Rod Kempster

About Rod

Rod Kempster has been a County Councillor since 1993. He represented the Arnold Central division until electoral boundary changes came into force in 2005. He now represents the 2-member division of Arnold South, which incorporates the borough wards of Daybrook, Kingswell, Porchester and Woodthorpe. The other councillor representing Arnold South is Rod's fellow Conservative, Councillor Mel Shepherd. 

He is also a Gedling Borough Councillor representing Kingswell ward.

Rod is a member of Arnold Methodist Church, and until his retirement was a youth club leader. He was also an officer and a band leader for the Boys' Brigade for many years. He is a member of the Arnold Elderly Persons' Forum (Finance Committee).

Rod is available to meet constituents at any convenient time, at a suitable venue. His contact details are displayed on the left of this page. 

 

Rod's latest news...

Road improvements

I am pleased that Grange Road in Woodthorpe (Arnold) has now been re-surfaced, as has the top and bottom of Thackeray's Lane. My next priority is to press for the resurfacing of part of Greendale Road, where there are a lot of potholes, particularly after the bad winter weather. 

(Updated 8/7/10)

County Council Budget 2010/11

At the Nottinghamshire County Council Annual Budget meeting on Thursday 25^th February 2010 I joined my Conservative colleagues in voting for a freeze in council tax for the forthcoming financial year 2010/11.

My colleague Councillor Reg Adair, Cabinet Member for Finance & Property, presented the first budget of the new Conservative administration which included a range of management and efficiency measures to save £30 million. This money will be re-directed into frontline services including key priority care services: -

• £3 million more to provide specialist placements for young people

• £1.7 million more to meet additional costs of Safeguarding Children at risk
• £6.1 million to meet the growth in services for people with mental health and learning disabilities 
• £1.9 million more towards the costs of services for people with physical disabilities
• £2.3 million more to meet additional costs of care home fees for service users living in independent sector homes
• £2 million more towards increased costs of care for people living independently in their own homes
• £700,000 more to meet costs arising from the provision of services as a result of the reduction in the Supporting People Grant and
• £2.5 million more to account for the ever growing numbers of older people requiring some form of care.

 

In Councillor Adair's speech introducing the budget proposals he pointed out that even with a council tax freeze, Nottinghamshire County Council will still be spending £11 million more in 2010/11 than in the previous year.

(Posted 8/3/10) 

Improvement Programme

Like every council in the country, Nottinghamshire County Council faces ongoing, significant and unavoidable increases in demand for key services. At the same time, it faces an unprecedented and long-term reduction in the resources available to it. Present forecasts are that the Council must reduce its current expenditure by at least £88m, or 18% of its revenue budget, over the next three financial years. Most of this reduction will be used to fund increased demand in other service areas. £30m of reductions have already been identified for 2010/11, leaving a further £58m to be found in 2011/12 and 2012/13.

In the past, reductions have been achieved through a process of allocating savings targets across departments. However, the scale of the financial challenge is now such that a more strategic approach is needed to achieve reductions in a structured and consistent way.

At the County Council meeting on 25^th February 2010 the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Suthers gained approval for a new Improvement Programme to deliver these aims, called ‘One Council - One Business - One Plan’. This will involve an estimated investment of £21 million over five years to deliver total aggregated savings of over £200m over a five year period.

The Improvement Programme will include: -

• a complete overhaul of the Council’s approach to procurement

• implementation of an integrated Business Management System and changes in processes

• rationalisation of the Council’s property portfolio and improvement in flexible ways of working

• a fundamental review of all services followed by a comprehensive programme of organisational redesign

• departmental improvement programmes that deliver service-specific developments and

• the Chief Executive’s own programme to deliver improvements in partnership working, communications and organisational development. 

 

The aim of ‘One Council-One Business-One Plan’ is to drive out inefficiency, target resources, minimise the impact on service delivery and create an organisation that is fit for purpose and financially sustainable in the long term. 

(Posted 8/3/10)

New Stategic Plan

Nottinghamshire County Council's new Strategic Plan 2010-2014 sets out our promise to the people of Nottinghamshire; our priorities for the next four years; and how we aim to support the people of our county to be aspirational, independent and to share with us responsibility for the future.

This Plan complements the wider Nottinghamshire Sustainable Community Strategy which is the collective plan that outlines how organisations in the county will work together to promote and deliver a better Nottinghamshire.

Our plan is ambitious. It is a plan based on what local people tell us they want, and what they want to see happen. The success of our plan relies on us working well together with local people and organisations. Whilst we face challenging financial times, nevertheless we have opportunities to promote and deliver a better future for Nottinghamshire.

(Posted 8/3/10)

Gritting

The exceptionally cold weather which affected Nottinghamshire and most other parts of the UK between December and February led to unprecedented pressures on local authority gritting supplies. Nottinghamshire County Council possessed stockpiles far exceeding Government recommendations and was able to keep its priority routes gritted even when other councils had exhausted their supplies. The biggest difficulty was obtaining replacement supplies, given the exceptional pressure on the two national companies who supply the country’s salt. 

Taking these events into account, it was agreed at the recent County Council budget meeting to increase the gritting budget by £50,000 for 2010/11. It is also intended to use 6mm rather than 10mm salt, which will improve spread rate and increase our gritting capacity still further. 

(Posted 8/3/10)

Arno Vale Road

I am pressing the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways regarding the need for an interactive speed sign on Arno Vale Road, where there are six schools situated. Traffic speeds on this straight road are too high and I am hopeful some action can be taken.

(Posted 27/11/09)

Tram

On 24^th September 2009 Nottinghamshire County Council voted to withdraw its financial support for the NET Phase Two transport scheme. As a Conservative County Councillor I was elected on a manifesto which stated: "We will avoid spending a small fortune on tram extensions which few people in the county will be able to use."

During the Council debate, several Conservative Members presented the argument for this change of policy. Some referred to the increasing costs of the scheme, whilst others supported the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways' assertion that flexible bus services, rather than a fixed tram line, represent the most suitable public transport solution to serve the whole of Nottinghamshire. 

Some of my colleagues took the opportunity to state that, contrary to some media reports, the Conservative position on the proposed tram extensions has not changed. They pointed out that the previous Labour administration had entered into certain legal agreements in relation to NET Phase 2 which must be respected to protect the interests of the County taxpayer, but the new Conservative administration is quite clear that it does not support the proposed tram extension routes. 

(Posted 13/11/09)

Workplace Parking Levy (WPL)

Also at the Nottinghamshire County Council meeting on 24^th September 2009, the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, Councillor Richard Jackson stated that the new Conservative county administration is opposed to Nottingham City Council's proposals for a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL). He expressed concern about the financial impact such a levy could have on County residents who work in the City and stated his belief that the WPL would be unlikely to cut congestion. Councillor Jackson argued that the scheme could lead to significant parking problems in the County area, frighten off economic investment in the City and County and hit business confidence at a time when it needs to be nurtured. 

(Posted 13/11/09)

 

Rod's latest Councillors' Divisional Fund awards...

Following a decision taken by Cabinet on 8^th July 2009, each County Councillor now has an annual fund of £10,000 to support worthy initiatives in the division they represent. 

CDF aims to make use of each councillor's 'grass roots' knowledge to identify projects, events, people and clubs that work hard to benefit and promote their local area, but often lack access to resources. Even a small amount of funding can sometimes make a huge difference. 

If you know of a deserving initiative in the Arnold South division that might be eligible to receive a CDF grant, please contact me. 

Here are some of the projects I've been able to help so far: -  

39^th Nottingham Company The Boys Brigade

I was pleased to use my CDF to help the 39^th Nottingham Company Boys' Brigade purchase new camping equipment and materials for their activities.

Arnold Town Football Club

A donation from my CDF has helped Arnold Town FC to purchase winter clothing and equipment.

Arnold Methodist Church

A contribution from my CDF to the Arnold Methodist Church has helped towards equipment and resources for youth work.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

A CDF grant to the Gedling Area Duke of Edinburgh Award Association has helped youngsters pursuing the Gold Award.

Ernehale Colts Football Club

I was pleased to make a contribution from my CDF to the Ernehale Colts Football Club, to purchase all weather jackets for under 9's members.

Arnold Network

A donation from my CDF to the Arnold Network helped meet the costs of hiring a coach for an elderly women's day out in Derbyshire.

Woodthorpe Huffers & Puffers

I was pleased to help fund a training course for leaders of the Woodthorpe Huffers & Puffers.

Parenting courses

I was able to help St Mark's Parochial Church Council (PCC) to run parenting courses via community and school groups.

1^st Woodthorpe Guides

I am pleased to have provided a CDF grant to help cover transport costs for the 1^st Woodthorpe Guide Unit to attend the Girlguiding Centenary event in February 2010.

Gedling Play Forum

A grant from my CDF has helped Gedling Play Forum to organise drop-in training and workshops to support childcare and play based groups in the Gedling area. I have also helped them to purchase a soft play unit.

Gedling Southbank FC

I have been able to assist Gedling Southbank Football Club to undertake professional coaching sessions.

 

Rod's committees...

I am a member of a number of County Council committees including:-

Appeals

Education Scrutiny

Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny

Supported Employment Panel

 

Full details of council committee meetings can be found in the Council Diary.