Birmingham PCTs decide not to merge

Birmingham’s 3 Primary Care Trusts (BEN, HOB and South) had been intending to embark on consultation this autumn with a view to merging into one PCT for Birmingham. However, following the publication of the recent Health White Paper on July 12th, the boards of all 3 Birmingham PCTs have taken a decision not to move forward with the plans to create one city-wide PCT after all.

This is because the PCTs are due to be abolished in 2013 anyway, so abandoning this year’s proposed merger means avoiding having to make changes twice.

Meanwhile the provider arm, South Birmingham Community Health, will become Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) and serve the whole city. Plans are moving forward for the majority of community services in BEN and HOB to transfer to BCHC on December 1st.

Love Parks Week 2010!

This week is Love Parks Week 2010. It is an annual campaign organised by the Parks Charity Greenspace and supported by Birmingham Open Spaces Forum.

Bees at the Martineau Gardens

Birmingham has a variety of parks and open spaces such as nature reserves, ornamental gardens, woodlands, sports pitches, and allotments as well as formal parks. Edgbaston Ward doesn’t have a park any more (since Calthorpe Park was moved wholly into Sparkbrook Ward at the last boundary changes) but we are very close to Cannon Hill Park (one car park is in Edgbaston Ward although the main park is in Moseley!), plus we have the Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Nature Centre, and the Martineau Gardens featured yesterday of course.

Tree planing at Cannon Hill Park earlier this year

Parks and open spaces provide opportunities for urban wildlife – as well as being pleasant places for people to enjoy. Research shows that 87% of people have used their local park or green space in the past year.

The Guinea Gardens allotment site in Edgbaston

To find out more about Greenspace, visit www.green-space.org.uk

Flying The Flag At The Martineau Gardens

Congratulations to the staff and volunteers at the Martineau Gardens (Priory Rd, Edgbaston) on their award of a Green Pennant which was officially announced today.

They informed me about the award last week but the news was embargoed until today. To celebrate, at 12 noon today, the Gardens’ youngest volunteer, Ella, hoisted the green pennant on a flag pole set up on the pirate ship in the play area. The director, Caroline Hutton, then kindly invited me to say a few words.

The green pennant flies over the Martineau Gardens.

The Green Pennant Award is part of the Green Flag Scheme. This award recognises that the Martineau Gardens is a superb community run green space. The gardens were judged earlier this year against eight criteria – a welcoming place, healthy safe and secure, clean and well maintained, sustainability, conservation and heritage, community involvement, marketing and management.

Part of the Martineau Gardens.

The Martineau Gardens are a wondeful facility in Edgbaston Ward – a real gem! Congratulations to everyone involved on winning this very prestigious award. It is well deserved!

Fruit and vegetables are grown at the gardens.

If you would like to visit, the gardens are open from 10.00 – 4.00pm Monday to Saturday.

School Expansion

On Wednesday I represented the Councillors at a public meeting at Chad Vale School. Council officers were present to answer questions from Governors and parents regarding the proposed school expansion.

Chad Vale is currently a one form entry school. Because of the city’s need to provide extra school places, it is one of a number of schools which will be taking in an extra reception class this September. That is a definite and no consultation is necessary for that – because it is a temporary measure.

However consultation is taking place about making that change permanent, by adding in a new reception class each year for the next seven years – and that is what Wednesday’s meeting was about.

Safety Measures Re-instated

When the new road surface was installed on Nursery Rd, Edgbaston, some of the safety measures outside Chad Vale School were not immediately put back in.

This was raised with me by the Chairman of the Governors of Chad Vale School at a public meeting I attended there on Wednesday (more about that tomorrow). I immediately got on to Amey (the new contractors) and I am deligted to report that the speed bumps and double yellow lining were being re-instated today.

Nursery Road, Edgbaston

There had to be a wait before the speed bumps could be put back in to allow the road surface to settle, but the missing double yellow lining was an oversight which has now been rectified.

Many thanks to Amey for acting so promptly on this matter.

Something To Celebrate!

Congratulations to the headmaster, staff, governors, parents and children of Chad Vale School in Nursery Road, Edgbaston, which has just been graded as “Outstanding” in their recent Ofsted inspection.

Well done to all! Definitely something to celebrate!

Deirdre with pupils of Chad Vale School which has now been officially rated “outstanding” in its latest Ofsted inspection.

Update: Word reaches me now that St Paul’s School for Girls, in Vernon Road, Edgbaston, has also received an “outstanding” rating in their latest Ofsted inspection – in their case for the third time in a row! Congratulations to all at St Paul’s as well!

Teething Problems At New QE Hospital

Following reports in the press last week of teething problems at the new QE Hospital in Edgbaston, a representative from the Trust came to the Health and Adults O & S Committee today to update us on the situation.

The committee was assured that although there had been teething problems, these were fewer than in similar new buildings. However the main concerns seemed to relate to a shortage of wheelchairs, perceived staff shortages, and the lifts.

Viewing the new hospital in March 2010

I am sure I am not the only Councillor who was contacted by constituents about problems with the lifts in the new hospital. The committee was told today that the problems had occurred because of the hot weather. Following on from the wrong kind of snow for the railways to cope with (!), it appears that during the recent hot weather, the air in the lift shafts overheated and the lifts went into safety mode, returning to the ground floor.

There were also reports of people being stuck in the lifts, but the Committee was assured that top people from the lift company had been brought in to deal with the problems and that the lifts at the new hospital are now functioning properly.

As Chairman of the Health and Adults O & S Committee, may I express my gratitude to the Trust for coming to explain the situation to the Committee so promptly.

Constituency Entry For In Bloom

Just had an update from Moor Pool residents on the progress of their In Bloom entry. Moor Pool is in the Harborne Ward and John (who is a Harborne Councillor) viewed the entry last Thursday.

On Saturday the Royal Horticultural Society visited. They were shown not only the formal route but also given a taste of some of the hidden areas of the estate, such as the allotments, which may become part of future entries.

The results will not be known until September 9th, but we in the neighbouring ward of Edgbaston wish Moor Pool well with their entry!

Ramblers Reach Important Milestone

The City of Birmingham Group of the Ramblers’ Association have reached an important milestone – their 30th birthday.

To celebrate, they are organising a walk along “The Birmingham Greenway” over three consecutive Saturdays in August. The walk starts on Saturday August 7th with a walk from Blake Street Station to Aston Station (8.5 miles).

This will be followed on August 14th by a 6.5 mile walk from Aston Station to Cannon Hill Park (right on the Edgbaston boundary). The final walk takes place on Saturday August 21st and goes from Cannon Hill Park to Cofton Park – a distance of 9 miles.

For more information visit www.birminghamramblers.org.uk

Launch Of Roman Way Neighbourhood Charter

Last night the three Edgbaston Ward Councillors joined residents, the Police, Fire Service and various other agencies at a barbecue on the Roman Way Estate to mark the launch of the Roman Way Neighbourhood Charter.

Residents, a representative from Willmott Dixon, Cllr Robinson and me at the lauch.

The event was also the first time the Residents’ Group’s new marquee was used. Purchased with a grant, this will enable the group to hold bigger functions than previously and to loan the marquee to other local groups. The marquee was positioned beside Thirlmere House and was a great success.

The new marquee!

Amongst the other agencies represented was Willmott Dixon Partnerships - the Council’s new repairs contractor. And the police were on hand to organise the barbecue. Altogether a fun evening to mark the launch of the Roman Way Estate Neighbourhood Charter.

Local Police organised the barbecue!