Would you like to become an Independent Panel Member to hear School Admission Appeals?

What is the role?

Warwickshire County Council are seeking volunteers to become independent panel members to hear school admission appeals. Independent Appeal Panels consider appeals by parents against school admission decisions in relation to schools within Warwickshire and some neighbouring counties. This is an important role and panels are required by law.

Panel Members need only dedicate as much time as they are willing to offer to the role, our busiest time for appeal hearings is from April to July each year. Hearings are held during the day, in term time.  At the moment we are hearing appeals virtually, however this may go back to in person and hearings will be held at various locations across the County and travel expenses are reimbursed.

What experience will I need?

We are looking for (1) Lay Panel members (people without personal experience in the management of any school or provision of education in any school) and (2) Non-Lay Panel members (people with experience in education, acquainted with educational conditions in the area or parents of a registered pupil at a school).

Panel Members must exercise good judgement and demonstrate sound reasoning skills to ensure fair consideration of every case. You will need to be interested in schools and education and prepared to undertake training for the role – which will be provided by Warwickshire County Council. Current or former members, officers, and employees of the Local Authority, (except teachers and teaching assistants), are excluded from becoming independent panel members.

How do I apply or just find out more?

We are inviting expressions of interest to be submitted to us by e-mail to schoolappeals@warwickshire.gov.uk by no later than 20^th January 2023.

If you have any questions about this role, please do not hesitate to telephone either Tania Martin or Jayne Comerford on 01926 736381 or 01926 412082, or alternatively we will be holding an open day where you may come along for an informal discussion on the role and meet the Team. You will also have an opportunity to talk to existing panel members about their experiences.  Provisionally this will take place week commencing 30^th January 2023.

Some enormous vehicles and their abnormally large loads were escorted into a multi agency vehicle check site at the M6 Corley Services on Thursday 8 December to be checked by officers from Warwickshire Police’s Abnormal load team, CMPG and DVSA colleagues to ensure they are as safe as possible as they travel through the county.

During the operation, police motorcyclists intercepted 14 abnormal loads travelling on the M6 and escorted them into the check site to ensure compliance with movement orders and that the driver and vehicle are safe and legal on the roads.

Seven loads were prohibited from moving until faults on the vehicle were rectified and 9 Traffic Offence Report forms were issued for a variety of offences, including insecure loads.

One overweight vehicle was prohibited from moving until the load was safely reduced. This meant the driver had to organise for another vehicle to come to the check site to take some of the load. Overweight vehicles are particularly dangerous because they will take longer to brake in an emergency and the load is more likely to shift increasing the danger to the driver and other road users.

The drivers of two vehicles with insecure loads were required to secure them safely before being allowed to continue their journeys.

The DVSA also dealt with a number of tachograph offences including driver hours and speed.

Officers also took the opportunity to test drivers were below the legal limit for alcohol and we are pleased to say they all passed.

Inspector Dan Hicks said “In terms of making our roads safer, it was a hugely successful morning where a number of drivers were dealt with for a variety of traffic offences.  We also spoke to many drivers about the safety issues to help them avoid being stopped in future. These operations are so important because ensuring these oversized loads are moved correctly throughout the county reduces the risk they pose to the drivers themselves and to other innocent road users.

“We will continue to work with partners to organise regular operations to check all aspects of driver and vehicle safety.”

Starting on Monday, Avon Dassett Community Benefit Society, in conjunction with Warwickshire Rural Community Council (WRCC) will be offering a warm welcome at the Yew Tree.

Until the end of March, we aim to open every weekday from Monday to Friday, from 12.00-15.00, during which times the pub will offer warm hub facilities to all Avon Dassett residents and shareholders. Initially there will be selected warm drinks and biscuits available, free of charge and guests are free to make use of the library, games, wi-fi and facilities at the Yew Tree. When the kitchen is open we will also offer soup and a roll.

Guidance about support schemes, information sources and energy saving, and useful services will be made available and specific information sessions are being planned. Details will be announced once available.

We realise that until we start operations, we will not fully understand residents’ needs, but we are committed to providing a vital service and will listen to all feedback and try to develop the service.

As part of the grant funding that we have received from WRCC, we need to provide data on usage, so we will be issuing cards to guests and volunteers and logging attendance together with any feedback.

We are looking to recruit volunteers to help to operate the facility by providing company for our guests, discussing their needs and helping to signpost them to useful information and guidance. Anyone interested should contact our Benefit Society Secretary, Michele Gill  michelegill09@gmail.com or 07796 446024.

We look forward to seeing you and working together to develop our warm hub facility.

Avon Dassett Community Benefit Society Limited

Only travel if you really have to say police as freezing temperatures continue

Warwickshire Police is warning drivers about snow, ice and fog affecting road conditions as we continue to be gripped by freezing temperatures.

The advice is to only travel if you really have to and if you do, make sure your windscreen is clear, and you have plenty of fuel.

Check the weather forecast and local travel news before you set off. This includes the forecast for your destination as it may be very different.

In the Stratford upon Avon area a high number of road collisions were reported over the weekend.

With the freezing weather set to continue, Inspector Richard Hobbs said “The whole area south of Stratford upon Avon is where we are seeing our worst driving conditions with Shipston and Tysoe particularly affected.

“There are a number of rural roads in the south of the county that are closed due to the snow and ice so we are asking drivers to please stick to the main roads and to slow down and drive according to the conditions.

“As well as being icy, these roads are shut because there are a number of abandoned vehicles that are unable to be moved and this makes them impassable until the weather improves.

The advice is for drivers to be prepared and pack a winter driving kit including food and water, de-icer and ice scraper, blankets, snow shovel, a fully charged mobile phone and car charger, warm clothes, boots and a torch.

If you do need to abandon your car, please ring the police on 101 to let them know the location of the vehicle and that you are safe. Please only call 999 in an emergency.

We’ll be having a couple of rehearsals in The Reading Room in Avon Dassett for all the performers and any singers so if you’d like to come along we’d be delighted.

Rehearsal dates:   Wednesday 7th December 5.30 – 6.30 and Thursday 15th December 6.30 – 7.30

Santa is polishing off his sleigh and getting the finishing touches ready for Fenny Compton Scout Group’s first visit on 5th December to Farnborough and Avon Dassett.

Please come out and support them.

If you would like to donate online please use our Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fenny-santa2022

Please follow this link for the latest issue of the Compton Chronicle: https://bit.ly/CC-DEC-22-JAN-23

Paper copies will be delivered soon.

Officers have increased their presence on Warwickshire’s roads to coincide with the football World Cup and lead up to Christmas in order to target and catch drink and drug drivers.

All drivers who are involved in a collision will also be asked to provide a roadside breath test and drug swipe.

As part of the drink drug drive enforcement activities, officers are encouraging the public to report the details of suspected drink or drug drivers to them by calling 101 or in an emergency 999.

As a further deterrent Warwickshire Police will be publicising the details of all arrests and charges from 21 November up to and including 1 January 2023 including those detailed below.

Inspector Jem Mountford said “If you are going out drinking with your friends to a Christmas party or to enjoy the World Cup, make sure you plan ahead and agree a nominated driver or pre book a taxi home.

“Drinking and driving is not worth the risk to your job, life and reputation as there is a high risk of being stopped and arrested with an increased police presence on the roads to target and catch drink and drug drivers.”

The penalties for drink and drug driving are wide ranging and if tests find you are over the limit you are likely to be charged and given a court date where you are likely to lose your driving licence, be imprisoned and face a fine. The true cost to drivers and families who lose loved ones is much greater.

Sentences have increased recently and if you cause death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs you could be sentenced to 14 years with a minimum two year driving ban and extended retest.

These sentences reflect the seriousness of drink and drug driving and the far-reaching consequences for the victim’s family who will never get their loved one back.

During the operation, officers will also be referring suspected drink and drug drivers to support services in Warwickshire for help and support. If you are addicted to drink or drugs, you can also self refer.

Officers have made the following arrests and charges since the operation started on Monday 21 November:-

Police arrested a 52 year old man from Bedworth on suspicion of drink driving and assault after they were called to an incident in the early hours of 24 November and arrested the man on suspicion of drink driving in New Common Road, Bedworth when he failed a roadside breath test.  He is currently in police custody awaiting questioning.

A 39 year old man from Rugby was arrested at 10.17 hours on 23 November in King Edward Road, Rugby after officers were called to reports of a collision.  The 39 year old was later charged with drink driving and driving without a licence and is due to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 13 January 2023.

A 51 year old man from Wellesbourne was arrested at 1400 hours on 22 November in Newbold Place, Wellesbourne following a minor injury road traffic collision.  On officer arrival he failed a roadside breath test and was later charged with drink driving and driving without a licence. He is due to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 13 January 2023.

A 33 year old woman from Coventry was arrested at 21.30 hours on 22 November in Vicarage Street, outside Nuneaton Police Station after officers stopped the vehicle to check its MOT status.  The driver failed a roadside drugs test and was arrested.  She was later Released Under Investigation pending further enquiries.

Officers arrested a 79 year old man from Bedworth on suspicion of drink driving and failing to stop when they were called to a collision where a vehicle had collided with numerous vehicles in Acacia Crescent, Bedworth at 00.50 hours on 21 November. He failed a roadside breath test and was later charged to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 13 January 2023.

A 41 year old man from Henley-in-Arden was arrested at 19.17 hours on 20 November on suspicion of drink driving after his vehicle was in collision with a tree near Little Alne, Alcester.  He failed a roadside breath test and was later charged to appear at Warwickshire Magistrates Court on 13 January 2023.

Officers stopped a white VW Golf at 23.22hours on 20 November on Salford Road Bidford upon Avon, concerned about the manner of driving.  The driver, a 51 year old man from Weston-Super-Mare failed a road side breath test and was charged with drink driving to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 13 January 2023.

Alongside operational activity, Warwickshire Police will be sharing awareness campaigns including the THINK Pint Block campaign asking mates not to let a mate drink drive and a new behavioural change campaign developed by Surrey Police and Sussex Police that challenges people not to be a bystander to drink driving.

You can follow the campaign on social media @WarksRoadSafety (Twitter) and WarwickshireRoadSafety (Facebook)

Two outbuildings on separate properties in Avon Dassett were broken into on the night of 22-23 November.

Please check your outbuildings and be vigilant. Report anything suspicious to the police.

Warwickshire Police has revealed that a total of 4,680 drivers were caught speeding in the county during an anti speeding campaign that took place in October 2022.

In just a two week period, starting on 17 October 2022, on average 334 drivers were caught speeding every single day.  This equates to 14 drivers caught speeding every hour, every day of the 14 day operation.

This was achieved not only from the static speed cameras on Warwickshire’s roads and motorways but also through our camera enforcement vans and speed gun devices, with officers being deployed across our road network.

So far 3,897 drivers who were eligible, have been offered a driver educational course.

To date 74 drivers are facing prosecution, this will be by means of a fine and points or the driver placed before the Magistrates to be dealt with. This may be because their speed was excessive or they are repeat offenders or they have more than 12 points on their licence.

The remainder of the speeding offences are still being processed.

Some examples of extreme excessive speeding offences recorded during the campaign are as follows

30 drivers were caught doing 100+mph on the M6 in Warwickshire, with the highest speed being 133mph.

3 drivers were caught doing 100+ mph on the M42, with the highest speed being 116mph.

9 drivers were caught doing 100+mph on the M40, with the highest speed being 118mph

54 drivers were caught exceeding the 30mph limits in residential zones where there are more pedestrians including children, with speeds recorded of 58 and 51mph.

A massive 2,928 drivers were caught exceeding the temporary 50mph speed restrictions put in place in roadworks for the safety of workers on the roads. It is not acceptable to put workers lives at risk like this.

Operations to catch speeding drivers took place across the county, from residential areas including Stratford town, Rugby including Lower Hillmorton Road, Ansley Common Bedworth, Church Road Shustoke, Kenilworth and Lillington Road to major routes such as the A444 Nuneaton, A46 Snitterfield, A46 Leamington Spa, North Warwickshire and M6, M42 and M40.

In addition, the county’s Community Speed Watch (CSW) volunteers were also out in force during the operation across the county.  Seventeen CSW Groups were involved and during the two week operation the speed of 4,316 drivers was checked as they went through CSW check sites during the monitoring sessions.  Of these 272 drivers were speeding at over 35+mph in a 30mph zone or 46+mph in a 40mph limit.  All 272 drivers will receive Warning letters from Warwickshire Police to help educate drivers to reduce their speeds. However, in cases where education is ignored and there is evidence of repeat or excessive offences, even across county borders, enforcement and prosecution will follow.

Chief Inspector Faz Chishty said 

“Whilst the majority of drivers drive safely within the speed limit, there continue to be a few drivers who chose to risk their safety and that of other road users including cyclists, pedestrians and children by speeding.  Some risk the lives of their passengers who may be children, loved ones or friends.

“In some cases, drivers received words of advice from our officers about their decision to speed.

“Those that were eligible were offered a speed awareness course giving them an opportunity to change their behaviour.  This has a direct effect on road safety because we know that those who go on a training course are less likely to reoffend in the next 6 months after the course.

“We are determined to reduce collisions, deaths and injuries on our roads and  enforcing speed limits has been proven to do just this. Our officers will therefore continue to proactively target those irresponsible and dangerous drivers who choose to drive above the speed limit.

WRSP Chair and Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire Philip Seccombe said 

“Whilst education and enforcement play an important part in changing the behaviours of speeding drivers, we will only be able to reduce death and injury on our roads significantly if drivers take responsibility for road safety too by driving safely within the speed limit at an appropriate speed for the conditions.

“People need not die on our roads and only by working together in this way can we achieve the ambitious target of a 50% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries in Warwickshire by 2030 and make our roads safer for everyone.”