15/08/2013 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.

Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North. The headlines tonight.

A report clears Lincolnshire's chief constable of misconduct —

drawing a line under the row at the top of the force. The conclusions

have let me in my words to say that the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire,

Neil Rhodes, has been exonerated. Work versus university, teenagers

look to the future after A—level and BTEC results.

Fans see the Premier League trophy at the KC hours before Hull's

return to top flight football. To think I am seeing the real version,

it is just amazing. It is our team. And everyday like how we play.

There's nothing else like it in the north, why there's so much pride in

this city garden. We have got a spell of wet weather,

some heavy rain on the cards overnight. Fresher day for tomorrow.

I'll be back later with the fall forecast.

The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police has spoken of his relief

after he was cleared of misconduct, following a five month

investigation. Neil Rhodes was suspended and later reinstated by

the county's police and crime commissioner, Alan Hardwick, after

he became embroiled in a dispute involving another force. A report

out today found no evidence that Mr Rhodes had abused his position. In

a moment, we'll hear from police commissioner Alan Hardwick. But

first, our political editor Tim Iredale has this report.

It is hard to imagine the two men responsible for keeping the streets

of Lincolnshire safe have enjoyed happy working relationship over the

past few months. Back in February, Neil Rhodes was suspended by the

police and crime commissioner, Alan Hardwick. In March, Sir Peter Fahy,

the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, was asked to

investigate. Later that month a judge quashed Mr Rose's suspension

and he was reinstated as temporary chief constable put up the day Neil

Rhodes was cleared of any accusation of misconduct. He has

not been available for it to the bat gave this reaction on the

internet. I have sought over the last six minutes to maintain a

dignified silence, a safe in the knowledge I knew that there was

never any substance in these spurious allegations. I do not

intend to depart from that approach. I want simply to get on with my job

with working with the commissioner to provide an effective and

improving policing for Lincolnshire. This issue was never about police

and immigration. It involved the advisory role Neil Rhodes had

played in of case involving claims of racial discrimination brought by

a solicitor who worked for West Yorkshire police. Sir Peter Fahy's

report found that Mr Rhodes had done nothing wrong. As it was the

dis —— wrong decision to suspend the chief constable. It was quite

wrong and proper —— right that any allegation was investigated.

Suspension is a big step, and I do not think the level of misconduct

as alleged justified the suspension. The saga has attracted critics at

Westminster. I think that Alan Hardwick and others will be to look

carefully at this report so that everybody learned the lessons. A

think the government needs to provide the support and advice that

commissioners so desperately need. Both the chief constable and the

commissioner say they want to draw a line under this matter, which has

cast a black cloud over Lincolnshire's Thin Blue Line.

Earlier, I spoke to the police and crime commissioner, Alan Hardwick,

and asked him if the findings of today's report meant that he had

been wrong to suspend and investigate Neil Rhodes. I received

a very serious allegation, what was I supposed to do? I was not going

to ignore allegations like that. The people of Lincolnshire would

not expect their PCC to ignore an allegation. That would be the thin

end of the wedge, what would they suspect the of covering up next?

Sir Peter interviewed Mr Rhodes for three hours for this investigated,

but you say you still remain troubled by the nature of the

investigation and the allegation. Are you but letting the matter

rest? As fire as I'm concerned, this draws a line under the whole

episode. To answer your question more directly, in an ideal world it

would have been good if Sir Peter's inquiry could have come down on one

side or another. It did not, and that is not really a surprise

because this all revolved around a private conversation between two

very, very highly placed individuals in the High it world of

policing. There was no independent witness. The conclusions have led

me, in my words, this is my words, to say that the Chief Constable of

Lincolnshire Neil Rhodes has been exonerated. Do you regret doing

what you have done? How much has a cost Tech —— taxpayers for example?

My legal bill is £37,500. I do not know whether you expect me to dodge

that question, I have no intention of doing that. Any other bills

associated with this will be published by my website. Money

which could have been spent on policing which has gone down the

tubes of a right carry on? No, it is not a right carrying, policing

has not gone down the tubes, the money will be found from the Budget

in my own department where I have already saved a I have saved

£200,000 per year. You can prioritise money, but what price

integrity and what price democracy? Mr Rhodes has indicated that he

intends to apply for the role of chief constable permanently. Do you

wanted to be Chief Constable? I AM delighted you race that, Peter. I

am also delighted that Neil Rhodes has told me that he will apply for

the permanent role, when I advertise. The applications and

every part of the process will be supervised by the New College of

policing. I welcome Mr Rhodes's application. Would he make a good

chief constable for you? Neil Rhodes a knowledge of ligature, of

accessing, hit Sanderling good —— it stands him in good stead. Will

he make a good Chief Constable? He is the acting chief constable, and

he has a 27 year unblemished police career, what more can I say. They

queue for your time. My pleasure. Was Alan Hardwick right to

investigate, even though the cost to the tax payers as we just herds

has been almost £40,000? If you have a view on this, we will have

some before we finish. This is how you get in touch.

We look forward on hearing your thoughts on this one.

In a moment. A last chance to have a say on the biggest local road

investment for three decades. More teenagers are choosing to

study job—specific university courses or take up apprenticeships.

Head teachers say it's a trend which means many students will be

better equipped for the jobs market. The news comes on the day school—

leavers across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire picked up their A

level or BTEC results. Sarah Corker was with some of them.

After two years of hard work, relief for pupils at John Leggott

college in Scunthorpe. I didn't sleep very much, I kept waking up

in the night. I was nervous. But it paid off. My heart was pounding

from around 5am, refreshing the page, trying to log on. Then I got

them and it was just, oh my gosh! I got three A*s and add A! It's been

a record year for the college. We have gone from a low point three or

four years go to the best ever achievement rates, the best ever

high—grade rate said we have ever had. We are very proud. It's a

story repeated across our area. In Mablethorpe, teenagers chose to do

BTECs instead of A levels, a qualification geared towards

employment. What are the advantages of BTEC over A—level? They offer

more work—related learning, and students perceive that it is a more

direct route to into employment. And it gives them an opportunity to

express succeed where they might not be so successful if they are

not very good at examinations. Like Rachel most here have a clear

career path. I wanted to be an air hostess can I just needed some work

experience. I want to do an apprenticeship at the school. I

have now got experience, so it would hold me up greatly. I got a

distinction, Merit, married, in sport or exercise science, and I am

going to university to do sport and excitation —— education. For those

who didn't get the grades, they were probably on clearing hotlines

like this at the University of Hull. The message is, do not panic, we

make office where we can but we encourage people to visit. They are

making a decision which will affect them for three or four year. These

school leavers are hoping their job focused approach to learning will

give them the edge when looking for work. Many young people have no

coast —— choice than to leave the area if they are going to perceive

their careers. If you were getting results this morning, I hope you

got the results you were hoping for. A new school will be built in

Lincoln which will teach students vocational skills. A former art

college will be expanded and turned into a University Technical College.

It's a joint project between Siemens, the University of Lincoln

and Lincoln College to improve engineering and science skills in

the county. Consultation on plans to improve

one of the regions busiest roads ends today. People who use the A63

Castle Street in Hull have until midnight to comment on a proposed

£190 million scheme which could begin as early as next year. Amanda

White reports. Even at quiet times, the traffic on

Hull's A63 Castle Street just keeps on coming. Cars, lorries and

pedestrians trying to cross for busy lanes of traffic. It's hoped

long awaited improvements will ease congestion, improve safety, and

once again link the city with its waterfront. We are looking forward

to successful completion of the scheme. It could make a huge

difference to us in terms of journey times, fuel efficiency, and

just the general level of service that we can give to our customers.

If realised there'll be a new footbridge on the eastbound

approach to Mytongate which would itself be transformed by lowering

the road seven metres, allowing cross city traffic to flow straight

through. At the other end there's be another footbridge linking the

fruit market area. area by between the marina and

Prince's Quay shopping centre that seems to be the most contentious. A

third footbridge is planned here. But that's not enough for some

campaigners. What we would like to see is a land bridge, something may

be 25 metres wide, connecting Prince's Quay copping centre ——

shopping centre to the Riverside. We think that would have the

benefit of reuniting the town centre, at the moment, it is

divided. To get your opinions on the scheme considered by the

Highways Agency, you need to complete an online survey before

midnight. Flaky for watching. Still ahead. The council gardeners' pride

in bringing colour to their city centre plot.

That made me jump! Tonight's photograph was taken of the yachts

in Bridlington. Thank you very much for that. Good evening, Keighley.

Rachel says, Peter, my husband has given up eggheads to watch Keeley

every night, could you send a picture? A promotion for you. Or a

retirement job! No one is laughing... Yes, they are! We are

co—ordinated, as well. The wardrobe department had a word.

It has been a mild, she midday today, it will feel fresher, less

humid my bed feeling warm in the sunny spells. —— less humid, but

feeling warm. We have arranged front coming on Saturday, later on.

We have had some sunshine today, but we have also had a few showers.

One or two quite sharpens developing across Lincolnshire.

They will ease away. It will be replaced by heavy and persistent

rain spreading in from the West. It will be heaviest in the morning.

The rain will turn more patch and laity —— lighter in Nature later

during the night. Tomorrow morning, we start off with

a lot of cloud, patchy rain and drizzle about. That will ease

southwards and it will brighten up from the north during the day. A

less breezy day that today. And also a slightly fresher day. It

will feel less humid, but temperatures will still get into

the low twenties. In the sunshine, feeling very pleasant. Looking

further ahead, it looks as if it will be a breezy weekend. The

better of the two days is Sunday, it will be the drier day. On

Saturday, early sunshine but a few showers around, then they will

merge into longer spells of rain later in the day on Saturday. On

Sunday and Monday, fewer showers, a good deal of emphasis on dry

weather. The weather settles down as we go through next week.

Amazing how someone who looks so sweet can be so acidic! That is a

bit harsh! It was meant! A chip shop in Lincoln has become

one of only twenty in the country to be certified by the Marine

Stewardship Council. All their haddock is sourced from sustainable

fisheries. It means customers can be sure they're not damaging

dwindling fish stocks. Jake Zuckerman reports.

At the Burton Road chippy, they're used to winning awards for the

quality of their food. But the latest accolade recognises their

environmental credentials. This haddock is Marine Stewardship

Council certified. That means it comes from a sustainable source

where it's not being overfished. It is our way of saying, we like to

look after our oceans. We care about our oceans, the stocks of our

fish. It means a lot to ask to be part of it. The fish is caught in

Scotland on boats like these, but despite the journey to Lincoln,

owners say its carbon footprint compares favourably with other

sources. Our aim, to be honest, is to support the British trawlermen.

At the end of the day, if it is not British, it means it has come from

somewhere else, I E Norway or Iceland. So the carbon footprint is

even more. For many customers it's a new concept, and one that's

proving popular. It is important, because as with a lot of things

these days, we are trying to make sure that we know where our food

comes from. Although it did not bring us here today, it would

sudden encourage me to come again. More places should go around the

country. At the moment, only the haddock here is MSC certified, but

the owners are hoping to add more species to that list. It is

becoming more of an important issue with consumers, a lot more media

coverage around that so we really need pioneers and advocates like

them to play a champion role, so it is great to have them on board. Was

customers may arrive here lowing —— knowing little or nothing about the

issue of sustainability, such is the owners' enthusiasm for the

subject, they are likely to leave convinced of its importance.

Hull City fans groups are calling on the club's owners not to change

its name to Hull City Tigers. Supporters groups have today signed

a joint statement criticising the decision. They say the re—branding

is being drip—fed through the club and says such a 'radical change

should not be made without first consulting the supporters.

And if you want to see my interview with Hull City's owner Assem Allam

from last night's programme, an extended version is now on the Hull

City page of the BBC Sport website. Record Hull City signing Tom

Huddlestone says there is no reason at all why Hull City should not be

in the Premier League next season. The player, who has four England

caps, made the switch from Tottenham to the Tigers yesterday

for £5.2 million. on the day when the Premier League

trophy was in the city and our sports reporter Simon Clark went

along to see it. This is what the Premier League is

all about. The trophy itself was in Hull, being shown at the youngsters

and backroom staff at Hull City. Inspirational? You bet. Yeah, I am

really excited to see us play again like, against last sitting at

Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. Amazing. It is exciting, I

have never seen it before. It is our team. And I really like how I

play. It is here because Barclays wanted to celebrate people coming

up to the league, so the three promoted clubs have got a tricolour

to show what we have got part of. It is also to say, if you are

really good, you might win this one day. The first man to lift it was

Steve Bruce, then the Manchester United campaign captain. Towards

the end of the campaign, Sir Alex said, go up and of the trophy

together. We were Billy —— delighted to be taking part in the

biggest and best league of the world. You just have to look around

the room to see what it brings compared to last year. Let's go and

enjoy it, we could not have wished for more difficult start, but that

is the Premier League. Steve Bruce had cooler to lift the trophy again

but first needs to consolidate Hull City's position. So he has brought

in highly rated Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddleston and Jake

Livermore. Some squads come up I do not see why we cannot look to have

that, but we need to remain Premier League. It is a great opportunity

and a call for me to come here, and the idea of playing every week,

Sharon Laws I can do. The pitch looks picture—perfect, although we

will have to wait a week until they are back here to play against

Norwich City. This week, it is about Chelsea. Jose Mourinho, and

with these players that City have now signed, they are being talked

about again. That is what the Premier League is all about. Hull

City are back on the footballing map.

It's considered a jewel in Hull's crown, with nothing like it in the

north of England. The colourful displays around the fountain in

Queen Gardens draw shoppers and office workers every day. In the

latest in our great garden series, Jo Makel's been investigating how

the flowers are kept looking so good, and why big changes are

planned. It is perhaps the most public front

garden you could have. And one of the most vibrant scenes in Hull. On

sunny days, it bustles next to the bus lanes. But it also brings

colour and calm to the city centre. Creating this tulle all start on

industrial estate. These are for spring and winter of 2014. Again,

we have got the eternal area which chart permanently planted. We have

got a new type of pansy here. It is one of the only areas within the

country that has an open space in the middle of the city. Outside of

London, obviously. There is nothing like it anywhere in the North of

England. To see people use the gardens, to see them, admire them,

it really is a privilege. We are stuck with circles, we have then

designed within the circles. So we can have other circles going in, we

can look at them, in segments, and the varieties of shapes, and we can

look at the plots themselves to give us the best design possible.

The designs are changed pricier so the Carl Hester last —— to the

designs have the last, and the plants have to be hardy against the

weather. Simon is already thinking about the design to next year. With

him is Deborah, and if you have ever wondered he keeps this area

looking tip—top, it is down to Deborah and her colleague. We will

do one of the sections every morning. We have got to watch the

diseases and watering. And the weeds, especially weeds. This is

the main thing in the city centre, and if you are not proud of what

you do, there is no point in doing it. The fountain area is only half

of it. Queen's Gardens includes a park, created in 1930, when the

dockers filled in. It had a post for the revamp in the Fifties, but

since then, then it should trees are not the only things to have

changed. For 30,000 people come to work in the centre of whole every

day, biscuits and somewhere to go it is present, open, lots of

greenery. We would really want to put in a

Heritage Lottery funded thing, we use it for major events, and it was

not designed for it. We have used it more and more for the last

couple of decades because it is the perfect location. This part of the

gardens has not always had the best of reputations. A place where you

might find people worse for drink. But the council will bid for four

or £5 million to create a more open, light and User Friendly Speight. ——

space. Designing a garden like this is not just about the plants, but

the people who use it as well. They do a fantastic job, always

looks magnificent even in the winter. Let's have a look at the

headlines. More violence in Egypt, there is a

huge jump in the official death toll after yesterday's clashes

between security forces and Islamist protesters.

And a report clears a Lincolnshire's Chief Constable of

misconduct, drawing a line under several months of uncertainty in

the force. Early rain is Clearing, varied

amounts of cloud, sunny spells, feeling fresher tomorrow but

temperatures still good at 23 degrees Celsius.

Let's go back to the top story, our political editor is a Thai police

headquarters. What lessons can be learnt —— is outside the police

headquarters. What lessons can be learned from this process? We have

learnt what willpower these police and Crown Commissioners have. ——

what real power. The government always said a big part of their job

would be to hire and fire chief constables and Alan Hardwick wasted

in no time in flexing his muscles. I think some would ask about the

accountability in this case. The Home Affairs Select Committee was

critical of the lack of scrutiny from the police and crime at panel

in Lincolnshire. This is the body set up to oversee the work of the

PCC. Some will come away from this saga asking, who polices the police

commissioner? A big response on this story. Brian on the text says,

now the Chief Constable Neil Rhodes b exonerated, will Alan Hardwick

resigned for wasting public money on a spurious action? Another one

says, this was not right, just PR and inexperience at dealing with

top—level decisions, I feel for the chief constable. This one says, of

course he was right to investigate, if he did not and later the chief

constable would have been found guilty with Alan Hardwick having a

tip—off, he would have been criticised and accused of

protecting him. John says, this just proves that having a

commissioner is a waste of time and money. Is he now going to resign

after the embarrassment he has brought to the local police force?

This one is anonymous, the police and crime commissioner was right to

investigate. If he had ignored, it would have been called a cover—up.

A good response of a story. 34 watching, have a nice evening. See

you tomorrow.