Cllr Mark A Kirk

It has been a very busy last week or so and I thought I would blog on everything that has gone on.  Last Wednesday we had full council of which there was plenty of good news to announce. The Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny panel presented a fantastic report on domestic violence, while North Lincs Homes have promised to look at the issue of leaseholders. The chief executive also told members how the council has been rated as one of the best in the country.

During the meeting I announced that despite the alleged 'credit crunch' we will not be introducing huge council tax rises next year. Since North Lincs came into being we've consistently been lower than the Tories. The Tories had four years in power, during a period of economic boom - and yet they put tax bills up year on year. An average of 4.6 per cent. Disgraceful.  Labour, however, set a careful budget in February and we put money aside for a rainy day, giving us flexibilities if we need them. With no money saved by the Tories we'd have faced panic - job cuts, service cuts - cuts, cuts, cuts. Thanks to the careful attitude of this council and the hard work of officers I am confident we will come in on budget - despite extra financial pressures that we all face. I can give an assurance that council tax bills next year will not put any extra burden on the taxpayer. We won't force 4.6 per cent increases on people like the Tories did that's for sure.

On Friday I visited The Foundry as the council held a consultation event over the weekend to show off the plans for the new entertainment venue. There was a steady stream of people interested in what we are doing and I would like to thank everyone who came and had a look. Most were positive and even the other comments were very worthwhile. I would urge anyone who has a question to email me or leave a comment and a contact email address on this blog and I will get back to them.

On Friday I also attended the anniversary of John Leggott College which was attended by Ed Balls the Government minister.

Many people turned up to the event and we should be very proud to have such an excellent educational facility on our doorstep.

And on top of that our fight to remove the Humber Bridge tolls continues and I would again urge everyone reading this to write to the board to call for a public inquiry!

If you're planning to object to the latest toll increase to cross the Humber Bridge, you only have until Monday 6 October to do so. If you do object, the chances are the increase, which would take place almost immediately, will be put on hold while the Government orders a local public inquiry to consider objections.

The Humber Bridge Board wants to see an increase in the tolls for all classes of vehicle - for a return car trip the cost would be £5.80 and for the largest HGV, £39.80.

To object you just have to give your reason why the planned increase is not something you can support. Your letter has to go 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.

If you want to see a local public inquiry held, please say so in your letter.

Attached below is a letter template you may wish to use to submit your objection.

• Bridge tolls letter template [MS Word] (20k)

I was delighted to read in The Times newspaper today that North Lincolnshire Council is among the best in the UK. The paper has published its Best Councils To Work For annual list and this Labour-run authority is said to be the 24th best in the UK out of more than 400. The list is based on the views of employees and the the policies and processes of employers - in effect, we have been judged by our very own staff.

More details can be viewed here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/specials/best_councils/ 

What makes this achievement even better is that we are the highest ranked council in the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region and we are the second largest authority on the top 25 list. With gross expenditure of £290-million only Aberdeenshire Council, with £512-million, did better.

The council has been congratulated for encouraging staff to take part in voluntary activities, flexible working and job sharing. We have also been congratulated for having a low staff turnover of 7 per cent and the level of communication between staff and managers.

This is an incredible achievement. I am very proud to be the leader one of the best councils in the country and I'm very thankful to our staff for the work they do and the major part they have played in achieving this accolade. The Times report states the quality of a council's services is linked to its staff and so this is an important way to benchmark how well we work with employees. When Labour came to power in May 2007 we made a commitment to ensure our staff are well looked after and I think this survey proves that. We want people to be proud of working for the council.

Well done!

The chief executive of the council, Simon Driver, and myself have sent a letter formally objecting to the Humber Bridge Board's request for Government approval to increase tolls again.  It follows Wednesday's Cabinet meeting when members agreed that the latest increase cannot be supported.

The joint letter (attached below) asks Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, to consider how another increase would further damage business and investment confidence and the financial difficulties local residents face in meeting the heavy costs.

• A copy of the letter sent to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, from the leader of the council and chief executive can be viewed here [PDF] (49.9k).

It is estimated 80 per cent of all traffic on the Humber Bridge is local to the both banks. Around £21-million is collected in tolls each year, but only £3-million is needed to cover the cost of operating the bridge. The balance goes to pay off the bridge debt. So around £17-million a year leaves the area.

I hope as many organisations and individuals as possible contact the Secretary of State. If you would like to see a public inquiry held into the Bridge Board's plans to increase tolls please write to the following address:

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.

If you want to see a local public inquiry held, please say so in your letter.

Attached below is a letter template you may wish to use to submit your objection.

• Bridge tolls letter template [MS Word] (20k)

You have until Monday 6 October 2008 to object.

Local residents have the chance to ask me a question as the leader of the council at the meeting of the council on Wednesday at 6pm. On the agenda this time is a report of the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel following a review of domestic violence service provision and areas of vulnerability.  You can read this and other reports in the full agenda on the council website.  

And if you'd like to ask a question, please contact Mel Holmes on 01724 296230 or email: mel.holmes@northlincs.gov.uk by 9am on Tuesday 23 September.   The meeting will take place in the council chamber at Pittwood House, Ashby Road in Scunthorpe. You are most welcome to attend.

On Friday I attended the drop-in session at the Royal Hotel for invited local residents regarding the new Baths Hall department. There was a good turnout and the comments were generally positive which is very pleasing.  I took a few photographs to illustrate the day:

I am very excited with the way the new entertainment venue is developing. As always I welcome comments from local residents on what they think about the plans. And if anyone would like more information or to speak to someone in person about the plans we will have everything on display on Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27 at a unit in the Foundry shopping centre.

I am pleased to note the four Humber councils have joined together to tell Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, that another toll increase on the Humber Bridge cannot be supported.  The Humber Bridge Board is seeking Government approval to increase the toll, for all classes of vehicle, with immediate effect. There is a deadline of 6 October to object to the planned increase. If the increase is approved, the cost of a return car journey across the bridge will be £5.90. For the largest HGVs, the cost will be a staggering £39.80.

I met with the other council leaders in the region last week and we agreed to be united in terms of objecting to the proposals. Councillor Stephen Parnaby, chairman of the Unitary Leaders' Group, which represents the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull City, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire councils is to now contact Ruth Kelly making clear the planned increase should be rejected.

We need to sit down with Government ministers and find a way forward. We can debate the merits of scrapping the tolls completely or reducing them to a level that commands public support. What we can't have is tolls at this level.

A copy of the letter sent to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, by Councillor Stephen Parnaby can be viewed here (23.2kb).

A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in regard to the new entertainment venue on the site of the Baths Hall and today new images have been released to the public. Some of these plans are below and I would welcome thoughts and comments on them.

I am very excited with the progress we have made. The new building will incorporate either 2,000 people standing or 1,200 people seated. It will be multi-purpose meaning we can have rock concerts, pantomime, dance, workshops, conferences - everything. Building work should start next summer and completed by October 2010.

Yesterday members of the council, of all political persuasions, were given a briefing by the officers involved and fully updated on what is happening. They were shown some of these photos:

Further photographs and plans can be viewed on the council's website at http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLincs/Leisure/entertainment/NewEntertainmentVenue/

North Lincolnshire Council looks set to join the protest against the planned increase in Humber Bridge tolls. As I have blogged before the Bridge Board are asking to increase the cost of a crossing by 20p each way.   The Humber Bridge tolls are already the highest anywhere in Britain.

The Bridge Board wants to increase the cost as soon as possible and an October 6 deadline has been set for objections. A paper is being put to the council's Cabinet next week to formally object to the plans. The council has consistently made clear its view on the damage the tolls have on its residents and the economic prospects for the area. I support this view and oppose any further increases in the cost of the tolls. It is hoped if enough people object a public inquiry will be held.

To object to the planned increases you must write, giving brief reasons, to:

Secretary of State for Transport,

C/O Mr Julian Smith

Road Safety 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