Chief Executive's Tour of Chafford

Graham Farrent (Chief Executive of Thurrock Council) visited Chafford today.

I met Graham at Sainsbury's car park and took him on a 1.5 hour tour of the community. Please see the areas visited and the points I raised:

Gabriel Close - Raised the issue about closing the road to prevent the anti-social behavior.

Gilbert Road - The issue of the proposed zebra crossing in front of Warren Primary School.

Southwell Close - The issue of safety and the proposed double yellow lines

Harper Close - The issue of the waste collection team missing a cul-de-sac of this street.

Mayflower Road - The issues about expansion of Chafford Primary School and Campus.

Hatfield Close - The issue about the limited access at the junction with Mayflower Road.

Howard Road - Discussed the proposed GP surgery behind Bannatynes.

San Luis Drive - The issues about people throwing pebbles down on residents homes.

We also visited Drake road and the Community Hall where we discussed the issues in that area.

Graham will take all the issues back to his officers and keep me posted in the coming weeks.

Please contact me if you have any queries: tojetola@thurrock.gov.uk

Cllr Tunde Ojetola

PRESS RELEASE: PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL OF COUNCIL FUNDING OF CHAFFORD HUNDRED LIBRARY

Many residents have contacted us about the proposed withdrawal of Council funding of Chafford Hundred Library.

We are aware that the Council has to review all aspects of the budget, but we are quite concerned about the proposal to withdraw the £60,000 funding from Chafford Hundred Library.

The Library is multi-purpose, it is used mainly by:

· Chafford Primary School;

· Chafford Secondary School; &

· Chafford Residents & other local Schools

Due to its unique nature, it is jointly funded by the Schools and the Council. If the Council withdraw the £60,000 spent on the Library every year, both Campus and Chafford Primary may not be able to maintain it and therefore its future could be at risk.

A recent FOI request shows that Chafford Library is the 3^rd most used library in Thurrock, with almost 91,000 visits last year alone.

The concerns are:

· Have the full effects of the withdrawal of the funds been considered?

· Will the Schools be able to support the Library remaining open or will the Library totally close?

· Children are encouraged to read, but with the Library at risk of closure, where does the Council propose the Children should carry out their lessons?

· With the Council recognising that even more children are due to use the two main schools that use the library, why pull the funding now?

· Have alternative forms of working being considered, e.g. closing one day a week or reduced hours?

· Why is there no consultation about this?

· What will happen to the 4 library staff?

We all agree that the Council has to reconsider its budget, but we are asking the Council to review this proposal so that the library can remain open.

Thanks

Tunde Ojetola - South Chafford

Steve Veryard - South Chafford

Neil Rockliffe - Chafford North

Garry Hague - Chafford North

Security Handyman Service

NEW Security Handyman Service is here to help home owners and private tenants feel safer and secure at home, thanks to a new community safety partnership initiative, working with Thurrock’s local home improvement agency, Anchor Staying Put.

How much will it cost?
Ø A security ‘doorstep’ pack is provided free of charge and includes, door chain/mirror, timers, window/door alarms.
Ø A qualified handyman will install all the measures for only £7.00 an hour.

Who Qualifies?
Anyone who:
Ø Is formally referred to the service by other agencies e.g. neighbourhood watch.
Ø Is a resident who is aged 60 or over or who is disabled or
Ø Disabled residents of any age
Ø Note: This scheme is not open to council tenants. Tenants should contact their local estates office if help is needed.


For more information or to make a referral telephone Anchor direct

01268 638406.
stayingput.thurrock@anchor.org.uk

2009 Review for Chafford Hundred

2009 was an interesting year:

There were numerous Cabinet meetings and pre-meetings, there were Executive Board meetings and Improvement Board meetings. One-to-one meetings with each Cabinet member, including me, to improve relations and to improve the services that Thurrock Residents, as the tax payer, received.

At the end of the year, the Audit Commission gave their assessment and declared that the Council was Improving Adequately.

I have enjoyed serving residents of Chafford Hundred. To keep you posted, I kept this blog updated weekly, carried out occasional street consultations, by knocking on numerous doors to ensure that I obtain your views as residents.

I have taken these views back to the numerous meetings above and ensure that residents views are entrenched in the policies of the Council - this has resulted in achieving the following for Chafford Hundred:

- New traffic calming measures in front of Warren Primary School
- Two new extra classrooms in Warren Primary and Chafford Primary Schools
- A new GP surgery due to be constructed at the development behind Bannatynes
- Devonshire Road weight restriction made permanent
- Support to the proposed Youth Development off Rainbow Road
- Current campaign to restrict the speed of traffic off Rainbow Road
- Ensuring that Chafford keeps our Police Community Officer
- Ensuring that Chafford Library was unaffected by the recent changes to these services unlike other areas in Thurrock

I pledge to continue working hard for Chafford Residents in 2010. Thank you for the support, the emails and Christmas cards stating your appreciation.

Please contact email me at: Cllr Tunde Ojetola

(NB - if you click on the topic above, it will link straight to the videoblogs courtesy of Yourthurrock)

Happy New Year

Dear Residents

On behalf of all four councillors in Chafford Hundred, compliments of the Season to you.



Please feel free to contact us:

Cllr Garry Hague
Cllr Steve Veryard
Cllr Neil Rockliffe
Cllr Tunde Ojetola

Summer Months

Contrary to popular believe, work does go on in the Summer:

This August I:

Presented two Housing reports to Cabinet
Chaired a license application meeting
Chaired the Civic Awards Committee Meeting
Attended:
- the General Services Committee Meeting
- the annual Garrison Gardening Competition in Purfleet
- informal Cabinet
- Impulse Leisure AGM
- Pre-meeting with officers
- Visited Harper Close to discuss waste collection

As the summer break comes to an end:

• I am ensuring that the contractors building off Howard Road deliver the education funds of about 250k and the Health Centre as agreed.
• I have arranged a meeting with the Education Section to ensure that there are enough School places this new academic year;
• I have written to the Waste department to ask for clarity about the Waste information given to residents
• I have submitted the outcome of the consultation in respect of a Zebra Crossing in front of Warren primary School. Of the 80 people from Grifton and Gilbert Roads who responded, 90% agreed that there is the need for a zebra crossing in front of the School.
• I am speaking to the Licensing Officers about the Licensing issues of Drake Community Centre.

Please contact me about this or any other issues.

Community Forum Meetinig

Dear residents,

The next Chafford Hundred Community Forum meeting will take place on:

Monday 12th January 2009
Venue: All Saints Church (Beacon Project), Drake Road, Chafford Hundred
Time: 8:00pm and end at 9:30pm

Agenda
Police update and question/answer session.
Antisocial Behaviour issues

The meeting is open to all Chafford Hundred and North Stifford residents.
Your ward Councillors from both Wards of Chafford will also be in attendance and are willing to answer any questions you may have.

Chafford Marks Remembrance Day

Residents of Chafford also paid respect to the war dead last Sunday - Remembrance Sunday.

In a short service at the site, a couple of prayers were said, and both the Community Forum and your ward Councillors laid wreaths at the site off Kershaw Close.

Thanks to all those who attended.

Compliments of The Season

Dear Resident,

On behalf of Garry, Steve & Neil, I want to wish all residents of Chafford Hundred, a prosperous and successful new year.

As your representatives, we will look into working harder and better. Some points to note:

• Its an election year to start with, which means there will be elections in both North Chafford and South Chafford. If you are not sure which ward you below to please refer to my previous note published in August 2007: http://cllrtunde.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Chafford%20Ward


• Devonshire Road consultation is in progress, on completion I should be in a position to review the recommendations put forward and see about implementation asap.


• Howard Road Development - The developers plan to submit their planning application later on this month. Steve and I have been in discussions with the Developers to ensure that residents receive the best community contribution from the development.


• Schools - there is a consultation due on the future of schools in the area. Any consultation about this should include searching for an alternative site for any of the current schools which will provide adequate room for expansion.


• Additional Health care facilities in the Beacon and proposed in the Howard Road Development should serve to enhance the access to healthcare in the community.


• Anti-Social behaviour is still a main concern by many residents and we hope that once all the PCSOs and neighbourhood police are in place then the police response will be quicker.

The list is in-exhaustive and is just a cross section of some of issues residents are facing. Please do not hesistate to contact me to discuss these or any other issue.

Regards

Tunde

Roads in South Chafford Ward

Anne Heart Close Chichester Close Filipe Road Fleming Road Frances Avenue Francisco Close Gabriel Close Galleon Road Gilbert Road Girona Close Gower Place Grenville Road Grifon Road Hampton Close Harper Close Hatfield Road Hatton Close Hayley Close Hedingham Road Hepburn Close Hodges Close Hopewell Close Howard Road Hyde Close John William Close Kershaw Close Lancaster Road Lennox Close

Mary Rose Close Maunder Close Mayflower Road Mill Lane Nightingale Court Norfolk Place Parnell Close Parr Close Philip Sidney Court Philip Sidney Road Plymouth Road Rainbow Road Rawlyn Close Saffron Road San Juan Drive San Luis Drive San Marcos Drive Santiago Way Scott House Sewell Close Southwell Close Stafford Close Swallow Close Swiftsure Road Terlawney Place Triumph Close Victory Close Weymouth Drive