There has been much discussion about the N&SDC’s proposals for a significant expansion of the town. Despite over 200 responses to their original proposals, the District Council pressed ahead with its plans for new housing estates of 4-5 bedroomed houses on the west and south of the town. The Town Council has objected to these […]

Report from Peter Harris District Councillor July 18 2012 Julian Hamilton and I have been able to attend most meetings of the Council recently. The Council meeting was Tuesday July 17 so apologies for the late publication of this report. Council Tax base and rebates One issue of importance to the Town and many of […]

In a recent Council debate at Kelham Hall Labour accused the Liberal Democrats of plotting with the Conservatives ‘in a smoke filled room’ ‘for power’. Notwithstanding that none of our Councillors smoke [!] the Lib Dems felt that it was necessary to put a stable District Council together in 2011.  The Conservatives failed to win […]

Nottingham’s University’s Professor of Parliamentary Government and local resident Philip Cowley has articulated “Cowley’s Law of Campaigning” “There is an inverse relationship between the importance of any election campaign technique and the amount of media coverage devoted to it”. My colleague Mark Pack points out that ‘Cowley’s  Law’ “encapsulates and broadens an experience [Mark] often […]

A number of houses are prone to flooding in Southwell. Some of those houses have been mapped by the Environment Agency, but some are flooded due to local poor drainage. Many local people are concerned about future flooding, and residents have expressed worry about insurance costs. More must be done on flood insurance in the […]

Southwell Leisure Centre is one of the most successful Leisure Centres in the country. Owned and run by an independent Trust of Southwell Town and District Council, its recent figures show an increase of membership and users every month over last year. Income is also ahead of our budget. Every month over 15,000 local residents […]

I propose that Southwell should develop a Strategic Plan to look at how to improve public services for its residents In the first place the town should analyse its current position as a ‘sustainable community’ and then undertake a gap analysis on this analysis. At our recent training, a straight forward way was suggested how […]

Southwell has made a ‘Expression of Interest’ to the Department for Communities and Local Government – Neighbourhood Level Community Budget Pilot Scheme. As a result of Lib Dem involvement, the Coalition Government has announced a chance for local communities to put together a budget for the Southwell services that Kelham Hall and County Hall, West […]

Southwell Town Forum is a Forum for all local residents and organisations in the town. I proposed setting up this Froum a number of years ago, and this suggestion was followed up by the town. I envisaged its role to seek and collate representative views in the town to inform and lobby upon the performance […]