THE Union Flag will be flying high outside Sandwell Council House in Oldbury next week to mark the official Armed Forces Day on Saturday June 26.

The borough’s mayor Councillor Pauline Hinton will raise the flag at 11am on Monday June 21 accompanied by her consort and husband Councillor David Hinton and other civic dignitaries.

Royal British Legions from throughout Sandwell will parade, flying their own standards, along with school children, the Guides and Scouts and Territorial Army centres.

Cllr Hinton said: “I am personally very proud to honour our heroic forces in this way and I hope people will turn out to show their gratitude and support.”

Armed Forces Day is an annual opportunity for people to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from currently serving troops to service families and from veterans to cadets.

_{Chief Constable of the West Midland Chris Sims will patrol the town centre alongside the neighbourhood sergeant Richard Bird.}

_{It is the first of a series of fact-finding missions to shopping centres, high streets and venues throughout the region to hear people’s views following the recent restructuring of the service.}

_{Starting outside the Cenotaph in the town aquare at 10.30am, Mr Sims will spend two hoursspeaking to residents and business owners.}

_{Mr Sims said: “I’m keen to get out and about and get a feel for local communities and learn more about the specific issues they face. I can’t do that by sitting in an office at police headquarters.”}

_{“We have had some excellent success in terms of reducing crime across the West Midlands but I believe we still have a lot to do in terms of meeting the needs and expectations of the public.}

_{“We have turned our focus to pursuing victim satisfaction rather than pursing performance targets.}

_{“We are aspiring to providing a service tailored to the needs of every individual and judge ourselves on victim satisfaction rather than on the number of detections we record}

]]> http://www.langleylabour.co.uk/?feed=rss2&p=1162 0 http://www.langleylabour.co.uk/?p=1153 http://www.langleylabour.co.uk/?p=1153#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:50:52 +0000 admin http://www.langleylabour.co.uk/?p=1153 Sandwell Horticultural Show – Call To Gardeners

Black Country gardeners are being urged to plan their growing season so that they will have crops ready for the area’s top flower and vegetable show – the Sandwell Horticultural Show.

The show, which attracts competitors from throughout the Black Country, gives growers of fruit, flowers and vegetables the chance to win much-coveted prizes at the event which is part of the Sandwell Community Show.

It also gives people with a range of hobbies the opportunity to win prizes for homecrafts, wine-making and floral arrangements in the horticultural tent which is one of the most popular areas of the show.

It is being held at Sandwell Valley in West Bromwich at the August Bank Holiday.

Councillor Ann Shackleton, cabinet member for youth, culture and leisure, said the council organisers were working to ensure another excellent show.

“It is always a wonderful family show and many visitors enjoy the chance to see the huge leeks and onions and the other quality vegetables and flowers,” she said.

“We hope that as many of the growers from across the region will compete to make it the best show in the Black Country,” she added,

With support from Sandwell Primary Care Trust and other local partners two coffee mornings are being held this month by the South Asian Diabetes Support Group – and you’re invited!

The coffee mornings, in Langley and Smethwick are part of the Primary Care Trust’s plans to help patients with diabetes improve control of their blood sugar levels. South Asian communities are typically at a higher risk of developing the condition, and so the discussions will in Urdu, Punjabi and English languages.

Sham Malhi, Health Education Support Officer at Sandwell Primary Care Trust said: “There are currently 2.6 million people with diabetes in the UK and there are up to half a million people with diabetes who have the condition and don’t know it. In Sandwell, we’re hoping to reduce that latter figure by inviting people to come to these coffee mornings to find out more about diabetes.”

The coffee mornings take place at:

Date: Wednesday 23rd June 2010
Time: 9.30am – 11.30am
Venue: Langley Lodge Community Centre, High Street Langley, B69 4SU
Date: Friday 25th June 2010
Time: 9.30am – 11.30am
Venue: St Albans Community Centre, St Albans Road, Smethwick B67 7NL.

For further information, you can speak to Sham in Urdu, Punjabi or English by calling 0121 612 2576.

The ‘Music in the Park’ Sunday concert programme will showcase local musicians at the free concerts that will be held in the borough’s parks over the next few weeks.

All of the concerts start at approximately 2.30pm and finish at around 5pm with a short break around 3.30pm.

The concerts, which have been organised by Sandwell’s Parks and Countryside Management Services, are free and chairs will be available for those wishing to attend.

Cabinet member for youth, culture and leisure Cllr Ann Shackleton said: “Hopefully we will get some warm, dry weather as the concerts are a marvellous opportunity for people to bring a blanket and have a picnic in the park while at the same time enjoy some first-class concert music.”

The concerts start this Sunday(June13) when the Amington Band plays at Barnford Park in Oldbury.

Other dates are:

June 20 – Halesowen Brass Band, Victoria Park, Smethwick.

June 27 – Black Country Brass, Victoria Park, Tipton.

July 4 – Black Country Brass, Haden Hill Park, Cradley Heath.

July 11 – Halesowen Brass Band, Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich.

July 25 – West Midlands Concert Band, Red House Park, Great Barr.

August 8 – West Midlands Concert Band, Brunswick Park, Wednesbury.

For further information contact Carole Calloway 0121 569 3440

World Cup fever will hit Sandwell Leisure Centres over the next few months.

The celebrations include tournament festivals and interactive activities at local gyms.

The celebrations kick off with a football tournament at Tipton Sports Academy on May 23 from 10am-4pm supported by a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Tournaments are also taking place at Hadley Stadium on June 5 and Oldbury Leisure Centre on June 13.

Smethwick Swimming Centre is also planning to keep its members interested in their fitness workouts while the World Cup is on by planning a series of gym challenges.

Starting on June 7 members will be encouraged to use the centre five times during the tournament to be entered into a prize draw.

Smethwick Swimming Centre along with Haden Hill Leisure Centre and Wednesbury Leisure Centre boast the latest cardiovascular machines incorporating TV screens allowing customers to watch the matches while working out.

What better way to exercise than to sweat it out whilst watching your team play.

For more information regarding Sandwell Leisure Trust visit www.slt.sandwell.gov.uk

Young people and people over 60 in Sandwell are being offered the chance to get fit and healthy by swimming for free.

Sandwell Leisure Trust is taking part in a Government initiative by offering the free sessions for the next 12 months.

Dawn Mallett, from Sandwell Leisure Trust, said: “This is an ideal way for youngsters from 0-16-years-old and anyone over the age of 60 to get fit and healthy by swimming without it costing them anything.

“Anyone wanting to take advantage of the sessions just needs to go to a Sandwell Leisure Trust swimming centre in the borough and sign up.

“All they need to do is take with them proof of identity and age and then they can register.”

The times and venues for the free sessions can be found on the swimming timetable available online at www.slt.sandwell.gov.uk or by visiting their local leisure centre to pick up a copy of the latest timetable.

Swimming is one of the UK’s most popular sporting activities and the Government’s free swimming initiative is aiming to get two million people more active and healthy by offering free sessions across the Country.

A business breakfast on Wednesday(MARCH17) at the Public in West Bromwich, marks the launch of the campaign in Sandwell.

Key local employers, including West Midlands Fire Service, the Hadley Group and Sandwell Homes, will appeal to the business community to put Sandwell at the forefront of Backing Young Britain.

The response to the initial appeal has been so positive that Sandwell Partnership believes that the website to be launched in April – appealing to young people to register their interest – will be the first of its kind in the country.

Sandwell Cabinet member for regeneration and transport Cllr Bob Badham said: “This shows a genuine commitment to get young people in the borough on the career ladder and into work.”

Gary Bowman, director of Sandwell Partnership, said: “The campaign was launched to encourage employers to respond to the challenge we face, to help our young people break that vicious circle of ‘no experience – no job’.

“But the business community in Sandwell wanted to do more – and that’s why we’ve decided to take backing Young Sandwell a stage further with the launch of a website that takes our appeal directly to the young people we want to help.”

The website will allow young unemployed people aged between 16 – 24 years old, to register as being interested in taking the chance to gain skills and experience.

Everyone who registers will then be contacted by employment services specialists who will work with each person on a one to one basis, to find an opportunity that could open the door to a new career.

Department for Work and Pensions Minister for Employment Jim Knight said: ” “Congratulations to Sandwell Partnership for showing leadership with their local Backing Young Britain campaign and for helping to give young people a foot on the career ladder.

“They are helping local organisations to tap into the great source of potential of Sandwell’s young people and access Government support to ease the process of recruitment.”

Langley Band were successful at the Midlands Area Championships held at Bedworth Civic Hall on Saturday 13 March.

As well as a handsome trophy, they have earned the right to compete in the National Championships to be held  in Harrogate in September.

Langley Band is the Midlands oldest Brass Band.

The band is self-supporting relying on the members weekly donations, and the profit made from concert fees and recordings. The band membership is made up from a diverse section of people including school pupils and teachers, engineers, police officers, a museum curator, accountants, civil servants and other business professionals. The members give up their own time for rehearsals twice weekly and for any engagements. They get no remuneration for their services.

The band plays at venues the length and breadth of the country. The band is kept very busy giving concerts throughout the year. Including both indoor and outdoor performances, these are mainly in and around the area closest to the bands heart – the Black Country and West Midlands.

Councillor Pauline Hinton, a leading Labour cabinet member, will become the borough’s first citizen in May – and will have Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Joyce Underhill as her Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Hinton, who is a Deputy Leader of the Labour-controlled Council, was selected as Mayor-elect by the general purposes committee.

Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said he welcomed the decision to appoint Councillor Hinton as Mayor and Councillor Underhill as her deputy.

“Councillor Hinton is a very experienced member of the council and has undertaken some sterling work on important issues during her time as a cabinet member.

“Joyce Underhill came onto the council at the same time as I did and has always been a critical friend to us.

“She has always had the highest respect of all councillors across the political parties.

“As Leader of the Council I feel strongly that if someone has shown such commitment and responsibility over the years it should be open for them, whatever their political affiliations, to represent the borough at the highest level,” said Councillor Cooper.

“I am sure that Councillors Hinton and Underhill will make a very formidable all-women team and represent the borough well during their term of office,” he added.

Councillor Hinton said she was looking forward to being the borough’s first citizen after more than 20 years on Sandwell Council, representing Langley.

“I am immensely proud to be appointed Mayor and I am looking forward to representing the council during the Mayoral Year.

“I am particularly looking forward to working with Cllr Underhill who has always been a helpful and thoughtful member of the council,” she said.

Councillor Hinton, who is cabinet member for improvement and equality, has been responsible for the development of Best Value issues and has just completed the massive Single Status negotiations with employees.

Previously she was careers chair and vice-chair of housing.