Anyone planning to hold a street party to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June are being reminded that they should apply by May 1.

Organisers of street parties are required to submit a North East Lincolnshire Council Public Events Group notification form a month before the celebrations, which take place on the weekend of June 2 to 5.

Street parties organised by groups of friends or neighbours, parish councils, resident associations or any other community group are usually easy to arrange. If the event requires part or all of a street to be closed, organisers must also fill in a request form for Balfour Beatty Workplace’s highways department.

Applications for road closures for Jubilee celebrations are free. However, they must be submitted to the highways department by Monday, May 28, to allow time for statutory public notices to be displayed. Any enquiries regarding road closures may be directed to Dave Poucher, principal traffic engineer, on (01472) 324497.

Any enquiries regarding the PEG notification forms should be directed to Linda Holdich, senior support officer, on (01472) 324780.

To apply to host a street party, please complete the following form: http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/AF/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=aGa9qNbnV9y

If you wish to close part or all of your street for the event, you must also complete the following highways form: http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/AF/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?ID=gqbRCD6gMhL&F.Name=FWtUY51657Y&fs2s=ZqfGjsBKeG5

General information about organising a public event can be found here: http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/resident/arts–events-and-tourism/arts/introduction-organising-public-event/

A recent opinion poll has revealed that more than two thirds of local people (68%) are against current rules that allow betting shops to take over banks and building societies’ premises without planning permission.

A poll carried out for the Local Government Association by ComRes found that more than threequarters (76%) of people want central government to grant local councils the powers they have been calling for to act in the interest of their communities to improve their high streets.

The ‘clustering’ of numbers of similar premises has been blamed for having a negative impact on the vibrancy of a local high street. Only 12% of respondents disagreed with this view, which shows that a widespread belief that clustering is a major concern.

Adult sex shops and strip clubs (57%) and bookies (50%) were cited as major concerns when found in clusters, with many people also worried about the effect on their areas caused by late night fast food takeaways and tanning salons.

The greatest concerns over strip clubs and betting shops were shown by women and older people, with 68% of those aged 65 or over saying that clusters of strip clubs had a negative effect on their local high streets, and 62% of women agreed.

Sir Merrick Cockell, Chairman of the LGA, said:

“This opinion poll shows local people want government to give councils the powers to tackle unsightly clusters of sex shops, bookies and takeaways that can blight so many of our high streets. People want action so the places they live, work and shop can be revitalised to reflect how they want them to look and feel.

“Councils want high streets to thrive and are on the side of local people and are ready to put a stop to high numbers of unsavoury takeaways, betting shops and strip clubs where there is a demand to do so. High streets across the UK have suffered a cardiac arrest and it is now time to let local authorities step in and deliver the necessary life support.”

The telephone advice service National Debtline, is launching a week long (Monday February 6th – Sunday February 12th) initiative to encourage consumers to stand up for their rights against bailiffs. The #bailiffblags hash tag is being used on Twitter to highlight the different techniques used by bailiffs to gain entry to a property. Once a bailiff has gained entry by peaceable means, they can return to take your goods and break in if you don’t let them in.

In the UK today bailiffs are commonly used to collect council tax arrears or to enforce a court judgment. However they are also used to collect parking fines and penalties, tax debt, or child support arrears.

National Debtline is inviting consumers and advice agencies to share experiences of dealing with bailiffs who try to blag their way into a property. Some of the most common techniques witnessed by National Debtline are:

• “Can I come in to use your toilet?”

• “I’m from the local council, can I come in?”

• “We have a warrant, so you have to let us in.”

The rules and regulations around bailiffs can be quite complicated and so it is not fair to expect your average person in the street to know the ins and outs. However there are some rules of thumb that are very useful to stick to, and one of those is to not let the bailiffs in your property. This means locking doors and windows, and not falling for some of these blags.

The most important thing is to get some free advice immediately. Organisations like National Debtline and CCCS can talk you through your rights over the phone, even whilst the bailiff is waiting outside.

If you’ve been the victim of ‘bailiff blagging’ then please share your experiences with us by using the #bailiffblags hashtag on Twitter, or by emailing paul.crayston@moneyadvicetrust.org. For more information follow National Debtline on Twitter (@natdebtline).

Read more advice about your rights when dealing with bailifs on the Money Advice Trust website

Liberal Democrat MP,Tessa Munt, and Animal Defenders International (ADI) are now calling on the government to take immediate action on a ban to end circus suffering in the UK.

This week, the Austrian Constitutional Court in Vienna announced that it had thrown out the application by Circus Krone to overturn Austria’s ban on wild animals in circuses. This decision clears the way for a UK ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, something which the Government has been reluctant to fully get behind to date. The Government claimed earlier this year that there were legal impediments to a ban, and cited the upcoming Krone case – even before it had been lodged.

Tessa said:

“I am thrilled by this news. I have been in favour of the ban for years and I find it hard to believe that in this day and age wild animals are still being exploited in the name of so called entertainment.’’

Following the news from Austria this week, Tessa was the first MP to approach the government asking the following question of the minister:

“To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the announcement of the Austrian Constitutional Court which has dismissed the application brought by Circus Krone to challenge Austria’s ban on the use of wild animals in circuses whether her Department will now confirm that there are no legal obstacles at European Union level and proceed to enact an outright ban without delay”.

Jan Creamer, Chief Executive of ADI said:

“This case proves that there are no obstacles at EU level that will prevent the UK from enacting an immediate ban.

“This is a wonderful Christmas present for all the animals suffering in UK circuses. The excuses presented by Defra officials in their attempts to avoid taking action to end the suffering have been swept away. The public want it, parliament wants it, the Government must listen, and act now. “

The following article by Liberal Democrat Communities Minister, Andrew Stunnell, originally appeared on the Liberal Democrat Voice website:

Councils across England will receive a cash boost with the provisional allocations of this year’s New Homes Bonus money being announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Now in its second year, the New Homes Bonus is proving to be a powerful incentive for local authorities to drive development and build the houses that we so desperately need.

Councils are rewarded for building new homes, and bringing empty homes back into use. Council tax on each home is matched by the Government for six years, with extra money for every affordable home.

The key things Liberal Democrats need to know about the announcement are:

• This year the Coalition is paying out £430 million – more than double the money allocated in the first year.

• 159,000 homes were eligible for the New Homes Bonus –a mixture of new homes and empty homes brought back into use.
This is 10,000 more than last year.

• 307,000 homes have been eligible for the New Homes Bonus over the last two years combined.

• 353 councils in England will benefit, including Tower Hamlets (£10m), Birmingham (£7.5m), Leeds (£5.4m), Cornwall (£5.1m), Manchester (£4.6m), Bradford (£3.9m), and Sheffield (£3.3m).

Beyond this, the New Homes Bonus is also having an effect on bringing the numbers of Empty Homes down too. I successfully argued within government that empty homes should be eligible for the New Homes Bonus, to reward councils that made efforts to get them back into use. More than 37,000 empty homes have been brought back into use by councils in the last two years. This year’s figure of 21,000 was 6,000 higher than last year, netting councils an extra £19 million, and ensuring that councils in areas with low demand for new build housing, or limited space for development, can still be rewarded if they bring their empties back into use.

This year’s allocation also sees the payment of the affordable homes premium for the first time, worth £350 extra per affordable house. We’re paying out £19.4 million to councils, who’ve built almost 60,000 new affordable homes since last October.

Gone are the days of imposed targets from Whitehall. Labour’s top-down approach to building homes just didn’t work. It was unrealistic and ineffective, and didn’t take into account local needs or wishes. In the last year of the previous Government, for example, Labour were guilty of missing their own house building targets by a whopping 78,000 homes. Instead the New Homes Bonus is introducing a culture change – making it easier to persuade local people to go for development, and rewarding communities that go for growth.

Don’t just take my word for it; listen to the people on the ground. A recent national survey revealed that nearly three quarters of councils thought the cash payments made a significant contribution towards funding local services, and more than four out of ten councils said it was now easier to persuade their local community about the benefits of growth.

These are all very pleasing figures, and show that councils are getting on with the job of getting Britain building again, with positive action in their local communities. Not only are they delivering desperately needed homes for their local residents, but they’re getting extra cash to reward them for doing it. After thirteen years of Labour’s failed approach, the Coalition is determined to get Britain building again, and the New Homes Bonus is doing exactly that.

Andrew Stunell is the Lib Dem Communities Minister and MP for Hazel Grove.

Estimates of the Government grant boost that every council in England would receive if they commit to holding or reducing average Band D council tax for a second year were published today.

This follows the announcement that Government has set aside an extra £805 million, of which up to £675 million will be available to local authorities in England to help keep council tax down for a further year.

This new support builds on the 2011-12 freeze offer taken up by all councils, boosting what they could get over four years to £3.3 billion if they hold council tax for a second year. The new scheme would mean that local taxpayers living in an average Band D home in England could once again save up to £72 compared to a 5% rise in council tax on top of this year’s council tax saving of up to £72.

The new voluntary scheme will be open to the same councils as last year. Councils that freeze or reduce their council tax next year will get a one off grant equivalent to raising their council tax by 2.5%. Police, and single purpose fire and rescue authorities will get a 3% equivalent, with the Greater London Authority and the City of London getting intermediate offers.

Eric Pickles said:

“Last year every council signed up to our council tax freeze, but with many families still facing difficult times we’re rolling over our successful scheme so councils can keep a lid on bills for another year.

“Our two-year freeze promise, potentially worth up to £72 each year to Band D residents, is in stark contrast to the years before when council tax was allowed to double.

“Today every local authority can see how we’ll back them to hold council tax steady for another year and leave millions of taxpayers with more of their hard earned cash in their pockets.”

The finances of Local Councils could be further stretched by councils having to fork out millions of pounds to upgrade parking machines to accept new coins.

The Treasury is planning to change the way it makes 5p and 10p coins next year by using a cheaper metal to save on minting costs, but the dimensions of the new coins will not be recognised by many parking machines, which means town halls will be forced to upgrade their machines at an estimated cost to councils across England and Wales of £5.5 million.

The Local Government Association is calling on the Treasury, which predicts these new coins will save it £176 million, to meet the cost of the upgrade bill so that councils are not forced to divert their money from services which millions of people rely every day.

The Government is also considering changing £1 coins to save on minting costs. Councils need to be informed of this to ensure they do not upgrade existing machines or invest in new ones for the thicker 5p and 10p coins only to be be forced to repeat the process in a year’s time because the machines will not accept the new £1 coins.

Councillor Peter Box, Chairman of the LGA’s Economy and Transport Board, said:

“Councils across the country are striving to continue providing vital services while managing deep funding cuts from Government. The cost and effort of updating parking machines is an extra burden they could do without.

“This is cash which could be spent on filling potholes or concessionary bus travel for the elderly. There are also other coin-operated machines which councils use everyday such as in libraries. These too will need to be updated in the majority of cases.

“Motorists may also be inconvenienced in areas where authorities cannot afford the expensive upgrades as their parking machines will no longer be able to accept 5p and 10p coins.

“It’s understandable why the Treasury is changing these coins, but with such huge savings predicted surely it should pick up the tab for machine upgrades rather than force councils to divert money away from people who really need it. And councils urgently need a decision on the new £1 or they could end up spending thousands of pounds on machines now only to be told in a year’s time they have to do it all over again.”

Many councils, particularly those in rural areas, subsidise parking services as the cost is not covered by charges. Authorities in towns and cities sometimes have a surplus of revenue which has to be spent on transport schemes that benefit the public. These schemes include concessionary bus travel for the elderly, shopmobility services, green travel schemes and large infrastructure projects, exactly the sort of services which are under pressure following Government funding cuts.

Not all councils will be affected, with many larger authorities now operating a cashless system where motorists can pay for parking online or via mobile phone. Others are expected to change their tariffs so that 5p and 10p coins will not be needed.

FRESH from the Libyan frontline, HMS Brocklesby sailed into Grimsby for a five-day visit with a local boy in command.

Lieutenant Commander James Byron was welcomed to North East Lincolnshire by the Mayor, councillor Susan Picket and her consort Doug Pickett, in the mayor’s parlour at Grimsby Town Hall.

While in Grimsby, the ship hosted a number of local youth organisations, civic groups and schools, giving the opportunity to get up close and personal with a warship which has just played a key part in major international events and operations.

Members of the ship’s company also visited the village of Brocklesby, which is proud of its ties with the mine hunter and has always shown keen hospitality to the ship and her crew.

The ship’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander James Byron, said: ““This is a very proud moment for me.

“Grimsby, as the nearest harbour to Brocklesby, is already a special place for the ship. But for me to be able to bring her into port is like a homecoming, being born and still having the majority of my family just up the road in Barton-Upon-Humber.

“I am incredibly proud of my ship and the exceptional crew that I have had the privilege to command for the last two years.

“Frequently working under the most testing of operational conditions, the resolute manner in which they conducted themselves recently off Libya is testament to their professionalism and skill.

“We are all looking forward to the opportunity to share some of our experiences with our loyal supporters and affiliates from Grimsby and Brocklesby.”

HMS Brocklesby is a Hunt class Mine Countermeasures Vessel, 60m long with a beam of 10m and a displacement of 750 tonnes.

The largest warships ever constructed from glass reinforced plastic, the ship carries a crew of 45, including clearance divers whose job it is to swim to mines in order to place explosives on them and a mine warfare department who operate the world-beating ST2193 sonar and Sea Fox mine disposal system.

The ship also has a 30 mm gun, two general purpose machine gun positions as well as two rapid firing Gattling-style machine guns for self defence, making her a versatile vessel capable of re-roling as a patrol craft should the need arise.

GROUPS or individuals who would like to lay a wreath on Remembrance Sunday in Grimsby and Cleethorpes are asked to contact the Mayor’s office by Friday, November 4.

Anyone intending to lay a wreath at the services at Grimsby Cenotaph or St Peters Church, Cleethorpes, and would like to be included on the list of names called out, should contact the Mayors PA, Karen Weir, on (01472) 324198 or email Mayors.PA@nelincs.gov.uk

Access to the small car park at the end of Weelsby Avenue, next to Grimsby Crematorium, will be closed for re-surfacing on Monday, September 19. This will not affect the over spill car park, also on Weelsby Avenue.

In addition, pedestrian and vehicular access will be limited in certain sections of Scartho Road Cemetery from Tuesday, September 20 to Friday, September 23. This is to allow the re-surfacing of some pathways.