Change in Control after Election Results - Bassetlaw District Council

6 www.bassetlaw.gov.ukView from theparishesBy District Council member for Welbeck,Patricia Douglas,There has been a lot of importantwork done in the past on ruralissues. The Bassetlaw DistrictCouncil’s booklet, Working with RuralCommunities explains some of theachievements to date. The Council’soverall business plan commits toinvesting in our rural economy so thewhole district can benefit from growth,not just the urban areas. It is alsoaccessing up to £750,000 LEADERfunding for rural small business andis supporting rural conservation anddiversification initiatives.However the Council doesn’t have aspecific policy or strategy for rural issues.Considering that 1/3 of Bassetlaw’spopulation (47 500 people) live outsideof Retford or Worksop, it’s reallyimportant that rural issues become anintegral part of any core plan for thefuture of Bassetlaw. Otherwise, thereis a danger in these difficult times thatrural communities will suffer.The future of rural communities inBassetlaw is in the balance. With themigration of younger people, the lackof jobs, limited affordable homes andineffective public transport we could seeour villages mainly made up of olderpeople, which may mean the weakeningof the social fabric of the ruralcommunity through the loss of schools,post offices, pubs and shops.It is really important that rural life ishigh on the agenda and that we explorehow to address the issues of migrationof young people, employment,affordable housing and public transportto ensure our villages remain vibrantand socially and economically sound.The announcement that thegovernment plans to give more powersto parish councils to manage localconcerns like these is to be welcomed.However, at this stage, the detail hasyet to be provided and it is to be hopedthat Parish Councils will be properlyequipped to tackle the local problemsthey have identified.Of course, this can never be donein isolation as we shall continue torely heavily on the District Council toprovide many services, as well as theadvice and support needed to dealeffectively with matters that are oftenmuch more complex than they mightseem at first.New Handy Scheme for Older PeopleWe have improvedBassetlaw PAS(Preventative AdaptationsService) by joining up with ourneighbouring councils to form thenew HPAS or Handy persons andPreventative Adaptations Service.Thanks to this new countywideservice, older people’s prospects forgetting small jobs done around thehome just got a whole lot better.Since joining the countywide schemein November 2010 Bassetlaw residentshave been benefiting from a widerrange of services. Whether it’s fitting acurtain rail, replacing a door lock, fixinga dripping tap or installing grab railsand/or a half step to aid mobility, thenew service helps residents to maintaintheir properties, prevent falls andsupport them to stay in theirown homes.Mr and Mrs J of Worksop recently hadtwo grab rails and a half step installedby the scheme. Mr J (85), who sufferswith painful knee joints, said he feltmuch safer going in and out of hisback door. Both Mr and Mrs J considerthemselves to be very independent butthey were very grateful to HPAS and thetrader who made sure the adaptationsBassetlaw District Council isencouraging private landlords in thearea to sign up to an accreditationscheme showing that their propertiesare high quality and well maintained, sothat tenants can rent in confidence.Private landlords play an essentialrole in providing accommodationacross Bassetlaw District, with manyrented properties being of high qualityand maintained above the standardrequired by law. By joining the scheme,quality landlords will gain a competitiveadvantage in letting their properties astenants ask themselves the question: Whyrent from a landlord who isn’t accreditedwhen you can rent from one that is?The Council is working in partnershipwith the East Midlands Landlordsmet their needs.This subsidised service is available topeople who either have a disability orare over the age of 60. For just £10,service users will get either up to fourhours’ work from a local handy personor the installation of up to £250 worthof adaptations. Service users will needto provide the materials for any handyperson job but adaptation equipment(eg grab rail) is provided at no cost tothe service user.“I’m delighted to see this new handyAccreditation Scheme (EMLAS) thatgives three years FREE membership toqualifying Landlords if accreditation isapplied for by 1st April 2012.Councillor Alan Rhodes, Portfolio Holderfor Housing at Bassetlaw District Councilsaid: “Anything that drives up standardsfor tenants in the private rented sectoris a good thing. By choosing an EMLASaccredited landlord you can haveconfidence that the property meets qualitystandards set by the Council.”Landlords can benefit from: Free threeyear membership, free advertising space inA1 Housing Property Shops, Free E-Bulletinwith advice and information on all aspectsof the private rented sector, recognitionfor landlords who provide a high standardof accommodation and service and freepersons’ servicein Bassetlaw” saidCouncillor AlanRhodes. “I knowthe PreventativeAdaptations Servicewas a huge success and the additionalhandy person-type jobs will help evenmore people to continue living safely intheir own homes.” he added.HPAS uses local traders fromNottinghamshire County Council’sBuy With Confidence approved tradersregister. This ensures that not only doesthe local economy benefit from theCouncils’ investment in the scheme butservice users can also have confidencein the trader carrying out the work.Nottinghamshire County Councilco-ordinate the scheme, whichis funded by the county’s sevenDistrict and Borough Councils, NHSNottinghamshire County, NHSBassetlaw, Nottinghamshire Fire andRescue Service, Nottinghamshire Policeand the County Council.Anyone wishing to use the handypersons and adaptations service shouldcall Nottinghamshire County Council’sCustomer Services Centre on08449 80 80 80.Accreditation Scheme benefits landlords and tenantsSafe rating for Bassetlaw car parksSix of Bassetlaw District Council’s 20 car parks have againbeen awarded the Park Mark award for safer parking.Park Mark is an award given by the Police to car parksthat have achieved the standards of the ‘Safer ParkingScheme’ risk assessment conducted by the police. Thisscheme is designed to reduce crime and the fear of crime in car parks.According to Parking Management officer, Denis Scaife, “These car parks havemeasures in place that deter criminal activity and create a safer environment forboth you and your vehicle.“Newgate Street West, Caste Hill, Town Hall and Queen Street in Worksop andNew Street and Chancery Lane North in Retford have been given the award sofar.. We’re expecting others to be given the award soon.”Parking Manager Denis Scaife with Councillor David Pressleyinspecting one of Bassetlaws’ 20 car parks.training seminars.Tenants can benefitfrom: knowing thatthey are rentingfrom a reputablelandlord, identified bya quality mark award,assurance that the property and servicewill be of decent standard and greaterinformation about properties availablefor renting.Any residential landlord with propertiesin Bassetlaw can apply to join thescheme. To join, or for further information,please contact: Gemma Maddock – Strategic HousingInformation Officer on 01909 534547 oremail strategic.housing@bassetlaw.gov.ukYou can also visit www.emlas.org.uk