Conservative Party Conference

This has been an amazingly busy week and I hope to post some updates on council work towards the end of next week. For now I am off to the Conservative Party Conference which is being held in Birmingham. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Conservatives from all over the country to the West Midlands for what I am sure will be the best conference ever. You’ll find a warm welcome for you here.

You will be able to follow conference in the local press, on the radio and it will be live on the BBC Parliament Channel should you want to watch the whole thing.

Further details are online at: www.conservatives.com and also: http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=party.event.detail.page&obj_id=140020

An evening with Aldridge Neighbourhood Watch

I went along to the North Aldridge Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators meeting tonight. I was joined by Cllr Harris and Richard Shepherd MP. A few thoughts:

- They have an excellent Junior Neighbourhood Watch scheme that has now been extended to about 900 children in schools across Walsall. This is tremendous work.

- There are on average 1 crime every day in Aldridge North. Thats just 365 a year – not bad going. Even better than that – they won’t rest until that figure is zero.

- Residents are still unhappy with speeding on Lazy Hill and Walsall Wood Roads. The police have been booking people and Cllr Harris is going to try and do whatever he can to improve those roads. I’d still like flashing speed signs and weight limits on Lazy Hill, Stonnal and Castlehill Roads.

Finally the committee invited along representatives from the Probation Service to speak at the meeting. I left the questioning to Richard Shepherd and members of the audience – i’ve asked my questions! I am still meeting with the Head of the West Midlands Probation Service a week on Friday and I hope he’ll have some answers.

I did have a talk to them afterwards. It was good that they grasped the nettle and came along and they deserve acknowledgement for that – it is important for them to be held to account and understand the community they serve. I do think they need to grasp that this is a discussion about a hostel that should never have been there in the first place and has been acknowledged as such. A High Court judge backed an inspectors report that said this was in the wrong place (see earlier post). It only received planning permission in the first place because a bail hostel is the same C2 planning use as the children’s home was – ie – it didn’t need new planning consent. Discussions about where else to put these institutions etc etc are side issues that muddy the water.

I would hope they come to the meeting with answers to the questions I posed, solutions for a way forward and an open – not defensive – mind. I look forward to the meeting next week.

Planning here, planning there!

We had a meeting of Development Control Committee last night. The highlights included conservation for the monument at Barr Beacon and a lively debate over whether we have powers to impose builders to install sprinklers or not. It appears that councillors cannot insist that sprinklers are included in planning applications. We deferred it for further opinion and consultation. It may become an issue for the legislators but I will write more after the report comes back to committee.

Meanwhile on the Lichfield side of the border it appears that the application to turn Spring Hill into a cemetary is back on. It is application number: 08/00657/FULM and can be commented at: www.lichfielddc.gov.uk. I have objected on the grounds that it is inappropriate development in the greenbelt and it will be detrimental to highway safety, aswell as increasing traffic numbers. It’s certainly something we can do without – how many times do I bang on about the A461 and Shire Oak junction?!!

Please do comment.

Protest at Stonnall Road

I attended the protest today held on Stonnall Road outside the “Approved Premises”. There was an impressive turnout from the community with numbers estimated between 200 and 300. The organisers (who are residents) worked with the police in advance and the event went very well. It was good to see so many people exercising their right to peaceful protest.

I turned up along with other councillors to show solidarity and support for the community. I was joined by Cllrs Keith Sears and Anthony Harris from Aldridge North, Cllrs John O’Hare and John Rochelle from Aldridge Central and South – and also Cllrs Cath Micklewright and Dave Turner (who represent other wards) who came to show their support. There are many others colleagues of mine who support the cause who couldn’t make it.

I strongly believe that councillors are there to empower their communities. Today the community didn’t need empowering – it came out in force and made their voice very clear. Such a strong turnout gives me great confidence that I – and my colleagues – are truly representing the views of the community we have been elected to represent. After all we didn’t ask people to turn out – they organised themselves and did.

The time for listening is now and I hope this sends a strong message to Whitehall.

Are you a voluntary or community organisation?

Would your organisation benefit from an extra £400?

Walsall Council, with your Local Neighbourhood Partnership (LNP) are offering grants of up to £400 for any community and voluntary organisations who are undertaking any activities relating to the Local Neighbourhood Partnership pledges.

Interested?

Get an application pack from Lynn Percival or Sarah Oakley by ringing (01922) 654717 or (01922) 654721

The closing date for applications is the 3rd October 2008

Further thoughts on the Bail Hostel (Approved Premises)

It’s amazing what a bit of research can do on Google. Let me run this past you and please correct me if you think i’m wrong or i’ve made a mistake – I am not a professional or a lawyer but it seems to make some sort of sense:

The Court Case

The Bail Hostel at Stonnall Road has been around since the 90’s when it was changed from a Barnados Home into a Bail Hostel. These were to accomodate people on bail – accused of crimes and remanded there by the Courts (see Bail Act 1976). Planning permission to extend this was rejected in the mid 90’s and upheld by the High Court. The report of the Planning Inspector stated:

So thats pretty clear then. Stonnall Road is a bad place to put a Bail Hostel.

Change from Bail Hostel to Approved Premises

Bail Hostels became “Approved Premises” under section 9 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000. Section 9 says:

9 Approved premises
(1) The Secretary of State may approve premises in which accommodation is provided—
(a) for persons granted bail in criminal proceedings (within the meaning of the [1976 c. 63.] Bail Act 1976), or
(b) for, or in connection with, the supervision or rehabilitation of persons convicted of offences.
(2) References in any enactment to an approved bail hostel or approved probation hostel are to be read as references to premises approved under this section.
(3) Regulations may provide for the regulation, management and inspection of premises approved under this section.
(4) The Secretary of State may at any time make payments of any amount he considers appropriate towards the expenditure of any person in carrying on, or enlarging or improving, any premises if the premises are approved under this section or the payment is made with a view to their approval.

Therefore it is clear that because of this legislation the nature of the Bail Hostel changed – now not only holding bailees but also “the supervision or rehabilitation of persons convicted of offences” ie – people out of prison on licence.

So there can be no debate that the goal posts were moved. Firstly it is given approval to be a bail hostel through the planning process and then because of the 2000 Act it becomes a place for people out of prison on licence aswell. This is despite the fact that before all this the High Court agreed that it was a bad place to put one!

So who is in the Approved Premises?

I don’t know and no one publically knows because they don’t tell the public. However some things can be deduced. For example Jack Straw admits in a Parliamentary Answer to the Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary that there is only one person resident in the hostel on bail on the 29th Feb 2008 (Source). Therefore by a process of elimination the rest of the places in the Approved Premises by implication are either empty or for people out on licence.

How can Stonnall Road be closed?

Guidance by the Home Office dated 2005 states that it rests with the Secretary of State to withdraw approval at any time (see source). I do not know if this has been updated since (as the Home Office was split into the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office) but gives a good indication that it is at Ministerial level.

Therefore the decision to close this Approved Premises (Hostel) lays firmly in the hands of the Justice Sectretary Jack Straw. Moving it rests in the hands of the West Midlands Probation Service. Returning it to its previous classification as a Bail Hostel also rests in the hands of Jack Straw.

You can write to Jack Straw at:

Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ

I therefore standby the questions I had posted previously:

- We want an investigation into how this was allowed to happen and make sure it never happens again (this is an operational question)
- We want to know why there isn’t complete transparancy over residents who live in the Bail Hostel (this is an operational and policy question)
- We want the Bail Hostel closed. It doesn’t meet the criteria set down by the Government and the Probation Service had agreed with us verbally that it was the beginning of the end for the hostel and they are looking for other sites. (this is an operational and policy question)
- We want the Government to review their policy on releasing prisoners on licence to these premises. (this is a policy question)

Aldridge Library re-opened

I was pleased to join Cllrs Tom Ansell and John Rochelle at the re-opening of Aldridge Library today. They have done a fantastic job and the people of Aldridge have got a great facility to enjoy. Walsall Wood library was re-opened at the beginning of the year so a good deal for everyone in my ward! If you haven’t been to either – pop along and have a look.

I also spent some time at Walsall Wood Library this morning answering people’s queries about the Walsall Wood consultation. As I said to people – this is a real consultation with proposed ideas – so if enough of you don’t like some or would prefer something else doing then let us know now!!

We had the Brownhills and Aldridge North LNP last night. Main concerns raised there was the Primary Care Trust’s strategy towards dealing with cancer in the area, the regular moving on of police sergeants from Brownhills and possible drug taking at Shire Oak Nature Reserve. It was also an opportunity to thank Aldridge North Neighbourhood Watch for the work they have undertaken with Primary Schools in Aldridge and Walsall Wood over the last two years.

Update on Amtrak – I have asked the Council to organise a one stop jobseekers day in Aldridge, following on from the session in Darlaston.

Update on Bail Hostel – No response to my questions to the Probation Service yet. I hope to – along with my colleagues – attend part of the protest on Saturday. The organisers are meeting with the police to arrange this and it is good to see that members of the community are working together responsibly. Nearly 400 signatures on the PM’s website I see which is pretty respectable.

Anyway! Corporate Scrutiny tomorrow…

Consultation opens on Walsall Wood scheme

View the plans now at: http://www.walsall.gov.uk/index/regeneration/community_consultation.htm

Please use the Walsall Wood Improvement Comments Scheme to let us know your views on all of these proposals.

The proposals are also on display at Walsall Wood Library on the following days:

Monday 8 September 2008 – between 10am – 6pm
Wednesday 10 September 2008 – between 10am – 6pm
Friday 12 September 2008 – between 10am – 6pm
Saturday 13 September 2008 10am – 4pm
Please make any comments before 22 September 2008.

If you would like any further information please contact:

Cherry Shine, Principal Regeneration Officer
Telephone 01922 652537
Email shinec@walsall.gov.uk

Can’t be in two places at once…. other issues

We have Full Council on Monday night. The agenda is on the Walsall Council website as ever. However there is an important meeting in Walsall Wood I also need to attend. I am therefore going to send my apologies to the Council meeting and attend the ward meeting. Cllrs Sears and Harris will be at Full Council repsenting the ward however so if you have any views then please give them a call. Thank God we have a three member ward or i’d need to be cloned!

Also while I remember – thanks to the resident who contacted me about the manhole in Vigo Road. Walsall Council have contacted Walsall Housing Group and i’m assured it’ll be sorted and replaced shortly. Engineers are also going to inspect the road surface in Commonside, Walsall Wood and I hope to hear back from them shortly.

Other updates! (Please note this is feedback from officers on planning issues and for the avoidance of doubt I express no opinion on the items below that preclude me from voting on them should they turn up at Development Control.) Now the disclaimer has been made…

Shire Oak Public House: The Car wash operators were advised of the need for planning permission and subsequently a planning application is expected by officers.

Advertisement displayed on former Kennings Ltd Building: Owners of the property have been advised to remove the advertisement within 21 days. The letter was posted on 28th August and therefore if the Council do not receive confirmation of the advertisement being removed within 21 days of the letter the Council may have to consider seeking legal advice to proceed with prosecution.

Anchor Bridge Advertisement Hoarding: Highways highways are seeking advice on how to proceed with the removal of this particular hoarding.

A difficult day…

Today has been one of the most difficult I have faced so far as a councillor. I have been hounded with media requests and held numerous conversations with residents, police, MP and many others. It is difficult trying to draw a delicate line between responding to anger by constituents you represent and trying to keep a level head and maintaing working relations that ultimately need to continue to benefit the community in the long term.

I have a full time job so dealing with such an issue at the same time as working is really challenging. I’m sure it will continue tomorrow and over the weekend. I’ve actually booked a day off work tomorrow to go to watch England U21’s (previously arranged).

I stand by the questions I have posted below and look forward to a response promptly from the relevant authorities. I think they are common sense, firm and direct.

I will make one point however – and this is important. North Aldridge is still an area that is very safe to live in. I honestly believe that we have an excellent police force in Aldridge and an excellent Neighbourhood Watch.

We will however do all that we can to bring the authorities to account and continue to pressure the Government and Probation Service to close the “approved premises”. Richard Shepherd MP is happy to lead from the front on this.

If you do have concerns then please lets work together. Contact the neighbourhood watch at: http://www.northaldridgenw.org.uk/ and the local police at: http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/walsall/n2.asp

My surgery is this Saturday: 10-11am at Walsall Wood Library. Also happy to discuss anything else that is going on in the patch. Lots on at the moment with the regeneration of Walsall Wood, Amtrak job losses, Shire Oak junction and the ongoing Oak Park! Think I need a holiday…

PS – contrary to what the BBC have reported I have NOT started a petition. This has been started by local residents and is available at: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Aldridge/

Questions to be answered on Stonnall Road

I met with some of the local residents yesterday about the incident that happened at Stonnall Road. Here is the statement from the Probation Serivice:

“We can confirm that a resident from Stonnall Approved Premises (Bail Hostel) was arrested by the Police on the evening of thursday 28th August, and was held overnight in custody of suspicion of sexual assault. He was then recalled to prison the following morning and the matter is now subject to a police investigation.

Stonnall Approved Premises accommodates offenders who have served the custodial part of their sentence and have been released on licence from prison after a full risk assessment. We are unable to confirm the details of individual cases.

Keeping communities safe is one of our main aims. Approved Premises are safer for the public than the alternative which is to disperse offenders in the community, making supervision less effective, more costly and more dangerous for the public. There are no plans to close the hostel.”

Here are the questions I would like answering:

- We want an investigation into how this was allowed to happen and make sure it never happens again
- We want to know why there isn’t complete transparancy over residents who live in the Bail Hostel
- We want the Bail Hostel closed. It doesn’t meet the criteria set down by the Government and they had agreed with us verbally that it was the beginning of the end for the hostel and they are looking for other sites.
- We want the Government to review their policy on releasing prisoners on licence to these premises.

Stonnall Road Bail Hostel

I have been made aware by a couple of my constituents of an incident that occured in the Druids Heath estate over the weekend.

The situation with the Bail Hostel is still pretty much as I wrote here: http://mikeflower.wordpress.com/2007/09/03/stonnall-road-bail-hostel-update/

We want to close the bail hostel and do not believe that it should be in a residential area of Aldridge. Myself and Richard Shepherd will be meeting with the new head of the probation service shortly to press him to advance plans to move and close the hostel.