Rachel Eden's blog

Future of health in #rdg- have your say

2012-02-10T16:36:00.001Z

Time for my increasingly traditional Friday post about the NHS and health services. While politically Reading Labour councillors including myself are completely against the Health bill and believe it will damage, and possibly destroy our NHS we have to plan for the future. Councils are proposed to have an increased role in public health under the bill, one of the things that may not be so bad

Meeting tenants who have downsized - 'a good move'

2012-02-09T17:02:00.001Z

Today in my lunch break I was lucky enough to meet Molly and John at their lovely new home after they had downsized. Molly told me that it had been a very good experience although they had been sad to move away from neighbours of 53 years. It had been really good for them as they didn't have a 3 bed house to look after any more and importantly no more stairs. We talked about our families as

Action on sub-standard rental properties and #emptyhomes

2012-02-06T11:50:00.000Z

One of my priorities this year as the council's lead on housing and neighbourhoods has been to look at how we can improve the private rented sector in Reading. While obviously most private rentals work well and are managed by responsible landlords there are a minority of landlords who don't take their responsibilities seriously. I have personally seen people paying rent for properties I

Tackling overcrowding through helping tenants who want to downsize

2012-02-03T17:02:00.000Z

A win-win that I hope will benefit residents in both situations! Reading Borough Council will be increasing the range of voluntary incentives and support for tenants living in larger properties who are considering downsizing.Assisting tenants in this way will also enable the Council to release family size accommodation to help tackle problems with overcrowding.The Council has found that some

Help for homeless in cold weather

2012-02-03T13:25:00.001Z

I've already been contacted by a concerned resident who found a rough sleeper trying to keep warm in the lobby of her flats with the cold spell and wanted to help them. The council has an agreement with it's voluntary sector partners abut providing extra emergency accommodation in cold weather. The cold can also be an opportunity to work with rough sleepers on their long term needs. If you

Shadow Health team visit Reading - time to #savetheNHS

2012-02-02T19:47:00.000Z

The whole shadow health team visited Reading today as part of what Andy Burnham jokingly called their 'UK tour'. They started by visiting a GP surgery and meeting health workers and then had a more public meeting with - GPs, other health professionals, trades unionists and Labour party members (photo below). They were determined and clear that the Health bill can be defeated. One way of

10% increase in decent neighbourhoods fund

2012-02-02T09:30:00.000Z

Even more tenants in Reading are to benefit from improvements to their neighbourhoods, thanks to the Council increasing its investment into community led initiatives by 10%. Reading Borough Council is to boost its spend on Decent Neighbourhood Fund projects this year, meaning £440k will be invested into programmes to provide a better community for tenants all over the borough.Last summer the

National Libraries Day - this Saturday

2012-02-01T18:53:00.001Z

I was excited to get an email about the celebrations for national libraries day here in Reading. In other parts of the country I imagine this will be marked by protests about closures, or as in Wokingham about privatisation (or whatever it is) of libraries. In Reading we have a library service that not only we are proud of but we are committed to enhancing and improving. If you aren't a member

#saveoursolar starts to pay off for #rdg schools

2012-01-30T15:45:00.000Z

I am so excited by this, as it's great to see something actually happening after I proposed a motion in my first council meeting (after the Mayor making) to get this off the ground. I always use it as an example of how a backbench opposition councillor can make a difference. Two primary schools and a children's centre in Reading are the first in the borough to have solar panels installed on

I'm backing a one stop shop for rape survivors @SARCReading

2012-01-29T21:03:00.001Z

Earlier this week I met with those behind the campaign to have a one stop shop for women, men and children who have experienced sexual violence. I've been in contact with the campaigners for a while and have already signed their online petition . The Centres are called Sexual Abuse Referral Centres and at present the nearest one is Slough. I've heard a moving story about how difficult it is to

Is our Prime Minister incompetent or doing it on purpose?

2012-01-26T12:20:00.001Z

The least you can expect from a Prime Minister is to be able to answer questions with factual accuracy. The kind explanation is that he believes his own spin that's not just complacency that's dangerous for the future of this country. The alternative that he is just making it up as he goes along or deliberately misleading the public is worse. I rarely post on national politics but this takes

35 Alexandra Road - making best use of our #emptyhomes

2012-01-17T14:42:00.004Z

My new colleague on the council's cabinet, Jan Gavin, has been campaigning on the issue of the use of 35 Alexandra Road for quite some time and it's not been an easy one to resolve as it has lacked quite a lot of the facilities needed for modern living as it was previously used as a nursery. However plans have now been agreed taht it will become a shared house with support for six adults who are

#Rdg council's Labour cabinet recommends below inflation rise in council rents

2012-01-16T21:10:00.000Z

Although a decision for full council the council's cabinet has to recommend a rent increase for council tenants. As I outlined at the council cabinet meeting earlier this is not something that can be done easily at the moment. Inflation is still over 5%, the government is recommending a 7.2% increase in rents (their rhetoric over hard pressed workers needing a break in council tax freeze

Ever wondered about #rdg council's budget?

2012-01-16T14:07:00.001Z

Yes probably you have if you read my blog... Well if you are interested there will be a presentation to the internal scrutiny committee (made up of cross party backbenchers) that is open to the public on Wednesday 6.30pm at the civic centre. This year we have tried to make our budgeting as open as possible and to get as many ideas from the public as we can through 'We need to talk'. This

Action to ensure decent homes for private renters in #rdg

2012-01-12T19:03:00.001Z

Council press release: A landlord is to pay £2,125 in fines and £1,815 costs to Reading Borough Council after admitting he failed to keep a property in East Reading in a fit state for tenants. Mohammed Mir, 41, of Cumberland Road, Reading, pleaded guilty to 16 offences relating to a house he owns in Eastern Avenue, which he rented out to nine tenants. Mr Mir appeared at Reading Magistrates'

National policy change as government backs down - due to @ReadingLabour pressure

2012-01-12T19:03:00.000Z

It's not often a planning committee changes government policy. But that's what has just happened following Reading's planning committee decision to ensure that all developers, schools, itself, charities, businesses are treated on a level playing field when it comes to planning. Following this decision the Reading Labour run cabinet and the chair of planning and with support from a Labour MP

#Rdg voluntary groups to get increased funding from the council

2012-01-10T17:52:00.001Z

I was going to blog about this but noticed that hard working Redlands Cllr Jan Gavin got there first. This is a cross post from her blog: Increase in Money Planned for Reading Voluntary Groups Posted on January 9, 2012 by jan The Labour Administration running Reading is delighted to be able to announce that voluntary and community groups across Reading are set to benefit from an increase in

Proposals for improvements to sheltered housing in Reading

2012-01-07T15:20:00.000Z

After a thorough and wide ranging consultation with tenants, potential tenants, families and other interested organisations we will be considering proposals to improve our much valued sheltered housing service further at the cabinet meeting a week on Monday (16th January). There are 5 key proposals and together the aim is to provide a flexible, responsive service that meets the needs of today's

Adult learning in Reading good and improving

2012-01-05T14:29:00.004Z

Congratulations to the staff and volunteers who make New Directions so special. One of my roles as lead councillor for Housing and Neighbourhoods is to sit on the council's life long learning board along with fellow cabinet member John Ennis. The board oversees the work of the New Directions, which is the adult learning provider in Reading. The staff, students and volunteers at New Directions

Possibly, good news on solar panels

2011-12-23T11:45:00.002Z

Don't know how widely this has been reported but the High Court yesterday ruled that the Government's consultation on solar panel feed-in cuts is 'legally flawed'. The government has been refused leave to appeal by the judge. What does this mean for the council, schools etc? No idea! But we may be able to go ahead with some schemes. It's yet another example of this government's incompetence

Looking ahead to 2012

2011-12-16T17:24:00.000Z

There are already people looking ahead to 2012. Personally I am not wishing away the last 2 weeks of the year - a time I plan to spend largely with family and friends and doing a bit of council business (no more formal meetings though!). But we'll all need that respite I suspect based on what the pundits are already starting to say about next year. Economically I think we can safely say 2012

Management savings at #Rdg council and good news for housing and neighbourhoods

2011-12-14T15:26:00.003Z

As probably many already know the council recently agreed to reorganise the senior management team. This was to both improve service delivery and join up working and also to save money at the senior level, to help protect to the extent possible the key services that residents rely on. From a housing and neighbourhoods point of view Housing will be brought together with a number of other areas

Still here...

2011-12-13T10:51:00.005Z

I've not posted for ages as I've been ill and then with what energy I have had focusing - as I'm sure you'll understand - on my main job and my council work rather than posting on my blog. Anyway someone else who is sticking around is my colleague and comrade in Whitley ward Mike Orton who we have just announced is standing again for election in 2012. He's a hugely experienced and able

New starts of Affordable housing down 99% in the South East

2011-11-28T10:17:00.001Z

Across the country and in the South Eastwe've seen a 99% fall in housing starts (which is the Tory government's prefered figure for measuring housing activity) for affordable housing being built in the 6 months to September 2011. Jack Dromney has called it a disaster, and I don't think that's an exageration. I can't think of a starker figure than a fall nationally from 26300 homes at social

New loyalty scheme for sport and leisure for #rdg #Olympic year

2011-11-21T13:47:00.001Z

Money saving incentives for Reading residents could be introduced if a new reward and loyalty scheme gets the go-ahead from councillors. Savings and rewards will be available in all Reading sport and leisure centres, libraries and arts and entertainment venues – including The Hexagon and South Street - if proposals are agreed by the Council's Cabinet on Monday, November 28. The reward and

One cut we can welcome: pest control fees to be slashed by Labour

2011-11-18T15:16:00.001Z

One of the silly decisions by last year's Conservative-LibDem administration was to put up the fees for pest control above what people would be able to afford, which has not been great for the council's finances or for residents who would otherwise have used the service - we've seen a drop off of over 80% in demand for the service. We are currently doing our annual review of fees and charges and

Real partnership with the police, residents and business

2011-11-17T16:13:00.001Z

The partnership – Reading Borough Council and Thames Valley Police – were joined by people representing Reading's Learning Disability Partnership at the Broad Street Mall on Thursday, November 24th, to raise awareness of the scheme which aims to help people with a learning disability feel safe and secure when they are out and about in the town centre.People with a disability are more likely to be

Why study CIMA?

2011-11-12T09:00:00.000Z

I often get asked about the benefits of an accountancy qualification in my political life and conversely about why I am involved in politics in my professional life. The Chartered Institute of Management accountants recently interviewed me and also asked me to discuss the benefits of CIMA in a recession. I guess they have limited confidence in economic growth returning any time soon.

What I was doing at 11am on 11.11.11

2011-11-11T20:17:00.001Z

I was particularly impressed by how well the children from Katesgrove primary observed the silence, I think after having done their own rememberance the previous day their teachers decided they were able to come to the town's ceremony.

Working together for Southcote

2011-11-09T21:45:00.001Z

Council press release: Southcote residents are being encouraged to attend two up-and-coming neighbourhood events in the next stage on an on-going discussion with Reading Borough Council about how community facilities for local people can be improved. Local residents have consistently called for improved facilities in Southcote to cater for all age groups. A significant breakthrough was

Remembering

2011-11-07T15:13:00.001Z

For those of us who work in the town centre there is an opportunity this Friday to observe the 2 minutes silence together. I will be going to the war memorial in Forebury gardens but there will also be a gathering outside the Civic Centre. On Remembrance Sunday there is the civic service at Brook Barracks which is always a special ceremony too, which I also plan to attend. Council press

Sheltered housing consultation - some clarity

2011-11-04T11:00:00.001Z

The community spirit and special atmosphere of our sheltered housing schemes in Reading is something that is valued by all of us: a safe and comfortable environment where residents live independently and there is always someone to call on.There is no question of this changing under the proposals we are currently consulting on.However I understand the worries that proposed changes to such a valued

What the feed in tarriff cut means for Reading

2011-11-01T16:23:00.003Z

A consultation which ends almost 2 weeks after the changes come into effect, creating massive uncertainty for a fledgeling industry and not just moving the goal posts but taking the ball away for community environmental projects for the sake of the profits of the big 6 energy companies.Insert your own incredulous reference to the big society, the greenest government ever, we are all in this

Improved Southcote community facilities a step closer

2011-10-21T14:26:00.002+01:00

I've been getting a clear message from Southcote's residents has been quite clear - they want the old Happy Prospect site to be used and they want improved facilities to benefit the whole community in Southcote. A potential solution is close which could enable local people to work with the council to really improve community facilities on Coronation Square, while at the same time providing much

#Tories are creating homelessness so #Labour councils need to act

2011-10-20T10:00:00.007+01:00

We know that the Tory led government policies are forecast to increase homelessness substantially, with national forecasts showing scary figures. Here in Reading we are already seeing an increase in homelessness and we are worried about what the new year will bring.As an administration the Labour group is committed to standing up for Reading and for residents, and one of the most vulnerable

New Whitley park nursery in #rdg - stunning!

2011-10-19T13:17:00.005+01:00

After the questionable excitement of full council yesterday it was good to get back out in the community today, I took an early lunch break to attend the opening of the new Whitely Park nursery. It was a great occasion and it was excellent to have the Mayor, John Ennis (who is - as well as being lead councillor for Education and children's services - is a former chair of governors),

"We need to talk" - at regular forums

2011-10-17T16:32:00.002+01:00