NEW POLICE POWERS TO FIGHT CRIME

New powers for the police and communities to fight crime

Friday 6 April 2007

Police and communities have new powers to tackle violent crimes involving alcohol, knives and guns, thanks to Labour’s Violent Crime Reduction Act.

In addition the law relating to football banning orders and online ticket touts is being strenghtened, and Labour is introducing tough sentences for those guilty of re-programming stolen mobile phones.

Announcing the moves Labour’s Home Secretary John Reid MP said:

“Labour’s priority is to give the police and communities the tools they need to tackle crime.  These new powers will enable police to better tackle gun and knife crime as well as alcohol-related disorder.
 
“After listening to community concerns on knives and guns, I decided to bring forward the use of these measures as a matter of urgency.  The Government is committed to tackling violent crime – but we can’t do it on our own.  We need to work together with police and communities and these new measures give those groups tough powers to deal with the issue.
 
“Crime and anti-social behaviour is the number one concern among our communities, and Labour remains determined to tackle it.  These new powers are the latest step, an example of how Labour is working to make us all safer, putting the interests of ordinary people first.
 
“Labour’s tough action on crime is in stark contrast to the Tories who continue to show how out of touch they are with ordinary people’s concerns by repeatedly trying to block our measures.  For example, it is a matter of regret to me that during the passage of this Bill the Conservatives used parliamentary time to try and weaken ASBOs and get rid of drinking banning orders.  On crime, the Tories talk tough but vote soft.”
 
Labour is committed to cutting crime and protecting the public.  Progress has be made, with crime down 35 per cent since 1997, and violent crime reduced by 34 per cent over the same period.  However, we are not complacent and we recognise that more needs to be done to protect the public.  The measures which come into force today build on the solid foundations laid by Labour to tackle violent crime and disorder on our streets.

Martin Prestidge, Labour Candidate for Langley

W

Martin Prestidge says:              

      I am pleased to contest Langley again for Labour. Over the years that I have been your Councillor, I have tried hard never to be too busy to listen to what people have to tell me and have always done my best to resolve problems.Please feel free to contact me on 552 4902, by e-mail www,martin.prestidge@btinternet.com,or by coming to one of my regular surgeries.I hope that you will continue to give me your support.  

About Martin Prestidge

 o       He has represented Langley on Sandwell Council since 1987 and was Mayor of Sandwell in 2003 –4.

o       He is a Governor of Langley and Causeway Green Primary Schools.

o       He has campaigned successfully for improved safety fencing on the Railway Line in Causeway Green Road,  a clean up of the derelict site in Mill Lane, for flood relief measures in Penncricket Lane, improved football pitches and play areas in  Barnford Park.o       He is actively working with Local Police for a crack down on Anti Social behaviour on Cakemore, Lion Farm, Causeway Green and Langley.

orking hard for Langley

O

He has represented

Langley on

Sandwell Council

since 1987 and was

Mayor of Sandwell

in 2003 –4.

 

Ma

He has represented

Langley on

Sandwell Council

since 1987 and was

Mayor of Sandwell

in 2003 –4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Prestidge outside the new

Orchard Special School.

rtin Prestidge outside the new

.

 

M

He has represented

Langley on

Sandwell Council

since 1987 and was

Mayor of Sandwell

in 2003 –4.

 Orchard Special School.

 

Martin Prestidge outside the new

Orchard Special School.

tin Prestidge

 

COUNCIL AND PARTNERS TRANSFORM SANDWELL

Sandwell Council has launched a new corporate partnership with BT and Liberata to revolutionise how it does business.

Transform Sandwell will go live in April delivering a range of council services on behalf of the authority.

The ambitious move – a first in the Black Country -  will secure £45 million investment to improve council services, as well as create hundreds of new jobs in West Bromwich over the next few years.

Council leader Bill Thomas and chief executive Dr Allison Fraser unveiled the new partnership at a special event at Sandwell Council House today, with BT’s managing director, Government Services, Mark Quartermaine and Liberata’s chief executive Robert Gogel.

Under the terms of the 15 year agreement, BT and Liberata will become the authority’s private sector strategic partners, delivering a range of corporate and support services including ICT, HR, customer services, procurement and finance.

Around 500 council employees will transfer to the partnership, on the same pay and conditions of service, eventually moving to a new regional business centre in West Bromwich which will also generate other non-council contracts and create around 450 extra jobs

The partners have agreed to invest £45 million to upgrade the council’s IT infrastructure and computer systems, boosting people’s access to services and giving residents a better deal in return for a contract valued at almost £300 million over 15 years.

It is estimated that the partnership will also achieve an additional £57 million of efficiency savings over that period through improved procurement and other business process streamlining.

Deputy council leader, Cllr Steve Eling has described Sandwell’s partnering project as one of the biggest and most ambitious in the West Midlands.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the council to improve the quality of its backroom business services, which will have a knock-on effect in boosting services on the frontline.

“It will secure a level of investment in our business and computer systems and specialist experience in boosting efficiency that would simply not have been possible for us to achieve on our own.

“And on top of improving council services and our way of working, we are delighted we have also been able to negotiate such a beneficial package of measures for Sandwell as a whole with the creation of new jobs and a new multimillion pound regional business centre in All Saints Way, West Bromwich.”

Council leader Cllr Thomas said: “This is a landmark deal for Sandwell that shows that this council is willing to harness new ways of working to improve the quality of services we offer local people as well as contribute towards the ongoing regeneration of the borough.”

Mark Quartermaine, managing director, Government Services, BT Global Services UK, said: “Sandwell is taking a long-term, strategic approach to transforming both internal operations and external services.

“This will not only address pressures to improve efficiency, but also to deliver real benefit to the local community.

“Local government faces major challenges over the next few years and this announcement demonstrates how local authorities can tap into private sector expertise and investment to help deliver against their objectives.”

Robert Gogel, Chief Executive Officer of Liberata, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen with our partner BT to deliver this strategic and transformational project.

“By creating 450 jobs in West Bromwich, and further unlocking council efficiencies and improving performance, this project will be a significant driver of regeneration in the area.

“We’re confident that the new business centre will be a great example of best practice and a source of considerable pride, for not only the council, but also the citizens of Sandwell.”

THE BIG SPRING CLEAN

Is there an area in your town that would benefit from a spring clean? If the answer is yes, why not nominate this area as a “clean up” project for Sandwell’s Big Spring Clean?

You can nominate your local park, an open space, or even a street where you live!

The ‘Big Spring Clean’ kicks off in April 2007 and the aim is to make your neighbourhood sparkle by getting everyone involved in keeping Sandwell clean.

So if you fancy rolling up your sleeves and volunteering to help with the Big Spring Clean in your neighbourhood call 0121 557 6001 or email your details and nominated area to bigspringclean@sandwell.gov.uk before Friday 23rd March 2007.

Note: ‘Big Spring Clean’ volunteers will be provided with gloves, litter pickers and bags on arrival at ‘Big Spring Clean’ events.

Posted: 17/03/2007

DOG CONTROL ORDERS-HAVE YOUR SAY!

Sandwell people are being urged to give their views on proposals for new dog control orders in the borough.

The deadline for comments is Sunday, April 15.

The aim is to have orders in place in June so that the council can start enforcing the orders from June or July with fixed penalty notices.

The Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 gives local authorities powers to introduce dog control orders in a number of categories:

• Dogs on leads
• Rights for council officers to tell someone to put a dog on a lead
• Dog fouling – failing to remove faeces
• Maximum number of dogs a person is permitted to walk at one time (Sandwell is proposing a maximum of four dogs for this order)
• Dog exclusion areas

Sandwell’s proposals are on the council’s website for people to view:

• Dog Control Orders

Proposals can also be seen at Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury.

Among the proposals are dog exclusion areas such as school recreation grounds, children’s play areas, sports pitches, memorial parks and remembrance gardens.

There are certain specified exemptions from some of the orders for blind people and people who rely on dogs for disability reasons.

Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for community safety & partnerships, said: “We have looked at what the borough’s needs might be and would like the public to consider these proposals before we make a final decision.

“We are putting forward these proposals in the interests of a safer, cleaner borough for our citizens and encourage people to tell us what they think as their views will help us shape the final orders.

“The vast majority of dog owners are responsible. The proposed measures are aimed at tackling problems caused by the minority of irresponsible dog owners that result in complaints to us about dogs roaming free and dog fouling.”

Any views or comments on the proposed orders must be made in writing by Sunday 15th April 2007 to the address or email address below:

Dog Control Orders
Sandwell Wardens
Farley House
Vicarage Road
Langley
B68 8HT

E-mail: william_ward@sandwell.gov.uk

Maps showing the areas affected by these proposed orders together with copies of the proposed orders will be available for inspection free of charge between the hours of 0830 to 1700 Monday to Friday in the reception area of:

The Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DE

ST GEORGE’S DAY 2007

There’s a new look to Sandwell’s famous St George’s Day celebrations for 2007 which take place in West Bromwich on Sunday 22 April.

A new route for the traditional parade and a fresh line up of mouthwatering medieval entertainment in Dartmouth Park awaits visitors celebrating the patron saint of England’s special day.

Sandwell Council is joining forces with the Stone Cross St George’s Day Association to organise family celebrations under the banner Forever England, For Everybody for the fourth year running.

Cabinet member for culture and leisure Cllr Linda Horton said: “This year we wanted to do something a little different, so the whole of Dartmouth Park will become a medieval settlement for the day.

“There will be a living history encampment and demonstrations from cooking to candle-making, from tablet weaving to fletcher and arrow making, from ceramics to musical instruments.

“Visitors will really come away with a taste of life in the Middle Ages. They can even try their hand at archery, listen to singing plague victims, and meet a few market rogues, not forgetting St George himself of course.”

Events in the park will get under way as soon as the parade arrives, at around 12 noon, and will include a few favourites including Langley Band, Poetry Wednesbury, Bedcote Morris Dancing, Pat Collins Fun Fair and market.

The parade itself will leave its traditional starting point in Westminster Road, Stone Cross at 10.40am, and this year will follow a new route along Walsall Road into the park.

Trevor Collins of the Stone Cross St George’s Day Association said: “We’d like to throw open an invitation to all Sandwell residents to come and join in the parade, we are delighted with our new flatter route this year, whch will make the parade accessible to more people.

“As usual there will be numerous bands and organisations participating and we are hoping to get even more people along to make St George’s Day 2007 bigger and better than ever.”

CAPTION:

Getting ready for a medieval St George’s Day 2007… Cllr Linda Horton and Nick Clorley at the Oak House, West Bromwich.
For further information contact:

Tony Potter on 0121 569 4703

Councillor Martin Prestidge said:

“It is good that Sandwell Council are promoting St George’s Day as an inclusive festival. I; am fed up to the back teeth of fascist groups like the BNP wrapping themselves in he flag of St George . It’s high time that decent people reclaimed the St George’s flag as a symbol of tolerance and decent British values of fair play.”

LANGLEY COUNCILLORS SURGERY AT WHITEHEATH

Langley Councillors Surgery at Whiteheath  

Langley Councillors, Martin Prestidge, Pauline Hinton and Mick Davies will be meeting constituents at one of their regular surgeries at the Oldbury United Social Club , York Road, OLDBURY at  7.30 pm to 8.30 pm bon Friday 23 March 2007.

COUNCILLORS IN TALKS OVER NEW HEALTH CENTRE

COUNCILLORS IN TALKS OVER NEW HEALTH CENTRE

Langley and Rood End Councillors are to meet with the Sandwell Primary Care trust to discuss the location of the proposed new Health Centre to serve Langley and Rood End.

Councillor Martin Prestidge said:

“Langley has lacked medical facilities for years, and the problem has grown in recent years with the relocation of the Pound Close Practice to Brandhall.  Langley Councillors have been campaigning ever since 1997 for Health Care facilities in Langley.

“The need for facilities was recognised by the former Sandwell Health Authority as long ago as 2000. Unfortunately, plans for a Branch Practice in Langley High Street and a Nurse Led Practice came to nothing

I do hope that this time round firm proposals will emerge, and Langley people will no longer be the poor relations so far as Health Care is concerned.”

COUNCILLORS ON WALKABOUT

Councillors on Walkabout

Langley Councillors went on a walkabout with Police and Council Officers on Thursday last week.

The areas visited included Jeffrey Road , Minster Close and York Road, Whiteheath  and  Brook Road, Heron Road and  Oakdale Road, Cakemore Estate.

Councillor Martin Prestidge said:

“The Walkabout followed the Langley Neighbourhood meeting held on Tuesday at the “Smart Byte” Café on Lion Farm.

We went to see at first hand the problems identified by Residents at the meeting and to try to work out solutions”.

He added:

”There is nothing like seeing problems at first hand . More walabouts are planned to take place after future meetings.”

DERELICT BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED IN MILL LANE

Councillor Martin Prestidge has welcomed the demolition of the derelict factory buildings in Mill Lane, Langley,

He said:

 “The demolition contractors have worked like Trojans to clear this site and to remove these   ugly buildings. The work has really opened up this part of Langley. I hope that it will not be too long before the owners come forward with plans to develop the site.”

He added:

“I have been campaigning for several years to get this site cleaned up. It really does seem that this time things are going to happen at last”.