Cllr Mark A Kirk

On Sunday the council raised a special flag to commemorate the handover of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London. The Mayor of North Lincs, Cllr Ishaq Jawaid, raised the flag outside Pittwood House.  The 2012 Olympics promises to not only be a fantastic event but a huge boost to the whole of the UK.  We are currently building a new sports complex at Brumby Hall and have plans to redevelop Quibell Park. It is hoped that we may be able to get Olympic athletes training here in North Lincolnshire. With the fantastic achievements of our Olympic team I hope it will encourage local residents to use the facilities we have on our doorstep.

I was disappointed to read today of the plans by the Humber Bridge Board to increase the cost of a one-way car crossing by 20p to £2.90.  I have been at the forefront of the campaign to remove the cost of crossing the bridge and I strongly object to any further rises.

If the scheme goes ahead the new pricing structure will come into force in October. However, people can object and if enough constructive objections are submitted this could mean a local enquiry would have to be held into the proposed rises.

If you wish to object to the plans, you must write, giving your reasons for opposing the rise to:

Secretary of State for Transport, c/o Mr Julian Smith

Road Strategy Division

Department for Transport

Zone 3/05, Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DR

You also have to send a copy of your letter to:

The Humber Bridge Board

c/o Mr P Dearing

Kingston Upon Hull City Council

Legal Service

Guildhall

Hull

HU1 2AA

All objections must be received by the Secretary of State for Transport, and the Humber Bridge Board by October 6.

I am pleased to report the Government has approved North Lincolnshire's Local Area Agreement (LAA) and said it is ‘excellent'. The LAA sets out how the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) - a mix of private, public and voluntary organisations - will help improve services and people's quality of life.  The Local Strategic Partnership has agreed with the Government's 35 ambitious targets to meet over the next three years (2008-11).

The Local Area Agreement concentrates on improving services by key partners e.g. police, health and local businesses working together. North Lincolnshire Council and its partners in the LSP have produced the document that paves the way forward to a better North Lincolnshire for everyone. Among other things, it aims to:

• Improve skills and provide more jobs for local people
• Reduce crime
• Reduce waste and pollution
• Improve health
• Reduce inequalities.

The area-wide plan involves a whole range of organisations working together to take the area forward and improve people's quality of life. We have set ourselves some very challenging targets to meet over the next few years. The Government's seal of approval will enable us deliver our ambitious plan.

The beauty of the Local Area Agreement is that it will help devolve decision making and reduce bureaucracy. This makes sense and enables us to concentrate on the things that matter locally.  We are already working on a number of key things that will make a real difference to people's lives. We have seen some pleasing results such as reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, and improved health.

Together with our partners, we have some big challenges ahead of us and I am confident that we can achieve them and continue the good work that is already taking place.

Work on the new Baths Hall has finally begun!  I have blogged on many occasions about the need for a new venue and a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to make it happen. Now work is taking place at the site for all to see. 

The work involves knocking down the main structure of the building. But the original frontage - important to the area's heritage - will remain.  A 50 tonne high-reach demolition machine is being used to pull down the unwanted buildings.  As the work was carried out I took a couple of photographs.

This is a major investment that will put North Lincolnshire on the map in the entertainment field. The Baths Hall is a great building that is close to many people's hearts and that is why we are keeping the original frontage. It is time for a change and what will replace the old Baths Hall, will be a far better, more modern facility than what was there before. What we will see, when work is finished, is a fantastic entertainment venue that will better meet the needs of people and is what they deserve.

I was delighted to discover the Civic Trust has awarded three North Lincolnshire Council parks in Scunthorpe its coveted Green Flag Award - putting them among the very best parks in the country. Sheffield Park and Kingsway gardens have previously been given the award and now Woodlands Crematorium in Scunthorpe joins this elite club.

The 'green flag' is the equivalent to the 'blue flags' for clean beaches. Of the 22 councils in the Yorkshire and Humber region, only five have more than three green flags.  It sends out a major statement that we have top quality open spaces in North Lincolnshire.  I would like to congratulate everyone involved in winning this award.