Council pays bills quicker to beat credit crunch

We are helping business beat the credit crunch as we ahve agreed to settle our suppliers bills more quickly.

We currently pay our suppliers invoices within a standard 30 days, but we agreed to improve this and will now pay all our bills within 20 days.

Cabinet Member for Corporate Efficiency, Councillor Alan Hodkin said, “We know how badly the current financial problems are affecting everyone, especially businesses, that’s why we have taken the decision to pay our bills quicker. By making these swift payments it means business can bank the cash quicker and improve their cash flow at this difficult time, which in turn will help improve the local economy.”

This is just one of the many initiatives we are currently considering to help local businesses through the current credit crunch.

Date issued: 10th November 2008

Fire at Kissinagte Leisure Centre

At approximately 6pm on Friday 7th November 2008 a serious fire broke out at Kissingate Leisure Centre in Shirebrook.

It is suspected that the fire started in the male changing area of the facility and spread to the female changing, bar and fitness suite areas of the centre.

The Fire Service dealt with the blaze quickly and efficiently and also paid tribute to the leisure centre staff for their professionalism and speed in evacuating the centre and safeguarding the public’s safety.

Council Leader, Councillor Eion Watts said, “Thank fully no-one was injured and the staff at the leisure centre did a brilliant job in evacuating the building in double quick time. As of yet we are unsure what caused the fire to start and we are awaiting the Fire Investigation Teams report so we can assess what damage has been caused. We would like to thank the fire service and the leisure centre staff for all their hard work during last night.”

It is likely the leisure centre will remain closed until Christmas so a full assessment of the damage can be undertaken and the building made safe. Anyone with bookings up until Christmas are advised to telephone 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form

We trust that local residents will be patient during this difficult time.

Date issued: 7th November 2008

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:56

Green waste scheme ceases for the winter

We are reminding our residents that the last collection dates for their green waste will be in the last two weeks of November.

Over 30,000 households have been taking part in the green waste scheme which allows them to deposit items such as hedge trimmings, grass cuttings and unwanted flowers and shrubs into their green bin.

This years collections began in April 2008 and it is estimated that over 5,000 tonnes of green waste will be collected and composted this year compared to just over 4,500 last year.

Residents are asked to check either their green bin collection calendar or a customer advisor on 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form for their last collection date. Collection calendars for 2009 will be delivered in the New Year.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dennis Kelly said, “The scheme has proved very popular with residents and the increase in tonnage we have collected proves this. This scheme provides an ideal opportunity to dispose of all your green waste safely and in a way that will help protect the environment. I would now urge everyone to do their last final clean up of their gardens and check their last collection date so they do not miss it.”

The green bin garden waste service is in addition to existing general refuse bin (black) and recycling (blue box) collections, which are still carried out as normal.

Date issued: 7th November 2008

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:54

Former Olympian launches Everyday Swim site at Creswell

Customers, children and staff at Creswell Leisure Centre enjoyed a fun day with swimming legend Duncan Goodhew MBE, as he launched the centre as the Everyday Swim Site for the East Midlands.

Goodhew, who attended the revamped leisure centre’s first birthday party back in 1992, joined a group of old age pensioners in the pool for a leisurely swim who were all happy to meet and chat with him, before taking a tour of the leisure centre.

The leisure centre is set to receive £30,000 from the Everyday Swim scheme to help refurbish the changing facilities and produce a marketing strategy.

Creswell was chosen as the East Midlands site because of the good working relationship with the team at the centre who are open to new ideas and are very enthusiastic. The age of the centre also fitted the bill for some minor capital works and operational changes.

Duncan said, “Swimming is the best all round form of exercise. As we become older swimming is an excellent way of increasing all important quality of life. 14% of inactive people say the one sport they would like to do is swimming. Every Day Swim has a crucial part to play in getting inactive people to become active”

Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Councillor Ann Syrett said, “It was a real pleasure to welcome Duncan back to Creswell after all these years. For a relatively small facility, Creswell Leisure Centre has big ambitions and to be chosen as the East Midlands site is a very proud moment. We see this as an ideal opportunity to improve the facilities we have and the activities we provide to help both the young and old keep active and enjoy swimming for years to come.”

The aims of Everyday Swim are to:

• Increase participation in the project areas by 2% per annum.
• Closely monitor what works, what doesn’t and why in achieving this target.
• Demonstrate real change to encourage others to emulate successes.
• Share the learning across the country to ensure the benefits of the project are felt beyond the project areas

For further information about the Everyday Swim Site please telephone 01909 721371 or submit an enquiry form

Date issued: 5th November 2008

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:53

Residents celebrate as Creswell drugs den closes

Residents in Creswell have breathed a huge sigh of relief this week after a drugs den in the village was closed down.

Worksop County Court granted Bolsover District Council an outright possession order against Council tenant Anthony Joseph Mallen of 68a Rogers Avenue, Creswell.

Mr Mallen shared the property with Andrea Pledger who along with Carol Freda Whitehead was convicted of drugs offences earlier in the year. The possession order was granted as the conviction of drugs offences is a direct breach of the Councils Tenancy Agreement.

In August 2006, the Police raided the property and found drugs including heroin, cannabis and various items of drugs paraphernalia.  During the trial the jury heard evidence of recordings from two mobile phones, evidencing drug dealing and also heard an explanation from a drugs expert to the meaning and content of some of the recorded messages. Sixty-year old Carol Freda Whitehead was sentenced to three years and nine months custody for her involvement and at a later date, Andrea Pledger was found guilty of drugs offences and given a 52 week suspended prison sentence with and 18 month Supervision Order and a twelve month drug rehabilitation programme.

The Council, together with its partners, recognised that the activities of the household had caused considerable distress to neighbours and the surrounding community and following the convictions for drug offences the case could continue by obtaining the outright possession order against the property.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Councillor Brian Murray-Carr said, “This is excellent news for Creswell and its residents. Once we had secured the drugs convictions it was only a matter of time before we could gain possession of the property. We realise that these problems have been going on for some time, but it is a lengthy process to gather evidence, secure a conviction and possession order of the property.

“We fully appreciate the tolerance of those people who lived particularly close to this area and are grateful for the co-operation of every one and hopefully they can now get back to living in a safe and pleasant area. The message is simple and clear to tenants - Bolsover District Council will not tolerate this type of behaviour and we will take very strong action against anyone.”

Anyone with any information regarding crime or drugs should contact the Police on 08451233333 or Bolsover District Council on 01246 242424.

Date issued: 3rd November 2008