Richard Kemp’s page
(County Councillor)Monthly report to the parishes
Parish Report September 2007
Councillor
Richard KempTresco
New Road
Long Melford
Suffolk
CO10 9JY
01787 378149
richard.kemp@councillors.suffolkcc.gov.ukReturn to "Local Organisations " | Return to Village Front Page |
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Bluetongue
Recent tests by DEFRA (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs) on animals at a number of farms in Suffolk have shown positive for the disease Bluetongue.
These cases are the first of the disease in the country although it has been widely detected in animals in northern Europe since 2006.
Bluetongue is an animal disease spread by two types of midges. It is important to stress that the diseases does not affect humans and does not affect the food chain.
Unlike other animal diseases like foot and mouth, because it is spread by midge bites it is not spread directly from animal to animal across a herd. It is a disease of ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer, camelids (eg llamas) and goats.
Further information on Bluetongue can be found on the DEFRA website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/index.htm
Or the County Council’s Website:
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/BusinessAndConsumer/TradingStandards/AdviceBlueTongue.htm"Give it a Go!" - Launch of service to help older people in Suffolk volunteer
"Give it a Go!" is a new hotline, launched on Tuesday 25th September 2007, for older people in Suffolk to find out how and where to volunteer their services.
Suffolk County Council in partnership with Age Concern have launched the volunteering scheme and the Give it a Go! hotline will be managed by Age Concern Suffolk. It will offer information on opportunities for older volunteers, as well as helping to introduce volunteers to their new roles, and offering support should they need it.
The Council believes Suffolk's older people have a lot to offer our local community, not least a wealth of experience and skills. Volunteering is a two-way street, as contrary to what people might think, they find they both give and receive.
The Give it a Go hotline service will work closely with other volunteering services across the county. The project team will be made up of paid staff and volunteers, who can talk through a list of current opportunities that the person is looking for, find out about their skills and help them take the step into volunteering, offering "brokerage" with the organisation or person benefiting and continuing support to the volunteer in their new role.
The hotline number for the service is 01473 288047.Council debate on Nuclear Power
At its September Full Council meeting the County Council held a debate on Nuclear Power. The debate came in response to the publication earlier this year of the Energy and Planning White papers, which set out the Government’s proposals for energy for the future.
After an interesting and wide-ranging debate on the future of nuclear energy in the UK, and in Suffolk in particular, the council voted to endorse nuclear power by 50 votes to 15.Cabinet to discuss the future of waste
Suffolk County Council's cabinet will be discussing the future procurement of Suffolk's waste disposal services at their Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 9 October.
Cabinet members will be looking at an integrated approach to collecting and disposing of Suffolk's waste. The report also confirms Energy from Waste (also known as Incineration) as the preferred option for dealing with the county's waste that cannot be recycled or composted.
The issue is a controversial one with many complex issues to grapple with. Should any of you wish to read the papers yourselves they can be found on the County Council’s website:
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/CommitteesAgendasReportsandMinutes/
If the Cabinet agrees the report, procurement documents will be prepared to go to the market to secure a contractor to design, build and operate the new facility. Tenderers will still be able to submit other proposals other than energy from waste if they believe an alternative technology or combination of technologies and/or sites would better meet the county's waste needs.
I will keep you updated on this issue as it develops over the next year.
