Climate Change

Climate change in Warwickshire we have a lot of community and voluntary groups taking action to fight climate change and improve the environment around us. Find out more and get involved

www.warwickshireclimateemergency.org.uk/get

#ClimateTalks #COP26 #BestWarwickshire

End Fuel Poverty

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has published the latest index, http:http://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/english-fuel-poverty-index-2021

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

Councils play a hugely important role in the fight against cold homes. They work with landlords and housing providers to ensure that all rental properties in the area are let to a decent standard. By working with local health bodies and community groups, they can identify and support those most at risk from the negative impacts of fuel poverty.

Local authorities must have the resources needed to properly enforce energy efficiency regulations which keep older people and families safe. As we approach the winter, no one must go cold and unwell for fear of the cost of turning the heating on. Longer term, we need to see greater investment from the government in energy efficiency programmes, which will help lower bills, reduce anxiety for those in cold homes and protect people against any future surges in fuel costs.

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Increasing fuel and energy costs Nuneaton & Bedworth index 75% North Warwickshire 77% Rugby Borough 75% Stratford upon Avon District 72% Warwick District 71%. Clearly with extra pressures on finances any extra support will be needed Act on Energy has plenty of advice and support https://actonenergy.org.uk/

Act On Energy

Ambulance

The questions that I will be putting to the West Midlands Ambulance Service at Rugby Borough Council Scrutiny meeting 4th October. Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said “We need to see greater engagement and openness by WMAS, Rugby is a major town and expanding we should not be seen as an outpost of the West Midlands”

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse has sent the following questions in for answering when the WMAS turn up for the meeting as follows

  • Could they confirm that Ambulances services are assessed by response times, they must reach 75% of category 1 calls within 8 mins and so on. If so, how does WMAS achieve this figure? is it fair to say that the larger urban areas have more ambulances, so if you get to the Category 1 calls in Birmingham, Stoke, the Black Country and Coventry you meet the criteria needed. 
  • What is the impact of the Clinical Validation of Cat 3 & 4 patients
  • How do Rugby’s figures compare to Coventry’s? for cat 1 calls and for cat 3 and 4 
  • It is recognised that the huge demand on the NHS has resulted on crews being stuck at hospital and hence not in Rugby. What brought about the change away from the practice that was being developed 20 years ago by Warwickshire Ambulance Service where training paramedics to become Emergency Care practitioners with the goal of treating and managing patients in the community and not transporting them to hospital unless necessary. This plan was to help ease the demand on hospitals.
  • When WMAS say that the Rugby Ambulance is hardly ever in Rugby, what will happen to the people of Rugby if we ever do return to the historical demands on the NHS as the Health Secretary claims. Ambulances won’t be in the area or even at UHCW but at the Ambulance hub 17 miles from St Cross and 20-30 miles away from Rugby’s villages and Southam.
  • Could WMAS confirm how did the review take place and how can they justify the decision to remove the complete service from a large town in such a short space of time. What were their considerations, was the final decision taken by the WMAS board in an open and transparent way if not why not?
  • Could WMAS state how downtime will be avoided in Coventry? The crews still have to return for breaks and to finish and without an ambulance in Rugby they will be covering larger distances to do this?
  •   In the west Midlands which Hospital Trusts have the longest handover periods
  • Could WMAS confirm that this change has nothing to with its financial position

Could Do a Lot Better

The release of the joint inspection carried out on SEND services is clear Warwickshire could be doing a lot better. To those who know the services the report has no surprise. The question that needs to asked now is how the County Council will react to the findings. Read the report findings here Send Report on Inspection

The Liberal Democrats will measure the progress on the findings in the report and will check it against the coproduction of service provision with honest genuine working together, shining a light on decisions enabling greater transparency on every decision with added greater democratic accountability.

Change Direction

Battery’s from electric cars, need to look at recycling now

Liberal Democrats are calling on Warwickshire County Council to change direction on the economy. Cllrs Jerry Roodhouse and Bill Gifford are proposing a motion to the County.

Proposed motion for Council

This Council supports the UN sustainability goals as part of its corporate plan and notes the good work that has been taking place regarding Climate Change so far and welcomes the Green Shoots initiative along with other actions that have been taken.  

This Council also recognises the increased scientific evidence that we need to act more quickly, as confirmed by the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (sixth assessment). The UK is hosting the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 and holding the Presidency for this critical conference, and there is an ever-increasing focus on net zero carbon.  

In light of these facts, Council requests that it establishes a framework by which all decisions made by WCC are checked against a climate change assessment. WCC should also use its unique position to bring forward strategic proposals on further developing the direction of Warwickshire’s economy. For example, this could include greater investment towards green skills as indicated in the latest growth hub report. With the increase in electric vehicles and the greater reliance and use of batteries, we as a county should also seek to work with innovators and lead in developing the recycling actions that will be needed to make Warwickshire a circular economy.


Policy information innovation-deal-for-a-circular-economy

Your Buses

The County Council is conducting its survey for the Warwickshire Bus service Plan.

Warwickshire Bus Service Improvement Survey via the following weblink:
https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/insights-service/bus-service-improvement-plan

Paper copies can be downloaded and returned as well

The public engagement exercise will run until Sunday 19th September 2021.

Marle Hall

The County Council Cabinet have announced that Marle Hall in Wales will close. The Liberal Democrat Group on the County Council did call in the decision, as the Cabinet had ignored the 7,000 strong petition to keep Marle Hall open and examine the business case put by those who wanted Marle Hall to continue.  Sadly, the decision remained to close Marle Hall.  

The Liberal Democrats were hoping that the much loved venue in North  Wales, that has welcomed generations of Warwickshire students to explore the Welsh countryside, experience courses from biology, art, climbing and much more, could find a way forward.  It is indeed regrettable that Marle Hall did not get the necessary maintenance and investment by the County Council over recent years. 

Councillor Jenny Fradgley said, “The Liberal Democrats will try and ensure that the County Council keeps to its promise that arrangements will be made to accommodate parties booked in other venues, and we hope that in future the County Council will help schools to find new providers for similar residential courses that are so important for personal development.”