Report from I.W. Councillor John Nicholson

Posted by Admin on 24 February 2019, 3:14 pm

COUNCILLOR JOHN NICHOLSON

Ward Member for Northwood & Cowes South
Chairman of Policy & Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care & Health

SUNNYSIDE

PALLANCE LANE

NORTHWOOD

PO31 8LT
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Tel: 07918 757843

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Email: cllr.john.nicholson@btconnect.com

See the I.W. Councillor’s section

WARD REPORT – FEBRUARY 2019

The Report appearing in the March 2019 edition of Northwood News:

A Good Time to Report Road Drainage Problems

Wet winter weather certainly shows up defects in road drainage, whether it is easily blocked drains or culverts, issues with camber, or leaks from ground water or water services. In some places, like in the upper part of Pallance Road (below Wyatts Lane), seeping water spreads across the road and becomes very hazardous when it starts to freeze. Road salting does not always get it, especially if the salter has to go out around cars.
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Are there areas that you know of that need attention? Do report it to Island Roads (online or by phone) and, if you can, let me know that you have done so, what and where the problem is, so I can follow it up.
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Anti-Social or Inconsiderate Neighbours

I have had a few people reporting inconsiderate, anti-social, even hostile behaviour visited on peaceful Northwood residents by some neighbours recently. Northwood is not like that, normally; people move here because it is a neighbourly place, and residents should not and must not put up with anti-social behaviour, whatever the circumstances or problems that these offenders may have.
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If you are experiencing any such problems, please report to the police and social services. If a housing association owns the house, report to them too, and please let me know so that I can back you up and follow the complaint through if needed.
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Seeing and Using Complaints as Valuable Constructive Feedback

We hear that the British do not complain enough, unlike some of our continental cousins, and it may be true. Many people don’t want to be labelled a complainer and may also be frightened that they will be singled out and suffer repercussive consequence. Others just can’t be bothered with the effort or might not like to risk aggressive or defensive response.
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At the other end of complaints, the recipient may take the complaint personally and act defensively, and whilst saying they encourage complaints, in fact do everything they can to put obstacles in the way – from lengthy form filling to tactical questioning. But, in doing this they are missing one of the best and most honest feedback-giving opportunities that they could possibly ask for.
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I recently heard a comment about a constructive complaint that had quite obvious value to elderly, disabled and infirm, that the recipient said they did not have many complaints on this item, as though to devalue the complaint, but the very type of people that the complaint concerned were the most likely people to not complain because they were in the least fit state to do so.
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Please complain when someone needs to get feedback on their service or operation, and view it as objective feedback, without being personal. If I might be able to lend support, then let me know; it’s what I am here for.
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Health Service Update

Our health services are at a point where major internal changes to culture, habitual behaviour and expectations have to happen in order to progress improvements and quality of delivery and service. The scene is set and we have some powerful influences driving this transformation, mainly as a result of the improvements required by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We still have a way to go and we must now get over this hurdle to disperse the residual effect that has arisen over many years that will stop progress. This has to happen, and if we do not deal with this obstacle ourselves, others will take over and do it less sympathetically for us.
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In Scrutiny, we are giving as much support and encouragement to resolving the issues that have beleaguered us, at first criticising, now supporting good practice wherever that is emerging, but also trying to link and example different partners to meld improvements, insights and progress.
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This process will cause discomfort and upset but is the metamorphic pain of essential transformation. This Island has the resource and opportunity to shine, but only with the right direction and actions.

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John Nicholson
Ward Member for Northwood & Cowes South.