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Chris Heaton-Harris MP's
Westminster Report:
January 2019

I hope you have had a good New Year and have had an enjoyable start to 2019 despite the recent cold weather.

A lot has been happening locally since my last 'Westminster Report' from rising instances of rural crime to changes in gritting services. This month's 'Westminster Report' just proves there is more to life than Brexit!

 As ever, I hope you find it informative and if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at chris.heatonharris.mp@parliament.uk
LOCAL CRIME

It has become apparent that there has been a recent spate of rural crime in the constituency.

I want to reassure all those constituents that have posted on social media and contacted me that I condemn any such behaviour in the strongest possible terms and will do everything in my power to assist in putting a stop to this.

Brixworth village has been one unfortunate recipient of this unwelcome criminal behaviour and my sympathies go out to those that have been affected. It goes without saying that if you have been the victim of a crime you should report it to the Police immediately.

From my end, I am going to meet the Northamptonshire Police & Crime Commissioner later this month to go over, with him, the concerns people have expressed to me and what can be done to allay people’s concerns.

Locally, the total budget managed by Stephen Mold, our Police and Crime Commissioner, has risen a great deal over the past year and now stands at £5,227,000.

However, you should note these increases might not mean you see more police on the street locally; even with the recent spike in crime we do still live in a relatively low crime area – and long may that continue.
 
Golden Years

I was delighted to host the boys and girls from Golden Years into Parliament last week for a cup of tea and a tour.

For those of you that haven't heard of Golden Years, they are a fantastic community group for older people in Northamptonshire run by volunteers offering a wide range of activities from ice skating to indoor sky diving!

I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight their next big event where they will be busking in St Pancras Station on the 11th February to raise money to help them expand the organisation. To learn more about their campaign and to donate please click on the link here.

I look forward to welcoming another group of Golden Years members to Westminster later this year for another fun fuelled day.
Some of the Golden years gang on the House of Commons terrace

LIBRARY CONSULTATION

Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) recently started a consultation on libraries in Northamptonshire.

I know from correspondence I have received and meetings I have attended that the residents of Long Buckby are particularly passionate about their very own library and I would strongly recommend anyone interested contributes to the consultation.

The consultation will run for just over eight weeks until the 22nd March 2019.
 
Once the consultation has been completed then NCC will consider all of the responses as one and will be taking a paper to Cabinet in May with the outcome of the consultation and final proposals for Cabinet to approve.

To go to the consultation, please visit the following link.
CRUNCH TIME AT REACH FOR HEALTH
 
For those of you unaware of Reach for Health, it is a fantastic organisation based in Daventry that helps with the rehabilitation of those who have experienced a major health trauma.

Reach for Health are currently attempting to secure a new premises in partnership with Daventry District Council (DDC). This is shortly going to reach a crucial stage with a Full Council Meeting on the 21st February when the final decision will be made.

I have long been an advocate of the fantastic work that Reach for Health do and I would recommend anyone else who feels passionately about this charity makes their views known to their local District Councillor.

For a more detailed look at where the matter currently stands and the upcoming challenges Reach for Health will face please take a look at my website.
 
APPLYING FOR LOCAL FUNDING

 Local charities and good causes can apply for over £3 million worth of funding that has been raised by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Applications are open from 6 February until 20 February, where a whole host of good causes from social enterprises to voluntary groups and registered charities are eligible to apply for grants of between £500 and £20,000.

The financial support is available through three different trusts that are all funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery with the sole purpose of supporting people and their communities across Great Britain. Each trust supports projects focused on specific themes.

There are so many worthy causes in the constituency of Daventry that would love a cash boost for a specific project. I would encourage those interested to view the funding guides and to apply via the trusts’ websites directly:
WINTER GRITTING

I have recently been receiving a great deal of emails about gritting in and around the constituency.

With this in mind, I am pleased to be able to share that Northamptonshire County Council have announced that  winter gritting services across Northamptonshire are to be increased.

The changes will be introduced in the current financial year and will see the introduction of a new intermediate gritting network.

These new intermediate routes will be treated after the precautionary routes have been completed. The amendments are being prioritised so they will be effective as soon as possible.

Cabinet Member for Transport, Highways and Environment Cllr Ian Morris said: “The gritting team do a tremendous job keeping the county moving during the winter, with 24-hour monitoring between the months of October and April.

“We have listened closely to the feedback we have received and I am delighted that we are able to act on it. Our increasingly stabilised financial position alongside the invaluable assistance of our partner Northampton Borough Council means we are able to put extra money into the service to make improvements.”

I trust that this news will ally some of those concerns expressed to me over the last month.
A ministerial visit to the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR) and Siemens Traincare Facility in Northampton (from left to right: Darren Caplan, Chief Executive, Railway Industry Association (RIA); Paul Ryan, Fleet Delivery Manager, Siemens & Simon Rennie, General Manager, NTAR) (top left). MIND meeting, the bi-monthly meeting I organise with local mental health services providers and service-users to create a more ‘joined-up’ approach (top right).(bottom left) Golden Years members on the House of Commons Terrace during their visit to Parliament last week (bottom left). Finally, pulling a pint with Ken from the Lion pub in Daventry to take a look at the recent transformation of the pub (bottom right).
CHRIS' JOKE OF THE MONTH
The Christmas period was good for my local football team the "Pitsford Musketeers." Three wins and a draw. All 4-1 and one 4 all.
www.facebook.com/chhcalling
@chhcalling
chris@heatonharris.com

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Chris Heaton-Harris MP · House of Commons · London, SW1A 0AA · United Kingdom

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