Sue’s News October/November

County Council Report October 2024  

Gloucestershire County Council are asking you to have your say

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, GFRS regularly assess its own data and risks to the community and wants to hear the views of residents too. The engagement was launched on Monday 21st October and will last for six weeks, ending on Sunday 1st December 2024. To take part, please go to Gloucestershire County council site 

Feedback from the public will be combined with the GFR Service’s own data and the team’s knowledge and experience; to build a balanced picture of the risks they face as a Fire and Rescue Service. The information will help to assess the potential impact and likelihood of the risks, and where they are most likely to occur. 

The feedback from residents and businesses will help form the Community Risk Profile (CRP) for Gloucestershire. This is a vital document which informs the strategic Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), the publication of which is a regulatory requirement. The CRMP is an assessment of risks and how we effectively use resources to address those risks. 

In October, The GFRA celebrated their staff achievements  

Nine members of the fire and rescue service GFRS, received their ‘Twenty Years Long Service and Good Conduct Medal’, celebrating with their families and colleagues that have encouraged and supported them over the twenty years of service.  

The evening also saw Chief Fire Officer Recognition Award being rewarded to the logistics and resources team and everyone involved in the new uniform project, recognising the uniform project team overall.  

They completed one of the largest projects within Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) and their continuous commitment in delivering the roll out of new uniform into the future, having provided quality uniform that our firefighters are proud to wear. 

This year’s award ceremony also included the GFRS Workplace Charter Awards which celebrates and reward colleagues who live, breathe and embody the values and behaviours which are set out in our workplace charter. To see names of recipients please go the the GCC web site  

Fostering in Gloucestershire  

In Gloucestershire, there are nearly eight hundred children and young people in care, and there is an urgent need for more people to foster for the county council. Foster carers are needed across the county, and particularly in Cheltenham, Stroud and Tewkesbury. 

Approximately four hundred households are approved to provide foster care with the council, and those households look after just under seventy per cent of children and young people in foster care. 

Gloucestershire County Council’s fostering programme provides a strong support network. Anyone who fosters for the council will receive training and a dedicated allocated social worker will provide monthly visits. Competitive payments and allowances are offered to recognise the cost, time and skills needed to care for a child or young person. 

The council also offers monthly support groups, wraparound support groups and activity groups. To find out more, call 01242 532654, text FOSTER to 60060 or visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/fostering.  

The film ‘Everything’, launched on 17th  October, This is the seventh film produced to promote local authority fostering. It follows foster carer Mike and his family on a journey through time with two of the children they have looked after, who are now adults. A surprise 60th birthday party for Mike gives Will and Zara a chance to reflect on how being fostered made a difference to their lives, thanking him for everything. 

The concluding message of the film is that what you do with your life could forever change someone else’s – encouraging people to foster to make that change. 

 Weather Issues

There was an extraordinary amount of rainfall in September and October. Gloucestershire received more than 3 times the usual levels of rainfall and GCC highways teams experienced more than 3 times the number of out-of-hours callouts.  

Their proactive approach to drain- clearing means that most flash flooding on roads drains away quickly. The ground is already very saturated, and the water table level is very high, so further rainfall this winter is very likely to cause flash flooding in areas we wouldn’t usually expect to see it.  

Every year GCC clear more than 130,000 drains across the county. Each drain is cleared at least once and some more often and also carry out reactive clearing operations in response to reports.   We can all help when flash flooding occurs by keeping informed of road closures, not driving through flooded roads or moving signage which is there to protect road users and staying up to date with news on our social media channels – on Facebook and X (Twitter) and local radio. 

I would like to advise Parish councils to prepare for a particularly wet winter ahead Familiarise yourself with the GCC  Flood Guide on the website which offers lots of help and advice on preparing and dealing with flooding.   

Residents can also help to remove autumn leaves from blocked drains (only if it is safe to do so) and add the leaves to compost or a garden waste bin. Otherwise, blocked drains can be reported online with Fix My Street.   

 I am sure most people are aware of the implications of adding yet more water into the systems .Using your washing machine or using a lot of water within the home further adds to the water in the drainage system which struggles to cope with the amount of water. Please advise residents to consider when to do washing etc as this will have an impact on the sewerage network. 

Local Issues  

Dangerous behaviour on Bridlepaths  

I am deeply concerned at the increased level of reports of motor cyclists using bridle paths for off road riding which is causing numerous safety concerns and risks for cyclists and horse riders. 

 It is not permitted to use a motorised bike on these rights of way and should only be used by cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. This is currently being ignored, however the level of physical and verbal abuse from the bike riders to others has increased significantly. I have reported this to the police as this is an enforcement issue and have arrange to meet with the WPCSOs for several areas within the division to see what can be considered to ensure the bikes use green lanes and not bridleways. Please contact me if you have any information on this. 

Continued reporting of potholes and damaged signage. 

I continue to report potholes and road surface defects within my division, including the damage caused by the flash floods. The main road through Cranham is now finally being resurfaced under a phased closure to ensure the village residents are able to access the village. I have asked for signs of no through road but informed the signage will say road closed. I continue to communicate the need for correct signage rather road closed at either end of the village. 

I have also reported missing / damaged signage in a number of areas and requested they be replaced. The signs reported should be pinned to the fix it map for reference. 

Lastly, I wanted to apologise to all parishes for my nonattendance at evening Parish meetings. Due to family commitments, this has been very difficult;
however meeting during the day is generally not an issue and I continue to prioritise local issues.  

Please report any concerns to me on 07766318854  or  014526770928.   

Sue Williams  

Cllr Sue Williams, Gloucestershire County Council