Theydon Bois Newsletter February 2013
The Essex County Council Budget Council meeting was held on 12 February instead of 5 February as we had all expected.
This was because the Government hadn't notified the county how much grant it would receive in the coming financial year.
I was looking forward to a backstage tour at the Royal Albert Hall but had to be at the Council meeting instead.
At each Council meeting there is a report from the Fire Authority and the Police Authority and councillors can ask questions of their representatives.
This time there was a Fire report and questions were asked but there was no Police Report.
This was because the Police Authority no longer exists since the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in November.
By co-incidence Nick Alston, the newly elected PCC, was at the District Council that evening to be questioned by district councillors.
He will be holding a public meeting in Epping Forest on May 23.
At the December Council meeting I asked which pavements in Epping Forest had been resurfaced during the year and was appalled to be given a list of only four, one was in Theydon Bois.
I also asked which pavements would be resurfaced in 2013/14 but was told this wouldn't be known until February.
I asked again at the February Council but still haven't got the list.
Many residents have complained about pavements and I have been trying to find out what the criteria is for resurfacing them as I am dissatisfied to be told that pavements I have reported for residents don't meet the criteria. I shall shortly be meeting one of the highway inspectors to discuss this.
At a recent county seminar about access to services for disabled people I said how difficult residents who push wheelchairs or use mobility vehicles find it to get along the Theydon pavements. The Cabinet Member for Health and the senior officer leading the seminar said they would take this up with Highways.
At the next meeting the officers in charge of Highways and of Passenger Transport are coming to answer questions. They will have a challenging time!
In the last newsletter I mentioned the Ageing Well committee I am chairing. At our last meeting we heard from the Social Inclusion Librarian about the library services for older people.
Over 450 volunteers take books to 1200 people who are housebound.
Is this a service that you need, or would you like to volunteer? Eleven mobile libraries visit sheltered housing and rural areas and I recall speaking up for the mobile library to continue visiting Theydon Bois.
One of the aims of the Ageing Well committee is to address loneliness. This is acknowledged to be a health issue, as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Keeping mentally and physically active and social interaction are important for health and we were told that reading is very beneficial. The librarian encouraged people to drop in to the library to read the papers, watch what is going on and sit in the warm. Book Clubs and other activities take place in many libraries and the library is willing to host other groups for free if they meet in the public area. http://www.yell.com/s/libraries-theydon+bois.html
The February Council meeting was the last for Peter Martin, Leader of the Council since Lord Hanningfield stepped down. He is retiring after being a county councillor for 24 years. Seventeen councillors are not seeking re-election, including me.
This is therefore the last article I will write to give you news from County Hall.
I hope you have found the articles interesting and informative.
Janet Whitehouse 01992 812503