Census Day was Sunday 27 March, and every household has a legal duty to complete and return a census form as soon as possible. You could face a fine if you don’t participate.

Please encourage your family and friends to fill in and return their census form. The information collected by the census is important to Kirklees Council as it determines how much funding we get from central government.

If anyone has lost their form, they can get a replacement by contacting the Office for National Statistics via their telephone helpline on 0300 0201 101 or their website at www.census.gov.uk. You can complete the form online until 6 May.

Many residents have asked me about the Jones Homes sign on Cowrakes Road.

The sign is from Jones Homes and has nothing to do with the proposed development on Lindley Moor. It relates to a small Jones Home approval of 6 apartments on Cowrakes Road.

For more information: www.jones-homes.co.uk

I am pleased to tell you that carriageway patching works are due to commence on Howard Road. This work is being carried out as part of a major programme of highway improvements.

The work is expected to start Monday 11th April 2011 and should be completed by Wednesday 13th April 2011 (weather permitting).

Please make sure that any vehicles belonging to you or your visitors are parked away from the road between 9:00am and 3:30pm whilst the work is taking place. This is because access to the street will be limited.
If you have any questions about the work, contact Mick Schofield on: 01484 222300 or email: mick.schofield@kirklees.gov.uk. If you need to contact Highways outside office hours, please ring Highways Customer Care on freephone: 0800 731 8765.

I am pleased to tell you that carriageway patching works are due to take place on Peebles Close. This work is being carried out as part of a major programme of highway improvements.

The work is expected to start week commencing Thursday 7th April 2011 and should be completed by Friday 8th April 2011 (weather permitting).

Please make sure that any vehicles belonging to you or your visitors are parked away from the road between 9:00am and 3:30pm whilst the work is taking place. This is because access to the street will be limited.
If you have any questions about the work, contact Mick Schofield on: 01484 222300 or email: mick.schofield@kirklees.gov.uk. If you need to contact us outside office hours, please ring Highways Customer Care on freephone: 0800 731 8765.

I am pleased to tell you that carriageway patching works are due to take place on Sandmoor Drive. This work is being carried out as part of a major programme of highway improvements.
The work is expected to start week commencing Thursday 7th April 2011 and should be completed by Friday 8th April 2011 (weather permitting).

Please make sure that any vehicles belonging to you or your visitors are parked away from the road between 9:00am and 3:30pm whilst the work is taking place. This is because access to the street will be limited.

If you have any questions about the work, contact Mick Schofield on: 01484 222300 or email: mick.schofield@kirklees.gov.uk. If you need to contact highways outside office hours, please ring Highways Customer Care on freephone: 0800 731 8765.

On Sunday 27th of March I took part in the Liverpool Half Marathon to raise money and awareness for the Mayor’s Charity – Combat Stress.

Combat Stress is a charity offering residential treatment to ex-servicemen and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health issues.

I would like to thank everyone who sponsored me and donated to the charity. You can still donate online at: www.justgiving.com/cahalburke

The Deputy Prime Minister admitted that we were being forced to back “decisions which aren’t exactly the ones we would make on our own” while in government with the Tories.

But during his closing speech at our party’s spring conference in Sheffield, Mr Clegg insisted “will never lose our soul”.

It was a very good conference and I managed to have a chat with the Deputy Prime Minister about many issues including what we are achieving in government.

We have:
• Protected the schools and NHS budgets
• Cut Income Tax for the low and middle income earners
• Taken more than 800,000 out of paying Income Tax altogether
• Provided a guarantee to ensure a decent state pension for all
• Scrapped control orders & introduced a Freedom Bill to restore civil liberties
• Provided voters with a referendum to decide on the voting system
• Introduced a pupil premium to transform life chances of the least well off
• Provided free childcare for 2 year olds from the most disadvantaged homes
• Established a bank levy so banks pay their fair share – an extra £10 bn in tax
• Introduced a Green New Deal to transform and green our economy

A COUNCILLOR will pound the streets of Merseyside to raise money for servicemen and women psychologically affected by war.

Lindley ward councillor Cahal Burke is training hard for the Liverpool Half Marathon this month.

The 33-year-old is raising money for Combat Stress, a charity which looks after servicemen and women who suffer from a psychological condition related to military service.

Clr Burke, who is a supply teacher, said: “I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (in the knee) a few years ago playing football and have been unable to take part in much sport since then.

“Running has been a good way to keep fit and raise money for charity.

”Clr Burke is trying to fit his training around his busy council schedule and his job as a teacher and is attempting to do two 10k runs every week when he can.

Combat Stress is this year’s Mayor’s Charity, chosen by the Mayor of Kirklees Clr Andrew Palfreeman.

Donate online to Clr Burke’s run by following the link www.justgiving.com/cahalburke

    

The next census will take place on 27 March 2011.

The census is a count of the population in the UK. It takes place every 10 years and asks everyone the same questions on the same day to give a complete picture of the nation. This information is used to estimate the likely number of people and households in each area for the next 10 years.

In England and Wales the census is planned and carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). ONS produces a wide range of regular, high quality, professional statistics.

The census tells us how many people live in the UK and what types of services they need now and are likely to need in the future. It helps the Government and your local council to allocate funds, decide future policy and plan important services such as transport, housing, health and schools.

Why is it important?

The amount of money that councils have to spend on services for the next 10 years will be based on the number and type of people living in the local area.If everyone does not complete a census form the results won’t show complete information about local communities and a council might not get all the funding it needs.

It tells us about:

Population – to help central government decide how much funding it needs to give to each local and health authority. The authorities then use census data to plan the services within their local areas.

Health and disability – to help plan services and put policies in place to ensure people with disabilities are treated equally.

Housing – to allow central government and local authorities to assess the quality of housing and plan to meet future needs.

Employment – to show how many people work in different occupations and industries to help plan jobs and training policies.

Ethnic groups – to help central government allocate resources and monitor policies to ensure that all groups are treated equally.

Transport – to help understand the pressures on our transport systems and improve planning for roads and public transport. 

               

Government and local authorities depend on our information to help make sure you get the services you need in your community. And that means asking questions of a lot of people. We want everyone to take part in helping tomorrow take shape. This is your chance to make a difference.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order is to be in place for the location below. This Order is required to carry out street lighting replacement works. 

Good street lighting is important to all of us. It reduces road accidents, vandalism, crime and the fear of crime. The type of street lighting used in Kirklees has also been carefully chosen to give the best performance at the lowest cost.

The Order will be from 7 March 2011 for the approximate period of 4 weeks (19.00 – 05.00 only).

Location :-

Temporary reduction of speed limit to 30mph – A629 Blackley New Road, Birchencliffe j/o M62 westbound exit slip road to j/o A629 Halifax Road A629 Halifax Road, Birchencliffe (all around Ainley Top roundabout) j/o A629 Blackley New Road to j/o A629 Blackley New Road A643 Brighouse Road, Birchencliffe j/o A629 Halifax Road to j/o A643 New Hey Road