Message from Leeds:

“Serious disruption is likely to occur to refuse collection services because of the heavy snow fall, and information suggests that there may be more to come this evening and overnight.

Crews are out and working, but apologies to any householders whose collections are missed.

As far as black bins are concerned, please could householders with very small quantities of waste, who can last until next week, assist us by taking their bins back in and re-presenting them next week instead.

As far as missed green bins are concerned, a recovery plan is being drawn up, and will be publicised as soon as possible.

Information gathered about the collection of bulky household items so far suggests that this service has not been seriously disrupted, and any calls missed will be re-booked.”

I’ve discovered I’m not the only one who has not got a sticker telling me when my green bin is to be collected in 2009 so I’ve asked for new one’s to be mailed out together with some other information about waste and recycling.

If you’re in the same position you can find out when your collection is due here.

The new stickers should be delivered in the next four weeks.

We asked Aire Valley Homes for some statistics about the number of lettings to local people and were disappointed at the numbers so my two ward colleagues and I met today with Aire Valley Homes. We’ve asked them to give priority to people with a local connection when allocating houses and, after some discussion, they’ve agreed to take this forward. It will require  a change to their regulations so may take a couple of months to get of the ground but we’ll continue to press for the change. My colleague, Councillor Stewart Golton, is on their Board so he’ll be ensuring it’s high on the agenda.

To the Windmill today to look at the improvements which have been taking place. The building was run down but now has a roof that doesn’t leak and a new heating system. The Judo Club are taking up residence so there’s going to be more use of the building. There’s more work to be done but it’s getting to the stage where it’s more aboput decoration than the fabric of the building.

I’m pleased to say that the building is secured for many years to come.

Before the council takes on responsibility for green areas on new estates they have to be brought up to a certain standard by the developer. Sadly this has never happened on the Pymont estate. I have chased the issue on a number of occasions over a long period but have been unable to secure any movement to get this work carried out.  As I expected from the beginning we will have to resolve the issue with our own teams and charge the developer.

To ensure these areas are brought back to acceptable standard the work has been programmed to begin in mid January 2009, subject to weather conditions and completion of current work load. The tree/shrub areas will be thinned out and pruned where appropriate and some areas seeded to decrease the extent of these areas and increase the adjacent grass areas. In the initial few months the impact will look drastic but as soon as there is regrowth this will be less noticeable and we’ll have something which looks good and is easily manageable.

Anyone watching the progress of building the extension will have seen that the company involved in the construction have gone bust. I’m pleased to say that another contractor has been found to complete the works, at no extra cost, and work will recommence tomorrow.

The proposals to build two large housing developments and which were turned down at plans panel went to appeal by the developers. The enquiry opened in Leeds but was then suspended as new figures were made available showing the availability of land for residential development across the city. The developers lawyers wanted time to consider the new information. Hopefully it will help scupper their plans.

The enquiry will recommence in the new year and we are endeavouring to have it held locally, rather than in Leeds, to enable all those who wish to attend to do so easily.

More news when I have some.

No one would say other than the recycling site at the rear of Morrisons is other than past its ’sell by date’ so I’m delighted to say we’ve approved plans to give it a major facelift.

The car parking area is to be resurfaced which will make it much safer and more pleasant to use and new banks and screening will be put in place.

We need to recycle more and reduce the amount we send to landfill so better facilities should help us increase our recycling rate still further.

At Plans Panel this week developers sought permission to make a number of changes to 4 and 6 Royds Green Cottages at Oulton. A number of people objected, including me, and I’m pleased to see that it is to be refused on the grounds of inappropriate development in the Green Belt and harm to the interests of nature conservation.

The colony of bats can carry on undisturbed and these old buildings can remain untouched.

A list of roads to be resurfaced in the coming year:

• The Oval
• Spibey Lane - from Wood Lane to Mill Pit Lane
• Castle Road
• Park Lane

I’m pleased to see the continued improvements to our roads after the years of neglect they suffered!