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Latest: Simon Tagg re-elected for Westlands, Thistleberry & Keele

5th June 2009

Simon Tagg said, "A big thank you to everyone that supported me in the election. My majority in Westlands, Thistleberry & Keele increased from just 60 in the 2007 by-election to over 1000 votes. The work starts now to change Staffordshire County Council for the benefit of local people."

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Simon Tagg	Conservative	1819	39%
Wenslie Naylon	Liberal Democrats	800	17%
Maria Foy	UK Independence Party	752	16%
Eileen Robinson	Labour	515	11%
Catherine Murray	Independent	381	8%
Andrew Dobson	Green	341	7%

 

County election: Final push for change!

3rd June 2009

 

 

 

County election campaign launched

1st May 2009

Dr Liam Fox MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence met all the Conservative Candidates for Staffordshire County Council in Stafford and led the launch of their 2009 election campaign and manifesto.
Commenting on the Manifesto, Dr Fox said, “The Manifesto is clear, simple to understand and to the point. It says Staffordshire Conservatives will bring down Council Tax and offer fresh ideas, releasing essential services from years of old-Labour interference.
It is time for change from a Labour Council that has been in office so long in power that they have forgotten that they were elected to serve the needs of the population. A Conservative County Council in Staffordshire will transform this and give Gordon Brown a message that is unmistakable in its content.”
Philip Atkins Leader of the Conservative County Group remarked, “On June 4th the people of Staffordshire will elect a new County Council for the next four years. We wish to create a County Council that looks outward, focusing on the people it serves. Our ambitions are to make Staffordshire a competitive county, packed with innovation, winning new investment and employment and see communities having a greater say in how the services they pay for are delivered.
We believe it is time for a change and this manifesto sets out our plans for that change and our first steps. We wish to see Staffordshire County Council work for local need, not central government easy targets with hidden risks that impact on the quality of our services. We believe the County Council should be run for the people and taxpayers it serves, not the politicians.”

For information about the campaign visit: www.staffsconservatives.com

Pictured right with Dr Fox are Simon Tagg, Stephen Sweeney, James Bannister, Stephen Blair, Chris Barber and Nicola Ralphs.

 

 

 

Simon Tagg speaks out after Bourne and Hankins letters

Letter printed in The Sentinel 28th April 2009

INACCURATE: I would like to respond to the letter from Janette Bourne, Chief Officer of Newcastle Community & Voluntary Service (NCVS). Her inaccurate and ill-informed letter gives me the credit for 'intervening' to allocate badly needed founding to the North Staffs Special Adventure playground (NSSAP).

This was, in reality, a democratic decision taken by all Newcastle Borough Council's Cabinet at our meeting of March 25, 2009. What we did was to put more money into the pot so that funding would then be available to those organisations that had just missed out on being allocating any during the council's Third Sector Commissioning process. Two organisations benefited from this – North Staffs Relate and the NSSAP.

It is the role of NCVS to work with and support Community and Voluntary organisations to ensure that they have the necessary skills, governance in place to operate. This includes providing training and support in relation to making submissions for funding.

I suggest that Ms Bourne and co, who are also funded from the public purse, concentrate on fulfilling that role and leave the allocation of funding to those of us who are elected and accountable to the public.

SIMON TAGG, Leader, Newcastle Borough Council

 

 

 

 

 

Leadership joins staff on the front line

27th April 2009

Council leader Simon Tagg will spend a morning working on his customer service skills as part of a council scheme.  Cllr. Tagg will pay a return visit to the council’s Customer Service Centre at the Guildhall four months after the venue opened to the public following a £1.2 million refurbishment. He will work alongside customer service staff in a number of areas including benefits and Council Tax. It is part of an event called ‘Meet the Leadership’, where Cabinet members and directors spend time on front line services. The idea is for politicians and senior officers to identify service improvements and to communicate with council employees.
Cllr. Tagg, Cabinet member for customer service and transformation, said: “Meet the Leadership is a simple way of reinforcing the link between the leadership and members of staff who deliver the council’s services.The borough council unveiled its new Customer Service Centre in December 2008 so it will be interesting to see how the service is working. I’m also looking forward to talking with residents to find out what they think.”
Deputy Council Leader Cllr. Robin Studd will spend his morning with the housing team. Cllr. Studd, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and regeneration, added: “Getting stuck in alongside our members of staff sends out the message that we care about them and the services they deliver to members of the public in Newcastle.”
 

 

 

Borough Council set to recoup Heritable cash

23rd April 2009

Administrators acting for a failed bank have given the clearest indication yet that Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council will get its money back. Ernst and Young have just given a six-month update on the position concerning the Heritable Bank which collapsed last year.
They say creditors could get up to 80 per cent of funds back – although the borough council is hopeful all of its £2.5 million will still be returned. Heritable is a United Kingdom bank which was placed into administration after the parent bank, Landsbanki, was nationalised by the Icelandic government.
Cllr. Helen Morris, Cabinet member for resources and efficiency (pictured), said today: “This is a positive statement by Ernst and Young and we certainly welcome what is being said. However, the borough council’s position remains the same – we are trying to get all of our investment back.”

Ernst and Young are administrators for the Heritable Bank and their 25-page report only relates to this bank which is governed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) because the bank was based in the United Kingdom. Negotiations over investments with Icelandic banks Glitnir and Landsbanki – where up to £1 billion of UK public money is thought to have been invested – are a separate issue.

Cllr. Morris said: “The Audit Commission has said that any authority which invested after 30 September 2008 should carry out an investigation into that investment - and that does not apply to our council. Our £2.5 million was invested in an organisation governed by the FSA – which the Icelandic banks were not – and that is why we are hopeful we will recoup our investment.”

It is understood councils will get their first payment from Ernst and Young within the next few months.

 

 

Borough Council delivers 2.5% (or eight pence a week) Council Tax rise

25th February 2009

A below inflation Council Tax increase has been agreed by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council for the second year in a row.
Councillors agreed a budget tonight which will mean an average Band D property paying just 8p more each week to Newcastle borough during the financial year ahead. The 2.5 per cent increase mirrors the same percentage rise agreed during the current year. It means an average Band D property will pay the borough council £174.32 from April – a £4.25 rise.

Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “Our Council Tax proposals follow on from a low increases last year. We have tightened the belt at the council. We have reviewed spending and identified efficiencies. Yet we are still managing to invest in our priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan and improving services. We aim is to improve service delivery to the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme while delivering a below inflation budget."
 

 

 

Online petition launched

16th January 2009

A campaign has been launched to stop Marks & Spencer from closing one of its Simply Food stores. The high street chain's decision to shut its Newcastle branch has been met with public outcry since the move was announced earlier this month. Credit crunch victims Woolworths and Adams have already quit the town and there are fears losing the Simply Food store could damage Newcastle's retail reputation.
Now, community leaders have launched an online and paper petition to try and save the Castle Walk store and prove to Marks & Spencer how popular it is. The store opened in 2003 and attracted 2,000 customers on its first day.
Newcastle Borough Council leader Simon Tagg, who is organising the petition, said he would be doing everything he could to keep the store open. He said: "We are currently arranging a meeting with representatives from the company to discuss the situation. Just before Christmas, council officers had been in talks with Marks & Spencer about expanding their presence in the town, so news that they were thinking about pulling out has come as a complete shock. Since it was announced, the council has been contacted by a lot of people who want us to do something to keep the store open. If Newcastle is to remain a vibrant town centre, we need stores like Marks & Spencer to stay."
The Castle Walk outlet, which employs 19 people, is among 27 branches facing the axe as the chain tries to cut costs in the face of the economic downturn.

 

 

Turf cutting Ceremony at Borough's new £2.5 million Cemetery

20th January 2009

A turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of a major project to create the borough's new main cemetery took place on Monday 19th January. Council Leader Simon Tagg, and Cllr. Mary Maxfield, Cabinet member for culture and active communities cut the first turf at the cemetery site off the A525 at Keele.
Work to build a highway access to the site has now begun and is expected to be completed in March. Contractors will then start to create the main cemetery building, car parking, a road network, footpaths and landscaping. The £2,665,000 scheme, funded by the borough council, is due to be finished by the end of 2009.
"The project is going ahead because new burial space at our existing Newcastle cemetery will soon no longer be available. The new site will provide for burials, including the interment of cremated remains and woodland burials." said Cllr. Maxfield.
The new cemetery building will include a multi-purpose room for some services, an office and facilities for visitors.
Cllr Tagg said, “I welcome the launch of this scheme, which represents a significant long-term investment in our borough, Our new service will be multi-denominational and every possible provision will be made for differing religions, beliefs and faiths."
The new cemetery is being created on land that was formerly used for agricultural grazing.

 

 

 

Council leaders take steps to ease Economic Downturn

9th January 2009

Council leaders have approved measures designed to support businesses and residents in the recession. Newcastle Borough Council's cabinet yesterday outlined its recession-busting steps three days after 1,000 jobs were axed in Staffordshire, with 367 posts at Wedgwood and 684 at JCB being cut.
Immediate action includes setting a target of 14 days to pay local suppliers, compared to the normal 30 days. Other initiatives include speeding up the payment and processing of benefitsand holding 'business survival clinics', where solicitors, accountants and tax advisers will offer help.
The council is also working with colleges, universities and Jobcentre Plus to promote training courses and monitor employment in the area. Borough council chief executive Mark Barrow said North Staffordshire was likely to be severely affected by the recession because of the make-up of the local economy. He said: "At a time of crisis, communities look to councils for strong community leadership." The council will also support and promote a new credit union that will help people save and take out loans.
Council leader Simon Tagg said, "We are facing difficult economic times but residents and businesses should feel confident we will do all we can to help."
In Newcastle town centre, traders have been rocked by the loss of big name stores recently. On January 5, Woolworths shut its doors for the last time. Two days later, Marks & Spencer said it planned to close its Simply Food branch in the town.

 

 

Council makes commitment to Plain English!

5th January 2009

Newcastle Borough Council is set to endorse the use of Plain English in all it communications with the public. A report set to go before the Council's Cabinet will recommend the introduction of a Plain English Guide which will advise staff on how to cut down on jargon, acronyms and contain tips for communicating the Councils message clearly and simply.  Council leader Simon Tagg said, "Sometimes council publications and reports baffle even the most experienced councillors with jargon and Government speak, so similarly the average person in the street must find it difficult to follow what's going on. With our Plain English Guide for staff we hope to cut out some of the waffle and communicate clearly with the public."
The guide would be used in the preparation of leaflets, committee reports and the council's newsletter, The Reporter.

 

 

Restored Guildhall  opens for business

19th December 2008

The £1.2 million restoration of a Grade II-listed building into a customer service centre has been completed. Most of Newcastle Borough Council's public services have relocated to the Guildhall following six months of restoration work. Scores of residents attended the opening yesterday when mayor John Cooper unveiled the transformed, 300-year-old building to the sound of a jazz band. Visitors went on guided tours and viewed original windows, doors, flooring and staircases, as well as a new customer lift and payment machines.

 

 

Council Leader goes back to school for Christmas card competition 

10th December 2008

 

Keele fire latest: Enforcement action taken over underground fire

5th December 2008

A landowner is to be instructed to install safety measures to safeguard members of the public from an underground fire. Newcastle Borough Council’s public protection committee approved on Monday a series of actions in relation to a burning coal spoil heap at Hollywood Lane, Keele.
An enforcement notice will be served under the Highways Act 1980, requiring the landowner to fence off the boundary of the spoil heap adjacent to the public highway. The owner has also been ordered to display signs on the fencing warning the public not to enter the site. The actions were highlighted in a report, commissioned jointly by the Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council, which recommended that several safety issues be addressed while the fire is allowed to expire naturally. Two potential methods of extinguishing the fire were ruled out due to the physical constraints of the site and the extent of the burning.
Cllr Simon Tagg, Leader of the Borough Council and County Councillor for Keele said, "Council officers and partners such as the fire service have been closely monitoring the situation over the summer. I am pleased that the committee has decided to serve a notice requiring the fencing of the site between the highway and the fire and that there is a deadline of two months for the landowner to comply. The priority is to make the area as safe as possible.” The condition of the fencing would be monitored to ensure it remains secure during the duration of the fire, which it is estimated could remain alight for two years. Cllr Tagg added, " We are continuing to liaise with the Environment Agency on possible ways to put the fire out completely."
 

 

 

Eric Pickles MP visits Newcastle

24th October 2008

Eric Pickles MP (Shadow Secretary of state for Communities and Local Government) visited Newcastle town centre on Thursday 23rd October 2008 as part of his tour of Staffordshire. Eric was welcomed by Conservative Council Leader Simon Tagg and toured the Guildhall and the Civic Offices.

 

Simon Tagg said, "I am pleased to welcome Eric Pickles to Newcastle so he can see the positive action we are taking that will improve the way our residents can access services. Work is well underway to transform the Guildhall. It will offer access to almost all front line Council services via brand new facilities.

We see this as a great opportunity for one of the Borough’s key buildings to be brought back into use in a way which benefits the Council’s residents and nearby traders too - by bringing more people into the town centre, while at the same time preserves the Guildhall for future generations."

 

 

 

Job swop for council leaders

 1st October 2008

Collecting residents’ household rubbish, emptying litter bins and dealing with pests was all in a day’s work for politicians and senior officers. Cabinet members and directors joined front line staff on their rounds as part of ‘Meet the Leadership’ recently.
The idea is to help employees feed information on key services and potential improvements, and for the leadership to gain an insight into the day-to-day issues that employees face. Other services covered included the garden waste and kerbside recycling collections; the dog warden section and bereavement care.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “It’s all very well making decisions in the Council Chamber, but I feel it’s essential to see how key operational services, such as refuse collection, actually work on the ground. Meet the Leadership also reinforces the link between the leadership and members of staff. Our employees are the experts at their jobs, so they have a very important role to play in the decision-making process.”
It follows last year’s event, which was hailed a success. Cllr. Tagg added: “I found the day extremely useful. I certainly picked up a lot of points, which I will be discussing with my Cabinet colleagues.”
 

 

 

Simon Tagg working to keep Post Offices open

 29th September 2008

Post offices across Staffordshire could soon be offering council services to their customers. Residents will be able to pay council tax and fines and access other services at their local branch if Post Office Ltd's latest ideas for sustaining its network go ahead.
Representatives from local authorities across the county attended a meeting at Staffordshire County Council where Simon Burman, senior marketing development manager at Post Office Ltd (POL), explained the proposals. A number of pilot schemes are already running around the country, and POL hopes authorities in Staffordshire will be the next to test the ideas. Both councils and post offices have reacted positively to the proposals.
Newcastle Borough Council leader Simon Tagg attended the meeting and said he was planning to invite Mr Burman to the borough council to discuss the ideas further. He said: "Obviously this has come too late to save the post offices which have already closed, but it could help to sustain those that are left. The borough council wants to bring services into neighbourhoods, so this could be one way of doing that. As well as allowing people to pay council tax bills at post offices, it could also help when we are carrying out consultations."
Ted Manders, head of regeneration at Stafford Borough Council, said: "We are certainly interested in this. We are looking at how we can use post offices to improve our services and the ideas that came forward were very encouraging."
Pilot schemes are currently running in Leeds and Wiltshire.
Mr Burman said: "We have two pilot schemes running, one for improving our expertise in validating identification, and another for the paying of housing benefits." During the latest wave of post office closures, 26 branches across North Staffordshire were axed.
Mike Johnstone, sub-postmaster at Little Madeley Post Office, said: "I think anything that brings in extra business would be beneficial. We've lost a of things, like television licenses, and car tax, as most people sort these things out online."
 

 

Borough Council pledges cash to Madeley community project

 27th September 2008

Newcastle Borough Council’s Cabinet is set to approve in principle support for the Madeley Community Development Project to the tune of £160,000.
The project has been put together by members of the community to develop a new village hall complex in the heart of Madeley which will provide a joined-up hub for service providers such as the police, PCT, Staffordshire County Council, Housing 21 and Newcastle Borough Council. More details of the project can be found  at: http://www.madeleycdp.co.uk/
The project was recently given planning permission by Newcastle Borough Council and the project team have made a bid to the Big Lottery for further funding. The Borough council is supporting their application.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said, "The Borough Council is keen to be involved in the Madeley project. The Council is committed to improving it services to residents and we believe we can do that by being based out in the community in which we serve. This project can be of benefit to all our resident on the rural western side of the Borough. Services that they we would hope to provide in Madeley include: Housing support services, Community Safety and a one stop shop & specialised surgeries to provide access to all council services. The cash we are willing to pump in to the project will allows us to do this."

 

 

Evidence points to keeping Pay Phones

 2nd September 2008

An investigation ordered by Newcastle Borough Councils Cabinet into the usage of BT pay phone has been received by members. Evidence suggests that there is a valid case for retaining a number of the threatened phone boxes because of high usage numbers and their proximity to busy highways and accident blackspots. A number of others are recommended to be retained because of the their historic interest.
 

Council Leader Simon Tagg who represents May Bank said, " One of the BT pay phones threatened with the axe is on May Bank High Street. Our research shows that in the last financial year 1350 calls were made from that pay phone. This proves that even in this age of mobile phones it is still an important community resource. It is centred in the heart of May Bank on a busy road that has got busier recently since the opening of the Wolstanton Link Road and is an accident blackspot. I would like the Council to use its veto to stop the May Bank pay phone and others on the BT hit list being removed."

"A number of payphones especially in the rural areas are traditional red boxes. Even though they have relatively low usage they are worthy in my view of retaining because of their historic value and as emergency phone in isolated areas.”


 

 

 New logo for the Borough Council

29th August 2008

Residents are being asked for their comments on a proposed new logo for the Borough Council. It is intended to use the striking new image to replace the existing logo used by the local authority on its stationery, vehicles, uniforms and all other corporate materials.
The Council’s Graphics and Design team together with marketing officers have produced the logo and based it on the three turret castle which forms a central part of the civic shield. The existing logo - which comprises the words Newcastle-under-Lyme in blue and green lettering with the ‘A’ in Newcastle represented by a green triangle under a blue arch - has been in use since the early 1990’s.

Council Leader Simon Tagg said, “Residents in the Borough are incredibly proud of its history and tradition. This striking, bold image is an obvious link to that heritage. We also think it is a better visual representation of our area. I don’t think many people locally would be able to tell you what the old logo was supposed to represent. The design has been produced in-house by the Council’s graphics and design team and our marketing specialists. It will be introduced incrementally to ensure the authority faces no additional costs. As materials such as paper supplies, business cards, uniforms etc come to the end of their lives or we run out of stock, they will be replaced with items bearing the new logo.”

Deputy Leader Robin Studd said, “The castle means something to the people of Newcastle – it is after all where the Borough gets its name from. The Borough Council is a multi-million pound operation and it is important we brand our services with a strong, bold image. This means that when residents see staff with the logo on their uniforms, or see our waste or Streetscene vehicles bearing the logo, they are aware that it is the Borough Council providing those services for them. It should strengthen our profile in the community and enhance the link between residents who receive our services and the services themselves.”

Cabinet members will discuss the new logo at their meeting on September 10 and comments from residents will be fed into the meeting. Comments can be made by completing the form at the bottom of this page. The Council is retaining the corporate blue and green colours in the proposed new logo.

Cllr. Tagg added, “The logo is at the heart of the Council’s corporate identity and a stronger and bolder image would now be more relevant as the Council enhances its role as a community leader with a range of new, customer-orientated front line services including the transformation of the historic Guildhall as a Customer Service Centre; the overhaul of the Council’s waste services; a community focused Streetscene service.”
 

 

Keele spoil heap fire should expire naturally

8th August 2008

 

Former Council trainee accountant struck off by CIPFA

5th August 2008

 

£36,000 Marsh footpath project almost complete

17th July 2008

A £36,000 project to do up footpaths on Wolstanton Marsh is almost complete. Earlier this year the Conservative-led Cabinet at Newcastle Borough Council decided to use money given in developer contributions,  following the commencement of various building works in the area to fund the renovation work of the popular path network.
Borough Council Leader & May Bank Councillor Simon Tagg said, “This has been one of the biggest investment by the Council in the area in over 30 years. The footpaths when finished will be coated with protective light coloured resin that is similar to the colour of the paths before work began. These paths are really well used so we feel this a great way to spent the money gained from developers. As a result of these improvements they will be safer for everyone to use.”
Fellow May Bank Councillor Ian Matthews said, “The paths had been in a poor state for a long time so we are pleased that this work is being done. In the past flooding was a issue in bad weather when potholes filled with water. With the new surface this has become a thing of the past.”

 

 

United front over future of North Staffs Royal Mail sorting office

15th July 2008

 

 

Exposing Labours 'veil of secrecy' scam

Letter printed in The Sentinel14th July 2008

Dear Sir,

 Simon Tagg

Conservative Leader of Newcastle Borough Council.

 

 

Historic Guildhall transformation begins

25th June 2008

Residents can now see concrete evidence of the Council’s progress over its Guildhall transformation programme. Approved contractors Paragon Interiors Plc have now moved on site and begun the task of transforming the Grade II listed building into a one-stop customer service centre. The first visible signs of the works are now evident, after a compound was placed around the building.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “This is a very exciting stage of the Guildhall project, where we will see the Borough Council’s vision become a reality. The scheme is a win-win situation - we will not only improve the way our residents access Council services, but we can also bring an iconic building back into public use. The end result will be a building which acts as a focal point for the town centre of which we can all be proud.”
The Guildhall will become the main venue for customers’ Council enquiries when the project is completed by the end of the year. Visitors will be dealt with by customer service advisers who will ensure that the vast majority of requests are dealt with at the first point of contact. Revenues and benefits customers will be catered for in a special area on the building’s ground floor. A range of services will be found on the first floor, accessible by the Guildhall’s restored staircases or by a new customer lift. Residents who need detailed or specialist advice or services will be seen at the Civic Offices by appointment only.
In the meantime, arrangements have been made to ensure disruption to visitors and businesses is kept to a minimum. Temporary detachable bollards in the area will replace fixed posts to help improve traffic movement and enable swift deliveries.
Flower planters have been removed to facilitate the monthly Farmers’ Markets, while the compound will be reduced in size to accommodate Newcastle’s historic outdoor market.
Jeanette Hilton, customer services manager, said: “This project is a complete contrast – on the outside people will see little change to the building, whereas on the inside it will be completely modernised, while preserving the character and architectural features of this beautiful eighteenth century structure. There will be quite a lot of activity on this site during the next few months so we apologise for any inconvenience and ask that the public bear with us during these important changes.” Scaffolding is due to be erected next month, to enable some minor external improvements to be carried out.

 

 

Leaders Blog launched

30th May 2008

Computer users can now keep in touch with Newcastle Borough Council Leader Simon Tagg by clicking onto his monthly weblog. Cllr. Tagg is keeping residents up to speed with his activities as Council Leader and providing details of his busy schedule. The ‘blog’, which can be accessed via the Borough Council’s website homepage, will be updated on a monthly basis.

Current information includes details on the Council’s ‘Meet The Leadership’ initiative and the PARINS anti-racism campaign. Another new service launched by the authority’s communications department is a weekly news ‘podcast’.The podcast produces audio versions of a range of news items to keep residents informed of various Council initiatives and policies. Users can download the podcast from the authority’s website homepage as well as from Apple’s iTunes service.

Simon Tagg said, “More and more people are keeping up to date with the news by using electronic forms of communication. By launching the Leader’s blog and weekly podcast we are expanding our e-media outlets even further.”

News Podcast

Leader's Blog

 

Election 2008: Labour meltdown!

5th May 2008

New make up of Newcastle Borough Council Conservative 25  +5 Liberal Democrats 19  +1 Labour 12  -8 UKIP 4    +2

For the full results <Click here>

 

 

Declaration signed for equality and diversity

 

A campaign fighting to stamp out racism in North Staffordshire is set to add a new supporter to its list. Newcastle Borough Council has agreed to pledge its support to the work of the PARINS Partnership by signing its declaration.

PARINS (Partnership Approach to Racial Incidents in North Staffordshire), is leading the drive to create a society where people from all racial, religious and cultural backgrounds can live together in harmony. A joint venture between North Staffordshire Racial Equality Council and Stoke-on-Trent’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau, PARINS also supports victims of racism and encourages them to report incidents. The declaration contains a set of principles to ensure every individual is treated fairly and equally, regardless of colour of skin, race or religion.

Mark Barrow, the Borough Council’s Chief Executive, said: “This is a commitment on behalf of the Borough Council to support the important values that PARINS contains. We want to make a clear commitment to the community about the values we have across all levels of our business, whether it’s through our employees, our partners, or the services we provide to the public. This declaration is racially-based but actually the principles of equality apply to all groups, including disability, age and gender. It’s about treating people with respect.”

The signing of the declaration forms part of the Borough Council’s ongoing equality and diversity agenda.

Cllr. Simon Tagg, Council Leader, added: “Members of staff in all contact points have received training to enable them to deal effectively with reports of racial incidents. As a Council we are committed to providing services that are accessible to all sections of our community, irrespective of racial, ethnic, religious or cultural backgrounds.”

 

 

Meet the leadership 'on the job'!

25th March 2008

Planning has already begun for the next round of ‘Meet the Leadership’ which will take place in September 2008. Cabinet members and corporate directors are gearing themselves up to work in front line services such as waste management and Streetscene, which are based at Knutton Lane depot, for the day.
Meet the Leadership is a fairly new venture which is aimed at ultimately improving services. We are the ones making the decisions in the council chamber after all, so it makes sense to make time to find out how our decisions work on the ground. It’s also a simple but effective mechanism which allows two-way, face-to-face communication, a valuable tool that sometimes gets forgotten about in our technological day and age.
Getting stuck in alongside our members of staff sends out the message that we care about them and the services they deliver. It’s also another way of reinforcing the link between the leadership and members of staff who deliver the services. This week, councillors and directors each spent a day in services based at the Civic Offices, Jubilee Pool and the Museum and Art Gallery.
I spent my morning in the customer services area, dealing with the public’s enquiries. I handled a number of calls from all our service areas, including Streetscene and enforcement. I found it the experience valuable, as did my colleagues. We subsequently fed information back to officers, which is where service improvements can be identified.

 

 

Newcastle can keep over £1 million of Government 'blunder money'

11th March 2008

The Government will let Newcastle keep more than half of the £2 million it wrongly received in an embarrassing grant blunder. Newcastle Borough Council has been told that it will only have to repay £970,000 over two years, after it argued that the money, which came from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (Labgi) scheme, was needed to help regeneration. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) overpaid the borough council by £2,020,000 over a two-year period after it confused Newcastle-under-Lyme with Newcastle Upon Tyne, with the latter being underpaid by a similar amount.
Council leader Simon Tagg, pictured right, today welcomed the Government's decision to let the authority keep more than £1 million, and insisted the repayment would not affect council tax levels.
Mr Tagg said: "I am very pleased with this outcome, as Newcastle doesn't usually get much out of the Government. Right at the start we said we would keep hold of the money until we had argued our case for keeping it. We showed the Government the council finances and told them what we would spend the money on, and in the end they allowed us to keep the money."
The borough council will pay back £370,000 straight away, with two further payments of £300,000 being made by April 2009 and April 2010. The initial repayment will come from the authority's Labgi reserve fund, and a report will go to full council in April proposing that the remaining £600,000 should be paid from contingency reserves.
Mr Tagg added: "Taking £300,000 out of the contingency reserves will have a minimal impact on the budget, and it definitely will not affect service delivery."
A spokesman for the DCLG said: "It is clear that the overpayment is a significant sum. "The council has shown a strong commitment to efficiency and is able to point to a full and imaginative programme of economic development in the area."

 

 

Civic Pride as Guildhall is brought back to life 20th February 2008 Plans have been unveiled which will breathe new life into one of Newcastle’s most historic buildings. The Borough Council has today announced plans which will see the Guildhall in the heart of the town centre brought back into public use. It will be transformed into a Customer Service Centre where all the Council’s face-to-face enquiries with customers will be dealt with. The Grade II landmark building – which dates back to 1713 – has been empty for the last couple of years but has previously been used as a pub, provision market, civic offices and court building. Proposals approved by the Borough Council’s Cabinet today (Feb 20) will see the Guildhall transformed before the end of the year. Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “This is fantastic news on two fronts. Firstly, it means we are taking positive action which will improve the way our customers can access services. And secondly, the proposal will breathe new life into one of the Borough’s most iconic and historic buildings. We propose offering access to almost all front line Council services via the new customer facilities in the Guildhall. Only complex or specialised services will be provided from the Civic Offices, by appointment.” Deputy Leader Robin Studd added: “This proposal not only enables the Council to bring the Guildhall back into community use in the shortest possible time but also supports regeneration proposals for the town centre.The report considered by Cabinet members today revealed the Borough Council plans to provide welcoming, efficient and modern facilities in a well-appointed, central location which customers can easily access. People who visit the Guildhall will be dealt with by Service Agents whose job will be to ensure the vast majority of requests are dealt with at the first point of contact. Revenues and Benefits customers will be catered for in a specially provided area on the ground floor of the Guildhall. A range of services will also be found on the first floor, accessible by the Guildhall’s impressive and newly restored staircases or by a new customer lift that will be installed for the first time. The proposed design also allows for partners to utilise the building at various times with discussions set to take place involving the PCT, police, county council, CVS, community groups, CAB and others. In parallel to the transformation of the Guildhall, a new reception with modern interview and meeting rooms will be established in the Civic Offices to receive visitors who need detailed advice in specialist areas, by appointments only. Access to the County Council’s Children’s Services reception in the Civic Offices will be unaffected by these changes. Councillor Tagg said: “This is a terrific opportunity for one of the Borough’s key buildings to be brought back into use in a way which benefits the Council’s customers while at the same time preserves the Guildhall for future generations.”

 

 

Labours £2 Million '2 Newcastles' blunder

13th February 2008

The Government has overpaid a grant to Newcastle Borough Council by £2 million - after confusing the town with Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Over the past two years Newcastle has received more than £2.5 million in Government cash as part of the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) scheme.
But now the Department for Communities and Local Government has written to the council saying the amount was calculated for a city the size of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, population 259,536, rather than a borough such as Newcastle-under-Lyme with 122,000 residents. The authority should have been paid around £600,000, and the department has asked for the overpayment to be returned.

But council leader Simon Tagg says the council has no intention of returning the money at this stage as it has already been set against a number of regeneration projects.  Mr Tagg said: "I'm flabbergasted that someone could have made this mistake. It's like when the Government lost those discs. The council accepted this money in good faith. It was a large amount, but we assumed it was in recognition of the work we've done to encourage business growth in the borough. Stafford received a similar amount, and I don't think Stafford is a better place to do business than Newcastle. In Newcastle was have things like the Lymedale Business Park which is full of companies all paying the full business rates, and so we thought the LABGI grant was the Government paying some of that back to us."

The LABGI scheme was conceived as a way of rewarding local authorities that encourage business growth in their areas. Last year the amount allocated to Newcastle soared from £458,000 to £2.066 million. The council had been planning to use the money on projects such as the refurbishment of the Lancaster Buildings in the High Street.
Mr Tagg added: "We have no intention of giving the money back at this stage. We want the Government to look at its figures again. If we do have to pay it back it should be over something like 20 years! We can't hand over £2 million just like that."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "This is a regrettable error, and we have taken action to rectify it. We are working closely with the councils involved, and are taking steps to ensure this does not happen again."

Newcastle business leaders back Borough Councils stance while Newcastle Labour signal they would capitulate to their masters in London

14th February 2008

Business leaders believe Newcastle should be allowed to keep the £2 million it wrongly received from the Government, in order to help regeneration. Newcastle Borough Council has received more than £2.5 million over the last two years as part of a business growth incentive scheme, after civil servants confused Newcastle-under-Lyme with Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The borough should have actually received around £600,000 and now the Government is asking for the overpayment to be returned.
But council leader Simon Tagg says that while the council has not spent this money, it has been ring-fenced for a number of regeneration projects. Newcastle Chamber of Trade believes the money from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) scheme is desperately needed in the borough to help create employment and regenerate the area.
Trevor Miles, vice-president of the chamber, said: "I think it's quite amusing that central Government could send the money to the wrong place like this. It's not just the Government that makes mistakes like this, the Post Office sometimes gets the Newcastles confused as well.
"The chamber of trade welcomes any money that comes to Newcastle Borough Council. The council has done a good job in keeping costs down, but we really do need grants to improve the situation in the borough, and to help our businesses grow and expand. It would be sad if they had to give this money back, because of a mistake that the Government has made. Newcastle does need the funding to improve its deprived areas and create opportunities for employment."
The money had been earmarked for projects such as the refurbishment of Lancaster Buildings and the old St George and St Giles school building in the town centre.
But councillor Sylvia Butler, who leads the Labour Group, thinks the council will have no choice but to pay the money back and questions why nobody had queried the large grant payment until now.
She said: "I'm surprised this wasn't picked up sooner as it was a huge amount. People were surprised it was so big at the time. But the council has to give the money back. Unfortunately mistakes happen but this is money that was allocated to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and so we can't keep it. The money will be missed but if someone wrongly put some money in your bank account you wouldn't be able to keep it. I have asked an officer about the grant money, and he said some of it has gone into the budget, despite what Simon Tagg has said about it being ring-fenced."

Mr Tagg responded by saying that when the first LABGI payment was made in February 2006, the Labour Group was still in power. He said: "Nothing wrong was found at the time, and last year's payment was based on the same figures. As Stafford had received nearly £3 million, we didn't query it. The money is declared in the budget, as it has to be, but it has been ring-fenced. The Labour Group wanted to use the LABGI money to fund a zero council tax increase, and if they'd got their way that there would be no money left to pay back."
Mr Tagg says the mix-up will also not affect next year's council tax levels. Newcastle City Council, which was underpaid by more than £2.7 million, has also been contacted by the Government, and told the shortfall will be paid to the authority on March 3. A spokesman for the city council said: "The council is pleased the Government has spotted this error. Services were not affected and we have received the full amount."

 

 

Christmas card artists meet Leader

14th December 2007

Young artists from a Newcastle school have receive prizes at a special assembly after designing Council Leader Simon Tagg’s official Christmas card. Cllr. Tagg visited St. Giles’ and St. George’s Primary School on Tuesday, December 11 to give gift vouchers to Adam Pemberton, Lucy Hope and Billy Seru, all aged eight.
Adam’s design featuring Santa in his sleigh was selected for the front of the card. Lucy’s picture of a Christmas tree and Billy’s design of Santa delivering presents are depicted on the back of the cards.
A total of 27 Year Four pupils entered the competition, which was judged by Cllr. Tagg and colleagues from the Borough Council. “The standard of the designs was very high – it was difficult to choose a winner,” he said. “I would like to congratulate Adam, Lucy and Billy and their classmates for all their hard work.”
The cards will be sent to civic and community leaders in Staffordshire and the West Midlands and beyond. The children’s Christmas card designs will be on display in the main reception at Newcastle’s Civic Offices from December 12 to 24.
 

 

 

Thistleberry Latest: Investigation ordered into demolition of historic wall

17th November 2007

Newcastle Council's Planning Committee has ordered an investigation into the demolition of a historic dry stone wall on Keele Road, Thistleberry.

Councillors on the Planning Committee raised residents concerns about the lack of information from both the developer - Persimmon Homes and the highway Authority - Staffordshire County council. A report will now be brought to the next planning meeting (in December) outlining reasons why the wall was demolished, what has happened to the stone and what is going to be done about the metal barrier that replaced the wall.

Council Leader Simon Tagg who represents Thistleberry on the County Council said, "Local residents are rightly asking why no one was consulted about the removal of this wall which dates back to the 18th Century. Persimmon Homes and Staffordshire County Council have been slow to provide any detailed information.
We also have concerns over the unsightly barrier that has replaced the wall. It looks so out of place on a gateway road in to town. Hopefully the report ordered by the Planning Committee will shed some light on theses issues."

 

 

 

Letters tell true story over Road resurfacing

Letter printed in the Sentinel17th November 2007 from John Pye Chairman of R.A.G.G.S

Sir, - As chairman of the Sidmouth Ave, Gower St, Granville Ave and Northcote Place residents' association, and in response to A Watson's letter of November 14, let me firmly set the record straight. A Watson clearly implies that Councillor Stephen Holland seeks to take undue credit for the recently completed and very necessary and overdue road resurfacing.
The road resurfacing scheme apparently referred to by A Watson concerns Granville Avenue, Newcastle, which is an area covered by the residents' association of which I am the current chairman.
It is an undisputable fact that Mr Holland is, with the assistance of councillors Simon Tagg and Ian Matthews, responsible for this road being resurfaced.
Mr Holland has worked tirelessly with our residents' association, and attends almost every meeting we hold. It is a fact that without him, this road would still be in the disgusting state that it had been in for many years. I would go further than this and say that, had it not been for the equally tireless efforts of Simon Tagg some 18 months ago, Sidmouth Avenue, another road within our association boundary, would also still be in the same dangerous state that it had been in for many years. Indeed, The Sentinel reported on this issue and featured photographs of Mr Tagg with residents examining the terrible state of the road surface in Sidmouth Avenue.
Who is A Watson? Do they live anywhere in the vicinity of our residents' association? Possibly not, as they seem so very ill informed.
If they do, however, reside within our boundaries, I would like to invite him to our next meeting which will be held on November 26 at 8pm at St George's Church hall. He could then meet personally with Stephen Holland, and possibly also meet other very helpful, hard working councillors, who strive constantly to improve the quality of life of all the residents.

JOHN PYE Newcastle

To view another letter on this subject <click>

 

 

Planning appeal victory for Lower Oxford Road campaigners

1st November 2007

An appeal by a developer against a decision by Newcastle Council's Planning Committee has been thrown out by Government Planning Inspectors. The application to convert an historic family house in Lower Oxford Road, Basford into 3 apartments (on 3 stories) was refused by Councillors in September 2006 because of concerns about over-development of the site, parking issues and lack of amenity space for resident.
Now a year later the Inspector has agreed with Councillor on parking and also considered the lack of usable outdoor space would result in 'unacceptable living conditions for future residents of the upper flats'.
May Bank Councillor Simon Tagg, who proposed refusal of the original application at the planning Committee said, "It was the right decision. I am pleased that the Planning Inspector has backed the Planning Committee on this and agreed with local residents' concerns. There is no doubt that the developer was attempting to maximise the use of this property, and therefore it would appear potential profit. It is the local councillors' job to speak up for residents, both present and future. This was overdevelopment of this particular site."
The property, the former Vicarage to St Marks Church, Basford hit the headlines in 2004 when 10 preserved trees were illegally cut down in the garden of the house. The then owner was forced to replant the trees a year later. A series of controversial planning applications were then submitted with permission finally being granted for 2 town houses on the garden site.

 

 

Conservatives vote to continue weekly collection

11th October 2007

Conservatives on Newcastle Borough Council's all-party Scrutiny Committee have backed a plan to increase home recycling to include plastic & cardboard while continuing a weekly collection of kitchen waste. The scheme will now go out to consultation with the public.

 

 

Council Leaders join workers delivering front line services

3rd October 2007

Residents saw some different faces in their neighbourhoods when Council leaders joined front line staff on their rounds. Politicians and senior officers from Newcastle Borough Council went out and about with depot staff on Friday, September 21 in a bid to gain first-hand experience in important services.          
Members of the Cabinet and Corporate Board joined teams in Streetscene, waste and recycling services and environmental services. The initiative helped staff feed information to the Council leadership on key services and potential improvements. And it gave the Cabinet and Council directors an insight into the day-to-day issues of staff on the front line.
Council Leader Simon Tagg, Chief Executive Mark Barrow and Cabinet member Mary Maxfield (pictured right) collected residents’ household rubbish.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “We didn’t do this because we were told to; we actually requested to do it. The Cabinet makes decisions but it was good to see how they actually work on the ground.

 

 

Simon Tagg elected on to Staffordshire County Council

12th July 2007

Newcastle Conservatives have won the by-elections brought about by the untimely death of Newcastle Borough & Staffordshire County Councillor Glennis Deakin in May 2007.

Newcastle Borough Council Leader Simon Tagg has won the fight for the Westlands, Thistleberry & Keele County Council Division.
While Linda Hailstones, wife of Seabridge Conservative Borough Councillor Peter Hailstones has been elected for the Westlands Ward on the Borough Council. (Simon & Linda pictured right, outside one of the threatened day care centres in the Westlands during the campaign)

Candidate Party Votes % of Vote Simon Tagg Con 1,067  41.94 Marion Reddish Lib Dem 1,005  39.50 David Beardmore Lab 268  10.53 Wayne Harling UKIP 204  8.03

 

 

Partnership at Newcastle Borough Council set to Continue

The Partnership of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats is set to continue running Newcastle Borough Council. Both Groups joined forces last year after the local elections resulted in no party having overall control of the authority.
The joint working arrangement will now go on for a further 12 months after voters went to the polls earlier this month and once more left no single party with an outright majority. Both Groups gained three seats each in the May elections with Labour losing six.

The make-up of the Council is now 20 Conservatives, 20 Labour, 18 Liberal Democrats and two UKIP members. Conservative Leader & Leader of the Council Simon Tagg said: “The Partnership has started down the road to improving the Council and we have agreed to carry on this year. The Conservative Lib Dem partnership worked well last year, both Groups recognise there is more to do and our efforts will focus on translating this into better services for the residents of Newcastle.”

Robin Studd, Liberal Democrat Leader & Deputy Leader of the Council, added: “The Government Inspectors, the Audit Commission, have recognised we are beginning to turn things round at the Council. Our challenge now is to keep our foot on the pedal and keep moving forwards. The result of the election showed that people don’t want Labour back in power. They lost seats to both ourselves and the Conservatives.”

Among the councillors who lost their seats was David Leech, the Labour group leader. He lost in Knutton to UKIP’s Derrick Huckfield. Other Labour members who lost their seats were John Macmillan (Butt Lane); last year’s Mayor Bill Sinnott (Madeley); Ray Astle (Ravenscliffe) and Michael Clarke (Wolstanton).

For information about our priorities for the next year:  <Click> and follow the link to our Corporate Plan.
 

 

Simon Tagg re-elected to the Borough Council

Simon Tagg has been re-elected as May Bank ward councillor for another 4 year term. Also, in a day of drama in Newcastle the Conservatives picked up 3 seats from Labour and are now the joint largest party on Newcastle Borough Council.

MAY BANK WARD Candidate Party Votes % of Vote Tagg, Simon John CON 1227  62.89 Harrison, Stephen Peter LAB 310  15.88 Lewis, Barbara Mary UKIP 223  11.43 Wain, Chris LIB DEM 191  9.78 New makeup of the Council

Conservative 20 Labour 20 Liberal Democrats 18 UKIP 2 Party Gains/Losses Party Swing  Conservative +3  Labour -6  Liberal Democrats +3  Independent -1  UKIP +1   For full results <Click here>

 

Final Election leaflet:

 

Delivering you a low 2.7% Council Tax

The Conservative/ Lib Dem administration led by Simon Tagg on Newcastle Borough Council has agreed its first budget, delivering on an election pledge and increasing council tax at the below inflation level of just 2.7% - the lowest rise in years and well below the 4.9% hike by Labour-run Staffordshire County Council.

The Budget was presented to the full council and approved on 28th February 2007.

 

Champion for Borough's children

Young people in Newcastle are set to benefit from the creation of a new trust. The Borough Children's Trust aims to bring together organisations throughout the area to support young people up to the age of 19-years-old - especially those with special needs or disadvantages.

Members will include representatives from local schools, the police and the borough council.

The trust will focus on the specific needs of children in Newcastle to deliver the aims set out in the Children Act 2004 - enjoying and achieving, staying safe, being healthy, making a positive contribution, and economic wellbeing.

It will have a two-tier structure, with the board supported by Community and Learning Partnerships based around secondary schools in the area. The partnerships are currently in development in Clayton, Kidsgrove, Chesterton, Knutton and Silverdale, and Wolstanton and Cross Heath.

Council leader Simon Tagg, who will represent the borough council on the trust, said: "A children's trust will bring together all services for children and young people in the borough. It is focused on improving outcomes for all children and young people in Newcastle up to 19-years-old.

"It will support those people who work very hard every day with children, young people and their families in schools, social services and the important voluntary sector."
 

 

Inspectors praise improving Council

 Article printed in The Sentinel, 21st February 2007

Inspectors have praised Newcastle Borough Council more than a year after it was heavily criticised. A new Audit Commission report says the current political leadership and improved council structure has provided a solid foundation for the authority to move forward.
It was previously slammed for having over-ambitious vision statements which stretched available resources in order to deliver seven corporate priorities and work on 23 areas of improvements.
Now, the latest report shows since the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition seized power from the Labour group in May's local elections, it has brought about better clarity over roles and responsibilities.
 

Simon Tagg, council leader, said: "Every member of staff at the council and the residents of Newcastle should be heartened by the messages coming out of this report. Although it's early days and we shouldn't get carried away because there is still much more to do, it shows we are now heading in the right direction. We have ended the drift of the Labour years and we are honouring our promise to the electorate last May to change the culture at the council."

The full report also sets out how the council can ensure it remains on track - by including 'obvious measurable benefits or targets' in plans and making sure major changes do not overlap.

Councillor Stephen Holland added: "Credit should be given to those people who have led these improvements since May - the council leader and deputy council leader, the officers including the council's improvement programme manager; and other members who have been involved both directly and indirectly. But we should not rest on our laurels as the report makes clear - councils have to evolve as they improve their services and meet the changing needs of their residents. It is important that as elected members we strive for the best for our council. We owe it to the people we represent."

Since inspectors were on site the council has also appointed new chief executive Mark Barrow, who takes up his post at the end of March.

 

 

Keeping Council Tax down and delivering on our promises

 

Families in Newcastle will have to pay the borough council just £4.36 extra a year in council tax. Annual tax bills are poised to rise by 2.7 per cent in the borough after the council agreed its budget for the 12 months from April 1.
It means residents in average Band D homes will pay £165.92 for the year, compared with £161.56 last year.
It is the first budget set by the ruling Conservative /Lib Dem coalition which took control in May 2006 and is among the lowest rises in recent years.
It will be presented to full council on Wednesday, when it is expected to be passed by a majority. Under the previous two budgets passed by Labour, the council tax rose by 4.9 per cent, the maximum allowed by the Government.

Simon Tagg, (pictured right) leader of the borough council, said: "When we were in opposition, we put forward a budget below the rate of inflation and below the rise in state pensions. Now, we are carrying that through. Council tax does have to increase to keep pace with rising costs. The council is subject to those costs, and we want to invest in our priorities."

Those priorities are:

Keeping cleaner and safer streets - an extra £200,000 has been set aside for improved CCTV monitoring
Creating a borough of opportunity - the council wants a wider range of leisure, cultural and sporting facilities. Up to £5 million will be used to fund investment projects and large scale regeneration programmes
Waste management and recycling - £220,000 is to be spent on collection of more green waste and recyclable materials
Transforming the council - about £250,000 will be set aside to develop one-stop shops where residents can drop in to sort out any council related problems.
 

Mr Tagg added: "I think residents will appreciate what we are doing." The borough demand has to be ratified by the full council next week.
Taxpayers in Newcastle welcomed the council's attempts to keep bills low. Annie Deakin, aged 56, of Kidsgrove, said: "It's another bill but I'm thankful that it can be kept low. When everything creeps up, it adds up." Meredith Birch, aged 62, also from Kidsgrove, added: "If the money is being spent on things like CCTV and good causes, it takes the sting out of the bill."


 

Please sign the Save Our Care Homes e-petition 

County Council to shut all its care homes (Sentinel article from 1st Feb 2007)  

Following the news that Staffordshire County Council plans to close all council-run Care Homes & Day Care Centres in the Borough by March 2008 Cllr Simon Tagg has launched an online petition. Cllr Tagg said, "I am very concerned about what is happening, some of the most vulnerable members of our community have been made very afraid for their future. I am shocked at how this has been handled. We need to send a message to Staffordshire County Council asking them to think again about this". The e-petition states:

'We the undersigned are completely opposed to Staffordshire County Council's policy to close every Council-run Care Home and Day Centre in Newcastle Borough by March 2008. We ask Staffordshire County Council not to carry out this heartless cut in basic welfare services.'

To sign the online petition Click Here