Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was under fire for failing to sack the private contractor which lost personal data on thousands of criminals recently.

The Home Secretary said PA Consulting, which has been awarded Government contracts since 2004 worth £240million, broke the rules on handling secret data, but it has been made clear that it will continue to be paid vast sums of taxpayers’ money as the Government is effectively powerless to act because sacking the firm would throw several major Government projects into chaos.

This means PA Consulting will be allowed to continue running a number of lucrative contracts, including the introduction of ID cards and biometric passports.

Critics said it raised questions as to whether the Home Office is capable of protecting the personal information of Britain’s citizens.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said “Charlie Chaplin could do a better job than the Labour party at running the Home Office”

Miss Smith has already been criticised for trying to avoid her own responsibility for the latest loss  -  in which the names, addresses and even prison release dates of up to 127,000 hardened criminals were lost when a single computer memory stick went missing after data had been downloaded onto it by an employee of PA Consulting

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said that it raised questions about whether the Government could be trusted to keep any information safe.

He added: ‘Charlie Chaplin could do a better job running the Home Office than this Labour government.’

Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said: ‘With every new Government data bungle, another ounce of public trust ebbs away.

‘Ministers continue to make overblown claims for the preposterous ID card scheme  -  when will they ever learn? 

Earlier this year, NELC sent out a survey asking how people in North East Lincolnshire felt about transport in the area.  We had a great response with almost 700 replies!

Here we take a look at the results and improvements which we will make as a result of the questionnaire…

People have told us we are doing the right things, but we’re not going to rest on our laurels.  You’ve told us we can improve and we’re going to act on your advice.

Download your copy of the special Highways and Transportation Newsletter (.pdf )

THINGS THAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED

“Concessionary fares should be available at all times”

The most frequent concern expressed in the survey was about time limitations on free bus travel for the over 60s.  We have listened to what people have said and have changed the scheme accordingly.  Full details of the new scheme.  The satisfaction survey proved a great way of letting the Council know how you felt about the issue.

“Road Safety & Maintenance”

Road Safety and the maintenance of the areas roads were other concerns raised during the consultation. Responses included road re-surfacing, reductions in speed cushions, better enforcement of yellow line offences and speed reduction requests. The condition of the road surface along Scartho Road and at Issacs Hill were mentioned several times, these areas will be amongst those that will be re-surfaced during 2008 - 2009

Other Popular Suggestions for Transportation Improvements

Other issues that you raised included improvements to traffic signals, increasing the amount of cycle routes, addressing the issue of car parking in cycle lanes and requests for improvements to footways.

“Satisfaction with Local Transport”

These results show that people’s satisfaction with local transport has been consistently high over the last three years. People have told us that they agree with what we are doing, particularly in the areas of walking, cycling and public transport. Satisfaction levels were higher than in 2006, but slightly down on last year. This appears to be mainly due to the disappointment with the changes to the free travel scheme. As mentioned earlier, we have listened and we have changed the scheme from the 2nd June this year. There is less satisfaction in the areas of road safety and highway maintenance. Again, we have listened to what has been said and an additional £3 million is being invested during 2008-2009 to improve the condition of roads and footways in the local area.

                            Have things got better during 2007 - 2008?

“Cycling and Walking”

Although most people agree with the types of things we do for cyclists, the majority thought that things had not changed over the last 12 months. We will therefore step up our efforts to make improvements. In May, we launched a new branding for cycling and walking projects. The initiative called “Pedal & Stride” will help people by providing information on cycle routes, bike maintenance hints and tips, improvements to the cycle network and much more. In June the new Cycle Forum met for the first time, this will offer local cyclists the opportunity to have their say on all aspects of cycling. On the walking side, we have provided the Local Walks pack of leisure walks, details of the local Public Rights of Way network and also supported the national Walk to School week in May. More information on Pedal and Stride.

More details of what you told us as part of the Satisfaction survey can be found by following the links below.

“Are we doing the right things?”

• Walking (.pdf)
• Cycling (.pdf)
• Public Transport (.pdf)
• Safety Schemes (.pdf)
• Highway Maintenance (.pdf)

“Your comments…”

More than 650 Comments (.pdf)  were

A Detailed Assessment is to be carried out to assess the extent of the air quality problem in this area, which has arisen from road traffic sources. Further monitoring and detailed dispersion modelling will be used to confirm concentrations and predict the future levels of nitrogen dioxide at a number of specific receptors. This will be submitted to DEFRA for comment in April 2009. The outcome will conclude whether an AQMA is to be declared for this area.

received as part of this years satisfaction survey, here are a few of them…

• “…good that we can now travel anywhere in England by bus!”
• “I think the achievements you have made are very beneficial”
• “…more bus shelters with bus times clearly on display”
• “Get the Traffic Wardens back!”
• “Provide more secure cycle lock-up facilities”
• “Join Sustrans and create a national cycle network”
• “…there has been a big improvement since 2007″

Finally, many thanks to everyone who took the time to let us know what you think about local transport issues, we have listened to what you have got to say and we’re going to act on your advice during 2008-2009.

Banks were accused of taking almost three billion pounds of extra cash from homeowners while blaming the credit crunch.

The High Street lenders have made the money by raising their mortgage rates and fees over the past year, while interest rate cuts have made it cheaper for some of them to borrow money.

A new study calculates that the country’s five biggest banks - Halifax, HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds TSB and Royal Bank of Scotland - are taking almost three billion pounds more from mortgage borrowers compared to last year.

The news is bound to anger homeowners, who have seen their budgets coming under intense pressure from rises in food and energy bills  as well as other bank charges.

Figures obtained from the personal finance website Moneyfacts.co.uk  show the average rate on a five-year fixed mortgage has risen by 0.43 per cent to 6.76 per cent since July last year.

However, a key wholesale interest rate used by banks, called the two-year swap rate, fell from 6.29 per cent to 5.66 per cent.

The figures are used in Monday’s Channel 4 Despatches documentary on the credit crunch called “How the Banks Never Lose.”

Liberal Democrat economics spokesman Vince Cable said: “The banks are milking overstretched families to make up for their previous mistakes.

“They are trying to have it both ways, squeezing as much as they can out of their customers while running to the government for help.’

Mr Cable says the Government should hold a wide-ranging probe into the banks’ conduct. He said that the whole system of bank charging has been brought into disrepute.

Nick Clegg and Andrew De Freitas Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Great Grimsby

Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg warned that Britain’s energy security is under severe threat as a result of the Government’s disintegrating energy policy, which will lead to an ever-increasing dependence on vulnerable foreign energy supplies.  

The Grimsby Telegraph have reported today on this major new campaign which was launched in Grimsby recently.

According to the Liberal Democrat leader, wind, solar power and biomass are the favoured sources of the Liberal Democrat leader. 

Andrew De Freitas, prospective parliamentary candidate for Grimsby, said: “It says a great deal about what Mr Clegg thinks of the area that on the first day of the campaign he chose to come here to Grimsby.  He obviously believes Grimsby has the potential to be a major part of his plans for the UK to become energy independent through clean renewable sources.”   

Mr Clegg also visited the Inner Dowsing offshore wind farm with Centrica and British Gas officials.  The Liberal Democrats believe that with uncertainty in Georgia and Russia, Britain runs the risk of being over reliant on imported energy from unstable regions. The Government wants to build a new generation of nuclear power stations - but the Lib Dems say the cash should be spent on renewable sources of energy instead. 

Under the Liberal Democrat scheme, Mr Clegg claims Britain could be energy independent by 2050.  

Nick Clegg said, while he was in Grimsby that, “The Government has been looking at energy from the wrong end of the telescope.

“The scale of its failure to plan for Britain’s energy security has been brought into sharp relief by the Georgian crisis, which underlines the risks of increasing dependence on foreign energy sources as North Sea oil supplies run down.

“Rather than use its period in office to reduce Britain’s dependency on vulnerable supplies from unstable regions, Labour has dithered and flip-flopped for over a decade. Instead of an energy policy, we have a potential economic, environmental and national security disaster waiting to happen.  We have an enormous opportunity to create real energy independence for the UK, freeing ourselves from the shackles of foreign oil, coal and gas.  Renewable energy is no longer a pipe-dream. It is realistic and achievable. All it requires is the leadership and vision that has been lacking under years of tired Labour thinking. That’s why I am setting out Liberal Democrat proposals to become energy independent by 2050. This will require the kind of ambition and political will that succeeded in putting man on the moon.   We need an ‘Apollo Project’ for British energy independence”.

     Do you care about your area?  Do you want to make a difference?  Then hop on board The Big Conversation bus. The double decker will be hitting the streets from Monday, September 15 to Saturday, September 20.In a multi-agency approach, representatives from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Humberside Police, the Public Health Service, Care Trust Plus and the voluntary sector will be joining council staff and ward councillors to chat with members of the public to find out what burning issues are affecting local areas.

The Big Conversation provides residents with the opportunity to have their say and influence the decisions that the council and its partners make in the borough.

Giveaways will be available and face painters on hand to keep children entertained and, for adults, a brand new sofa can be won.  Courtesy of SCS, residents of North East Lincolnshire will be able to converse in style on a comfortable three-seater sofa at any of the 15 planned ward stops.  Simply take a seat, share your opinions and leave your details and, at the end of the week, the sofa could be yours.

The council decided to make The Big Conversation tour last a week in order to cover the whole of North East Lincolnshire and speak to residents in every ward.  Leader of the council, Councillor Andrew De Freitas, said: “What you think is really important to North East Lincolnshire Council.  We really want to know your priorities and we want to make it easier for you to influence the work that the council and its partners do.”

On Saturday, September 20, a stop has been arranged at the Discovery Centre, Cleethorpes, so parents can bring their children, have an input and then visit the centre or let the children play in the sandpit at the Boating Lake. 
 
Events are taking place between Monday, September15 and Sunday, September 21.  The main event of the week is the bus tour, but there are a variety of other events taking place during the week on an assortment of topics and at a range of places.

Tony Hunter, the recently appointed Chief Executive of North East Lincolnshire Council said: “We want to know what everyone thinks, whether you’re eight or 80, English or migrant, rich or poor.  We are aware that many of you work, so we have made the bus accessible at various times throughout the day and into the evening, at places that are convenient to you such as Tesco and Morrisons.”
 
In addition to the bus, the authority will be holding events such as Question Time, which gives residents an opportunity to debate with leading members of the community such as Councillor Andrew De Freitas, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, and MP Austin Mitchell.

If that is not your cup of tea, perhaps taking part in an activity to help redesign Cleethorpes Seafront is more fitting? 

Tony Hunter added: “North East Lincolnshire Council cares about your thoughts and how you would like to improve your area.  Please come and join in the conversation with us.  Together, we can make a difference.”

Check back here soon for more information on the Big Conversation

FOR the first time in North East Lincolnshire, residents can confirm their details on the electoral register via text messaging.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s annual update of the electoral register has now begun, and the addition of text messaging is a convenient addition to the existing phone and internet confirmation services.

It takes just minutes to verify your details - so make sure that you don’t lose your vote.

If your electoral roll details remain unchanged, it couldn’t be easier to confirm them. Look out for the form which you should have already received. If there are no changes, there are three ways to confirm your details:

- Mobile phone text message (SMS) - sending a text made up of your two security codes;

- Dialling the freephone number and keying in your two security codes;

- Via the internet, which allows residents to visit a secure website and confirm their details online.

Don’t forget that you must use the form for your household with its own unique security codes printed on. Full instructions are given on the form, and the service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the canvass period.

The freephone telephone service is also available in five other languages in North East Lincolnshire.

Residents wishing to register changes to the details for their household must complete the form and return it to the council offices as detailed on the form.

The Electoral Registration Office can be contacted at the Municipal Offices, Grimsby on 01472 324160/324118 or e-mail elections@nelincs.gov.uk