Annual Report To Parish Council

This report is presented in two sections,
1) My work in the constituency.
2) Committee work at Shire Hall Gloucester (GCC)

May I say that I am pleased to have worked with “Newland Parish Council” when attempting to resolve a number of local problems.

Community Hospitals
“Newland” together with all other West Dean Parish Councils have been extremely helpful in supporting the campaign to retain our community hospitals. “Newland Parish Council” have led the way in ensuring that the recent consultation programme conducted by the “The Primary Care Trust” and “The Partnership Trust” has been meaningful and ultimately has ensured that “Dilke” and “Lydney” remain in the Forest.

Transport, Bus Services in West Dean
Together with District and Parish councillors we addressed the concern of residents over the withdrawal of the St Briavels/Clearwell/Staunton to Gloucester Bus Service.
We have met with GCC Integrated Transport Services and have agreed the restoration of this service. The new service which commenced this Monday, 23rd of April has been well supported by the residents and I thank my colleague councillors for their help in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion. Following representations from residents in “Redbrook” a new bus service from “Redbrook” to “Coleford” has been introduced

Electricity Supply
Business and residents have had to endure an unacceptable level in the number of power cuts and surges. This has resulted in electrical appliances being destroyed and a loss of business to Restaurants and Public Houses. Perhaps worst of all these power cuts frequently occur in the dark evenings of the winter resulting in the loss of heating and without lighting. This leaves our elderly residents in a vulnerable position and could well result in an accident.

Highways
Heavy Goods Vehicles seeking to travel down the “Rocks”. This was due to European drivers relying upon sat/nav and subsequently becoming stuck or stranded. The matter has now been resolved by the installation of a sign at the entrance to the “Rocks” which states “Unsuitable For Heavy Vehicles”.

Closure of the Wye Valley road, “Redbrook” to “Bigsweir”. Due to a landslide this road was blocked. A temporary solution is in place a more permanent remedy is being considered.

There have been numerous other problems in “West Dean” which I have been required to address. To name but a few. Cross Border funding for early learning nursery places. Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire are currently negotiating an agreement which will shortly resolve this anomaly. “The Quayside” Brockweir, flooding from the River Wye due to earlier unsatisfactory work. The potholes have now been filled in and the highway surface improved. This is a temporary solution a more permanent job will be carried out later in the year.

Committee Work at Shire Hall

As a member of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee I have been active in ensuring that decisions made by the “Primary Care Trusts” are in the best interest of the people of Gloucestershire. The trust now has reversed their decision to close “Dilke” and Lydney and I shall continue to support the new Social Enterprise Trust.

Procurement Task Group

This group of which I am a member has an objective to achieve serious financial efficiencies on behalf of the electorate. It is well on its way to arriving at its conclusions and recommendations.

Community Safety Task Group

This group of which I am a member examines the performance and efficiency of the Fire & Rescue Service, Trading Standards, The Emergency Management Services.

I am also a member of the GCC Pension Investment Committee and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee.

I conclude my report by congratulating Newland Parish Council on their achievement in attaining “A Quality Council” status.

Bill Evans

Electricity supply in Clearwell village

Throughout recent years the village of Clearwell has suffered unacceptable electricity interruptions and power surges to resident’s homes. Television sets, cookers, washing machines and PCUs have been destroyed and local businesses have been unable to function losing valuable trade. Residents have been provided with replacement equipment but this does not compensate for the hours and sometimes days without power.

There is of course a serious safety issue here for the elderly disabled and infirm. Being alone at home in darkness without heating and power is not only uncomfortable it’s clearly unsafe.

Newland Parish Council are aware of this problem and through their clerk “Richard Crighton” are campaigning to resolve the problem. The council undertook a survey of the residents who were asked to complete a questionnaire. The results of the survey supported the council’s comments and all agreed that it was essential that a meeting with Central Networks be sought.

Through my County Council work I am aware that the Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service in conjunction with their “Emergency Management Services” has the authority to assist in these circumstances, particularly with the arrangement of meetings. On behalf of the Parish council I requested that “Emergency Management Services” broker such a meeting.

I am pleased to say that on the 26th April 2006 a productive meeting took place. A representative for Central Networks provided a detailed descriptive historical explanation of the network. He identified recent remedial work and potential problems.

The Newland Parish Representatives had a real opportunity to present the residents concerns and they feel they were listened to.

Central Networks has committed to providing sufficient financial resources to enable all preventative maintenance work to be carried out. In the first instance “Central” will survey the complete overhead lines by using “Thermal Imaging” equipment carried in a helicopter. This will provide them with a map of potential problems e.g. cracked insulators, faulty lines. A secondary check will be carried out by craftsmen who will patrol the complete network on foot and record faults and potential faults. Once this diagnostic work has been carried out a programme of work will be designed and costed. Finally it is hoped work will begin in the New Year.

“Central” has agreed to meet again before the end of the year and update the “Parish Council” on progress.

We keep our fingers crossed and trust matters will improve with the electricity supply and that the dark cold winter evenings are behind us.

Parish Council Meetings

Throughout the past year I have attended as many of the English Bicknor, Newland, Staunton, St Briavels and West Dean Parish Councils that my diary has permitted.

I have noted that all Parish Council meetings have heavy agendas and it is interesting to observe the increasingly popular trend of public attendance and hear the many and varied questions raised.

Public Saftey

Public safety and home security are common themes of concern across West Dean and it is reassuring to witness the attendance of the Police Community Support Officers at Parish Council meetings. Experience shows that they appear to be very effective in the community.

Heavy goods vehicles at Symonds Yat Rock

I am aware of the regular occurrence of heavy goods vehicles traversing the narrow road at “Symonds Yat Rock”, and consequently becoming trapped and having to be rescued by the recovery services. This apparently is due to the reliance of continental drivers upon “Satellite Navigation”. This causes severe inconvenience and annoyance to residents and it is also raises the question of public safety. Following representations by the “English Bicknor Parish Council” and myself, the road will be reclassified by Gloucestershire County Council Highways. No doubt the council will remain vigilant on this matter.

Planning

Planning decisions continue to provide Parish Councils with numerous problems and it is clear there is considerable unhappiness concerning the quality of consultation with District and County Authorities. Perhaps government proposals on Local Government Authority restructuring, which promise devolution in one form or other may help following the passage of the Bill through the legislature.

Road Conditions

The condition of roads surfaces in West Dean remain a matter of concern. I am currently making representations to Gloucestershire County Council Highways Department regarding a number of particular roads that clearly need repair.

County Council Budget

Earlier in 2006 the County Council debated the proposed budget for 2006/2007.

The objectives of the administration were to, set a low Council Tax, provide more front line police and improve the County’s roads. Unfortunately the draft proposals included some cuts to the financial grant aid to Charities. In the Forest these included “The Forest of Dean Children’s Opportunity Centre”, “Shelter“ and “ASTRA”.

There was also concern over the decision to cancel/postpone a number of the County’s “Park & Ride schemes. After debate funding is continuing for the charities for the current financial year, after which there will be a review of grant aid, the full County Council approved the amended budget. The Council Tax was set at 3.5% and a number of the “Park & Ride” schemes have been reinstated.

Primary Care Trusts

Currently the County Council through its NHS Overview & Scrutiny Committee are working with the Primary Care Trusts in order to minimise the impact of the financial savings that the NHS has to achieve. Residents of the Forest are naturally proud and defensive of in particular the “Dilke” and “Lydney” community hospitals. At the moment it appears there will be changes to some specialist services at both hospitals, but closures are unlikely.

Roles in County Council

Flowing from my County Councillor role I have taken on the following responsibilities.

Member of “Corporate Resources and Performance Committee”
Member of “Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee”

Member of “The pensions Investment Committee”
Member of “The Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Committee”
LEA appointed Governor to “Lakers School” and “Redbrook School”

Welcome to West Dean Life

Welcome to the West Dean Life blog! My name is Bill Evans, I live in Clearwell in West Dean and I am the county councillor for West Dean. It is my intention and hope that this blog will become the forum where information can be exchanged and where discussion will take place. An interesting time lies ahead of us. On the 22nd of February the full County Council will debate and decide upon the administration's proposed budget for 2006/2007.

Newland Parish Council

I attended a meeting of the Newland Parish Council on the evening of the 31st January 2006 and I noted the council's concern regarding the plight of the county's homeless. Member's were alarmed to hear That local charities had been mailed with notification of termination of funding by the county council's administration, it was noted that there had been no consultation over the withdrawal of finance. Shelter, Contact a family, The Forest of Dean Children’s Opportunity Centre, Astra, are affected. I will be articulating the community's concerns at county council level and will playing my part in attempting to persuade the administration to rescind this budget proposal. The council also debated the matter of the unacceptable level of electricity interruptions that Clearwell village is experiencing. I will assist by corresponding with Central Networks on this important subject.

English Bicknor Parish Council

I attended the meeting of the English Bicknor Parish Council on the evening of the 6th of February last. The councillors reported that they had received numerous complaints from residents in the Hillersland and the Symonds Yat area. Foreign drivers of heavy articulated vehicles who rely upon G.P.S (Sat/Nav) are attempting to travel down the very narrow Christchurch to Symonds Yat road. The result is they are becoming trapped, the road is blocked and rescue vehicles are having to remove them. There is a weight restriction on ths road however this is not deterring the articulated vehicles. Iwill be writing to the Road Traffic Manager at Shire Hall and requesting assistance in resolving the problem. I intend to keep readers updated on these matters. I am happy for people to use this blog as a forum to comment upon points raised alternatively you may e-mail me at william.evans@gloucestershire.gov.uk