Emergency planners need your feedback

When you find yourself saying ‘Happy Christmas’ to people in the middle of January, you know that the year-turn weeks of snow and ice have had a serious impact on ordinary life. My elderly sister took a nasty fall whilst trying to get to her bin, my sister-inlawbroke her ankle on her drive and much of the time I was just too scared to tackle ice-rink pavements.

Our family’s situation was typical. Nationally, the issues around injury and isolation have stretched both health and social services beyond reasonable limits. Events like this really do demonstrate the vulnerability of our infrastructure. They also reveal a pattern of changing communal priorities.

However much it snowed, it was actually rare for the motorway network to be severely disrupted. As a result of this policy decision, the likes of supermarkets were positively helped to keep up their energysquandering centralised distribution systems. Conversely, our reliance on them was brought into focus and some new people have, quite properly, begun to ask questions.

Far less resource was applied to keeping local shops accessible. There used to be a time when pavements on Maltby High Street were both cleared and gritted! The January maltby.news story about snow clearance for one set of old people’s flats, by young adults on a scheme, actually drew attention to an exceptional case. We used to do better for all the people living in housing schemes for the elderly and infirm. More to the point, when we all had fires, it was common practice to put hot ashes onto icy paths to make it easier and safer for everyone who went about on foot.

Clearance of main roads, coupled with bus route gritting and service diversion, got many people to work for most of the time. On the whole it was the unexpected child-care issues resulting from nursery and school closures which caught out employers and employees. The last time we had really bad snow in this area, in 1981, this was far less of a problem as there was much more parental and family care of young children and far less resort either to expensive institutional day-care or to schools staffed by folk who live at a distance.

Could we have done things better? Have any of us identified particular problems and occasions where resources might have been applied more equitably or more prudently? Were there any particular local difficulties which need to be considered and recorded before they fade from memory? Now is the time to get these matters fed into the Town Council’s forthcoming Maltby
Local Emergency Plan which, I am glad to have been advised, is due to be
headed up by Councillors Rushforth and Carratt.

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Jewel in the Crown opens its doors

Maltby Leisure Centre finally opened its doors this month, with a formal opening attended by local dignatries and officials from all the companies involved in the build alongside Council officers.

The event marked the completion of the £13m Maltby Leisure and Services Centre which also hosts the medical centre and council offices.

Jenny Andrews, Chair of Maltby Town Council said “We have come a long way
from the Lido on the Crags. My Great Uncle helped with the footings at the Lido and my father initiated the fund to raise the appeal for a swimming pool, and here I am at the new pool. It is fantastic for Maltby.”

Maltby and RMBC Councillor Amy Rushforth added “This is absolutely fabulous for the people of Maltby and no less than they deserve. We should see a
much healthier town with these facilities on our doorsteps. If one provides a service it should be the best available and this definitely is. When we complete the new school project we will have created a great environment for our children.”

Steve Hallsworth, RMBC Leisure Services Manager said “This fantastic programme, which started in 2001 with a commitment to close all the existing facilities across the Borough and to build four new centres , has now been completed with this final piece in the jigsaw. Schools as well as the community
will benefit from the facility both in this generation and beyond. “Originally it was going to be a new pool but we listened to the need for a dry facility too.

The other three facilities have exceeded our expectations with use up some 60%. This has been aided by the fact that prices for users have been kept on hold. “The other great benefit is that we have built into the contract with DC Leisure a maintenance contract for the next 30 years, meaning that when the building is handed back it will be in top condition.

“It should not be forgotten that Rotherham is now the only town in the country with four facilities such as this.” A delighted Peter Kirkham, DC Leisure’s
Development Director said “We manage 112 centres across the country employing 7,000 staff and offer new career opportunities for people in Rotherham. We currently employ 220 staff here, including the original
staff and some 50 new members of staff. Everybody should be congratulated for what has been achieved over the period of this build.”

Rotherham Mayor, Coun Shaukat Ali, said “We are proud to have been involved in this partnership which will provide so much for the coming generation in Rotherham and Maltby. We know we are on the right track as we have already had 1m users through the other three sites.”

RMBC Leader Roger Stone added “We could not have done this without the idea of a PFI partnership. The total cost has been £34m across Rotherham. Just one new pool in Baintree has cost £9m. Here in Rotherham we have new facilities at Aston, at a cost of £5.5m, Wath under £4m, St Annes in town at
£10m and the jewel in our crown the Maltby Leisure and Services Centre at a cost of £13m”

Phil Rogers, Director of Culture and Leisure throughout the project said “In 2001 we faced the task of looking at the facilities in Rotherham and preparing a nine year programme. The cost to the Council has been £1.6m, and I am very proud of the fact that we managed to raise the rest of the monies externally. The key thing here is the maintenance contract which means that the facility will be cared for. Our job has always been to ensure the public got the very
best from the project. I truly believe that Rotherham is nationally at the forefront of leisure provision in the UK.”

Cllr Iain St John “As an ex PE teacher I am delighted to see this fantastic facility in place, and am sure it will be used to the full.”
David Sutton, Principal of the new Maltby Academy observed “We are delighted with the access for students from the school especially GCSE students.”
The dry sports hall offers facilities for Cricket Nets, Basketball, Badminton,
Volleyball, Netball and indoor football. Maltby Cricket Club have already booked
their winter nets time. Sean Brind of developers Wilmott Dixon said “It has been a challenging build but we managed to overcome all the problems.
We were delighted to be able to use lots of local contractors. We expect the demolition of the old facility to take around eight to ten weeks. We are currently working around the problems of asbestos removal.” The new facility will be home to Rotherham Metro and Maltby Diving Club.


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Lynda hopes for an historic victory in general election

Lynda Donaldson moved to Rotherham in 1987 as a result of a work promotion and has remained here since then as a matter of choice. Lynda lives on Moorgate with her husband, Drew Donaldson, and their three children, William, Grace and Edward who were all born in Rotherham where they also attend
school.

In 2004 she successfully fought the local elections in Hellaby and is now one of just ten Conservative councillors in Rotherham. Two years later she was re-elected for a four-year term. She is the current Chair of the Wentworth Valley Children’s Board and also sits on the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny panel and the Licensing panel.

Lynda held the post of Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Group 2007 – 2008 and in 2009 was selected as the first local candidate in many years for the Rother Valley constituency, something she is very proud of. “After five years in local politics, I now feel I’m ready to move up but I do not just want to be an MP – I want to represent the area I live in, and will continue to live in, because I’m sure I can help. The first thing we need to do is to listen to people and when we say “consult” we should mean consult. I have had 25 years of work where I help people and I want to continue to do so but on a greater level and for the greater good of all, not just the few”

With 28 years experience in financial services – running her own business for the last ten – Lynda has worked with hundreds of local people and businesses, giving her a unique insight into their problems and their needs. This knowledge has proved invaluable to her as a member of the Board of
Trustees for Age Concern and in her position as a Magistrate. Having been recognised for her work in connection with Long Term Care for the elderly at a ceremony in London, one of her current concerns is the reduction of services
for older people in Rotherham such as Meals on Wheels and the Laundry service and she has voiced concerns about care for the elderly and the vital links for their day to day needs. She has publicly campaigned on these
issues.

In 2006 Lynda received the Athena Women in Business award, which was presented at Hellaby Hall Hotel. Since her selection, Lynda has been out
meeting people on their doorsteps at last three times a week in all areas of the constituency and makes a point of personally responding to every resident who returns one of her information cards.

She recently held a Business Briefing Breakfast for local business owners to
improve her understanding of their concerns and there are plans to repeat this on a regular basis. She will also be hosting a number of public meetings in the first quarter of 2010 On a more personal note as she has seen her family grow up, she has rediscovered the love of reading a book without keeping one eye on a child. She has also invested in some walking boots as there are some fantastic walks around Rother Valley and walking is the only way to see some of the places at their best.

For more information on Lynda visit her website: www.lyndadonaldson.co.uk

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Unfair dismissal - How to win

Contrary to popular perception the odds are stacked against anyone
claiming unfair dismissal, and following the Employment Act 2008, it is even more difficult.

The reason the difficulty has increased is that for many scenarios, the concept of automatic unfair dismissal has been repealed along with the Statutory Disciplinary and Dismissal Procedures.

Dismissal can be on grounds of redundancy, conduct, capability, retirement, statutory ban (for example if you have to drive as part of your job and lose your driving licence) or a catch all ‘Some Other Substantial Reason.’ Employers
should try and get a dismissal to fit one of these criteria.

The first step when faced with a potential dismissal is to seek advice. Many solicitors will offer a free initial consultation; Citizens Advice Bureaux and trade unions are all sources of free assistance and advice. You may have legal expenses cover on your household insurance.

It may be worth the few pounds a year on the premium to take it out. A word of warning though, usually it won’t cover you in a dispute with the company who provides the insurance, so it may be worth switching from a company you work for, even if you lose a few pounds a year discount.

It’s suddenly disconcerting to be outside the world of employment,
especially if you’ve worked for the same company for some time. But
you have to get used to the idea that people will all dive for cover. Don’t rely on old colleagues to provide assistance (although some undoubtedly will), make sure you write everything down, keep copies of all letters you send and receive, send correspondence by recorded post.

You should be given the right to appeal, exercise that right. You might
not want your job back but it shows that you are being reasonable.
If you receive advice, make sure it’s from someone who specialises in
employment law. It’s an area of law that changes quicker than most and
you need someone who is on top of matters. That doesn’t mean it’s got to
be a big expensive firm, and as ever, the best advertising is word of mouth.
Once you start asking around, you’ll be surprised how many people have
had problems at work that have involved taking legal advice.

Don’t despair. It doesn’t matter how big the company is, they can get
it wrong just as easily as a small one. Just because their solicitors come
from a large city firm doesn’t always mean they can make good what their
client got wrong.

Don’t sit back and wait for untold riches. If the matter goes to a Tribunal
it will probably take months. Some large companies actually like to try
& drag matters out to see if claimants will back down. In addition, a Tribunal will want to see that you have attempted to mitigate your loss by seeking alternative work. Ironically, if you fail to seek alternative work, a Tribunal could reduce the value of any award given.

A payout from a Tribunal is subject to deductions for any benefits received. Any payout is normally tax free up to £30,000. It may be that matters are settled by a compromise agreement (and therefore avoids any deductions for benefits), which, as I am sure you remember, was the subject of an earlier article.

The information and any commentary contained in this article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or any other type of professional advice. Tierney and Co does not accept and, to the extent permitted by law, excludes liability to any person for any loss which may arise
from relying upon or otherwise using the information contained in this article. If you have a particular query or issue you are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal advice about your case or matter and not to rely on the information or comments in this article.

If you have any legal issues, the best advice we can give you is to consult
a solicitor.

For all your employment law (and other legal) needs, please contact
Ian Clay at Tierney & Co on 01709 709000.

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