Sue’s News – May

This report will be fairly short as I will send an annual report in due course .The full council did not meet in April and currently all councillors are in pre election status .

5,907  children have been offered a primary school placement for September 25 . 98% of Parents and carers were offered the school of their choice who applied for pupil places online will have received an email on 16th April confirming their child’s school place, they have been invited to accept the placement online.

Those who did not apply online will have received a letter including the place on offer and the reasons why. This letter is specific to each pupil and contains an explanation for the decision made.

Parents were encouraged to accept the places online, or return their reply forms .

If parents asked for their child to be placed on the waiting list for their preferred schools, they will be placed on the waiting list for their preferred schools. If places then become available as some parents change their preferences over the coming months, they will be offered a place in line with the school’s Admissions Policy.

Please note Parents/carers unhappy with their initial offer are encouraged to keep their place, as this will ensure that whatever the outcome of the reconsideration, their child will have a place at a school in September.

The county council will write to parents with the result of the reconsideration after 14 May and parents will have until the 21 May to reply. Those who are still not satisfied with their given school will be advised of the appeals procedure.

Elections will be taking place across the county to elect County Councillors on the 1st May .

Jo Walker was announced as the new CEO for GCC in February. Replacing Pete Bungard who is retiring after a long career at Gloucestershire County Council .Jo is joining Gloucestershire County Council from North Somerset Council where she was Chief executive, a role she held for the past six years . Jo started her career at Gloucestershire County Council as a graduate trainee and worked her way up to become Director of Highways, Transport and Waste and then Director of Finance and Corporate Services, before leaving to become Chief Executive at North Somerset Council.

I am pleased to report that the installation of the speed cameras at Pitchcombe has finally taken place. The cameras will record those vehicles over the speed limit and enforce the speed.

There have been several reports of flytipping in the area. all of which I have reported to SDC for collection Whilst this is a fairly prompt service it does not resolve the problem .This does appear to be on the increase and needs to be addressed by all stakeholders as a collective initiative ..

I have reported areas where abandoned signs have been left by utilities or Highways and requested, they be collected.

I will write an Indepth report for May 1st as Yearly report .please contact me if you have any queries on the report

Sue Williams 07766318854