NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL TO LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE THIS MONTH

NORTH East Lincolnshire Council will be launching a brand new website this month, marking the beginning of a new era in providing local services and information online.

The website has been developed using feedback from customers and employees. It looks cleaner and brighter and will be much easier for people to find the information they want. It is simple to use and it will bring many benefits to the council, local residents and partner organisations. As more and more services become available online, it will be easier and cheaper for customers as they will need to make fewer telephone calls and personal visits to council offices.

The council has been developing the new site over the past year with internet firm Web-Labs, and the first phase of the development is expected to go live on February 16. The new site is part of one of a number of projects in the council’s improvement programme, Towards Top Performance.

The project is an ongoing one. This first phase will see all the important information that the council must provide online, but many more functions will appear on the website as the project is rolled out throughout the year. Some of the other features that will become available include opportunities for people to get involved with polls, forums and blogs. Information will be available on maps so customers will be able to see at a glance the services near to where they live. There will be an events facility, to which community groups can contribute, and a photo gallery allowing people to share their photos of the region.

Rob Walsh, executive director of business services, said: “When the council’s original website was launched in 2003, it was considered at the forefront of local government websites in terms of design and content. But online technology has evolved radically since then, and the functionality we had has become ever-more restrictive. It has also fallen behind the times in terms of accessibility – a shortfall which the council has an obligation to correct.

“This new website gives us the ability to exploit new ways of communicating and delivering services to local people.”

Councillor Steve Beasant who is the cabinet member with responsibility for customer services said: “This new website should prove to be much more successful than the old, outdated site. Technology in recent years as moved forward rapidly. In the coming months more features will be added and this will mean that local residents will be able to take advantage of new ways of accessing services and information.

“We expect they will have a much better customer experience and be able to find their way around the site much easier.”

The council chose to work with Web-Labs because they have a proven track record of providing local councils with high quality websites and functions tailored to the needs of councils and their customers.

USE ST VALENTINE’S SEASON TO HELP MAINTAIN A HEALTHY HEART!

MANY people do not realise that allotments are not only good for growing your own fresh fruit and vegetables but they can also be a great way to help you maintain a healthy heart.

On Friday, February 12, 2010 the North East Lincolnshire Council Allotment Team is having a Valentine’s Day information stall giving you the opportunity to go along and learn more about allotments and ways they can help your health.

Working alongside the Allotment Team will be Hospitality students from the Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education who are cooking some fresh soup for you to try. The ingredients that will be used in the soup will consist of seasonal vegetables that can easily be grown on an allotment plot. There will also be a competition with the chance to win some Grimsby Market Vouchers.

Maintaining an allotment plot can provide several health benefits to your heart. It can help you work towards eating the Governments recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day by growing your own fresh produce. Tending to a plot is an excellent form of exercise for people of all ages and building friendships can have a positive effect on stress levels.

If you are interested in renting and cultivating an allotment please come and visit us and we will be able to answer any questions you may have and also give you any further details on allotments.

The information stall will be in the Freshney Place Shopping Centre on Friday 12th January from 9.30am-1.30pm at the Freshney Place Flottergate entrance to Grimsby Market.

If you would like any further details about allotments please visit: www.nelincs.gov.uk/leisure/allotments or call Lesley Smith, Allotment Officer on 01472 323394.

FREE 'POWER DOWNS' AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU SAVE ELECTRICITY AND MONEY

THE Energy Saving Trust will be visiting our Customer Access points in the week commencing February 22 to give general energy saving advice and free Power Downs to the members of the public.

The link below gives details of the Power downs. There is no charge for this and it can help people save up to £25 per year on their energy bills. Each day, 80 of these will be given away based on a first come, first served basis.

For further information; click HERE

The trust will visit the following locations from 10am to 4pm on the given day:

• Municipal Offices, Grimsby - Feb 22
• Civic Offices, Cleethorpes - Feb 23
• Kennedy Way, Immingham - Feb 26

A NEW LIBRARY FOR THE EAST MARSH

Some time back North East Lincolnshire Council unveiled plans for a new Grant Thorold Branch Library and the plans were originally discussed at the Planning Committee on April 8; however elected member rejected the council’s proposals.

New amended plans were recently submitted by our local council for this much needed facility; which will be in the heart of the East Marsh Ward; as well as serving the needs of the East Marsh many residents from the adjoining wards use the facility.

On Wednesday, as a new member of the Planning Committee I was able to attend the meeting and use my vote wisely – I am pleased to say the plans were approved overwhelmingly.

In the Design and Access statement our council stated that “Grant Thorold Library is the third busiest in the borough. It has annual visits of 79,000 a year, and over the last 5 years has seen an increase of 56% in visits, the highest of all libraries. It serves an area of high deprivation with low literacy and low educational attainment and high levels of anti social behaviour. The library has been successful in engaging the community in activities related to literacy, numeracy, health, informal learning, and digital skills. It has become a popular venue for partners such as health trainers, study support, adult community learning, connexions, and the police. The library has been particularly successful in providing diversionary activities for young people to support reductions in anti social behaviour.

The proposed library has been designed to fit in with the existing park environment and to tackle the issues of anti social behaviour. The green walls, fronting Durban Road and Humberstone Road, are designed to reflect the hedge that will be removed as part of this proposal. There are sufficient differences to ensure the building is noticed and noted, but not too stark a contrast that the building will stand out as a structure that should not be there… There is a mural wall within the design that will be managed and looked after by library services. Evidence shows that by involving young people in the design and implementation of a mural, changing each season that they will come to take pride in the building and help to maintain its appearance.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, I was pleased to move approval of the officer’s recommendation, and said: “This is a much needed facility, a community facility that is in the heart of a deprived community were educational attainment is low. We need to raise the aspirations of our young people and the staff and the Library work hard with young people of the area; they help to motivate the young people, build up their confidence, and assist them in their learning.

“I am sure that this building will become a community hub for all residents - not just young. It will also benefit the wider area; I am naturally speaking up for the East Marsh, but the Library is well used by the residents of the Heneage and the Sidney Sussex Wards. I hope all members will support the recommendations.”

To view the plans in full

>>>>>>CLICK HERE