whole site perimetre. I joined my colleague Cllr Bennett to meet site management for the second time in a week to discuss plans. So far ISG have made a good start and they seem keen to maintain a good relationship with ourselves, neighbours and all Pelsall people. So far so good.

Fencing and signage being erected

We have had initial reports of cars parking on the Common/verges. While we cannot be sure whether this is contractor traffic, what is sure is that it will upset a number of people if this continues. If it is contractor traffic, then the recent suggestion by the Chairman of the Friends of Pelsall Commons:

…Could the site manager identify legal parking spaces or apply for planning  permission to fence an area of common for workers’ use only, subject to agreement with Walsall Council and DEFRA. and providing for a sum of money being agreed for restoration work? If we allow unrestricted parking for the workmen we are faced with the problem of other users breaking the law and since the project could take twelve months the issue needs to be tackled in its infancy…

…does seem eminently sensible. Would it be possible for Traffic Management at the LA to consider this and post a reply? It would also be nice to see meaningful progress on the parking issues mentioned in my previous post which resulted in a site meeting with the head of traffic management last friday, well attended by residents and by colleague Cllr Bennett; we await feedback…

ISG MD. Cllr Bennett, ISG Project Manager, Cllr Longhi

ISG have promised to produce a monthly newsletter. Rather than extract and interpret information I thought it might be better to reproduce these in their entirety as I receive them so, here it is: ISG Pelsall newsletter – June 2011

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At last. It seems we are only a short period away from making meaningful progress on site. Today I received this message from Sue Grainger, head of Library Services:

Dear Councillor,

I should like to let you know that ISG have been confirmed as the contractors for the project to build the health centre, library andchildren’s centre in Pelsall.

They will start on site on Monday, 4th July and willbe arranging a coffee morning on Tuesday, 28th June to introduce themselves to residents and to give out their contact details. The venue for the eventwill probably be at Pelsall Community Association in Station Road. You should be receiving aninvitation shortly.

Prior to their formal possession of the site on 4th July. ISG propose to start dropping fencing materials at the existing car parknext Wednesday, 29th June 11.

The following signs will be put up around the car park atthe end of this week:

Car Park Closure

“This car park will close at 5pm on Tuesday 28th June2011 to allow construction of the new Pelsall development to commence. We apologise for anyinconvenience that this may cause.”

It has been a long time in the planning process, but at last the project is about to break ground and building can start.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contactme.

Sue

A huge amount of counsultation has underpinned this project from the outset, and it is paramount that the Local Authority ensures that the feedback we have received from residents is indeed catered for. it is a priority for my colleagues, Oliver and Garry, and myself that we manage the development phase well; a very important part of this means making sure that immediate neighbours’ needs/concerns are met and that service users receive continuity of service where possible.

The LA has done really well in relocating the Library to the former Neighbourhood offices on Norton Road and all credit to the staff who made that happen.

However, we still need to ensure that the agreed neighbours car parking arrangements and noise abatement measures are in place for immediate neighbours to the development.

Fingers crossed, let’s try to make sure that we don’t provide ammunition to those very few whose only ‘raison d’etre’ seems to be to complain.

There will be no rubbish or recycling collection on Monday 26th December 2011.

We will operate  a normal service  on all other days throughout the festive period.

Households in areas affected by the  closure will be able to present additional rubbish and recycling on Monday 2nd January 2012.

• Up to 3 bags of normal rubbish beside their grey bin
• Up to 3 bags of recycling beside their green bin IN CLEAR PLASTIC BAGS ONLY

 Every household will shortly receive a bin collection calendar including details of Christmas arrangements.  There will also be posters placed  in public buildings,  advertisements in the local press and information on our website.

In Pelsall we are going to have the grand total of three grit bins – but we have been promised a separate service (see previous blog here) that relies on support from local businesses on the High Street; I am particularly anxious that this works because we had our very own  ice-rink on the High Street last year and I certainly would not want to see residents risking life and limb again for their shopping.

The Pelsall grit bins will be:

• off Hollands Way
• at roundabout at Leyland Croft
• opposite No 2, Walsall Road

Dear Councillor

Winter is fast approaching and I thought it would be helpful if I explained the arrangements which will be in place for some of our most critical services for householders.

The last two winters have been some of the coldest for a long time and if we have another this year there is bound to be some disruption.  Unless the weather is really severe we should be able to maintain a refuse service at least along the main arterial routes which will be gritted.  In these circumstances we will deploy grounds staff to try and access side streets in smaller vehicles.  In heavy snow inevitably there will be some roads that we are not able to access.  If this happens we will return to collect household waste the following week, and recognising that households may struggle to keep two weeks waste in one bin, we will collect the excess.

The refuse service will be working every day during December except weekends and Monday 26 December.  They will also be working on the New Year Bank Holiday, 2 January.  This will minimise disruption to households.

We will continue to collect brown bins up until Friday 16 December and from then the recycling green bins will be collected weekly.  This will help mitigate any disruption from bad weather.  We will start collecting garden waste again on Monday 13 February (but we could continue the winter arrangements if there is a prolonged period of very cold weather).

We are currently preparing a calendar with information about the refuse service for 2012 including the Christmas arrangements this year.  This will be posted to all householders in early December. We will also be running articles in the local papers to inform residents of revised arrangements over the Christmas period.

In relation to highways we have a full stock of road salt at the new depot.  Our winter service operational plan has now been agreed by cabinet and is on the website.  Here is the link:

www.walsall.gov.uk/index/transport_and_streets/highway_maintenance/winter_service.htm

The full winter service operates from the 1 November to 31 March. Almost  half the Borough’s total length of roads is salted.  Footways and minor roads are not routinely treated, but we do remove snow and ice if possible where we need to carry out road repairs or other maintenance work.

Once a decision has been made to spread salt we will do this along six identified main routes.  These tend to be routes which have high volumes of commercial traffic, or include established bus routes in residential areas, important industrial estate roads and roads used by heavy commuter traffic at peak periods.Our target is to salt all routes within four hours.  We also provide some grit bins adjacent to minor roads and where there are hazardous conditions, for example sharp bends or steep slopes. Our grounds maintenance crews will help clear pedestrian areas in Walsall town centre and the other district centres.

We will do what we can to minimise disruption to householders over the winter period.   The council’s website will be a very useful and up to date source of information on our operational services.  But in addition I will also ensure that councillors are updated as and when we have the first cold spell and if there are any particular issues for individual wards.  If in the meantime you would like any further information on our winter preparations then please get in touch.

I have to say that a more proactive traffic management approach and engagement of local people would have gone a long way towards minimising much of the ill feeling residents have felt towards the local authority, even though it has been Gas Alliance’s works that have been the reason for the works in the first place.

A few moments ago I received an email from a traffic engineer confirming the plan for the reopening of the road. Here it is:

Good afternoon all

I write to inform you that the road closure at Vicarage Road in Pelsall is scheduled to be removed and the road returned to normal use on the morning of Saturday 27 August 2011.  Work to install the new main from Vicarage Close to Coronation Road is now complete and any open excavations have been reinstated. Work will continue in Coronation Road but the through route will be made available.

I must state however that the continuing actions of motorists in persistently moving barriers and ignoring the closure has been a source of great frustration throughout the works.  Not only have their actions been dangerous (both to workforce and pedestrians in driving along the footway) the use of the road before the new road surface is ready may mean that it will fail and require replacement sooner rather than later.  Should this situation arise a further closure of the road will be required with all the inconvenience and extra expense that this brings.

Notwithstanding the above I am sure that you will welcome the news that the road is to re-open on schedule.

Let’s hope it does ‘go to plan’…