The District Auditor has been asked to look at the sell-off of Westwood Care Home which went for a scandalously low price, despite it being built entirely at the taxpayers expense. The price it went for could have been raised by the families of those in the care home.  They offered to do this and this style of community ownership has been used successfully in similar circumstances elsewhere in the country. I have found people who would advise on such a proposition if the County Council has the integrity to reverse its earlier sell off to a private company. Just like the banks, the financial crisis faced by private care home operators has not finished and the Council should rethink.

It is now six months since the new administration took over at Bassetlaw Council and that is enough time for them to get their feet under the table. There are difficult issues due to government cutting back finances, but the public rightly expects to see some bold and innovative changes. I look forward to seeing over the next three months exactly what these new initiatives are and how the regular problems like supporting independent retailers, cars on Bridge Street and housing repairs are to be improved.

One area of huge importance is the Vesuvius development. We have waited patiently for a decision on this important site and the Council has by law to be seen not to prejudge the planning decision. It is now time for this issue to be resolved and I urge Councillors to vote through the development in its entirety to open up a vital new employment site. I trust that this paper will give space to everyone on the Planning Committee, however they vote on this issue, to explain why they have voted the way they did.

Should the development go ahead I think that the developers and Asda, if it is this supermarket, should create an ongoing relationship with Haggonfields School in Rhodesia. It would be excellent to see jobs advertised widely across this village and for perhaps the supermarket to offer to put an employee onto the board of school governors. This week I visited the school with Councillor Fielding, who does a lot to support the school, and I am delighted to see its good OFSTED report and how the kids look, sound and act smartly. Well done Haggonfields!