Hemlington Ward Councillor (Labour)

Executive Member for Resources

Middlesbrough’s Member Champion for Efficiency and Procurement

Telephone: 01642 591473

E-mail: nicola_walker@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Living in the centre of the Ward I’ve continued to work closely with residents of Hemlington on a day to day basis. Generally, we meet whilst I’m walking around the area, in the local shopping centre or at community meetings. Others contact me by telephone, at my Ward Surgeries or increasingly by e-mail.

Over the year I have formally followed up 128 individual issues with the Council (over 80% of the total for Hemlington Ward). Far more than this number has involved answering residents’ queries directly at point of contact and many have also been referred to Erimus Housing, who manage the former Council housing stock.

I have regularly attended community meetings, participated in local events and estate "walk-abouts", worked with various community organisations, neighbourhood management and worked closely with our local MP.

I believe that real improvements have been made in our area over the last year, but there is still a lot of work to do.

On the Council I have held the post of Executive Member for Resources for the third year running, with responsibility for finance, budgets, Housing/Council Tax benefits, procurement and asset management within Middlesbrough’s Executive/Cabinet.

The Council managed within budget for the third year running, reported the highest efficiency savings of any Council in the country, in relation to the purchase of goods and services, and delivered the lowest percentage increase in Council Tax in Middlesbrough for four years. Efficient and effective use of resources and delivering value for money has helped Middlesbrough retain its status as an ‘excellent’ 4-star Council, one of only 22 in the country.

In my annual report last year I set 4 key aims as a Ward Councillor and 4 as Executive Member for Resources. As a Ward Councillor:

1. Better Leisure Facilities

Following consultation with the local community, the former Council Depot, next to the Recreation Centre, is to be used to provide outdoor pursuits.

Canoeing and water sports are to start again on the lake.

A brand new, purpose-built, £1.2 million Surestart building has just opened on Cass House Road, providing facilities for the up to 5’s and their families, offering play and numerous other facilities.

A new play area on Hill 42, near to the Aviemore and Beckenham estates, has been built with money I secured for Hemlington and swings have also been added.

A junior youth club has been run at the recreation centre and a Junior Activity Club (JACs) is to seek to extend provision for the 5-12 year olds and has held a successful inaugural event.

Funding has been won for the Extended Schools Programme, which aims to give wider services for young people and the community. Hemlington has benefited from a share of the Big Lottery fund in this respect.

Linx continues to provide leisure opportunities for young people and Hemlington Community Partnership run a song and dance group.

2. Work with and support of local groups throughout Hemlington

• Member and current Chair of Hemlington Detached Youth Work Project (Linx)
• Member of Hemlington Community Partnership Board
• Member and current Chair of Hemlington and Newham Surestart Board
• Member of Hemlington Neighbourhood Management Steering Group and Multi-Agency Group
• Member of Viewley Centre Improvement Group
• Regular attendance at Dodford Futures Residents’ Association
• Regular attendance at Beckenham Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum
• Regular attendance at Earls Court Forum
• Regular attendance at Fordyce Forum
• Attend Area 4 Tenants’ Panel

• Brightening up Hemlington by the planting of flowers on roundabouts, in the shopping centre and around the lake.
• More street lighting.
• An improved junk job service for the more rapid removal of bulky items.
• A ‘rapid response’ team to target removal of dumped items and bonfires.
• Chicanes and bollards at various points in Hemlington to reduce cars and motorbikes driving on footpaths.
• Car parks resurfaced around the Viewley Centre and brickwork replaced with railings.
• Pensioners to receive free bus pass from April 2006.
• Kerbside recycling boxes introduced in Hemlington.

As Executive Member for Resources:

1. Over £5 Million of efficiency savings

All Councils are required by the Government to make efficiency gains each year. These must be real efficiencies – not cuts in services to the public. £5,043,000 of efficiency savings were delivered during 2005/2006. This is in excess of the Government target of £3.47 million. Of these savings £3,424,000 have been available to be reinvested in front-line services, the remainder represent increased productivity, rather than cash savings. This is in addition to savings of over £2 million reported in July 2005 in relation to efficiency in the purchase of goods and services in 2004/2005. This figure was the highest of any council in the country.

2. Address challenges faced by Social Services and Children & Early Years’ Budgets and Building Schools for the Future

All services managed within budget during the year and the Council as a whole delivered within budget. Robust budget monitoring processes were built on and I continued to chair the quarterly budget clinics. In addition, I paid particular attention to pressures within Social Services and the services transferred to Children Family and Learning. I meet with the service area on a monthly basis to address pressures arising from a demand-led service relating to vulnerable children. Over recent years it has become clear that there have been real evidenced growth areas, both in relation to children and adults social services. The budget for 2006/2007 includes additional resources to alleviate these pressures. I am a member of the steering group for Building Schools for the Future. Over the last year it has been important to identify an affordable option which will deliver some new secondary schools and major refurbishment of others. It was also important that the impact of this project would not have an adverse effect on other services offered to the people of Middlesbrough. Much progress has been made on addressing this ‘affordable gap’ and resources have been made available within the 2006/2007 budget to cover essential initial costs of professional fees.

3. Minimise Council Tax increases

Middlesbrough received a 2.1% increase in funding from central government, but was faced with a 2.95% increase in salaries arising from the national pay award. However, partially due to some of the factors already highlighted, a budget was delivered with no cuts in service, but over £5 million of additional investment in front-line services, such as the street wardens service, a rapid response environment team, free bus passes for pensioners and people with disabilities. The Council Tax increase of 4.7% was the lowest for four years. Consultation took place with the people of Middlesbrough in four areas of the town, with Councillors and with other key stakeholders before the budget was set.

4. Promote value for money

Council Meeting Attendance Record:

The above reflects attendance at formal meetings of the Council or parts of the Council to which I have been appointed.

I have also attended most meetings of scrutiny panel relevant to my role(s).

Within the North East region, I represent Middlesbrough on the North East Purchasing Organisation and North East Centre for Excellence.

I have attended ten Members’ Seminars on topics covering a variety of issues and have been involved with the presentation of those relating to Resources. I have also attended three regional events offering development for Councillors.

In the Ward:

1. Work with community, wardens and others to address anti-social behaviour.
2. Further improvements around the shops and lake area.
3. Continue to address environmental issues.
4. Improved condition of footpaths.

As Executive Member for Resources:

1. Ensure that the Council spends within budget.
2. Minimise Council Tax increases.
3. Improve Housing Benefit Performance.
4. Enhanced efficiency and value for money.