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Feb / Mar 2002 Matters The Newsletter of Norfolk County Council Golden Fire Service Forthcoming Notes Changes Consultations Page 8 Page 5 - Inside

Settlement means rises on the Have your say on the way - your views sought Budget proposals Norfolk County Council Leader A package of savings f you have a view about the Alison King is pressing the could see a rise in Ifinancial settlement or the level Government for a better deal on the cost of Meals on of proposed council tax, you can funding after reluctantly conceding Wheels from £2 to make your views known by substantial council tax increases are £2.25 each day and a contacting your local county councillor, writing to Alison King, on the way this year. rise in transport charges for people with learning Leader of the Council, at County Mrs King welcomed the Provisional disabilities wishing to attend day Hall, Martineau Lane, , or Revenue Support Grant settlement centres. e-mailing the Communications Unit which would see a 6.7 per cent on [email protected]. increase for Norfolk in its Standard Mrs King said she remains Spending Assessment - (a committed to lower levels of See page 6 for details of the calculation used to distribute council tax increases, but added: Council’s Cabinet. government grant to the County) - "This is deeply depressing to us, as compared to a 6.2 per cent it will be to others. Given what we Tracking the Budget increase for other English shire are likely to receive from the decision making counties for 2002/03. Government, the situation we inherited six months ago from the process through But Mrs King is concerned that previous administration and critical Norfolk County Council Norfolk's need to increase its pressures on some of the principal spending in areas such as Social services we provide - like education he County Council’s review Services is not being properly and social services, this is simply Tpanels have been meeting recognised under the current not possible for next year." throughout January to discuss funding arrangements and is She said the council's own how the settlement could impact pressing the Department of calculations showed that the funding on the particular services they Transport, Local Government and of key services for vulnerable people provide. the Regions (DLTR) for action. now accounted for almost all of the The County Council’s Cabinet Norfolk is already spending at least possible council tax increase. meets at 10.30am at County 10 per cent more on social services "The latest provisional settlement from Hall on February 11 to debate than the Government's Standard the Government assesses that we need and then recommend a budget Spending Assessment allows for. to spend £131.9 million next year to to the full council meeting provide social services for our It appeared before Christmas that a The budget could be ‘called in’ council tax rise of at least 10 per residents. But the simple truth is that for discussion by opposition cent was on the way, although the we are already spending £139.4 end of something called the council million on these services now - without councillors at Scrutiny tax benefit subsidy could help to taking into account any of the new Committee on February 18 at reduce this by around 2 per cent. pressures that we know will come our 10am way next year.We also know that even The Full Council meets at Spending on education, social this is not enough. services, fire, highways and other County Hall on February 25 at services are all set to increase next "This is an issue on which we will 10am, it is here that all 84 year - despite a funding shortfall of continue to lobby the Government members of Norfolk county about £5.5 million. and to help with this, Norfolk County Council will agree the budget Council is leading a piece of work for Savings of £3.3million are being the to Members of the public are found across Norfolk County identify better and fairer funding welcome to attend any of these Council to help meet the shortfall. mechanisms for Social Services meetings and hear the debate. nation-wide". A copy of the Director of Finance’s Report and Mrs King’s recommendations are available on the front page of the County Council’s Internet site - www.norfolk.gov.uk There is free Internet access available to all registered users of Norfolk Libraries. Norfolk Matters feb/mar 02 23/1/02 4:34 pm Page 2

News In Brief taskforce involving Norfolk's Changes Ahead for A key political leaders has been formed to take the case forward for improving road access to the Norfolk County Council Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the growing Norwich Research Park. Changes are in the pipeline that will improve the way in which Norfolk County Council works at a local level across the Its formation follows the clear County. refusal of the Highways Agency to allow access to the hospital direct Until last year, a series of Area Committees based on the from the Southern Bypass. boundaries of Norfolk's district councils, provided a forum in which The group includes the leaders of to discuss local issues. Norfolk County Council, Norwich Now a review of the way the system was working has been carried City Council and out in the light of the need to develop Local Strategic Council and Norfolk MPs. Partnerships (LSP's) across the County. The Government is promoting LSP's as a simple concept - that Publicity code public, private, voluntary and community groups come together to Voluntary organisations funded by set services priorities; bring service providers together and ensure the County Council need to be that agencies know how they fit into the 'bigger picture.' aware that in any publicity they produce, they must have regard to As part of this, a Norfolk County Strategic Partnership will the Code of Recommended need to be set up at some stage in the future. In the meantime, Practice on Local Authority changes are being made to the Area Committee network so that Publicity.Amongst other things, the the new arrangements can feed into LSP's. code is concerned with ensuring Consultation on the future of Area Committees found strong that public money is not used by local authorities for party political support for the retention of a city and borough wide forum in both publicity.This applies to groups Norwich and Great Yarmouth and County Councillors will continue funded by councils, as well as the to meet on a district wide basis in both places. councils themselves.The code also Opinion was equally divided about whether the Area Committees says that "Publicity should not should have decision-making powers or budgets and further attack, nor appear to undermine, consideration will be given to this issue as local working develops. generally accepted moral standards." Further information In the more rural areas of Norfolk, the County will work with the will be published in a future edition district council and other local partners to determine the most of Norfolk Matters, but the full effective structure for local partnership working. code, as recently amended, can be In , the existing two area committees (east and found through this website: west) are likely to be retained with a district wide LSP.In South www.info4local.gov.uk Norfolk, it is likely the three existing Area Forums will be built on, 5 enterprising young people beneath the district wide South Norfolk Alliance. 7from all over Norfolk received In King's Lynn and West Norfolk three area forums may be the highest Duke of Edinburgh established working under the newly created LSP; in the Award - the Gold Badge presented proposal is for five area forums and in Breckland work is being by the Dean of Norwich Cathedral, the Very Reverend Stephen Platten. done for forums for the five market towns covering the district. Norfolk County Council Local Norfolk County Council leader Alison King said: Education Authority is the major "I believe these new arrangements are better suited to licence holder for the Duke of serve the people of Norfolk than those which they replace. Edinburgh Award Scheme and is We are committed to working locally and responding to supported by local industry and local issues, as best we can, and I look forward to further commerce and by teams of developing our links in the months ahead." volunteers operating in high schools and youth groups across Norfolk. People interested in finding out If you have a question about how the new more about the Duke of Edinburgh arrangements will work, contact Ian Lambert, Head Award Scheme in Norfolk should contact Alan Alderton on 01603 of Democratic Services, on 01603 222620 or email 744888. him at [email protected]

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ore than 112,000 people Latest on residential review Mvisited the new Norfolk & Norwich Millennium library in The The future of five upgraded care homes will be Forum during the first four weeks considered by Norfolk County Council's Cabinet at its meeting on of opening, compared to 50,000 for March 18th (10.30). an average month at the temporary The five County Council residential homes - Aegel House (Aylsham), sites being used before The Forum Beauchamp House (Chedgrave), Mountfield (Norwich), Mildred Stone opened.The new library is issuing House (Great Yarmouth), and Woodlands (Kings Lynn) - have all been 19,000 items a week and has improved to meet current registration standards. However, the Council attracted more than 4,600 people has been consulting on their future following a 'Best Value' review of to join the library service. residential care which recommended the transfer of the homes to the independent sector, unless running costs could be reduced. Heather Bolt, cabinet member with responsibility for Libraries, The consultation has shown little support for such a transfer.This was Museums and Records, said: "I'm reported to the Council's Residential Review Board on Monday Jan absolutely delighted the Millennium 7th, where it was stressed that no decisions had been taken, and that Library has been such a success Cabinet wanted reports on the three broad options: and its arrival will certainly be a Retaining the five homes; key feature in our drive to hit our targets to increase the number of Transferring these homes to an 'arm's length' organisation, such as a people using Norfolk's libraries in Council-owned company; the years ahead." Transferring them to the independent sector. Reports on these options will go back to the Residential Review Board on February 15th and to Cabinet for decision on March 18th. Two other upgraded homes - Cranmer House (Fakenham) and Ellacombe (Norwich) - are not included because they were improved in joint projects with the NHS. The review of the future ownership of upgraded homes has been going ahead alongside a wider review of 24 unimproved homes.These must meet new mandatory standards by 2007 at the latest.The favoured solution is replacement of unimproved homes with 'housing with care' schemes (such as Laburnum Grove,Thetford, Lisbon Court, King's Lynn, and at Kelling), but the timetable varies.

orfolk County Council Cabinet Nmembers have agreed a bid for more than £160 million to refurbish WORKING TOGETHER ON WASTE and modernise 114 schools in the greater Norwich area. The bid will for joint working on waste are being established by New structures be made under the Private Finance the County Council and District Councils in Norfolk. The County is Initiative (PFI) to the Department responsible for waste disposal and the Districts for waste collection for Education and Skills. services. The outcome of this bid should be Towards the end of 2001, the political leaders and chief executive known by Easter. officers of the councils met to discuss joint working and agreed to work towards a combined refuse and recycling system to benefit Norfolk people. A group of officers has been asked to produce proposals for: ust a reminder, if you are aims and objectives for the management of waste in a collective Jconsidering entering this year's and sustainable basis EDP/NCC Norfolk Village of the Year Competition, the last chance a specification for market testing options for the service to request an entry form passes in "In the meantime, the existing officer liaison group for waste is early February.The deadline for continuing to meet on a regular basis to ensure there is no slow submitting your completed entry is down in the process of the current Waste Management Strategy for Thursday 28 March 2002. (See A to Norfolk," said Alison King, County Council Leader and Cabinet Z of helpful numbers) member with responsibility for Waste Management.

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FORTHCOMING CONSULTATIONS in Norfolk Looking at how schools CONSULTATIONS are organised A major consultation is currently underway in ten areas of Norfolk, in Norfolk looking at the way that 102 schools are organised. More than 90% of schools in Britain Children with Disabilities are organised so that tests are taken Give the Low-down On Services in the last year of a school before moving onto a junior school at 7, or For some children with severe disabilities, everyday communication high school at 11. However, in some can be a challenge. areas of Norfolk, children move to a middle school and high school at Norfolk Education, Health and Social Services have recently joined age 8 and 12, which is one year into together to tackle this challenge and get children to give their the next key stage. verdict on the services they receive. We are therefore consulting parents Sixteen staff from the three organisations volunteered to learn and other stakeholders on whether special techniques to use with children with very little or no verbal all children should move to high skills. school at age 11, or whether we should leave schools as they are.We The training enabled staff to conduct one-to-one interviews using are also asking, if all children did video, household objects, toys and pictures as props, to discover change school at 11, what is the what children really thought about services like their help at best way to organise primary school school, transport, and respite care. education? The 10 areas are: Great Yarmouth, A Best Value review team, (The National Development Team) Gorleston, Martham, Caister, also interviewed children at youth groups, special schools and Stalham, Loddon, Long Stratton, voluntary groups. Swaffham, Harleston and Hunstanton. Parents too were given the opportunity to voice their opinions on the services' successes and shortfalls in a series of meetings held in As well as producing more than October. 30,000 consultation documents for those directly involved, we are Tim O'Mullane, Co-ordinator for Social Services said, trying to make sure that local people have an opportunity to give ' We had a good turnout at the meetings, and are pleased their views on all the possible that both professionals and parents have been totally frank in options. their views.' More information about the Top of the list of suggestions from parents about how to improve consultation, and an electronic things, was for a named worker to be allocated for each disabled response form, is available on the child. website at http://esinet.norfolk.gov.uk/review. Other areas highlighted included more joined-up working between Reference copies are also available professionals, easier access to short breaks, less bureaucracy and from local public libraries, which better access to information and help. also provide free internet access. The consultation closes on 22 Several ‘feedback’ sessions were held in January at meetings March 2002 and then all comments attended by both professionals and parents. will be analysed and a summary of key issues prepared. The Cabinet will then make their Contact Tim O'Mullane, on 01603 223157, decision in May 2002, with the outcome publicised in the general minicom 01603 223242 or email media as well as in Norfolk Matters. [email protected] for details. For further information contact David Lennard Jones on (01603) 223474. email: [email protected] 4 Norfolk Matters feb/mar 02 23/1/02 4:34 pm Page 5

Information to Market Towns Market towns in Norfolk play a vital role in the life Feedback of the county, big enough to offer many services which people will need, but small enough to have a real community focus. HIGHWAYS - By focusing on information provided in THE ROAD AHEAD and through Aylsham and Swaffham, This consultation took place in Norfolk County Council is looking at October/November last year and the way information is provided about asked for your views on possible services in all market towns. changes to the County Council's The County Council team is working highway services. In particular: closely with partner organisations to see increasing the number of highways how information provided about our services area offices from two to three should overlap with information provided about district or town and parish services, or even health, police new local highways teams based at or voluntary services. depots around the county They also want to discuss the ways other community groups such as changing the way people contact parochial church councils or voluntary organisations in the Aylsham and the service, including out of normal Swaffham area are involved in providing information to their local office hours communities. The response rate to the If you want to become involved with the project, contact consultation was around 37% - Anna Graves on (01603) 223254 thanks to everyone who replied. The email: [email protected] results were reported to the Council's Cabinet in November: 76% in favour of a third area office Fire Service plans 89% in favour of new teams at Views are being sought on options to modernise and improve the way depots the fire service is provided in the Norwich area. 76% in favour of individual phone The central Bethel Street fire station was built in the 1930s and has a numbers for area offices (as now) number of deficiencies arising from traffic choked streets and lack of 40% in favour of better contact parking and accommodation. There are also problems with the fire facilities outside normal office service's Bowthorpe training centre, which suffers from frequent hours vandalism. 96% found the questionnaire clear The New Deal project for North Earlham, Larkman and Marlpit and easy to understand (NELM) has indicated it is willing to fund the development of a new fire The Council's Department of station and a modern and much improved training centre at the Planning and Transportation is now Bowthorpe School site. implementing the changes, most of Three main options to improve the service were put to Norfolk which will be in place by April 2002. County Council's Cabinet in January. In all cases fire cover standards More news in the next Norfolk would be maintained. Matters. Councillors' preferred option was to replace Bethel Street fire station For further information, call with a new station in central Norwich and a combined fire John Joyce on (01603) 222452. station/training centre in North Earlham, leading to improvements in email: [email protected] fire cover in the west of the city.This option would result in an extra four fire fighters being employed.Chief Fire Officer Richard Elliott said: "We know that the west of Norwich - which is currently not served by a fire station - has a particularly high need of our services - so a quicker response from a new station based in the area will help us to do this. It will also improve response times to calls from the new Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital." Tell us what you think:Write to Richard Elliott, Chief Fire Officer, Fire Service Headquarters,Whitegates, Hethersett, Norfolk NR9 3DN or email: [email protected] 5 Norfolk Matters feb/mar 02 23/1/02 4:34 pm Page 6

Ingrid Floering Blackman Cabinet Members Cabinet member with responsibility for the Environment There are 84 members of Norfolk County Council, 47 Mrs Floering Blackman lives in Dereham Conservative, 26 Labour and 11 Liberal Democrats. and represents Elmham and . The County Council decided last year, following Tel:01362 637235. consultation with the public, to operate a 'Leader and Cabinet' system, with 10 councillors who are Cabinet members, each with a particular area of responsibility. Every part of Norfolk is represented by a county Harry Humphrey councillor who can take up complaints raised by Cabinet member with responsibility for Fire members of the public living in their electoral division. and Community Protection Mr Humphrey lives in King’s Lynn and Alternatively, members of the public sometimes represents Marshland South.Tel 01945 approach the Cabinet member with responsibility for 430539. the area of service they wish to raise concern about. The Cabinet members are: Heather Bolt Alison King Cabinet member with responsibility for Chairman of Cabinet, Leader of the Libraries, Museums and Records Council and Cabinet Member for Waste Mrs Bolt lives in King's Lynn and Management represents Winch.Tel:01553 773819. Mrs King lives in Cringleford and represents Humbleyard. Tel 01603 454182. John Baskerville Cabinet Member with responsibility for Derek Turnbull Performance Monitoring Vice Chairman of Cabinet, Deputy Leader Mr Baskerville lives in Attleborough and of the Council and Member for Personnel, represents Guiltcross.Tel:01953 Finance and Property 860887. Mr Turnbull lives in Itteringham and represents Aylsham.Tel 01263 587478 Adrian Gunson Evelyn Collishaw Cabinet Member with responsibility for Cabinet member with responsibility for Planning and Transportation Economic Development Mr Gunson lives near Woodton and Miss Collishaw lives in Norwich and represents Loddon.Tel:01508 482543. represents Taverham and Drayton. Tel 01603 482552. Chris Mowle Alec Byrne Cabinet Member with responsibility for Cabinet member with responsibility for Social Services Education Mr Mowle lives in Brundall and Mr Byrne lives in Old Buckenham represents Blofield and Brundall.Tel: and represents Attleborough. 01603 712555. Tel:01953 860315. Learning disability partnership Little Plumstead Hospital Rapid progress is being made in developing modern New impetus has been given to the resettlement of services for people with learning difficulty (disability). people with learning difficulties from Little Plumstead Hospital. Individual plans are being prepared to ensure Joint Director of Learning Disability Services,Amanda that the right support services are provided and the Reynolds, appointed by Norfolk County Council Social process of finding housing and care providers is well Services and Health, is galvanising the response to the underway. recommendations of the National Development Team (which carried out a review of the position in Norfolk), The aim is for everything to be ready for the residents and the Government's White Paper "Valuing People." to move into their new homes by the end of 2002.This will allow the final decommissioning of the Hospital A Norfolk Learning Difficulties Partnership Board, which soon afterwards. includes 8 people with learning difficulties, has been There are around 300 unqualified staff (i.e. with no overseeing developments, including the preparation of a nursing qualification) and a range of options for Joint Investment Plan. Part of this plan is for further redeployment are being explored, including transfers integration of health and social services, such as the within health, into the independent sector, and into pooling of budgets and integrated community teams. suitable posts within Social Services. 6 Norfolk Matters feb/mar 02 23/1/02 4:35 pm Page 7

A to Z of helpful numbers at Norfolk County Council If you don't see the number you need, phone the appropriate enquiry desk or our main switchboard: 01603 222222/ minicom 01603 223833

A S Adoption 01603 617796 H Schools Adult Education 01603 222322 Home Care (see Social Services) Admissions 01603 222525 Arts Grants 01603 222269 Buses 0845 3006116 Governors Support C L Child Care Information Libraries 01603 433276 01603 622292 Great Yarmouth Term dates 01603 222146 Councillors and Committees 01493 844551 01603 222387 Social Services Kings Lynn 01553 772568 Eastern District D Norwich 01603 215214 Departmental enquiry desks 01493 850317 Thetford 01842 752048 Communications/General Western District (There are 49 Libraries in Norfolk, please 01553 669300 Enquiries 01603 222964 check the phone book for your nearest Chief Executive’s Department one) 01603 222001 Norwich District Education 01603 810351 01603 223500 Fire Service Enquiries M Southern District Mobile Libraries 01603 222267 01603 222146 01603 224100 Museums Northern District Museum 01692 500550 Finance and Information 01263 513543 01603 223488 Gressenhall Rural Life Emergencies out of hours Legal Services 01603 223812 Museum 01603 614022 01362 860563 T Library and Information 01603 222049 Norwich Castle Trading Standards 01603 493636 Norfolk County Services Business advice service The Lynn Museum 01603 495913 01603 222596 01553 775001 Consumer advice service Norfolk Property Services 01603 223456 Thetford Ancient House 08457 444466 Museum 01842 752599 Traffic light faults 01603 624923 Planning and Transportation (for other Museums please check the phone 01603 222143 Travellers Liaison Officer book) 01603 222473 Social Services 01603 222141 N Youth and Community V Norfolk Record Office Village of the Year 01603 222810 Services 01603 222324 01603 761349 P E Public Transport timetable enquiries W European Funding Enquiries 0870 Waste Management 01603 222917 01603 222598 6082608 R Refuse collection More information about the F (contact your own District Council) County Council and its services Fire Safety Advice 01603 819777 Rights of Way can be found on the council’s Footpaths/countryside access 01603 223284 website: www.norfolk.gov.uk. Free 01603 223284/ 222218 Road & Pavement Maintenance internet access is available at any Fostering (see Social Services) Aylsham Office county library to registered users. 0845 7581762 Norfolk Matters is produced by the Communications Unit. If you G Hethersett Office Grants - Education 01603 222146 have any comments, please 0845 7581761 contact the team on 01603- Gritting Roads King's Lynn Office 222964, or e-mail to (see Road Maintenance) 0845 6021930 [email protected]. Road Safety 01603 223355

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toolkit’ from the Golden Jubilee Roger Bennett,Asst. Chief Golden office at 85 Buckingham Gate, Executive, King’s Lynn and West London SW1E 6PD, phone 0845 Norfolk Borough Council. 01553 Notes 0002002. 616286, email - A small county This is a practical guide for [email protected] group has been set planning events in and up to help Helen Selleck, Events Manager, includes information on applying . 01603 co-ordinate Norfolk events for necessary permissions for celebrating the 50th anniversary of 212137, email - holding events, planning tips, [email protected] Her Majesty the Queen’s accession applying for grants and even to the throne. It will draw together making decorations. Nick Manthorpe, Media Officer, a calendar of what is planned and North Norfolk District Council. signpost people to where practical • Some of these toolkits are also 01263 516059, email - help and information about the available from Norfolk County [email protected] Golden Jubilee can be found. Council - phone 01603 224471. Some district councils have Melanie Baker, The group has been established by produced their own Golden Council 01362 656813, email - Sir Timothy Colman, Lord Jubilee packs containing local [email protected] Lieutenant of Norfolk and is chaired information. Contact your own Ben Southwell, Broadland District by John Alston, a Deputy Lieutenant. District Council for details. Council, 01603 703243. email Its members will ensure liaison (addresses below) [email protected] across and between Norfolk’s local authorities, church, parish and town • A web page is being prepared for South Norfolk Council, communities. the County Council website, to www.south-norfolk.gov.uk include a calendar of planned Co-ordinator to be appointed. Many communities and events, links to helpful advice and organisations are already planning information and links to other Stuart Wells, Borough of Great events such as street parties, fetes local authorities and organisations Yarmouth 01493 856100. email and Jubilee tree planting.The main who are staging events. Keep an [email protected] focus for such events nationally and eye on www.norfolk.gov.uk for Janice Bradfield, Norfolk Health locally will be the specially extended details. Authority. 01603 307213. email Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend 1- [email protected] 4th June 2002, with June 4th being Keeping in touch about what the principal day. you have planned Mel Lacey, Norfolk Constabulary, Please do let us know about your 01953 423666. email Where you can get practical event, so we can help to publicise it [email protected] help and information on the Golden Jubilee web sites and • For general information about with other publicity about the The BBC have nominated Nicky celebrating the Golden Jubilee, celebrations.You can do this by Barnes as their correspondent for visit the Jubilee website at contacting: Jubilee news items, so you can keep www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk her in touch with your plans too. Lindsay Stephens, Communications Phone 01603 284395 or 07764 • You can also visit the recently Unit, Norfolk County Council. 335205. email revamped www.royal.gov.uk 01603 224471, email - [email protected] • You can apply for a ‘celebration [email protected]

What you think of Norfolk Matters of interesting ideas, but not a consensus! Some of the issues you wanted to see include more contact details, We asked in the last edition what you thought about profiles of cabinet members, information about the Norfolk Matters - many thanks to all who replied. Council Tax and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. We have On the whole the comments received were very tried to include these in this edition. positive and will help us develop the publication to Lastly, we asked how often we should produce Norfolk help keep you informed. Matters. The majority of respondents (46%) felt that The most popular sections in the last edition were the every 2 months was fine, 37% favoured a quarterly articles on the New Archive Centre and the New publication and 17% thought we should publish twice a library at the Forum with 49% and 39% of those year. We shall therefore carry on producing Norfolk responding finding these very interesting. Matters every 2 months. We also asked whether we had the balance of articles We hope to carry on improving Norfolk Matters so if right. Over half of those responding (51%) want to you have any comments or suggestions, then please get read more about decisions that the County Council in touch. You can either send your comments in to has taken, with 39% wanting more about local events Freepost NFK County Council. You do not need to and 33% wanting more helpful names and contact use a stamp. Alternatively you can send an e-mail to numbers. When it came to other items that people [email protected] or call Mark wanted to see in Norfolk Matters, we received a host Langlands on (01603) 222973.