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Development update |
| Hi all – Apologies for the longer-than- usual gap since the last update. Two things have intervened: the numerous letters that came in with the 2000+ supporting letters on the development issue (many people took the opportunity to ask about other things); and the current Energy Bill, which is eating a lot of my time as it works through committee; and a three-day absence. I've also just come back from three days away (got up at 445 this morning, so please ascribe any typos to zonkedness): I took up a long-standing invitation from Swiss Energy Committee MPs to compare policies with our current Bill, and while I was there was also a guest speaker at a Social Democrat conference at the weekend. As usual when I've been away, there are a lot of emails pending (438, to be precise) and the Bill Committee resumes in an hour's time, so I hope you'll forgive brief updates. If you're awaiting an answer to an email, I hope to respond within the next three days. 1. Development proposals update Many thanks to the large numbers of you who wrote to Nottingham Regeneration Limited asking them to reconsider letting me see their consultants. They are still digging in their heels on that, but have offered a direct meeting with NRL itself. I'm continuing to press for access to the consultants as well, but in the meantime have accepted the NRL invitation and asked for a meeting as soon as possible. Thanks also to everyone who came to the meetings in Chilwell and Bramcote – at least 150 at each, the latter organized and ably chaired by the Bramcote conservation society. Party politics reared its head as a senior Conservative councillor told the Chilwell meeting that in my question on the issue in Parliament I had said I was happy with green belt development so long as it wasn't too profitable. Just for the record, that is a fib – this is the link again, so you can check for yourself (you need to let 10 seconds run for the last answer to finish): http://tinyurl. com/23bkvo There has been more in the same vein, and it's silly, because we don't actually have an election now – what we have is a threat of the entire area being concreted over. It would be nice if the Conservatives were willing to work with me on this – there's time enough to have a go at me when the election comes round. What happens next? The consultants will report back to NRL next month, with or without my input, and NRL will then report to the seven elected councils who commissioned the study. That will influence the individual council development plans, which are prepared in consultation with the Government Office for the East Midlands, and I hope to be able to report that at least some of the sites have been effectively ruled out. Any surviving proposals are likely to lead into the usual formal planning process, with a public hearing and council consideration next year. If anything in our area actually gets through – and I remain hopeful that we can see them off – then construction would be likely around 2011. 2. European Treaty Parliament is about to conclude the three-week debate on the European treaty, and there will be a vote tomorrow on whether to call a referendum over it. Those who have been on the list for a while may remember my earlier updates on this, but for those who are newer these are the ones where I discussed it: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/BroxtoweIn fo/message/ 410 and http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/BroxtoweIn fo/message/ 396 The former is briefer but probably more interesting since it gives links to analyses of the Treaty by the rival camps so you can see for yourself whether you approve or disapprove of its contents as well as whether it resembles a Constitution. Message 396 above summarises the main points if you don't have time to plough through it. After all the page-by-page debate in Parliament over the last weeks, my view remains that it's a useful but workaday package and that if we were to have a referendum it should be on Britain's EU membership rather than on how many commissioners we have or how often the Presidency rotates. 3. Beeston a fair trade town? As we come to the end of Fair Trade fortnight, Broxtowe council, working with Oxfam, is looking at making Beeston an official Fair Trade town, supporting the sale of goods in local shops produced to high ethical standards. The Fairtrade Foundation, which overseas Fairtrade in the UK, awards Fairtrade Town status to towns that meet five goals, covering: • Support from the local Council • Fairtrade products available in shops and cafés • Fairtrade products used by workplaces and community organisations • Media coverage and popular support for the campaign • A Fairtrade Steering Group to keep the campaign going If you'd like to support the continuing effort (or indeed if you'd like to disagree with it!) you can get more details if you ring 0115 917 3654. 4. Roundhill Primary cycling challenge Roundhill school is doing a project to encourage cycling by young people all the obvious reasons – fighting obesity and helping the environment – and 14 parents and a staff member are doing a sponsored cycle all the way to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. If you'd like to know more and support it in some way, contact ZoeFletcher@ roundhill. notts.sch. uk. 5. Expenses note I try to be as transparent as possible about expenses (you can see my full statement last year at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/BroxtoweIn fo/message/ 409 before any of the recent scandals arose), so a brief note about how I paid for the energy discussion in Switzerland. MPs are encouraged to meet counterparts to learn from other countries' experiences, and are entitled to make three trips a year to European countries for up to three days, with business class air fare and the cost of the stay reimbursed. Most of us rarely get round to it as there's too much to do, but finding out what others are doing is not a bad idea in principle and prevents re-inventing the wheel. I in fact flew economy (cost £90) and will claim for one day's stay (the others being party business so not claimable). If anyone wants more details (cost of meals, public transport in Bern, etc.) don't hesitate to ask. Sorry this is all a bit rushed – I'd appreciate responses being marked "NNTR" (no need to reply) for a few days while I catch up – unless, of course, you really do want an urgent reply, in which case please mark it URGENT. Best wishes, Nick
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