The South Woodham Ferrers Fire Service is the final 'Full Time Day Crew' operating within the Dengie Peninsula. With the downgrade from 'Full Time Day Crew' to 'On-call', we will likely see a drop in both availability and vital response times based off of current trends for the area. The Burnham-On-Crouch Fire Station facilitates an 'on-call' Service who in 2017 have been unavailable 39% of the time. Similarly, Tillingham 'on-call' Fire Service is unavailable 17% of the time. This is all due to a lack of available on-call firefighters during times of incident or emergency, and when these 'on-call' Stations are without adequate cover, it is currently the South Woodham 'Day Crew' who travel out to ensure the Stations are manned. Again, this is not an attack on 'on-call' Fire Stations, just highlighting the frequent levels of unavailability in comparison to Full Time in respect to our area (Dengie). A massive 44% of the South Woodham Ferrers Firefighter's activty is in neighbouring towns, highlighting how they currently plug the shortfall in required 'on-call' Firefighter cover. Only last month on 21/07/2017 our Firefighters had to race to Burnham-On-Crouch in order to free two people who'd been trapped in a car following an accident. So not only are we going to adopt the same model that currently sees select Dengie Stations regularly unmanned, but lose the Fire Service that is currently filling the gap in neighbouring town services. Despite our efforts, we have currently failed to obtain any detailed risk assessment carried out pertaining specifically to this downgrade. You should also know that in 2017, 64% of incidents across the Maldon district are responded to within 15 minutes. This has decreased from 72% the year before, and is far worse than the Essex average. All of the information above was obtained via the Freedom of Information Act. If anything we have stated is incorrect then we are happy to amend. This is illogical and dangerous, with us potentially sleepwalking into disaster.

The previous council administration in Angus went ahead with a re-organisation of recycling facilities across the county. As part of that, they planned to close Forfar and Kirriemuir recycling centres and build a 'superskip' at Padanaram. This would have cost thousands of pounds, led to a worse service, and it would have caused an increase in fly-tipping. It would have also blighted the local community in Padanaram. The plans simply didn't make sense. Following the council elections and public opposition, the new administration decided to pause the plans for 10 weeks to look at everything in detail once more, setting up a Members and Officers group which will come up with a new report. This is a welcome delay, but we are pushing the council to go further. If we can show public opposition to the plans in Forfar and Kirriemuir we can change these proposals. We don't believe the merger makes sense and at a time of cuts in public funding, won't save money. Please sign, and show your opposition to the plans.

Like many of us, I watched the recent airing of a BBC programme "The Week the Landlords Moved In" and felt a combination of sadness (for the tenants) and anger that Private Landlords - not all of them unscrupulous - profit fantastically from the Housing Benefits system. This is, after all, yours and my tax-payers' money that's being handed over, so let's make sure it's being put to better use and delivering value for money for all of us. It cannot be right that our hard-earned taxes are enriching that select few through the housing benefit system. If there are any financial surpluses created through these payments, then surely they should be channelled back into creating more Social Housing for those that need it.

Private agencies providing nurses , doctors and other health workers charge roughly 15 to 30 % more to provide 'agency' and locum staff. This represents a huge burden on the NHS finances , especially so given staff shortages generally. Recent news reports suggest that Jeremy Hunt has proposed a sell off of the NHS own in-house agency, NHSP, (NHS Professionals),leaving the Department of Health with a small minority share of any new company. Furthermore it would seem that this is being undertaken at a time of year when. Parliamentary scrutiny is less likely to occur, being 'slipped in ' during the summer recess. At the very least it is important that this is now put on hold to give an opportunity for plans to receive full public scrutiny. NHSP is an important arm of the NHS, providing valuable services in house and saving the NHS and taxpayer large sums of money. At a time when private agencies themselves have been subject to concern, the role of NHSP should be strengthened and not undermined. NB "NHS Professionals (NHSP) helps the health service in England tackle its staffing crisis by arranging for doctors and nurses on its books to cover shifts, to avoid gaps in rotas that could threaten patient safety. Labour has asked the National Audit Office to look into why Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is selling off a profitable and effective company owned by the Department of Health". Reported in The Guardian 27/7/17

Outwood surgery are going to put out a consultation document in reference to closing Wrenthorpe Surgery. I believe they have already decided to close the surgery as they have been running it down for at least the last two years, a worry that I have expressed to my local councillor on regular occasions. The reasons for closing the surgery are purely monetary, no matter what they say. I believe that it is part of the "privatisation of the NHS" policy by selling off NHS properties. Make no mistake that this will also end up in the closure of our local chemist which will cause an extra burden on the sick and elderly in Wrenthorpe. This will not only affect Wrenthorpe but will be part of a bigger issue that will see centralisation of doctors services throughout the Wakefield area based purely on financial interests.. We must make a stand now. Stop the creeping privatisation of "OUR" NHS

Two separate issues in two different services have arisen in the last few weeks and months with one single common cause of the problem – private companies running vital public services. Runwood Homes, a company who made £14 million profit out of care provision last year run six ex-council care homes across the borough, after the council gave them the contract two years ago. The period of pay protection is due to end and Runwood are looking to tear up existing contracts and re-engage workers on inferior terms and conditions, including cuts of up to £900 a month in pay and cuts to holiday and sickness provision. We believe this could ultimately lead to inferior care to our elderly residents which is unacceptable. Sita Suez have run the waste and recycling services contract for Doncaster Council for a number of years and have a history of poor industrial relations at the Doncaster depot which has led to a number of disputes, meaning bins left unemptied across the borough. Doncaster Council have recently completed the tendering process for this service and has been won again by Sita Suez for 8 further years. Two weeks into this contract, Sita Suez have announces 112 redundancies in the service along with sweeping changes in how the service is to be delivered going forward including; • Bin collections dropping from 5 days a week to 4 days a week • An aging workforce having to work 10 hours a day • Potentially dangerous practices with HGV drivers having to operate in residential streets for longer, when our kids and grandkids might be out playing after school. There is no economic or social rationale for private companies to run public services. In other local authorities services are being brought back in house for the very reason private companies generally provide a poorer more costly service, for the simple reason that private companies have to make profit to appease shareholders. Doncaster Trades Council say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The last straw should have been the disastrous decision to allow private equity owned Care UK to run services to care for our adult population who require care for severe learning disabilities. We cannot take this any longer. Sign the petition to the elected Mayor, Councillors and MPs and Chief Executive of Doncaster Council to demand that the council cancel contracts with both Runwood Homes and Sita Suez to protect, local services, jobs and terms and conditions of workers in both services

I am extremely disappointed to see that The General Estates Company (http://www.general-estates.co.uk) who own and operate the Bathampton Toll Bridge feels there is justification in increasing the charges from 70p to 80p each way – a 12.5% increase, way above the current rate of inflation at 2.6% and certainly higher than the increase many have received in salary over the last 4 years, since last it increased. Firstly, I have requested from several sources what possible justification there could be for increasing this cost? The Bathampton Mill bridge has for a long time been more expensive, per distance travelled than The Seven Bridge, The Clifton Suspension Bridge and even The Dartford Crossing bridge on the M25. During this time of austerity and nationwide uncertainty, when the cost of living in has never been higher in recent history, how can anyone justify this unfair price hike? The toll bridge takes £1000's of every day from people just trying to get to work, taking their kids to school, operate their business... basically just trying to get on with their busy lives. It is an unjust Tax on honest, local people, when the alternative routes through Bath, Bradford or Limpley Stoke are by no means acceptable alternatives. Yet again we are penalised for simply trying to get to work!! I am sure that many local people chose to cycle or walk when it is viable, but since public transport does not offer an alternative option, the toll bridge is often the only route, unless you have time to drive into Bath or Bradford instead. I have had enough!!! As well as starting this petition, calling on a halt to this increase, I will also pursue a complete stop at best, a reduction at least to the charges to residence of the 3 boughs of Bathford, Batheaston and Bathampton. I will also be making formal complaints to MP's as well as Bath, Bathampton and Batheaston Councils to stop this unjustifiable increase and yet another increased tax on local people. Please support this cause and stop this frustrating and expensive toll.

Jake Berry MP (Tory minister for the so-called Northern "Powerhouse") has advised cash strapped Wirral Council to use its own resources and reserves to help victims of the huge explosion that tore through the centre of New Ferry, Wirral earlier this year. 33 people were injured 2 seriously, many businesses were destroyed, a further dozen shops and services put out of action and 30 families displaced from their homes. With so much of the town centre destroyed, shoppers have stopped going to New Ferry and the surviving businesses are suffering from loss of trade and facing financial ruin. Insurance companies have been very slow to act and indeed reluctant to pay out (with nobody having yet been found guilty of causing the explosion), leaving residents and businesses without sufficient financial support with which to rebuild their lives. Many people are not only suffering financially, but also emotionally with depression and the equivalent of post-traumatic stress disorder. The government has shockingly refused to call the explosion a NATIONAL INCIDENT, what on earth does constitute a "national incident" then ? Despite pleas for funding assistance from local MPs, businesses and residents, the government has turned its back on this devastated community, citing rules and regulations for not offering any disaster relief funding to help those affected. New Ferry, Wirral - a deprived community in a Labour controlled authority - is being treated entirely differently to other communities in the UK that have faced similar, and seemingly less significant, disasters. Jake Berry's refusal of assistance is an absolute disgrace and makes a mockery of the title Northern Powerhouse. New Ferry should be treated the same as other communities that have recently suffered (as should every community in the country should a similar disaster befall them), and the rebuilding of its centre should be funded by the British government A.S.A.P If you agree that New Ferry (and every other community in the country affected by such an economically damaging disaster) should be treated fairly and given government support, please, please sign this petition, thank you

Not very healthy to have those rubbishes on our streets. Not very respectful from council. No consideration for the public. Save the binmen jobs and no cut.

On the 6th April 2017 a petition with over 5000 signatures was presented to Brighton and Hove Council. Over 3000 signatures were signed on the streets of Brighton and 2200 online. The petition was against the implementation of PSPO’s. PSPO’s give Council workers and the Police the power to give Homeless people and Travellers an on the spot £100 fine for occupying a tent, vehicle or caravan in 12 locations across the city. Failure to pay the fine can lead to prosecution and a further £1000 fine. People breaching the order must provide a name address and date of birth. Failure to positively identify someone can lead to arrest. So effectively you can be fined, arrested and prosecuted for being homeless and having no money to pay for the ‘crime’ of being homeless. Brighton and Hove council voted for the petition to be noted but not to be forwarded to the Policy and Resources committee for further debate. Usually any petition with over 1250 signatures is debated at committee. Despite opposition to this legislation from Liberty, Equality and Human Rights Commission, local charities, specialist lawyers and the local community, Councillors blocked due democratic process by voting against the legislation being debated by the Committee that decided to implement it. It appears that Brighton and Hove Council want to sweep away homeless people and Travellers from our city through criminalisation and attempting to block any debate or opposition to the legislation. This will not work, it cannot work and we are standing against it. PSPO’s should only be used to target specific behaviours and not specific groups. This statement has been echoed by Sussex Police as well as human rights lawyers. This legislation is a direct assault on the homeless community and Gypsies and Travellers. PSPO’s have been misused in this context as living in a tent, caravan or vehicle are not anti-social activities in themselves. Article 8, of the Human rights act the right to a private and family life, is being infringed by this use of PSPO’s. Under the European convention on Human Rights, all public bodies owe a duty to facilitate the Gypsy way of life. This legislation is an attack on the Gypsy way of life and therefore in breach of Equality Duty and The European Framework Convention for the protection of Minorities. This policy is unlawful and need to be brought back to committee to be looked at again as it stands Brighton and Hove Council have blocked any further debate.

We call upon the transport secretary to: 1) Pledge his immediate backing for the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme including a new state-of-the-art 30-minute rail link between Manchester and Leeds – a ‘Crossrail North’; 2) Make an immediate commitment to at least £59 billion ‘catch-up cash’ over the coming decade to support the transport priorities being developed by Transport for the North; 3) Give Transport for the North the same powers as those enjoyed by Transport for London so that it can also raise private finance towards its own transport priorities. The government has announced its backing for the £31bn Crossrail 2 rail scheme in London just days after it has cancelled plans to electrify key rail routes, and rowed back on its long-standing commitment to electrify the trans-pennine link between Manchester and Leeds. Crossrail 2 was NOT in the Conservative Party Manifesto - whereas Northern Powerhouse Rail was! New analysis by IPPR North shows that over the past decade public spending on transport in London has been more than double that in the North – the North would have received £59bn more in investment over the last decade if it had received the same per person for transport as London. This is set to get worse, with planned public and public/private expenditure set at nearly £2000 per head, compared with £400 per head in the North BEFORE Crossrail 2 is taken into account. This is not just a matter of fairness. This is not special pleading. Transport investment needn’t be either/or. But lack of government spending on Northern transport is holding the whole economy back. Northern prosperity is national prosperity.

Currently A&E at Weston General is closed between 10pm and 8am. Seriously ill and injured people are being taken over 20 miles to Bristol or Taunton.This puts patients health under grave risk and fatalities are inevitable due to the time it will take to get people to a functioning A&E.....if an ambulance can be found.