05/03/2014 East Midlands Today

high-level talks to resume the crisis continue.

This is East Midlands Today with Dominic Heale and me, Anne Davies.

Tonight, the tragic death of a baby at the hands of her mentallx

disturbed mother. Amy Black killed the child just

hours after police requested an emergency visit by social workers.

Also tonight, the council is owed millions in rent. It is clahmed the

bedroom tax is to blame. Accrual policy means taxpayers

across`the`board lose out. Plus a council slams plans for a slower

speed limit on the M1. And ht was the gift 100 years ago. Why this

organ is now one of the hall's most treasured possessions.

Good evening. First tonight, an investigation's under way after a

mother admitted killing her baby daughter when the balance of her

mind was disturbed. She had not fully recovered from giving birth.

Police had asked an emergency social services team to visit Amy Black but

no`one was available. The ndxt morning, seven`month old Zod was

dead. In what's been described as a tragic case, it's believed that Amy

drowned her little girl, as Mike O'Sullivan reports.

The female is Amy Black, shd is coming in. The scene in an dmergency

department in a hospital after a baby is brought in for

resuscitation. Zoe was taken in in September last year. Our caleras

were there and captured these dramatic moments. Hospital staff

could not save Zoe. Her mentally unstable mother had drowned her

Today, Amy Black pleaded guhlty to infanticide. Her mind unbal`nced,

she had never recovered frol the effect of giving birth. This is

where the tragedy happened. The Black family home in best wood in

Nottingham. The father was `way at the time. CCTV images of thd back

garden was shown at Nottingham Crown Court. The images show Mrs Black

coming out into the garden with Zoe several times, holding her, cradling

her. Then it shows the moment she drops Zoe's body over a fence into

undergrowth on own industri`l estate next door. Neighbours found Mrs

Black wandering around with self`inflicted knife wounds. One of

them recovered Zoe's body. The day before, Mrs Black had taken Zoe to

London. She asked the policd for help and they took her back home. A

Nottinghamshire police sergdant tried to get an emergency social

services team to visit Mrs Black but they said no one was available that

afternoon or evening. The only option for the police was a safe and

well check investigation thd next morning but that was overtaken by

events. A serious case of you looking at how things were handled

is now under way. `` a Serious Case Review.

Amy Black, an American who hs around 30 years younger than her htsband,

is due to be sentenced next month. The Government's squeeze on welfare

benefits is causing an incrdase in rent arrears and a drop in council

tax revenue in the East Midlands. That's according to new resdarch

commissioned by the organis`tion that represents the region's local

councils. It also estimates that those same welfare reforms have

taken ?1.3 billion out of the region's economy. Our polithcal

editor John Hess is at Westlinster. John, what's the evidence?

This research is the first snap`shot of the impact of the coalithon's

welfare benefit changes on our local councils in the East Midlands. It

calculated that almost 18,000 households were affected by what

government critics call the bedroom tax. 89,000 tenants in the private

rented sector also faced cuts to housing benefits. The knock`on

affect of that, says the report is a rise in rent arrears and ` decline

in council tax collection r`tes It's not just Labour councils

complaining. For Conservative`run Melton Borough Council in

Leicestershire, there's been a 0% decline over the last few ydars In

the three East Midland citids Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, a total of

28,000 households are in rent arrears. That compares with 23, 00

two years earlier. The owed bill in rent tops ?5.7 million.

Well, that's the picture. What's the Government's reaction? Local

government ministers so far have given the concerns of local councils

pretty short shrift. Have a listen to this exchange in the House of

Commons. Does my honourable friend agree it is important and essential

that local councils play thdir part in reducing the huge efforts `` the

huge deficit we inherited? He makes a fair point and they should be

looking to curtail the 2.4 billion knots collected in council tax to

provide those services residents so rightly deserve.

So is it a case of local government getting its own house in order?

Well, that's the implication of what the Local Government Ministdr told

the Commons, but that's angdred one of our Labour MPs. The bedroom tax,

a cruel policy, which means over 50% of council tenants in Leicester City

Council cannot afford to pax. Over 50%. So it is losing ?300,000. So a

cruel policy means taxpayers across`the`board lose out. But when

councils complain of the sqteeze on their budgets, the Government

obviously believes this is heading off a ?4 billion sloshing around if

local councils had got their own house in order. What I do know is

that councils in the ease Mhdlands have seen huge cuts, massivd cuts,

to their budgets, and that hs hitting people across the E`st

Midlands. So the Government have cheek when they say that. So, is

this issue going to go away? Highly unlikely. East Midlands Council says

it's asked a senior local atthority chief executive, Allen Grah`m of

Rushcliffe Council, to work with other councils in tracking the

impact of the government welfare changes. Thank you very much.

Still to come, powering ahe`d. Plans are announced to turn the N`tional

Water Sports Centre near Nottingham into a leisure destination for the

entire region. And if it is a leisurely walk you

are after tonight, the forecast is sure to put a spring in your step.

Find out more later. Plans to cut the speed limit on a

long stretch of the region's busiest road have been criticised as bad for

business. The Highways Agency wants to have a 60`mile`an`hour lhmit on

parts of the M1 through Derbyshire. It's thought it would be thd first

motorway in the country to have a new permanently lower limit, as

Simon Hare reports. The M1 north of Junction 28 in

Derbyshire. Today, there is a 5 mile an hour limit in force for

roadworks but Highways Agency wants to make this whole stretch 60 miles

an hour from 7am to 7pm at night. I think these speeds would be a better

way of monitoring it if there is likely to be higher pollution on

certain days, because we cotld introduce a variable speed, but

having a blanket 60 mile an hour limit does not send the right

message to people and busindss about Derbyshire. We already concdrned

about the costs to business. If you're making one trip you light not

know it massive difference but over a week, a month, if you are a

business making several journeys, that is lots of lost time. The

Highways Agency says its pl`n would include using the hard shoulder to

improve traffic flows but the speeds would have to be cut to prevent

extra pollution. Drivers at these services were not convinced. The

speed limit should be 70. That variable keeps it flowing all the

time and that would be bettdr than 60. That is what I find, anxway It

doesn't change anything. People just speed more. Time is more important

in my life. I've not had ond person come to me to say this is a good

idea. We have had 20 of people contacting us to say it is ` crazy

idea. The council now says ht wants a highways `` meeting with the

Highways Agency to discuss other options. And we have an upd`te on

this story. The Highways Agdncy says tonight it has had more than 80

responses to this idea and ht will review them all before submhtting a

final plan to the Government, so watch this space.

Forensic experts say that htman remains discovered by workers on

Nottingham's tram extension are more than 70 years old. The bones,

including two skulls, were found during yesterday evening's rush hour

near Poplars Court on Lenton Lane in Dunkirk. Police believe thex may be

from a nearby church burial ground and are not treating it as

suspicious. A junior school in Leicester that

was at the centre of a legal dispute has been placed in special leasures.

A report by the education w`tchdog Ofsted has found that managdrs and

the former governing body at Uplands Junior school hadn't properly dealt

with a decline in standards since a previous inspection. A judicial

review of Leicester City Cotncil's decision to replace the school

governors last year found in the authority's favour.

Next tonight, it's been talked about for months and now one city is

hoping to make it happen. The NHS in Nottingham is preparing to lead the

way encouraging more GPs to open on Saturdays and even Sundays. It's an

experiment that will be closely monitored, as Our health

correspondent Rob Sissons rdports. They won't be open all hours but

here, they want to open mord hours. One of seven GP practices in

Nottingham interested in Saturday and even Sunday opening. Thd problem

for patient is getting to sde their family doctor when they want to or

when they need to. That is the bit we have to get right. There are

times when they want to see a GP and they are not able to and thdy have

particularly identified that Saturdays would be a day whdn they

would like to have access to general practice. He is up for Sund`y

working but GPs aren't exactly falling over themselves to do it.

There are 60 practices in Nottingham and a handful open on Saturday at

the moment. Patients I spokd to in Nottingham like the idea of seven

day a week access. I think ht is brilliant. Absolutely brillhant

Because at the weekends, whdn you need a doctor, you cannot gdt one.

They should open seven days a week like everybody else! We need this to

get a chance to get in to sde them. I work Saturdays and Sundays so they

should. Irene at peak time `nd I'd need an appointment. It is not an

emergency but I need an appointment. `` iPhone them. What we cannot

provide, because we do not have the resources, is 24/7 convenience

medicine, because we don't have enough doctors and you don't pay

enough income tax to providd it But at England's busiest Accident

Emergency unit, they hope more GP appointments might relieve some of

the pressure. Today's news hs very welcome. Saturdays and Sund`ys are

frequently the busiest days we have. We are having a much more frailer,

older population taking mord time to treat and they stay in hosphtal

longer, which puts pressure on the wider NHS.

One of the biggest housing developments in Leicestershhre for a

generation is under threat tonight after the local Police and Crime

Commissioner weighed in and challenged the plans. Final approval

for more than 4,000 homes ndar Lubbesthorpe was given in J`nuary.

But now Sir Clive Loader's requested a Judicial Review at the High Court,

claiming the current funding arrangements would leave thd police

service under acute pressurd, as Eleanor Garnier reports.

More than 4000 homes, schools, health and leisure centres, a

supermarket and shops. That is the future of this farmland near

Leicester. After final planning permission was given in Jantary But

now Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner is putting the

whole development in jeopardy. Sir Clive Loder has requested a judicial

review, claiming the funding set aside for policing will put the

force under acute pressure, with an unacceptable impact on its service

across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The move has left senior

politicians here at County Hall extremely worried. I'm extrdmely

concerned as it is not the way to do business. Google `` local

politicians should not be challenging planning permission in

the courts. As the local authority that granted planning permission, it

says it is disappointed with the behaviour of the minister. Ht says

it will create a sustainabld community but protesters sax they

have seen this row coming for months. I'm not at all surprised and

I'm extremely disappointed hn the council but our argument all the

while was that developers would not want to pay for sufficient

development and infrastructtre, so it is not place a prize. With many

other developments planned `cross the East Midlands, this has left

many worried about the preshdent the Police and Crime Commissiondr could

be setting. `` president. Still to come, pulling out `ll the

stops for a special birthdax. Yes, a happy 100 years to the organ gifted

to Leicester and much admirdd by the world's leading organists.

It's been there for decades but frankly it had been looking a bit

tired. Now, though, with ?7 million of work nearing completion, the

National Watersports Centre can look forward to a new lease of lhfe. In

fact, the private company rtnning the Nottinghamshire site saxs it

wants to make it a leisure destination for the whole of the

East Midlands. And that's an ambition that's been endorsdd by an

Olympic gold medallist, as James Roberson reports.

It is famous for its water`based events but now the national

watersports centre in Nottinghamshire is undergoing a

major face`lift. The facilities are now 40 years old, and with hts

return in recent years to the control of Nottingham Countx

Council, it was in desperatd need of investment. ?6.7 million is being

spent but the County Council running of the site to an independent

contractor and a Charitable Trust. Whilst they are making a big

contribution, they needed a partner to engage with, so alongsidd the

groups, we think we have a really great deal and it is a win`win

situation for all. For old medallists like a newest Ethenne

Stott, it is a boost to havd his sport's new admin HQ next door to a

top slalom canoe course. It is really important for us to have

top`class facilities becausd we are pushing to be the top canoehng

nation in the world. We havd all our staff and logistics people `nd

equipment all in one place `nd it will make efficiency and performance

gains. Circa, who are carryhng out the refurbishment, including new

facilities and a sky Trail, say they want the public to enjoy thd site as

much as the competitors. Thd site has been transformed so there has

been a lot of emphasis on the world`class facilities but `lso

those for the local community and people behind that. Things love on

and things need to be updatdd so it is great that put the investment in

for the long`term. They hopd to have this phase of developer and

completed by next month. `` development.

That is great news but I'm slightly confused as to what a camping pod

is! It is a Pardew campaign Now for the sport. Thank you.

First, Roy Hodgson may have just about sorted his squad for this

year's World Cup but some of the England stars of the future are in

action in Derby right now. Dngland's Under`21s are playing Wales in a

European Championship qualifier at the Ipro Stadium. It's almost half

time and Kirsty Edwards has been soaking up the action and is there

live for us. Certainly have a noisy atmosphere.

No goals to cheer about just yet but I think the interesting thing about

this match has been the whole build`up. The FA really makhng a big

thing of all our local youngsters involved in the England unddr 2

setup, and this is the official match programme for tonight's game.

Hometown heroes is the headline You can see the picture of young

players. I think you can sed pictures now of the teams coming out

earlier this evening. In thd starting line`up, one Derby player,

Kieron Freeman, lining up for Wales tonight. For England, a number of

local players on the bench. Another Derby player will fuse and `lso the

Leicester defender Lee and lore `` Liam More. Signs that things are

looking very healthy for all three of our championship sides in terms

of the players coming through the academy, so it is half`time here. No

goals just yet. The last tile the England under 21 is played, they won

9`0! I don't think it will be that tonight but a couple of goals in the

second half would be good. Thank you.

Off the pitch, another of otr Championship clubs has reve`led big

financial losses for last sdason. Yesterday Leicester City announced

it made losses of ?34 million. Today, Nottingham Forest have

revealed losses of over ?17 million. The football League's financial fair

play rules mean clubs have to get their overspend down to ?8 lillion

this season or could face s`nctions. Now onto something different,

because the East Midlands is leading the way to make Britain amongst the

best in Europe at one of our most loved sports. Boris Johnson called

it wiff waff, some call it ping pong. But for the serious, ht's

table tennis. And one player from Derbyshire has just smashed his way

into the worlds elite, as M`rk Shardlow reports.

He is only 20 but Liam is a rising star. This wiki became Engl`nd

champion for the second year running to continue a blistering of form. He

is now Britain's best player in a decade, with a dramatic risd to

number 52 in the world. Had a good year so far and hopefully it will

carry on getting even better. My aim is we have the Commonwealth Games

coming up and I'm aiming for a gold medal there. His England co`ch was

once a top 20 player and he has seen how Liam has made his progrdss. He

is practising every day, on table at least five hours every day, and also

the other side that people don't see, but a professional levdl you

have to be extremely fit as well. Table tennis was Britain's lowest

funded sport at 2012. The ndw chairman has been part of a shake`up

to keep its funding. She is planning new talent centres, elite clubs and

leagues. France, Germany, they have top`class professional clubs. Our

aim is to have between ten `nd 2 top`class clubs. Liam rarelx

competes on English soil. Hd makes his living competing in Gerlany His

progress in the rankings is key for the sport. We are looking for role

models for our young players and Liam has stepped up and is competing

against the world's best on a regular basis, and it is no

coincidence that he has gond up like this after these fantastic results.

This most popular of sports may be on for a British revival.

Ice hockey, and the Nottingham Panthers have gone back up to third

in the Elite League with a win at the National Ice Centre. Thdre

wasn't too much in the way of entertainment on offer for the fans,

though, this goal from Jonathan Weaver the only one in the dntire

match. It sealed a 1`0 win for Panthers over the Cardiff Ddvils. A

win is a win, I'd say! Cricket, and Derbyshire havd

announced Geoff Miller is to become the club President. Miller played

over 250 games for the county between 1973 and 1990, and was most

recently a selector for the England national team. And that is `ll the

sport. An exciting evening for Derby with all those internationals.

Fantastic! A great atmosphere. 100 years ago this magnificdnt organ

was gifted to the people of Leicester. Installed at De Lontfort

Hall, it's been both played and praised by the world's leadhng

classical musicians. And wh`t's more, it's now believed to be the

last of its kind in working condition. Geeta Pendse has been to

meet the staff who are celebrating its centenary year.

Every week, this man tests out the concert organ at on football, but it

is less a chore and more a labour of love. This 100`year`old instrument

was a gift from an industri`list to pay ?230. It is now worth 5 million.

It is completely in original condition and it is the last

surviving concert organ surviving anywhere in the UK, possiblx the

world. At the unveiling of the organ in 1914, year after the war was was

a huge event with the city's finest turning out for the first concert.

And whilst it might look magnificent from the outside, most of the pipes

are at Chile on the other shde. There are almost 6000 pipes built

into the organ, and we are standing above the main keyboard console ``

pipes are actually on the other side. The longest pipes are up to 32

feet. At the time the organ was built, it was described as `

masterpiece. The organ was designed by the rest firm Taylor and sounds

and has a `` has 58 stops. Xou can start with one sound, which is very,

very quiet, and then you can increase it, and the more you bring

out, it changes the tone, until you get to this. Mick is a proud

caretaker. He hopes this be`utiful instrument will entertain atdiences

for decades to come. Well, I never knew all of that!

Magnificent! Now the weather. The weather is actually rather

magnificent for the next few days with high pressure in chargd and

things looking really rather pleasant. 20 of opportunitids to get

out with your camera. This hs the viewpoint summit on Beacon Hill Do

send your pick is in. `` pictures. The cloud will continue to thicken

tonight but that holds tempdratures up, so a mild night. The icd will

have a rest tomorrow morning. The cloud will increase from thd West

and become quite thick throtgh the night, producing a few spots of

light rain and drizzle, espdcially across the peak are strict, but for

the rest of us, a largely dry night. Mild temperatures. `` across the

Peak District. A cloudy start to Thursday and as we go into the

afternoon, possibly more in the way of rain but a good deal of dry

weather as well. Very littld brightness and just a few stnny

spells in the East as we go into the afternoon. On Friday, and ilproving

story. We wake up with the cloud and we have some rain pushing its way

east, but once that clears, we start to see the sunshine coming out. An

improving story on Friday whth highs of 11, which is really quitd good

for this time of year. But `s we go to the weekend, things conthnue to

improve. High pressure is shtting to the west and it will keep any

weather fronts at bay, so qtite sparkling conditions for thd

weekend. Temperatures in thd low teens. Things are improving and the

high pressure stays with us for next week!

Excellent! Camping pods. Luxury lodges for people to push too sleep

in an actual tent! That is ht. Goodbye!