Member of Staffordshire County Council representing Lichfield Rural East – Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing

Central government criticism over children not getting their first choice of school unfounded in Staffordshire

Across the Midlands the average number of families not getting their first choice of secondary school for September was one in six meaning about 86% were successful.

Difficult for those who didn’t but not always easy for local authorities to make things fit. That said in Staffordshire the School Admissions Unit did somewhat better achieving 97% of first choices for the near 7000 families who were hoping for the best.

That was a 4% improvement over last year and nearly 10% better than the last Labour administration for Staffordshire managed. Clearly still not easy for the 3% that didn’t here but the County Council was amongst the very best in the UK, so pretty good.

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HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is important to our county as well as our country…

But times are tough financially and I know that parish councils, in the main, are keen to keep council tax to a minimum meaning a bit of help from me via my Local Community Fund might just be helpful.

With that in mind I’ve set aside £2300 for local areas within Lichfield Rural East that can specifically be used for anything to celebrate the Jubilee. The money will come from my Local Community Fund and the rules for the Jubilee funding will be the same as the normal scheme.

The funding will be made available to parish councils and the amount will be based on each area’s population.

I’ve written to all parish councils in the patch and if they aren’t arranging anything they can nominate a recognised community group to use the funding.

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Nice to make it down to the last five from two hundred and fifty or so nominations…

Main reason for this post is to thank the several dozen people who wished me good luck on the night either by email or site comments.

It was really well attended and was actually a great chance to do some networking with colleagues from other parts of the country.

As I say, sadly didn’t get the award but good that the work on healthcare services in Staffordshire has at least been noted.

A welcome surprise which could mean a problem for Prowind’s intentions near Haunton…

Certainly vastly better for the Mease Valley than the Planning Inspector supporting Severn Trent Water in their appeal to build a single wind turbine in Hammerwich. And well done Lichfield District Council for holding their nerve!!

Also, the main reasons for the Appeal dismissal appear very similar to the main issues in opposing Prowind’s previous and potential new application.

Is this why the company have delayed their plans to put the new application in sooner?

But it certainly is a boost for the campaign against the Prowind plans which could so easily end up with the flood gates opening to dozens of massive wind turbines across southern Staffordshire.

I met recently with local campaigners, Cllr Sue Arnold, from the District Council, as well as Parish Councillors from Edingale, Clifton Campville and Harlaston to discuss the way forward. Clearly, the Appeal decision was crucial to future tactics.

I also wrote out to all eleven parish councils in the Lichfield Rural East area to advise them of the risk of proliferation far wider than the Mease Valley. I’m pleased so many of those are now actively engaged with the Mease Valley councils. So, positive news but a long way to go!

View the Inspector’s Planning Appeal Decision. Find out what’s on the Internet about the wind farm proposals here.

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