07/01/2014 East Midlands Today

perhaps 48 hours of drier weather for many of us. But between now

This is East Midlands Today with Quentin Rayner and, me, Geeta

Pendse. Tonight, 700 jobs to go, and council

tax set to rise, as the axe falls in Leicestershire.

Libraries, New Zealand's, did all take the brunt of council cuts.

There is no word on this earth, that can describe the way she was. She

was like an angel. Calmer waters for the East Midlands economy. I'll be

finding 0 0 the East Midlands economy. I'll be

finding out 0 0 the East Midlands economy. I'll be

finding out how one business has managed to stay afloat.

Good evening and welcome to the programme. First tonight:

Leicestershire County Council says up to seven 0

Leicestershire County Council says up to seven hundred jobs could be

axed, because of new budget cuts announced today. The

Conservative`run authority says it needs to cut its spending by one

third, over the next four years. And, for the first time in recent

years, it's also planning to increase council tax by 1.5 per

cent. Our Political Editor John Hess is at one of Leicestershire's county

libraries, a service which may be directly affected. John, is the

scale of the job losses a surprise? I'm at Shepshed Library ` one of 53

run by Leicestershire County Council. But for how much longer?

Could it be run by local people, instead? Here's why: Next year's

budget of ?357 million will be cut by ?18 million. Just over 5%. It now

needs to save ?110 million over the next four years. On jobs, 700 will

go. That brings the council's staffing down from 15 thousand,

before austerity, to six thousand now.

Blue sky thinking, that's the challenge Brown were local

politicians. At Leicester's County Hall, reporters were given details

of the new thinking, to meet increased demand for care services

while 0 increased demand for care services

while the money is tight. This is a summary of the budget, in an easy

access for. Even Byron Rhodes admits it's getting tougher to find those

savings. We are looking into ways of keeping the library is open, but

with local people taking them over, and providing the support. Or

museums, we are looking at similar things. Is that a solution? Green we

hope it will work. We shall see. `` we hope it will work. That's not the

only concern ` just wait 0 we hope it will work. That's not the

only concern ` just wait till it's dark. Hello and welcome to BBC News.

It's one thing to switch off the lights at midnight, but this

proposes to switch the lights off altogether. We're not sure that the

public understands that and will go along with it. 0

public understands that and will go along with it. Targets for the

latest cuts are guided by public consultation, but will politicians

be guided once the consultations are made public? Musicians, too, will

have to look to the future, rather than the past. Museums, which

celebrates the coal mine tradition of Leicestershire, could also face

big changes. Why is this such a valuable resource for

Leicestershire? It is the crown jewel of this region. And, in

particular coal bill. We're talking about a 100 acre site, which

includes the award`winning museum, but also, a country park. And a

unique historic theatre. What repercussions of today's

announcement with mac? The reduction of this facility to just a small

visitor 's centre 0 of this facility to just a small

visitor 's centre within the building site. A month to go until

the final decision ` what can you do? We will continue with that

campaign. 0 do? We will continue with that

campaign. We've got 700,000 people who have signed our petition to save

the site. That's more than the County Council's own budget

consultation. Will get a full picture of how the impact of these

cuts are affecting our local authorities later this month.

In other parts of our region, businesses are providing some

positive economic news. According to the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

Chamber of Commerce, in the last quarter of 2013, sales were on the

rise and firms were hiring again. One business near Derby has decided

now is the time for an ambitious expansion scheme. Navtej Johal

reports. It was a business that started in

troubled economic waters. But, Murcia Marina, managed to survive

rather than sink. In 2008, we have already invested millions in

building. The idea that the whole economy collapsed at the same time

we opened, 0 economy collapsed at the same time

we opened, it was a frightening time. Now it's the largest inland

marina in the UK. They have big plans for the future, to turn it

into a major tourist attraction. Right in the middle, would be a two

story had bistro. `` bar`bistro. And a survey from the Derbyshire and not

a Chamber of Commerce 0 a survey from the Derbyshire and not

a Chamber of Commerce suggested not the only business feeling good about

the future. `` it's not the only business. One in three businesses

have tried to hire new staff. Two thirds say they feel confident about

their prospects for the year ahead. People are becoming much more

positive. All it needs now is for the banks to release more money for

investment. And people need to put their hands in their pockets and

start spending again. Businesses will be hoping this positivity

doesn't pass them by. The Quarterly Economic Survey was

drawn up by the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce,

whose Chief Executive is George Cowcher, and he's with us now. Your

survey has found that 66% firms think their turnover will increase

over the next year, and 54% forecast an increase in profits. What's this

confidence based on? Those two figures 0

confidence based on? Those two figures say an awful lot about that.

You are seeing increasing turnover, each means that business is

expanding. You are also seeing profitable business, and means that

businesses can invest more into the future. We've seen some very strong

growth in the second and third quarters in 20 13. The fourth

quarter, which is always dodgy, actually topped that. You've found

one in five firms have increased their workforce ` but what sort of

jobs are these? Short`term or permanent? We are looking at a full

range. There are permanent, full`time jobs. Some very high

skilled jobs available. That increasing demand for labour will

get even more acute in 2014. You're confident, but only yesterday, the

Chancellor was declaring 2014 as the year of hard truths, with another

?25 billion of cuts. Do you share his caution? I think in terms of the

public financing, and that's what the Chancellor was referring to,

there has to be a degree of caution will stop in the private sector, and

in the productive sectors, you are seeing expansion. The two may be

connected. But George Osbourne reminded us that growth will be

lower this year. We have seen some upgrading in terms of figures. The

British economy could actually be growing as fast as Germany, even the

US. Coming up later: In sport, we're with the Leicester Riders, and we

find out why basketball's big guys are scared of their coach,as they

get ready for their big match Prayers will be said, and flowers

will be 18`year`old Megan and 14`year`old

destiny where both pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Popular and happy ` their families say they lived life to the full. But

these teenage friends died in a crash on the M1 on Saturday.

18`year`old Megan had just qualified as a hairdresser. 14`year`old

destiny was still at school. I don't think it has sunk in. It's hard. She

was so unique. She put other people before herself. She was very

inspirational. It's just three days since the girls died. Now, or their

families can do is hold onto precious memories. There's no word

that can describe destiny. She was like a little angel. There's a whole

family out there that will miss her. The police say the crash happened on

the M1, and no other cars were involved. They were pronounced dead

at the scene of the crash. It was destiny's mother who had been

driving the car. She survived with a broken eye socket and nose, and her

son punctured a lung. He is out of hospital, with a broken arm,

fractured ribs and nose. As police try to find answers, friends search

for words of support. Tonight, the families of both worlds are left

asking, why two young lives have been taken so soon?

Prayers will be said, and flowers will be laid, on a memorial in

Kegworth, tomorrow, on the 25th anniversary of the Kegworth air

disaster. 47 people died, and another 74 were injured, when a

British 0 another 74 were injured, when a

British Midland aircraft 0 another 74 were injured, when a

British Midland aircraft crash landed on the M1 motorway, yards

from the village on January eighth 1989. The flight from Heathrow had

been bound for Belfast, carrying 126 passengers. A serving police officer

has been accused of committing sexual misconduct against six women.

Response officer PC Chris Young, who's 46, was last based at

Hucknall. He's been charged with six counts of misconduct in a public

office. He's been suspended and will appear before magistrates in

Nottingham in two weeks. Concerns are growing for a

16`year`old boy, who has been missing for a week from his home in

Alvaston in Derby. Tristan Wilson was last seen at 10.30PM on New

Year's Eve. He is 5ft tall and was wearing black tracksuit bottoms, a

red zip`up coat and dark canvas shoes. 0

red zip`up coat and dark canvas shoes. He is thought to be in the

Derby area. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.

Serious concerns about poor standards in half of Nottingham's

secondary schools were discussed at the highest level today. The

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen met with the Education Secretary Michael

Gove and the Chief Inspector of Schools and Head of Ofsted Sir

Michael Wilshaw. Ofsted recently placed six of Nottingham's fourteen

secondaries into special measures. A seventh had serious weaknesses.

Well, I spoke to Graham Allen shortly 0

Well, I spoke to Graham Allen shortly after that meeting ` and

asked what key points were raised? I made it clear to the Secretary of

State 0 I made it clear to the Secretary of

State and to state, that we need a 2`pronged strategy. We should do all

the immediate quick fixes to improve teaching, and proved the

leadership, but also carry on with our early intervention programme, so

that kids 0 our early intervention programme, so

that kids arrive at school school`ready ` ready to learn. In

terms of the now, what about the change taking place in those schools

that were put into special measures? There's a challenge board being set

up, looking into how we can improve those standards immediately. They

are also going to look at building out the long`term problems, so that

we have a generation who achieved, not just one 0

we have a generation who achieved, not just one year's worth bumping up

the scores, and then going back to where we were. You have represented

Nottingham North for several decades ` how concerned are you? I'm very

concerned, because standards aren't good enough. We need to do something

immediately, and that's why Ofsted came in. But we also need to look at

the fact that children arrive at school wearing nappies, or can't

speak in full sentences. They need help. If we can help them, they will

be great people at primary school, secondary school, and go on to get

great qualifications, get good jobs, and raise families. That is the

long`term goal as well as the short`term noise that is generated

around inspection. Controversial increases to parking charges came

in, today, at Nottingham's main NHS hospitals. One of the rates is going

up by almost a third, way above inflation. It, now, means Nottingham

is home to some of the highest hospital parking fees in our region.

Bosses admit it's unpopular but insist it's a result of tough

financial pressures. Our Health Correspondent Rob Sissons has more.

The steepest increase is the cost of up to two hours parking. It rises

from ?3.10 to ?4 in Nottingham ` a rise of nearly a third. So, how does

that rate compare? Well in Leicester you'd fork out a lot less ` ?2.50

and in Derby it would cost you ?2.70. Today, Nottingham bosses have

defended the latest increases. Hospital car park prices seem to

only go up. At the City Hospital and the Queen's medical centre, visitors

are having to fork out more. Typically, up to 90p extra. It's not

popular. Hello and welcome to BBC News. It was already expensive

Acma! It's one of those things. My company pay for me, so it's not the

be all and end all. Actually, it is, because I haven't got enough change!

The prices have changed today, and this machine doesn't give you

change. You prices are now the most expensive in the East Midlands ` are

you proud? We are not proud. We accept that increasing these

charges, they are comparable to what you would pay in the city centre. We

accept that it is always a controversial step. Bosses insist

they are not trying to price people out of cars, just balance the books.

Hospitals stress, there are ways of saving money. Weekly parking tickets

cost ?15 in Nottingham and Leicester, and ?10 in Derby. But the

big question is, where 0 Leicester, and ?10 in Derby. But the

big question is, where does all that money go? Both Nottingham and

Derby's hospitals collected ?3.4m last year, Leicester's car parks

brought in ?2.2. We're told the money is spent on improving car

parking and transport links, and, in Derby, 0

parking and transport links, and, in Derby, they say some of the money is

put back into patient care. Staying with parking, and a group of

residents say any 0 Staying with parking, and a group of

residents say any positive energy created by a famous Feng Shui

traffic island, near their homes, is being killed off by inconsiderate

motorists. Their streets are full of cars, often parked illegally, to

avoid car parking fees in Derby city centre. One householder has taken to

filming the problem. This is our bathroom window. This resident films

all the parts car is outside his home. The traffic islands at the end

of the road, was famously designed using Feng Shui will stop the

Chinese principle of how you position something to create

positive energy. But people living on the road said, if that is true,

it has been ruined by how people have been leaving their cars. Cars

are often parked inconsiderately on pavements. They parked right the way

down to the bottom, which is illegal. None of 0

down to the bottom, which is illegal. None of these people live

down here. They are just parking here for nothing. Most of them work

for the council in town will stop. Nothing on a Saturday because

they're not at work. It seems to be city workers who were in using the

roads to park. There are residents parking schemes operating, nearby.

We are all sick of it, but nobody wants to do anything about it. The

City Council has sent staff to check on the problem, but didn't comment

on claims that many of those parking here 0

on claims that many of those parking here are its own and for use. `` its

own employees. Later in the programme: We'll have

all the weather for 0 Later in the programme: We'll have

all the weather for you, when Kaye will have stars in her eyes.

The BBC's Stargazing Live starts up again this week, but will disguise

the clear and long enough to give us a good view? `` will this guys be

clear. Coming up: The American loving

Leicester, and a fresh start for an old boy in Derbyshire. But first:

Football, and the BBC understands Leicester City are on the verge of

securing their first signing of the January transfer window. The

22`year`old French winger Riyad Mahrez is believed to have joined on

a three and a half year deal from Le Havre. Forest's on`loan defender

Jack Hobbs says he wants to stay in Nottingham, despite attempts by his

parent club, Hull, to recall him. Hull have apparently warned Forest

they must buy him now for ?600,000, otherwise he'll be sold to Wigan.

Hobbs 0 otherwise he'll be sold to Wigan.

Hobbs is on a season`long loan, which Football League regulations

state can only be broken in an emergency. We understand the player

is happy at the City Ground ` and that Forest believe they have an

agreement in place to make the transfer permanent in the summer.

The former Nottingham County defender has resigned. A row broke

out last week after footage from the TV programme in 2012, showed Johnson

describing homosexuality as detestable. In the last few minutes,

he told the Football Association that it's in 0

he told the Football Association that it's in his best interests to

step down. He says he holds deep regret over the comments, and no

longer leads what he said. `` no longer believes what he said.

Derby County's club 0 longer believes what he said.

Derby County's club captain Shaun Barker is in Germany, getting

treatment on an injury that's kept him out of action for nearly two

years. Under the grand title of elite 0 0

years. Under the grand title of elite performance director. I've

been an assistant coach, and they fancied giving it a go. I'm from

Derby, and I played here for seven years. I love the place, and the

people, so it's nice to be back. Welch was a wholehearted cricketer,

who is loved by fans. His job is to get them ready for a push for

promotion. The plan is to develop a culture, and environment, to chuck a

few training methods in to get the lads up. Getting the best out of the

current squad, unearthing raw local talent, discovering England players

of the future ` it's a big job, but this is an ambitious club will

stop. Now, that Basketball ` because the

Leicester Riders have the chance to defend their BBL Cup title this

weekend. They play Newcastle Eagles in a repeat of last year's final in

Birmingham ` which Riders won in the first of a brilliant treble. Well,

today, I went to training to see what makes their coach tick. This is

an Italian`American ball of energy. He misses his playing days, and

chucked 0 He misses his playing days, and

chucked all that 0 He misses his playing days, and

chucked all that passion into coaching. The one thing I can still

get is, robbery with the guys. They're all professional athletes.

`` camaraderie with the guys. He started as coach as soon as he

finished playing the game, and had winning matches from the start. Can

they do it again? Nothing is guaranteed. A lot of people were

calling us favourites, but I didn't pay any attention. I just like the

the way the guys are improving. The important thing is to get out team

you are improving all the time. What is it about him that has kept these

riders winning? They are scared of him! There's a time and place for

everything. You have to have the right balance. You draw energy from

your coach. They are working hard, and they will have to this weekend

to win the final. His continuing passion for writers... I like what

we've built here, and I enjoy my job. I get caught up in looking for

the next best thing, when writing front of you, is something you

enjoy. We should do that! It's looking better by day, but not

necessarily by nights. The winds are easing down, so that's something to

be thankful for. The winds are still blustery, but they will finally I've

done tomorrow. A few showers to get rid of, but in general, it's looking

a lot drier, a lot brighter and a lot calmer. I've seen a few showers

around today 0 lot calmer. I've seen a few showers

around today ` some 0 lot calmer. I've seen a few showers

around today ` some heavy ones over the past year hours. One to showers

will be continuing through the evening, and for the first part of

the night. They should become confined to more western parts of

Derbyshire. Elsewhere, it should dry up. It is going to be another mild

night, with temperatures not much lower than seven. Tomorrow morning,

a few of these showers still dragging. But eventually they will

head a `` they will go away. Those winds will be a bit lighter, so it

should feel a bit more pleasant, with temperatures up to ten will

stop but we are not completely out of the woods, in terms of rainfall.

Another area of low pressure pushing in from the south through Wednesday

evening and 0 0 in from the south through Wednesday

evening and night. Winds won't be particularly strong, but there will

be some heavy rain. Almost an inch of rain is forecast on Wednesday

night. Stargazing Live comes to the East Midlands tomorrow evening, but

it will be quite cloudy and damp. All details on the live stargazing

website. Things will be easing down into 0

website. Things will be easing down into Wednesday.

A tenth of a second could be the difference