Telford and Wrekin Council are announcing new and exciting improvements to the leisure facilities in Oakengates, Wellington and Madeley and are doing so proudly.

 

Whilst the leisure centres are busy signing up new memberships for use of the gym, they forget to tell them at the point of sale that each leisure facility will be closed for a period of a week at the point of sale.

 

Instead, they are sending out letters to each member and expecting each member to use one of the other facilities, fine, but you join to use the facility at Oakengates and you should not be expected to travel to Madeley or Wellington.

 

What Telford and Wrekin Council do not have, is a refund policy for time of closure but are expected to take each persons money for that week of closure.

 

Oakengates will be closed from 27^th May 2008 – 3^rd June 2008-05-13

Wellington will be closed from 9^th June – 16^th June 2008-05-13

Madeley will be closed from 23^rd June – 30^th June 2008

 

If these three Leisure centres have 10,000 members between them, it is estimated that the Council will receive £35,000 for a service they are not actually providing.

 

This is where the Trading Standards should now be talking with Ron Odunaiya Corporate Director Community Services and Cllr Denis Allen for not having the relevant policy, practice or procedure in place in the fact that the Leisure facilities are not informing new members at the point of sale about the planned closures and do not have a refund policy.

 

Telford and Wrekin Council are ripping enough from the pockets of residents without adding insult to injury.

 

I urge all members to stand up and say enough is enough and ask for the weeks refund.

 

Each member will receive a minimum of £3.50, but it is £3.50 the Council are not entitled to, should not be holding back especially when they have failed to implement correct policy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Venue for Telford and Wrekin Council Watch Shares will be arranged this week and several issues will be up for discussion.

 

The following has already started and is in the early days as we speak.

 

As already discussed in other topics, Telford and Wrekin has the highest number of untrained 16-17 year olds in the West Midlands and it is not a record to be proud of.

 

We have to take into consideration that it is likely these untrained 16-17 years are likely to become untrained 18, 19 20 year olds. This of course reduces their individual chances of gaining meaningful employment and increase their individual chances of becoming involved in crime or even a victim of crime.

 

Telford and Wrekin has a wealth of young people that could benefit not only from some investment, but also from simply being given a second chance.

 

It is my proposal that young people are given the opportunity to set up in a business of their own and this is where Share Holders will have an increasing part to play and an increased say.

 

I am already in the early stages of discussing and arranging further support, discounts and sponsorships with some national companies to hopefully drive this project forward.

 

Telford First is already providing a variety of services, with gardening and basic property maintenance being among it most popular.

    

Offering a variety of services, incentives, Loyalty Bonuses and discounts the idea can be used to set up young people with their own business.

 

With a small investment, young people can be given formal training, access to equipment and set up in their own territorial business under the banner of and with the help of Telford First and TCW shareholders.

 

Investment in young people in an innovative way, more details will be discussed at the Share Sales Meeting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was asked to go back to Sutton Hill for a brew and a walk round. I was my intention not to do any more in depth on this topic, but it makes sense just to follow up.

 

I was nice to wander around with a couple of residents and have a look at the Summer Hill area.

 

This area featured quite a lot in videos and Midlands Today and looked quite gloomy.

 

We had a stroll around and whilst the sun shinning had a positive impact, the fact that a clean up has occurred not only made the area look better and the cosmetic impact is obvious, but the impact that cannot be seen was felt, the feeling of safety has certainly started to return.

 

Its great to see something happening and steps being taken in the right direction.

 

Councillor Eric Carter said the Garage area would be clear in three months and I would suggest the clean up of the garage area was started and completed with in one month.

 

It is likely that lessons have been learnt from Sutton Hill and these lessons can only serve to benefit other areas as well.

 

The people I have spoken to today are feeling optimistic about the future of their estate and its great to see.

Dubious Petition

 

Great Dawley Parish Council held one of its infamous meetings last night, Thursday May 1^st.

 

Cllr Kuldip Sahota was elected as Chair with Parish Cllr Niki Holmes being elected as Vice Chair.

 

The meeting progressed through various points with the issue of the senior citizens Christmas Party being raised.

 

Kuldip Sahota said that

 

Unfortunately Cllr Kuldip Sahota has made a promise that the budget of Great Dawley Parish Council cannot afford. A budget of £10,000 has been set which now leaves Cllr Kuldip Sahota with an approximate shortfall of over £27,000.

 

The issue of the Christmas party continued as it became clear that current proposals set by Cllr Kuldip sahota and his colleagues mean 82% of senior citizens in Dawley would infact be excluded from a Christmas Party.

 

 In a recent meeting, MP David Wright agreed that the TAWPA proposals of allocating money or vouchers to each Senior Citizen was in fact the best idea.

 

MP David Wright agreed that by allocating money to each Senior Citizen was the fairest method and ensured that each Senior Citizen benefitted equally and the fact that an additional £10,000 was available to spend on Dawley High Street, it would actually pump prime additional spending which would be of benefit to local business and the Community.

 

 

Great Dawley Parish Council carried out a consultation but the method and wording of the questionnaire was not fully agreed, I have been around Dawley today speaking with a number of Senior Citizens who said they never received any consultation with regards the Christmas Party.

 

 

 

For sometime now TAWPA members have been trying to ensure fair play for all Senior Citizens in Dawley and MP David Wright agrees they have best overall proposal.

 

During the public session Borough Councillor Adrian Williams presented a Petition to Cllr Kuldip Sahota Chair of GDPC which had been signed by 420 Senior Citizens who agreed with fairness for all and that 82% should not be excluded from the Christmas Party. A number of the Senior Citizens also wrote about their own personal circumstances, some of these would bring a tear to your eyes.

 

After handing over the Petition Parish Cllr Shaun Davies said

 

 

This statement alone is not only an insult to the 420 Senior Citizens who signed and supported the petition, it is a slur on the efforts made by a registered political party and a slur on the Good Character of a Borough Councillor who also a Member of the Standards and Audit Committee.

 

I am informed that another complaint is being prepared to the Standard Board of England with regards the conduct of Parish Cllr Shaun Davies.