Councillor Gordon Hook's Personal Blog

Welcome to my blog†

My name is Gordon Hook, Liberal Democrat Devon County Councillor for Newton Abbot South, Teignbridge District Councillor for Newton Abbot, Buckland & Milber, Haccombe-with-Combe Urban Wards, in South Devon.

The purpose of this site is to try and keep you informed about my role and provide you with information about developments at Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council and our local Ward of Buckland & Milber, and Haccombe-with-Combe.

Since the County elections in June '09 my Committee responsibilities with Devon County Council have changed. I am now Chairman of Environment, Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee. I am also a member of various other committees including Policy Overview Committee, the Standards Committee, Teignbridge County and Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders.

My Committee responsibilities with Teignbridge District Council include being the Executive Portfolio-Holder for Environmental Services.

I will clarify my responsibilities in future blogs...

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Cycleways

1) The work on the proposed new cycleway from Penn Inn to the Train Station with controlled road crossing at the junction of Brunel Road and Torquay Road is now scheduled to start on March 1st.

2) I have recently signed three petitions to The Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. One calls for a 20 mph car speed restriction in all built up residential areas, another calls for measures to be introduced to reduce the commercially motivated attempts to make our children “grow up” before their time (this one organised by a local resident) and finally one calling for an end to the re commissioning of nuclear power stations in this country.

If you have the time and inclination then visit  http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/  and see for yourself what a vast range of petitions is available to sign up to.

Random Thoughts

Dear Reader,

I am not a great one for “blogs” but I am regularly told I should be……that being the case, I am advised that I should use my “blog” as a tool to get thoughts/ideas/actions across. The truth is that I am a) too busy and b) too busy to produce these very often and I am grateful therefore for the help given by my “right hand” Jo Nudd. She has kindly agreed to post my odd and occasional ramblings…..so here goes.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION (LGR)

It was announced that Exeter would be given “Unitary” status. That means it will no longer be a part of Devon for administrative purposes and will carry out all the functions that previously Devon County Council performed as well as those functions it was already carrying out. The rest of Devon remains the same, so Teignbridge Council will still continue to provide the services locally that it always has done.

This decision by Central Government is a disgrace. It is one of the worst cases of political gerrymandering and abuse of power I have come across in my time in politics. The debate has rumbled on for 2 or 3 years. The Boundary Commission, an independent body established by Government to advice on these “refoms” came out against and the Treasury similarly advised that the financial case for change simply did not stack up. So what does the Government do? It goes against all the independent advice and opts for an Exeter Unitary council. (Just like Torbay…..now hasn’t that been a glorious success story worth copying...……..) This decision weakens local government in Devon….and it will cost us all money……almost certainly loads of money.
So why have they done this?

The only people who want this change are the Exeter Labour Party. Exeter is the only place where Labour has any electoral success. They (currently) have the MP…….Ben Bradshaw, who very much supports this nonsense and from time to time they have run the City Council. To retain any influence anywhere in the county they have opted to take Exeter out of Devon and hope in so doing to have from time to time a political base in the West Country. This will cost local Council Tax payers ……it is to be hoped they remember in the years to come who foisted this on them…….against all the advice.

However, all is not yet lost. Lib Dem and Tory MPs and Lords are pledged to oppose and will do so. The announcement was made in the hours before Parliament went into recess (a typical ploy for administrations announcing unpopular legislation) but we have not heard the last of this one…….watch this space……



RECYCLING IN DEVON

Locally here in Teignbridge we pioneered modern recycling, and despite initial hostility residents have responded magnificently and Teignbridge is a national leader in this field. Most readers will know that. Devon County has also been a leading authority in green issues and it is my hope and intention that it should remain so. Back in June we Lib Dems were (sadly) replaced as the administration in Devon by the Conservatives, though I was delighted to hold my own seat with a good majority (many thanks to all concerned!!!) In the time since the election the administration has been putting together a policy statement of intent, called, “Investing in our Devon”…..a strategic plan 2009 – 2013. It’s publically available and while it is rather “apple pie and motherhood” it is all we have to go on.

Following the June elections I was delighted to be elected to the post of Chairman of the Environment, Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee. I know that’s a bit of a mouth full, but it means that I Chair the committee responsible for commenting on the administrations policies. We are sometimes known as a “critical friend”. All that’s a bit of a ramble I acknowledge, so why am I saying it?

I want to put on record what the Conservatives are planning for our precious environment and, in the fullness of time, we can all see what has, or has not been achieved. Under the heading “Reduce Waste, improve recycling and reduce landfill……they state that their pledge is by 2013 to have “Worked together to reach our recycling target of 57%”.

At the first opportunity I suggested that as Teignbridge and South Hams were already recycling more than that and that Devon’s current figure is 54.6% it wasn’t particularly ambitious to only want to add 2.4% in 4 years. The Tories didn’t agree and have kept to the 57% figure. My argument is that a 60% figure is more ambitious, more challenging and, yes, may well require more effort on the part of some to make that target. Consequently I raised the issue again at another environmental committee at County, where this committee voted in favour of my proposition that 60% was a more meaningful target. It is now up to the administration to accept or reject that advice…….those voting against at that committee were all Conservatives, so I don’t live with great expectations. Make no mistake despite what their national leader would have us believe, at local level there is precious little environmental sympathy or understanding from the Conservatives. To help local district councils do this they have withheld a centrally administered grant of £411,000 which traditionally (and certainly under the Lib Dems) was passed down to the districts to help with this vital work.

What other targets do they offer?

Target: Reducing carbon emissions by 2.1% per year.

I recently signed the 10.10 pledge on behalf of Teignbridge which sets us a target of 10% cut THIS YEAR! Again, even if we don’t make 10% how much better to have failed at 7, 8 or 9% than succeeded at 2.1….again a feeble commitment in my view to the critical issue of protecting our environment, and indeed saving the planet for generations as yet unborn.

Target: Reduced the number of potholes by 30%. Admirable. It means that if there are 10 potholes 3 will be filled by 2013. I know the local highways department are working hard to fill potholes(and I have reported many and am always keen to hear from you about potholes…..or anything else for that matter…..) but a significant increase in current budget projections will be needed if that is to be achieved. Again, watch this space.

Target: Made major road improvements to unlock economic potential, such as the Kingskerswell bypass…..We all know this is a major debating point and it has been going on for a long long time now. In my opinion the one measure that has not been tried and should have been prior to any multi million pound expenditure on a very dubious project, would be to simply switch off the traffic lights at Jury’s Corner for long periods of the day if not all the time. When I called for this action it was rejected. When recently the lights failed traffic congestion was at it’s lowest in living memory……

I could go on……and probably will…..

Gordon Hook

Tuesday 2 February 2010

FIVE STAR PUBLIC LOOS SCOOP NATIONAL AWARDS

Teignbridge Council is flushed with success at the news that five public loos in the district have been awarded 5-star ‘Loo of the Year’ Awards – the highest possible grading in the national competition.

Every year since 1987 the Loo of the Year Awards, run independently and promoted by the British Toilet Association, have celebrated the best quality public loos across the country. This year all five of Teignbridge Council’s entries have achieved top marks, placing them as among the cleanest, highest quality loos in the country.

The five-star winners are:

· Abbotskerswell
· Cricketfield Road Car Park, Newton Abbot
· Market Walk, Newton Abbot
· The Lawn Public Conveniences, Dawlish
· The Den Public Conveniences, Teignmouth

The results follow a rigorous judging process which examined a number of key components. This included cleanliness, hygiene equipment, air quality, signage, décor, maintenance, provision of fixtures and fittings, security, accessibility, and overall management & care.

There was further success for Teignbridge at the Awards when both Teignmouth Den and Market Walk loos also picked up awards for ‘Attendant of the Year’. Attendant Raymond Murrin-Pyne received the nod for his work at Teignmouth Den, while in Newton Abbot the award went jointly to attendants Christine Wines and David Moss.

Cricketfield Road in Newton Abbot was also named as one of the top three most accessible loos in the country, a special award which recognises the importance of disabled access to public conveniences. The loo has recently been the first in the district to become ‘Changing Places’ certified, offering a changing place for visitors with profound disabilities and their carers.

Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge Executive Spokesperson for Environmental Services said:

“We work hard to ensure that public conveniences in Teignbridge are of the best quality and as clean as possible, and these awards are a welcome indication that we’re achieving these aims in many public loos.
 “Public conveniences are consistently among the services that local people tell us they most value, and in Teignbridge people have the right to only expect the best.”


In Teignbridge much of the credit for keeping public loos clean goes to Specialist Hygiene Services (SHS), the cleaning contractor employed by Teignbridge Council.

Philip Hillier, Director of SHS said:

“This is a full team effort between Specialist Hygiene Services and Teignbridge, and these awards are a tribute to the dedication and hard work of our supervision and cleaning team in the often difficult and dirty job of dealing daily with all manner of issues in local loos. They can all feel as justly proud of their contribution to this success, as we are of them. Well done to all.

 
“It is our privilege to have worked with the Council team for many years in providing a first-class service and working hard to keep the loos in a condition which means residents and visitors alike can benefit from safety and comfort."

Thursday 14 January 2010

COUNCIL ENCOURAGES LOCAL COMMITMENT TO CUTTING CARBON EMISSIONS

Local people have an opportunity to help cut carbon in Teignbridge by 10% in 2010, and Teignbridge Council is encouraging as many as possible to join it in signing up for this 10:10 initiative.

The 10:10 initiative is a nationwide scheme which encourages individuals, businesses and other organisations to make a pledge to cut their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. This would be an important first step in helping the entire country meet longer term targets for reducing carbon, a commonly accepted cause of climate change.
Teignbridge, which is also one of the smallest councils in the country to have developed a Carbon Management Plan with The Carbon Trust, has already signed up for the scheme, and this week will be helping local people to do the same.

Teignbridge will be officially launching its own efforts to crack down on carbon as 2010 gets underway, and from Tuesday 5th - Friday 8th January will be hosting a 10:10 event every day during business hours at its Forde House headquarters. The events will provide the opportunity for local people to sign up to try their best to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, with staff happy to provide hints, tips and advice in cutting carbon. The council is encouraging everybody to come along and pick up further information about the initiative, get some ideas about how to reduce carbon emissions and sign up.

Among the tips to help get everyone carbon cutting are using energy saving light bulbs, shopping locally, driving less, switching off appliances left on standby, or reducing the amount of waste they throw away. Even these small steps can help to achieve a 10% reduction in carbon emissions, and can also save people money.

Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge Executive Spokesperson for Environmental Services said:

"We're dedicated to tackling climate change and helping make Teignbridge an environmentally friendly place to live. Cutting carbon not only helps achieve this aim, but it can also save money for individuals, families and organisations. We can't kid ourselves that a 10% reduction is enough in the long term, but to achieve this figure in 2010 would be a great boost in the longer term fight against climate change and in our efforts to keep costs down.

"Whatever your views on climate change, cutting carbon will undoubtedly help many people save money, breathe cleaner air, and sustain the planet's natural resources for longer. I'd hope that alone is enough to persuade people to do their bit, and I look forward to seeing local people join us in the bid to cut emissions by 10% in 2010.

"If you're in the area please do drop by our offices to find out more, or if you'd like to start by saving a journey you can log on to www.1010uk.org to find out more and sign up."

Teignbridge's commitment to 10:10 builds on many previous successes in reducing its carbon footprint. In the last few years the Council has invested in a number of projects which are intended to reduce carbon emissions. In recent years projects include installing energy saving chemical pool covers at leisure centres, becoming the first council in the country to use eco-friendly refuse vehicles, scrapping staff bins in favour of communal office recycling facilities (helping it recycle over 70% of office waste), trialling kerbside recycling collections for plastic bottles, introducing new thermostatic controls in its Council Chamber, installing new insulation for many of its heating pipes and much more. Already its Carbon Management Programme produces ongoing annual carbon savings of 256 tonnes and financial savings of £45k, and reducing emissions a further 10% in 2010 will help improve these results even further.
To find out more about 10:10 visit http://www.1010uk.org/

New Year Resolution for 2010. The 10:10 pledge

Teignbridge Council, strongly committed to environmental protection as it is, recently signed up to the 10:10 pledge and I would like to invite all readers to do the same as their individual New Year Resolution for 2010. The 10:10 pledge involves individuals and organisations committing themselves to reducing their carbon footprints by 10% during 2010 and thus helping in the fight against Climate Change.

It will not be easy for Teignbridge or any other organisation to meet the target but we certainly won’t if we don’t try. Now is the moment for more of us to commit to taking greater responsibility for our individual actions, and irrespective of individually held views on mans impact (or otherwise) on Climate Change.

 Reducing our use of the worlds finite resources and living a more sustainable lifestyle simply must make sense, for the environment, our economy and for our children and grandchildren. If a family or a business (or a council) can save 10% of their carbon footprint that will also represent a significant reduction in expenditure….which must be worth thinking about irrespective of the environmental benefits! Consider for a moment your annual fuel bill….electricity/gas/petrol/miles flown…..take 10% off and consider what you might do with the extra cash in hand?

The 10:10 pledge can be made online or by signing up personally at Forde House, Brunel Road in the first week of the New Year. I hope to see 1,000’s there…..please come and join me.

Gordon Hook

Teignbridge District Councillor: Environment PH.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Air Improvement Plans for More Teignbridge Areas

Three areas in Teignbridge are to benefit from actions to improve air quality following their designation as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot; Newton Road, Kingsteignton; and Oakford Cross, Kingsteignton will be included in an amended version of an existing AQMA for Newton Abbot Town Centre. This means these areas had higher levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air when they were last tested.

Teignbridge constantly monitors air quality levels across the district and uses computer modelling to predict how the pollution from traffic will disperse, enabling it to identify areas where air quality is likely to be poorer. Every three years it reports on levels of nitrogen dioxide in residential areas around Teignbridge and considers whether any areas need to be included in AQMAs.

The good news for areas designated as AQMAs is that there will be active steps taken to improve air quality as part of an Air Quality Action Plan (required by the Environment Act 1995). Teignbridge is currently preparing an Action Plan for all of its AQMAs, and will be consulting on the plan with local people in coming months. The draft Action Plan has already been approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and has been prepared alongside Devon County Council as the authority responsible for traffic and roads.

Much of the action to help improve air quality would be taken by Devon County Council as highways authority. Likely measures to help improve it could include altering road junctions and looking at whether signal controlled junctions would improve traffic flow and reduce pollution. Teignbridge Council would also help by using planning agreements, known as Section 106 agreements, to secure money from developers for schemes that may have an impact on air quality. This money could then be used to fund measures to reduce pollution.

Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge Executive Spokesperson for Environmental Services said:

“We do our utmost to provide a clean environment, and while traffic is a fact of life, we do have a duty to make sure that pollution from exhausts does not have negative effects on residential communities. By identifying AQMAs we can clearly see where air quality is an issue and prepare plans to help make it better.

“I am concerned that the air we breathe can cause people, the very young and the elderly in particular, to suffer ill health. We can all do little things to improve air quality - drive cars less, walk, cycle or use public transport more. The council is very keen to explore with local communities ways of improving the situation and a full consultation exercise will soon follow.

 “We all need to work together to drive pollution down, and we’ll be doing our bit to help.”

Thursday 27 August 2009

Voter Registration 2009/10 - Don't lose your right to vote!

On 25th August Teignbridge Council will be posting voter registration forms to all 57,000 households within the district, marking the start of this year's annual canvass of electors. Households will be required to submit details of all eligible persons who will be resident at a property on the qualifying date of 15th October 2009.