Wednesday, March 18th, 2015
Daniel Dalton, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands, has criticised attempts to create an EU army by stealth.
After Jean Claude Juncker’s call for a European Army, the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee has produced an opinion calling for the European Commission to publish its delayed Green Paper on control of defence assets, alongside its 2014 Roadmap ‘Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector’.
The Roadmap states that a “European approach” to defence procurement is needed to “ensure an appropriate level of European autonomy in defence and security”. There are strong fears following Mr Juncker’s comments that with the Roadmap and Green Paper, which remains shrouded in secrecy, the European Commission is seeking to gain control over member states security and military assets.
Speaking in the European Parliament Mr Dalton said, “Conservative MEPs will not tolerate any attempt to creep towards a European army by stealth, defence should remain entirely under the control of national governments.
“The UK’s independent defence capability is not up for negotiation, if defence spending in the rest of Europe is not at the same level as in Britain then other member states need to spend more, not seek to exploit the UK’s resources for their own ends.
“Jean Claude Juncker may talk about wanting his own private army, but Conservative MEPs will fight to ensure this dangerous proposal never becomes reality.”
Saturday, March 14th, 2015
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, this week met with Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) head, Rita Symons, to discuss ways to improve local healthcare.
The CCG for South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsular represents GPs and primary care provision in Tamworth and commissions patient services, including operations, in local hospitals.
Mr Pincher made clear his support for services at the Sir Robert Peel hospital, including day case theatre work, and the importance of conducting a full analysis of the theatre’s utilization – and potential for greater utilization.
He said, “We need to get more and new services provided at Sir Robert Peel and in Tamworth to ensure that more of the funding provided to our CCG is spent within out area rather than “over the border” in Birmingham. I have pressed HEFT, which runs Good Hope, and Burton Trust, which runs Sir Robert Peel, to work much more closely to ensure local services are the best for local patients. I continue to support day case surgery at Sir Robert Peel.
“I also would like to see enhanced urgent care facilities provided from Tamworth which currently only operate out of hours. I believe the CCG agrees and I will continue to make these points on behalf of local residents to the Burton Trust and to ministers. I think such services will improve patient care, as well as patient choice, in Tamworth and Fazeley.”
Friday, March 6th, 2015
Drivers will get 10 minutes’ grace before being fined if they stay too long in council-owned car parks in England, the Conservative led Government has announced.
The new leeway, expected to take effect later this month, will apply to free and paid-for parking spaces both on streets and in off-street car parks. It is one of several changes, which include new restrictions on the use of CCTV cars issuing automatic fines.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles MP said he wanted to end the “war on drivers”.
The changes include:
- guidance for councils banning them from “using parking to generate profit”
- a right for residents and businesses to demand, by a petition, that a council “reviews parking in their area”
- new powers for parking adjudicators so they can “hold councils to account”
- protection to stop drivers being fined after parking at out-of-order meters
- a ban on the use of CCTV “spy cars” except in no-parking areas such as bus lanes and near schools
Mr Pickles said, “We are ending the war on drivers who simply want to go about their daily business. For too long parking rules have made law-abiding motorists feel like criminals, and caused enormous damage to shops and businesses.
“Over-zealous parking enforcement undermines our town centres and costs councils more in the long term. Our measures not only bring big benefits for high streets, motorists and local authorities – they put common sense back into parking.”
The changes come from new laws, guidance to councils and use of a statutory instrument, through which ministers can make rules without an act of Parliament.
Friday, March 6th, 2015
-
-
Customer Access Survey front
-
-
Customer Access Survey back
Conservative Controlled Tamworth Borough Council is asking its customers how they contact the authority, how their needs are changing and what can be done to make customer service even better.
To find out more about the way customers and potential customers communicate, the authority will be sending out a short survey, along with the annual Council Tax bill, to each of the borough’s 32,000 households.
Every home in Tamworth will receive a card inviting them to go online and complete the short survey, which asks questions about how customers currently contact the council, how they would prefer to make contact and what methods they would use if they were available.
Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw and could be in with the chance of winning a TV.
The survey is part of a long-term project to change and improve the way that Tamworth Borough Council delivers its services, to meet the changing needs of its customers. A new customer services strategy has been written which sets out a three-year plan for how the authority aims to develop and shape customer services.
During the next 12 months, customers will be given much more choice about how they contact the council through new channels; including new and improved online access, web chat facilities, check-in by mobile phone and self-serve at Marmion House reception.
Customers will soon be able to report issues and contact Tamworth Borough Council by:
- A new mobile app which will allow residents to complete Council Tax processes, report missed bin collections and make payments
- An improved website allowing customers to interact with the council without having to come into Marmion House or ring in. If help is needed to navigate around the site, then it will be available via a new web chat service
In the near future, there will also be changes made to the service customers receive when they come into Marmion House, with customers able to make and manage their appointments through the website.
The changes to the way customer services are delivered will have a number of benefits to customers, including a more consistent service, which is much more convenient for customers to use.
Cllr Robert Pritchard, Tamworth Borough Council Deputy Leader, said, “The way that our customers want to communicate with us and access our services is changing, and we need to be able to meet those changing needs.
“This project is a long-term plan which will see a number of digital improvements developed and rolled out over the next three years.
“We want our customers to be at the heart of all we do, and that is why we are asking them to get involved with us at this early stage by telling us how they want to communicate with us. I would like to see as many people as possible taking part in the survey and having a say in how we serve you, now and in the future.”
Friday, March 6th, 2015
Over 3,500 vehicles have been seized by Staffordshire Police officers in a landmark crackdown on car insurance dodgers.
Cars Behind Bars was instigated by Conservative elected Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis and has proved popular with people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The campaign carried out by Staffordshire Police has seen 3,532 cars, vans, motorcycles, mopeds, lorries and even a tractor seized, with 1,196 vehicles scrapped, since it was launched in May 2013. The amount of vehicles seized would stretch well over 12km if laid end to end.
More than 70 higher-value uninsured vehicles have been sold off at auction with the proceeds going back into local communities in Staffordshire.
The number of car insurance dodgers in Staffordshire is being driven down as the crackdown gathers pace. Recent annual figures released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau show there were an estimated 1,214 fewer uninsured vehicles on the road in Staffordshire in 2014 compared to 2013.
Mr Ellis said, “The crackdown on insurance dodgers remains far and away the most popular thing raised with me by people I’ve spoken to across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Over 3,500 people have had to learn their lesson the hard way thanks to tremendous work by officers from Staffordshire Police, which has really gained momentum in recent months.
“It’s clear that the message is hitting home as the number of insured motorists on Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent roads has risen significantly. Those who drive without insurance can’t hide in Staffordshire. They are being caught and dealt with by having their vehicles seized and, in many cases, scrapped or sold at auction.
“It’s definitely struck a chord with law-abiding motorists who are hit by rising premiums because of these law-breakers. Why should all pay more because some people don’t pay at all?”
Cars Behind Bars uses Staffordshire’s extensive automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system that identifies those flouting the law.
The fixed penalty fine for people who are caught without insurance was increased nationally from £200 to £300 in 2013. Motorists also face their car being seized, could be summoned to court and be disqualified, and an endorsement of six penalty points and drivers re-claiming their car when they have proof of insurance have to pay £150 car recovery costs plus £20 per day storage.
Some of the vehicles seized since the campaign launched can be viewed at www.staffordshire.police.uk/carsbehindbars.
Friday, March 6th, 2015
Chris Pincher MP with Jenny Humphries and Kate Casey of The Kitchen café in Marmion Street Tamworth
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, this week encouraged more local people to find the best and most popular traders in the Tamworth constituency.
He is running a competition across the town in which all residents can join. His competition gives the public the chance to vote for their favourite pub, restaurant, shop and market stall in the area.
Mr Pincher said, “We have some great independent shops, stalls, pubs, cafes and restaurants and I hope many local people will support their favourite. It is a good opportunity for us all to speak up for our town centre as well as other really good places around Tamworth. Votes have come rolling in by post and email and we now have a bag full of nominations.”
Between now and the 20th of March you can support our local independent shops, restaurants and market stalls by voting for your favourites. There are four categories; your favourite independent shop, pub, market stall and restaurant in the Tamworth constituency.
It could not be easier – all you need to do is go to www.besttamworth.co.uk or fill in a nomination form. These can be found in local shops, stalls and pubs taking part so please ask at the counter.
Nominations close on the 20th March 2015. Each of the winners will receive a certificate and a one-hour e-commerce session with Product Nation. There will also be a special prize for the most votes across all categories and the winner will also receive a £50 voucher for printing and design from The Printing Shed.
Mr Pincher added, “I am not giving away any personal favourite, but I am really impressed by the way some local businesses have got into the spirit of the campaign. The Kitchen on Marmion Street has already had two stacks of voting forms to distribute, they seem as popular as the café’s chilli con carne!”
Friday, March 6th, 2015
Dan Dalton MEP
Whilst the Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto, is in London to discuss greater links between the UK and Mexico, Conservative MEP Dan Dalton met with the Mexican Ambassador to the EU to talk about how to speed up a new EU-Mexico free trade agreement.
Mexico is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and one of our oldest allies, but the current free trade agreement was designed for a different era and urgently needs updating. After years of pressure from the UK government and Conservative MEPs, the new Commission has finally announced it is exploring the potential for a new deal, but progress is slow so far.
Mr Dalton has already written to the Commission about the deal, but in a meeting with Ambassador Camacho he pledged to put further pressure on the Commission to move faster and help create a huge transatlantic free trade area in combination with the agreements being negotiated with the US and Canada.
On meeting with the Ambassador, Mr Dalton said, “Free trade is a central focus of the UK in the EU and a new deal with Mexico will help deepen our access to a rapidly growing and successful consumer market. A new deal with Mexico would come at an opportune time for the West Midlands as our expanded runway at Birmingham Airport enables direct flights to Mexico from the region.”
Thursday, March 5th, 2015
Tuesday, February 24th, 2015
Alan ‘Chippy’ Lees BEM
It is with sad regret, we have to announce our very good friend Alan “Chippy” Lees BEM passed away yesterday, Monday 23rd February 2015.
Chippy Lees, as everyone who knew him, has been a part of Tamworth for many many years, as a judo specialist, a martial arts tutor and more recently a resident who represented Castle ward on Tamworth Borough Council.
Chippy was one of a kind who preferred to eat jam doughnuts, custard tarts, Eccles cakes, chips and jelly babies to, as Chippy put it so well, the so called healthier options. Chippy also liked to put his views across in his many letters to the local press that were always printed, not worrying what anybody said or thought.
Chippy was also a long standing member of the Conservative Party in Tamworth and he stood for election to Tamworth Borough several times before being elected in 2000 to represent the Castle ward where he had lived for so many years and continued to live. Chippy was proud to live in Tamworth and represent his neighbours and friends on the Borough Council and he will be sorely missed.
Sunday, January 4th, 2015
Police in Staffordshire are to be given tablet computers in a bid to get more officers on the streets.
Matthew Ellis, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the county, claimed the rollout in April would “fundamentally transform” policing. He said using the computers to access information and input data would free up about 5,000 man-hours a week or the equivalent of 100 extra officers and the project is expected to cost £500,000.
Currently, front-line officers spend about six out of every 10 hours in communities, rather than at police stations, Mr Ellis said. Using tablet computers is expected to take that up to almost nine out of 10 hours.
He said the technology was also expected to reduce the number of mistakes and incomplete reports.
Mr Ellis said, “It’s about police being given more time to do what they want to be doing and what the public want them to be doing, which is out-and-about policing.”
He said the project would cut the number of times officers have to return to police stations for both information and to enter reports and statements.
Instead of taking statements on paper and later transcribing them on up to six different systems, officers would write statements directly on the tablets and then upload them to a central server. Mr Ellis said the force took about 200,000 statements a year.
Investigators will also be issued with the tablets, while the PCC said they could prove a “real game-changer” for forensics.
Mr Ellis continued, “I have to say police technology across the country is not good, it’s not what you’d expect in nearly 2015. So a radical overhaul of the way technology is used, the way it works, will fundamentally improve policing and get more police out and about for more of the time.”
Mr Ellis said the use of tablets was part of a wider focus on technology and IT systems that he said was expected to cost £46m over the next seven years.
Newer Posts —
Older Posts
Daniel Dalton, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands, has criticised attempts to create an EU army by stealth.
