Sandyford and Goldenhill

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Stoke Council Planned Cuts & Charges Survey, Have Your Say

Full list of proposed budget cuts and income-generating measures

Children and family services

Termination of vacant roles and posts that are no longer required due to the changing role and responsibility of the local authority to co-ordinate youth provision. The saving represents a shift from directly delivered youth services towards supporting community sector led provision. £159,000
Removal of vacant school crossing patrol posts. Existing occupied crossing patrols unaffected. £56,000

Adult social care, health integration and wellbeing

Review the provision of the council’s telecare and community alarm service via redesign and development of alternative offers. Where the equipment is not being used or is no longer required, a wider range of assistive, more suitable technology will be offered. £152,000
Removal of six carer respite beds due to lack of utilisation. £203,000
Reviewing the requirements of people with learning disabilities and/or mental health to support them to be as independent as possible. £446,000
Review of reablement functions across the health and social care system to increase numbers of people living independently. Reablement is a critical part of the assessment function to enable people to meet their full potential and will no longer be providing long term domiciliary care as there is capacity in the home care market to ensure people with care needs are supported. £850,000
Removal of community development team posts. £82,000

Housing, development and growth

Introduce an annual brown bin collection charge priced at £40 to replace the existing winter subscription service. £465,000
Organisations will be encouraged and supported to review their business models especially around the maximisation of Housing Benefit and accessing other sources of funding. £280,000
Increased enforcement of the private rented sector to improve the lives of residents and generate revenue to reinvest in council services through fixed penalty fines for contraventions of housing standards, and licence fees for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). £25,000
Introduce a £1 charge at Longton Exchange car park and relocate the 30 minutes free offer to Chancery Lane car park. £180,000
Cease the lease arrangements with Lower Huntbach Street car park. £50,000
Restructure of grounds maintenance team to reduce the numbers of seasonal staff. £100,000

City director

Cessation of cultural grants. A number of organisations that previously received cultural grants have already secured alternative funding, in some cases quite substantial amounts. A small number of organisations may not be able to provide the same level of cultural activity as they have previously if they are not successful in securing alternative funding. Council says this loss will be more than mitigated through the significant new investment of Shared Prosperity funding in cultural activity within the city, totalling £3.4m. £245,000

Strategy and resources

Reduction in library opening hours, reflecting the financial challenges facing the council and a decrease in voluntary staffing. £184,000

Follow the links below to have your say to the plans put forward by the city council.

Our City, Our Wellbeing | Our City, Our Wellbeing (stoke.gov.uk)

https://www.stoke.gov.uk/ourcityourwellbeing

Budget 2024 – 2025 | Stoke-on-Trent

Re-Start a Heart “Free Workshop”

Microsoft Word “FREE WORKSHOP”

Goldenhill Vehicle Crime

Staffordshire Police have reported between Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th January that someone tried to break into a van on Heath Street, Goldenhill trying to pop the sliding door open with a screwdriver.

If you have seen anything suspicious or have any CCTV please call Staffordshire Police on 101, private message on Facebook / Twitter quoting serial number SP- 20240109-0182 or crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Kids Door Kicking Craze

There has been a number of reports of children and teenagers kicking doors in the area, which appears to be a craze in Sandyford & Goldenhill.

Residents are saying on social media that kicking doors is causing in some cases damage to their property, but also it is frightening people, especially the elderly who sometimes live on their own.

A reminder to residents that you will have the opportunity at Sandyford & Goldenhill’s Public General Meeting tomorrow evening (Thursday 11th January) 7.30 p.m. to meet the Police Inspector, Police Sergeant and PCSO at Goldenhill Community Centre, High Street, Goldenhill, ST6 5RF.

This will be the perfect opportunity for residents to report the antisocial behaviour to the police; so they are more aware of the seriousness of the situation, and for them to advise the best way to help address the ongoing problem.

Proposed Double Yellow Lines (Sandyford)

Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association (SAGE) shared concerns with Council Highways in regards to additional double yellow lines being placed in the Sandyford area of Stoke on Trent.

The areas publicised for consultation had place names of Tunstall and Goldenhill following the address, which mislead people to believing yellow lines would not be road painted in Sandyford.

The locations for double yellow lines are as follows.

Hollywall Lane from High Street for 20m, Tunstall
Hollywall Lane from High Street for 186m, Tunstall
High Street from Shelford Road to Nos. 644/646, Goldenhill

The reason the residents association took the issue further was because Council Highways may say the street/road name for reference, but not everyone knows where they are, and for example someone seeing High Street, Tunstall would presume it is where the shops are in the town.

Council Highways responded saying, in terms of the mapping on their Traffweb website, they have pointed out to the developer that the proposals for High Street were locating residents searches to one specific area. Following discussions with their development team they have now been able to split the High Street proposals further so that the areas within Tunstall, Sandyford and Goldenhill can be clicked upon. They confirmed this was undertaken and was working for an additional period from 4 December to 18 December.

Council Highways have confirmed that should any resident wish to register their concerns against the proposals, they can do so by email to david.follows@stoke.gov.uk quoting reference MB/NM/TRO9/2023 and providing their reasons for objections. Please note! The consultation period has been extended and will close on Wednesday 10th January.

Sandyford & Goldenhill Public Meeting

For the next Sandyford & Goldenhill Public Meeting being held on Thursday 11th January, we have agreed the attendance of Jonathan Gullis M.P. First Bus, Councillor Chandra Kanneganti and Police Inspector Hayley Eaton.

Everyone is welcome to attend on the evening, and you will be able to enjoy free food as well as being entered into our FREE PRIZE DRAW!

Vehicle Vandalism in Goldenhill

Staffordshire Police have reported on Friday 29th December on Heath Street, Goldenhill that several vehicles had damage to wing mirrors caused by senseless vandalism. If you have seen anything suspicious or have any CCTV please call Staffordshire Police on 101, private message on Facebook / Twitter quoting serial number SP-20231230-0227 or crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Celebrate The New Year Safely, please Don’t Drink & Drive!

With the New Year right around the corner, families and friends will soon be celebrating to ring in 2024. New Year’s is the most popular time in the year to meet up with friends and family to see in the new year with their favorite alcoholic beverage in hand. This increase in alcohol consumption considerably heightens the risk of drunk driving accidents.

Families and friends want to start off the New Year on a positive note, yet driving to and from your destination on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day can put you and your loved ones at risk.

Every year, people die from drunk driving accidents that are 100% preventable.

To help ensure that you have a healthy and safe New Year, take a look at these tips below:

If you plan on drinking, do not drive – If you want to drink, make sure you have a plan for a car or taxi service to bring you home, or plan to stay over your friend or families’ house for the night.

Don’t let friends drive drunk– If you know someone has been drinking, don’t let them drive! Take their keys and help them find a car service home or have them stay put.

If you spot a drunk driver on the road, call 999 – By calling the police, you could save many other lives.

If you are hosting a party, make sure everyone gets home safe – Take the keys from those who have been drinking, make sure friends have a car service home or let them sleep at your place for the night.

Wear your seat belt– Always wear your seatbelt! This simple, yet incredibly effective action could save your life!

We hope that you have fun ringing in the New Year, and remember to be responsible. Never drink and drive – by doing so, you are putting the lives of your loved ones and other innocent people on the roads at risk. With the availability of car services and taxis, there is no excuse!

By planning your New Year’s and ensuring you have a designated driver or another safe way home, you are starting off your New Year right and can celebrate without worry.