Keith Walker

About Keith

Councillor Keith Walker is the current Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council.

Keith has served on the County Council for more than 20 years and now represents the village of Balderton. He has been a Parish Councillor at Farndon for 37 years and more recently for Balderton Parish Council.

In the past, Keith has also served on Newark & Sherwood District Council representing Farndon for more than 30 years, and he was also Chairman of Balderton & Fernwood Safer Neighbourhood Group. He is a Governor of the Grove School, New Balderton.

Keith was born in Elston and left school at 15 years of age to become a motor mechanic, having his own garage for 15 years before going to work at Hoval Boilers Limited in Newark.

As a young lad he was eager to join in community life, played football in a local team and enjoyed go-karting. He was a member of the Two Rivers Rally Club with his eldest brother Noel.

Keith is married to Inga, a retired nurse. They have lived in Farndon for more than 40 years and have a son Nigel, and a daughter Tracey, who are both married with two children. Nigel served in the Army with the Household Cavalry for the past 22 years, whilst Tracey works for Nottinghamshire County Council.

Keith is very much a family man and enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, DIY, travel, theatre and socialising with local people.

Keith recently became a member of the Royal British Legion (Balderton Branch) and duly chose the Royal British Legion as his Chairman's Charity for the year 2011-12.   

Keith is available to meet constituents at any mutually convenient time or place. His contact details are displayed on the left of this page. 

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

Each Nottinghamshire County Councillor now has an annual fund of £10,000 to support worthy initiatives in the division they represent. The Councillors' Divisional Fund 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 Balderton division that might be eligible to receive a CDF grant, please contact me. You can click the following link to read the eligibility guidance criteria.   

Follow this link to the Councillors' Divisional Fund web page to see some of the latest projects I have been able to support.

Keith's latest news...

Council plans to adopt a committee system

Pending approval at the Council’s Annual General Meeting on 17^th May 2012, Nottinghamshire County Council plans to exercise its new power under the Localism Act 2011 to adopt a committee system of decision-making. This will replace the current Leader and Cabinet model adopted under the Local Government Act 2000.

The rationale for a committee system is that it is the most democratic and transparent form of governance. It ensures all 67 democratically elected Councillors are able to fully participate in decision-making and shaping the policy of the Council. It ensures greater transparency in that all reports are publicly available prior to any decision being made, and all decision-making meetings are held in public.

Reports were taken to the Full Council meetings in January and March (Item 11), with final approval being sought, as stated above, in May.

(Posted 17/4/2012)

Council tax frozen again in 2012/13 

At the Nottinghamshire County Council budget meeting on 23^rd February it was agreed to freeze county council tax for a third consecutive year. With public finances under strain across the country, the council has saved £87 million so far, £44 million of which has been reinvested directly into frontline services. In the coming financial year we will spend: -

• £2.8 million more safeguarding children;
• £5.2 million more on care for older people;
• £2.7 million more on adults with mental health & learning disabilities;
• £1.4 million more on adults with physical disabilities; and
• £1 million more to support young carers.

 We are also committed to invest £289 million in capital over three years on:-

• Improving school buildings;
• Modernising day centres;
• New youth clubs;
• Improving libraries;
• Improved broadband services;
• Improved roads and pathways;
• New and improved bus stations.

Councillor Reg Adair is the council's Cabinet Member for Finance & Property. In his speech presenting the budget, he outlined the results of the council's budget consultation. In response to public feedback, we are: - 

• providing additional library opening hours at 15 locations across the county;
• holding Meals at Home charges at £3.95 for 2012/13; and
• not increasing charges for Blue Badge holders in 2012/13, unlike many other local authorities. 

(Posted 28/2/2012)  

Success!  The A453 gets the green light!

I am absolutely delighted by the Chancellor’s announcement that the Government is fast-tracking the dualling of the A453. This is the best Christmas gift that businesses and residents in Nottinghamshire could have, bringing a £540m boost to the East Midlands economy.  

In May this year, Nottinghamshire County Council pledged £20m towards the scheme if it was bought forward. Since that pledge was made, the campaign to widen the road has garnered support from the local business community and other local councils, including a pledge of £500,000 towards the scheme from Rushcliffe Borough Council in October.

The A453 has been on the Council’s wishlist since the 1970s. At last it is going to happen and I am thrilled for local businesses and commuters alike. I want to particularly thank East Midlands Airport, Boots, RH Freight, Hardstaffs, the Nottingham Post newspaper and partner authorities for their support in this campaign.

In the five years up to October 2010, there were 185 accidents involving personal injury on just the Nottinghamshire part of the A453. The Nottinghamshire section of the road is the second most congested part of the national road network after a short section of the M25. This congestion has been costing larger businesses as much as £100,000 a year because of increased fuel usage, difficulty reaching customers, abandoned journeys and accident costs.

Finally, we can look forward to smoother and safer journeys on this vital road link through Nottinghamshire from the M1 and I am immensely pleased that the Government has listened to our determined campaign.  

(Posted 29/11/2011)

Nottinghamshire County Council remembers the fallen

On Friday 11^th November 2011 it was my honour as Chairman to represent Nottinghamshire County Council and lay a wreath at a Ceremony of Remembrance outside County Hall, marking the sacrifice made by our troops for their country in conflicts over the years.

Three weeks earlier I had joined the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire to buy the first poppies in the county and launch The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, which is celebrating its 90^th year. As my chosen Chairman's Charity, The Royal British Legion is an organisation close to my heart and the welfare they provide to serving and ex-Service staff and their families is a vital lifeline for thousands of people.

Nottinghamshire County Council has supported dozens of community organisations and groups across the county during the last year to help them mark Armistice Day. Funding has come from two sources – the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) and the Councillors’ Divisional Fund (CDF) fund. The LIS in particular has supported the restoration and repair of 18 war memorials across the county.

(Posted 14/11/11)

Official Opening of the new Newark Bus Station 

I was delighted to perform the official opening of Newark's brand new bus station on Friday 11^th November, before it opened for business the following day.

Part of the £50m Asda supermarket development on the town’s Potterdyke car park, the new state-of-the-art bus station is fully enclosed and boasts digital information screens, seating, CCTV for added security, toilets, baby changing area, vending machines and a staffed information point.

The new building is jointly owned by Nottinghamshire County Council – which will operate the bus station – and Newark and Sherwood District Council. Both worked alongside Asda on its development.

It has been estimated that there will be around 2,000 bus arrivals and departures a week – with around 25,000 passenger arrivals and departures over the same period.

The new bus station provides a welcoming first impression for anyone arriving in Newark by bus and I am confident that anyone using the new bus station will be impressed by the modern, first-rate facilities it offers. As joint owner of the facility, we are delighted to see it open and become available to residents of Newark and Sherwood. It is a significant part of the regeneration of this part of Newark town centre which will help to maximise the area’s economic potential.

The new Newark bus station is part of the County Council’s commitment to improving the quality of bus waiting facilities throughout the county. A new bus station opened in Retford in 2007, the bus station in Sutton in Ashfield was substantially improved in 2009 and work on a new £9m bus station in Mansfield is underway. Options to improve the bus facilities in Worksop are also being examined.

(Posted 11/11/2011)

Nottinghamshire County Council Civic Service - my tribute to the Wootton Bassett Royal British Legion

On 26^th June 2011, in my capacity as Chairman I attended the annual Nottinghamshire County Council Civic Service at Southwell Minster. My invited guests on the day included the President of the Wootton Bassett Royal British Legion, Mr Maurice Baker and his wife, Mary. 

During the service, in my Chairman's address I described my experience of having visited Wootton Bassett and participated, by chance, in one of the impromptu repatriation ceremonies for a fallen soldier returning from Afghanistan. I told the congregation that what I witnessed that day would stay with me always. There was no one telling us where to stand and what to do, no choir of children and no Bishop in full regalia, but standing on the edge of the path in complete silence, the people of Wootton Bassett said farewell to a hero. I recall in a selfish moment a huge feeling of relief that only a few months earlier my son had made a safe return home after his tour of Afghanistan. I had seen the sorrow and the fear of his wife, children and mother as he set out and I shall never forget when I gave him a handshake - would that be the last time I saw him alive?

Fortunately, I was able to see the happiness on his safe return, the joy and excitement on his children's faces. My experience could scarcely have contrasted more with the sorrow of the family of this soldier who had been denied a happy homecoming. There in front of us was the hearse with a coffin draped with a union flag. I did not know the soldier's name or regiment but I did know his age - just 19. 

That afternoon I made a promise to myself to ask representatives of the Wootton Bassett Royal British Legion to my Civic Service and I am delighted that the President and his wife were able to accept. Many of you will have watched on television the tributes paid to our fallen by the people of Wootton Bassett, soon to be Royal Wootton Bassett and it was my opportunity on behalf of the people of Nottinghamshire and the rest of the country, certainly the families of the lost loved ones, to say a simple but heartfelt thank you.

For this and other good reasons I have selected The Royal British Legion as my Chairman's Charity for 2011-12 and I hope by next May we can make a healthy donation to this organisation. If you would like to make your own donation via the Chairman's Charity, please make cheques payable to Nottinghamshire County Council Chairman's Charity and send to Civic Office, Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP. Thank you.

(Posted 19/7/11)

More grass cuts

Nottinghamshire County Council is increasing the number of times it will be cutting grass verges this year.

As part of this year’s budget savings it was originally intended to reduce the frequency of routine grass cutting in urban areas from six to four times a year. However, we have listened to public feedback and have now increased that frequency to five cuts. In rural areas the frequency remains at two cuts a year.

At the same time we have issued guidelines for a growing number of residents who are happy to cut the grass verges outside their homes. Again, this is a direct result of feedback from the Council’s Big Budget Conversation consultation process, when hundreds of people said they would be prepared to cut verges if it helped to release money for use on other priorities, such a repairing potholes. 

The guidelines highlight what needs to be considered when cutting grass near the roadside.  They can be found online at: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/roadverges

(Posted 14/7/11) 

School buildings investment

I am delighted to report that the Grove Comprehensive School in Balderton division is one of the schools set to benefit from the first phase of Nottinghamshire County Council's new £100 million programme to refurbish and improve school buildings.

At the Annual General Meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council on 19^th May, the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People's Services, Councillor Philip Owen set out the full Schools Capital Refurbishment Programme List, covering three years up to 2014.

In line with the "Three R's" set out by the Government for school building works (Refresh, Refurbish, Re-use), Nottinghamshire County Council has set the criteria to prioritise the schools most in need of improvements for the first year. The condition of roofs, external walls and windows, electrical arrangements and mechanical issues such as boilers have been considered. 

More in-depth surveys of the schools in the first year list will take place from June and works on a small number of schools will begin during the summer holidays. The Council started a review of school buildings across the county following the cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

The County Council will be funding around £30m of the programme with the remaining money coming from the authority’s Government grant for school maintenance.

(Posted 1/6/2011)

Chairman of the Council

At the Annual General Meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council on 19^th May 2011 I was truly honoured to be elected by my council colleagues to the position of Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council. During the past year I have served as Vice Chairman to Councillor Thomas Pettengell and, knowing how much he enjoyed the role, I am thoroughly looking forward to the year ahead. I have selected The Royal British Legion as my Chairman's Charity for 2011-12 and with the help of council members and employees I hope we can make a healthy donation to this worthy organisation by next May.

My Vice Chairman for 2011-12 will be Councillor Carol Pepper, who represents the Arnold North division on the County Council. I have known Carol as a councillor for many years and I know that she will provide me with fantastic support. Indeed, with the backing of my wife Inga and Carol I certainly will not be lacking for organisational skills!

I take very seriously the duty of chairing Council meetings in a firm and fair manner and I am very much looking forward to travelling throughout Nottinghamshire and meeting as many of our residents as possible. 

(Posted 26/5/11)

Gritter Twitter

Nottinghamshire County Council will now be advising the public of when the county’s roads will be gritted, using Twitter. During the cold weather last winter there were a number of calls to the Council’s Customer Service Centre asking when the roads would be gritted. Now people can sign up to the Council’s Gritter Twitter feed to receive the latest gritting alerts.

In an age of social networking and 24-hour news, the Council recognises the need to give people ‘live’ information that will help them plan their journey. You can sign up to follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nottscc

(Posted 11/11/2010)

Council AGM

At the Annual General Meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council on 20^th May 2010 I was delighted and honoured to be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council. Throughout the year 2010-2011 I will working to support the newly elected Chairman of the County Council, Councillor Thomas Pettengell, and I feel sure we will make a very good team.

I am flattered to become the Vice-Chairman. I am looking forward to meeting many new people and getting familiar with the parts of the county that I currently don’t know too well. It will be a great experience.

(Posted 20/5/10)

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 Stategic 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)

Visit to John Hunt School

I thoroughly enjoyed a visit to John Hunt School during October, where in two separate sessions I managed to meet the whole school and answer questions about my work as a councillor. The children were very well behaved and interested in the councillor's role. The Mayor of Newark had been to the school a week before, and Newark MP Patrick Mercer has also paid a similar visit since, so the pupils should be very well informed and we could have some budding politicians! 

(Posted 19/11/09)

Sad farewell

It is with great regret that I acknowledge the departure of Mrs Head, the Headteacher of the Grove School. She is moving on to pastures new but I think it is only right (being a governor of the school) that I record a vote of thanks for all of her work. Not only has she been an asset to the school, but also to the village of Balderton. I wish her well for the future.

(Posted 19/11/09)

HGV concerns

The Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, Councillor Richard Jackson is currently looking into the issue of heavy goods vehicles causing noise and disruption to the residents of Alverton and Kilvington in my colleague Councillor Susan Saddington's division. I am also taking a keen interest in these discussions as the solutions being considered could have implications for Balderton. I hope an acceptable solution can be found for everybody concerned.

(Posted 19/11/09)   

Flooding

I am a member of the Communities Standing Select Committee, where two of the main topics of discussion currently are flooding and road maintenance. Balderon has a long-standing problem with flooding and drainage which I have already brought to the attention of this committee.

(Posted 19/11/09)

Cycle track

The new cycle track from the Turks Head to Fernwood is now completed and I hope it will be well used by local people.

(Posted 19/11/09)

Interactive speed sign on Hawton Lane

An interactive speed sign is due to be installed early next year on Hawton Lane in Balderton. This will be a permanent fixture and should help to curb excessive vehicle speed on this stretch of road.

(Posted 19/11/09)

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 state 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 routes. 

(Posted 20/10/09)

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 the County area, frighten off economic investment in the City and County and hit business confidence at a time when it needs to be nurtured. 

(Posted 20/10/09)