Philip Owen

About Philip

Councillor Philip Owen was first elected to Nottinghamshire County Council to represent the Nuthall division in May 2005. Upon his re-election in June 2009 he was appointed Cabinet Member for Children & Young People's Services in the new administration. He says he is very excited by his new Cabinet responsibility and thinks it's going to be "quite a challenge".

Philip was born in Bulwell and has always been involved in education, gaining a BSc from the University of Strathclyde and a PGCE from Nottingham University. He taught at a boys' grammar school in Rugby before moving back to Nottingham to work at Eastwood Comprehensive and then Quarrydale in Sutton-in-Ashfield where he was Assistant Head Teacher until 2005. He is married to Jill, who is a councillor at Broxtowe Borough Council.  

Philip holds Advice Surgeries once a month. They take place on the first Saturday of the month at the Temple Centre, Nottingham Road from 9.30 – 10.30am and on the same day from 10.45 – 11.30am at the Spinney on Laurel Crescent.

Philip's latest news...

County Council Budget 2010/11

At the Nottinghamshire County Council Annual Budget meeting on Thursday 25^th February 2010 I joined my Conservative colleagues in voting for a freeze in council tax for the forthcoming financial year 2010/11.

My colleague Councillor Reg Adair, Cabinet Member for Finance & Property, presented the first budget of the new Conservative administration which included a range of management and efficiency measures to save £30 million. This money will be re-directed into front line services including key priority care services: -

• £3 million more to provide specialist placements for young people

• £1.7 million more to meet additional costs of Safeguarding Children at risk
• £6.1 million to meet the growth in services for people with mental health and learning disabilities 
• £1.9 million more towards the costs of services for people with physical disabilities
• £2.3 million more to meet additional costs of care home fees for service users living in independent sector homes
• £2 million more towards increased costs of care for people living independently in their own homes
• £700,000 more to meet costs arising from the provision of services as a result of the reduction in the Supporting People Grant and
• £2.5 million more to account for the ever growing numbers of older people requiring some form of care.

In Councillor Adair's speech introducing the budget proposals he pointed out that even with a council tax freeze, Nottinghamshire County Council will still be spending £11 million more in 2010/11 than in the previous year.

(Posted 8/3/10) 

Improvement Programme

Like every council in the country, Nottinghamshire County Council faces ongoing, significant and unavoidable increases in demand for key services. At the same time, it faces an unprecedented and long-term reduction in the resources available to it. Present forecasts are that the Council must reduce its current expenditure by at least £88m, or 18% of its revenue budget, over the next three financial years. Most of this reduction will be used to fund increased demand in other service areas. £30m of reductions have already been identified for 2010/11, leaving a further £58m to be found in 2011/12 and 2012/13.

In the past, reductions have been achieved through a process of allocating savings targets across departments. However, the scale of the financial challenge is now such that a more strategic approach is needed to achieve reductions in a structured and consistent way.

At the County Council meeting on 25^th February 2010 the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Suthers gained approval for a new Improvement Programme to deliver these aims, called ‘One Council - One Business - One Plan’. This will involve an estimated investment of £21 million over five years to deliver total aggregated savings of over £200m over a five year period.

The Improvement Programme will include: -

• a complete overhaul of the Council’s approach to procurement

• implementation of an integrated Business Management System and changes in processes

• rationalisation of the Council’s property portfolio and improvement in flexible ways of working

• a fundamental review of all services followed by a comprehensive programme of organisational redesign

• departmental improvement programmes that deliver service-specific developments and

• the Chief Executive’s own programme to deliver improvements in partnership working, communications and organisational development. 

The aim of ‘One Council-One Business-One Plan’ is to drive out inefficiency, target resources, minimise the impact on service delivery and create an organisation that is fit for purpose and financially sustainable in the long term. 

(Posted 8/3/10)

New Strategic Plan

Nottinghamshire County Council's new Strategic Plan 2010-2014 sets out our promise to the people of Nottinghamshire; our priorities for the next four years; and how we aim to support the people of our county to be aspirational, independent and to share with us responsibility for the future.

This Plan complements the wider Nottinghamshire Sustainable Community Strategy which is the collective plan that outlines how organisations in the county will work together to promote and deliver a better Nottinghamshire.

Our plan is ambitious. It is a plan based on what local people tell us they want, and what they want to see happen. The success of our plan relies on us working well together with local people and organisations. Whilst we face challenging financial times, nevertheless we have opportunities to promote and deliver a better future for Nottinghamshire.

(Posted 8/3/10)

Gritting

The exceptionally cold weather which affected Nottinghamshire and most other parts of the UK between December and February led to unprecedented pressures on local authority gritting supplies. Nottinghamshire County Council possessed stockpiles far exceeding Government recommendations and was able to keep its priority routes gritted even when other councils had exhausted their supplies. The biggest difficulty was obtaining replacement supplies, given the exceptional pressure on the two national companies who supply the country’s salt. 

Taking these events into account, it was agreed at the recent County Council budget meeting to increase the gritting budget by £50,000 for 2010/11. It is also intended to use 6mm rather than 10mm salt, which will improve spread rate and increase our gritting capacity still further. 

(Posted 8/3/10)

229 bus service

Changes are being made to the 229 bus service run by Doyles Coaches under contract to Nottinghamshire County Council.

The early morning departure from Eastwood has been moved from 7.20am to 7.10am to reach the Queen's Medical Centre at 7.52am. The journey has previously suffered from traffic problems. The route remains the same.

Off-peak journeys - 9.15am to 3.15pm from Eastwood - will be re-routed to operate along Larkfields Road to replace Veolia's 555 service, which has been withdrawn.

The changes have been made to take account of hospital patients who used the 555 service.

Revised timetables will be produced shortly. Information will be displayed on the bus. Bus times can be found at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/timetables

Youth travel petition

Early in November I had the pleasure of meeting Scott Beasley, the Youth Mayor of Mansfield 2008/09 and Natalie Smith, Mansfield Youth Assembly Member, to receive a petition requesting the introduction of a discounted transport card for young people in Nottinghamshire.

The petition highlighted a number of issues that young people face with local transport: -

• prices too high - especially when making daily journeys to school/college

• bus drivers not accepting current student discount cards

• drivers (not) believing a young person's age

It was suggested that a card be made available for 11-13 year-olds to prove their age when using public transport, and then a card for 14-19 year-olds that would allow discount off their transport fees. It was also suggested that the card could double up as a library card.

Councillor Lynn Sykes, the Deputy Cabinet Member with specific responsibility for Youth Services, joined me in receiving the petition. I will give these ideas careful consideration with my colleague Cllr Richard Jackson, the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways and Cllr John Cottee, Cabinet Member for Culture & Community.

(Posted 18/11/09) 

Tram

On 24^th September 2009 Nottinghamshire County Council voted to withdraw its financial support for the NET Phase Two transport scheme. As a Conservative County Councillor I was elected on a manifesto which stated: "We will avoid spending a small fortune on tram extensions which few people in the county will be able to use."

During the Council debate, several Conservative Members presented the argument for this change of policy. Some referred to the increasing costs of the scheme, whilst others supported the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways' assertion that flexible bus services, rather than a fixed tram line, represent the most suitable public transport solution to serve the whole of Nottinghamshire. 

Some of my colleagues took the opportunity to confirm that, contrary to some media reports, the Conservative position on the proposed tram extensions has not changed. They pointed out that the previous Labour administration had entered into certain legal agreements in relation to NET Phase 2 which must be respected to protect the interests of the County taxpayer, but the new Conservative administration is quite clear that it does not support the proposed tram extension with its current routes through heavily populated residential areas. 

(Posted 21/10/09)

Workplace Parking Levy (WPL)

Also at the Nottinghamshire County Council meeting on 24^th September 2009, the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, Councillor Richard Jackson stated that the new Conservative county administration is opposed to Nottingham City Council's proposals for a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL). He expressed concern about the financial impact such a Levy could have on County residents who work in the City and stated his belief that the WPL would be unlikely to cut congestion. Councillor Jackson argued that the scheme could lead to significant parking problems in areas of the County which abut the City boundary, frighten off economic investment in the City and County and hit business confidence at a time when it needs to be nurtured. 

(Posted 21/10/09)

Philip's latest Councillors' Divisional Fund awards...

Following a decision taken by Cabinet on 8th July 2009, each County Councillor now has an annual fund of £10,000 to support worthy initiatives in the division they represent. 

CDF aims to make use of each councillor's 'grass roots' knowledge to identify projects, events, people and clubs that work hard to benefit and promote their local area, but often lack access to resources. Even a small amount of funding can sometimes make a huge difference. 

If you know of a deserving initiative in the Newstead division that might be eligible to receive a CDF grant, please contact me.

Here are some of those I've been able to help so far: - 

1^st Nuthall Girls Brigade

A grant from my CDF has helped to purchase waterproof coats for members of the 1^st Nuthall Girls Brigade. 

Nuthall Parish Council

I was pleased to help Nuthall Parish Council with funding for their Sports Week Project.

Nuthall & District Local History Society

A contribution from my CDF to the Nuthall & District Local History Society has helped to cover the costs of a display board and leaflet printing.

Strelley Village Neighbourhood Watch Group

I was pleased to help the Strelley Village Neighbourhood Watch Group with funding to set up their Community Speedwatch Group. 

Nuthall Tiny Tots

A contribution from my CDF to the Nuthall Tiny Tots play group has helped to purchase new play equipment.

1st Nuthall Brownies

I was pleased make a CDF contribution to assist the 1^st Nuthall Brownies with rental costs for their premises. 

Nuthall Parochial Church Council

I was happy to provide a CDF grant to Nuthall PCC towards the purchase of a new lawnmower for grounds upkeep. I also assisted with the purchase of a trolley and tables for group use.

Nuthall Temple Luncheon Club

I was pleased to assist the Nuthall Temple Luncheon Club with funding for - guess what - lunch expenses!

Horsendale Pre-school Playgroup

CDF grants to the Horsendale Pre-school Playgroup have enabled the purchase of a new cooker for the community kitchen and assisted with Christmas activities.

1^st Nuthall Scouts

A grant from my CDF to the 1^st Nuthall Scouts has helped to purchase a water heater and other equipment.

Nuthall Phoenix Community Group

I was pleased to allocate some CDF money to assist the Nuthall Phoenix Community Group with the hire of a hall for their weekly meetings.

Larkfields Infant School

A grant from my CDF has helped the Larkfields Infant School to buy plants, seeds, bird feeders and a ladybird box for the benefit of pupils.

Larkfields Junior School

A grant from my CDF has enabled the Larkfields Junior School to deliver a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) project to pupils.

Kimberley Netball Club

I am pleased to have been able to present a small grant to Kimberley Netball Club to purchase new netballs, tracksuits and tops.

NOWMADS

I have been able to assist the Nottingham West Music & Drama Society (NOWMADS) with the cost of staging their winter show.

Nuthall Age Concern Day Centre

I am pleased to have been able to help the Nuthall Age Concern Day Centre with transport costs to a luncheon club for the elderly.

Nuthall & District First Responders Scheme

A cheque from my Councillors' Divisional Fund has helped the Nuthall & District First Responders Scheme to replace batteries for their defibrillators.

Nuthall Friendship Club

I was able to present a CDF cheque to the Nuthall Friendship Club to purchase a new bingo machine.

Nuthall Youth Club Reunion

I was able to help Nuthall Parish Council with the cost of room hire for a reunion of the Nuthall Youth Club.

Nuthall Youth Football Club

A grant from my CDF has purchased a new football kit for the Nuthall YFC Under 10's team.

Moorgreen Show

I was able to make an award to Churches Working Together to provide activities for the young at the Moorgreen Show.

Boys Brigade

I am pleased to have been able to help the 32^nd Nottingham Boys Brigade Company to purchase new equipment for training.

Philip's committees...

In addition to being a Cabinet Member I serve on several committees including:-

Corporate Parenting Panel