CONSULTATION ON MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy is asking local people and other agencies for their support in making the region’s road safer.
Today she has launched a region-wide consultation asking people for their views on her existing policing priorities for Merseyside and is specifically asking whether they back her proposal to make ‘improving road safety’ a new priority for the region.
Since 2010, Merseyside has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads. In 2015, more than 11 people died or were seriously hurt every week on Merseyside’s roads. The region also saw more pedestrians killed or seriously hurt than anywhere else in the country.
Her existing priorities are to:
- Prevent crime and anti-social behaviour
- Provide a visible and accessible neighbourhood policing style
- Tackle serious and organised crime
- Support victims, protect vulnerable people and maintain public safety
She is asking local people if these are still the right priorities for the region or if there are any other emerging issues that they feel should be addressed. She is holding a six-week public consultation which will run until Monday 16th January 2017, with the aim of seeking the views of local leaders, partners and members of the public on her existing priorities and asking whether they believe improving road safety, or any other issue, should be added as a fifth priority.
Jane said: “Merseyside’s Police and Crime Plan is a really important document, so it’s vital I take everyone’s views into consideration before changing it. I want to make sure it reflects the views and concerns of people across the county.
“My existing priorities were based on the consultation I did before and after being elected in 2012 and the ongoing consultation which I carried out continuously during my first term of office. This feedback provided the foundations for the Police and Crime Plan for Merseyside. Now I have the mandate from the public to serve a second term, I believe it’s the right time to take a fresh look at the Plan and make sure these priorities still echo the expectations and wishes of local people.
“I have become increasingly concerned about road safety in Merseyside. More pedestrians die or are seriously hurt on the roads in our region than any other part of the country.
“Last year 585 people either lost their lives or suffered serious injuries on our region’s roads – that equates to more than 11 people every single week. Any death or serious injury on our roads is one too many and 11 a week is simply unacceptable. Each and every one brings suffering and misery to those who are involved, their families and friends. Lives are broken and futures destroyed, yet many of these collisions are avoidable.
“I believe it is time that, in conjunction with all my community safety partners, we concentrate on tackling this issue to prevent other people needlessly losing their lives on our roads.
“What I want is to hear the views of local people – is improving the safety of roads a priority for you too?”
Jane added: “I would urge everyone to join the conversation and help to finalise the priorities I’m setting for policing and community safety in Merseyside.
People are asked to visit www.merseysidepcc.info/my-priority.aspx to share their views by Monday January 16th, 2017. Alternatively feedback can be emailed to info@merseysidepcc.info or sent to Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, Rose Lane, Allerton, L18 6JE.
2017/18 BUDGET STATEMENT
HALEWOOD TOWN COUNCIL
2017/18 BUDGET STATEMENT
Members of Halewood Town Council are acutely aware of the financial pressures facing the residents of Halewood which seem to increase with each and every announcement from Central Government.
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (KMBC) themselves have recently publicised details of the funding cuts they have received from Central Government; cuts which Halewood Town Council has also had to bear.
These relentless cuts in public funding such as the scrapping the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Grant have meant that in the four years up to 2017/18 we have faced a cut in funding of almost £48,000 and we already know we will face a further cut of £27,000 in 2018/19. These cuts in Town Council funding have come on top of approximately £30,000 of additional costs every year for services taken over from KMBC, making a ‘funding gap’ of over £100,000.
Nevertheless, the Members of the Town Council are committed to improving its assets and its service to the community. We have recently attracted funding to refurbish Hollies Playground; we are about to embark on a spend of approximately £10,000 upgrading our security systems at both of our Centres and plan to spend a further £6,000 improving audio visual and presentational services at Hollies Hall. In the Arncliffe Sports and Community Centre, Members plan to modernise and improve greatly the kitchen facilities at a cost of almost £90,000.
The sustained nature of cuts and Members’ commitment to protect and improve services leaves the Town Council little option in 2017/18 but to increase the precept by 9%.
Whilst this may sound a large increase, on a Band D property, it equates to an increase of £5.82 per year, a little over 1.5p per day which, in total terms, sees Halewood with the lowest level of Town Council precept in the whole of Knowsley. With much of the housing stock in Halewood below Band D, many households will pay less than this.
The increased income from the precept will help off-set the loss of funding and will enable the Members and staff of the Town Council to continue to provide a high quality service to the residents of the Township.