Richard addressing and questioning the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire about various matters of interest to residents
I am here to help you
As your county councillor and one of your borough councillors, I get involved with lots of meetings and events involving our area, but also deal with resident and constituent queries and case loads. I like to and need to know what people think and want councils to try to do.
I am here to listen and represent your views, so please let me know if you have any queries. You can email or call (0115) 989 2504 or mobile 07799 860179. I have lived in Cotgrave since 1990 and grew up in Rushcliffe. We live in a great part of the county and country - a special mix of rural life but with good access to towns and cities such as West Bridgford, Nottingham, Leicester, Newark and beyond. I am here to help and advise residents and do my best to ensure that needs and enquiries are dealt with speedily and as well as possible. I regularly attend meetings of the various parish councils, and am easily contactable by email and telephone. Small grants for community groups
Despite the well publicised financial challenges that councils are having to deal with, I still have access to a Councillor Community Support fund. This is used to help groups and societies to carry out their activities. In recent months I have been pleased to help, amongst others: Cotgrave & South Notts Arts Club, Friends of Cotgrave Country Park, Cotgrave & District U3A, Little Kites Playgroup, Cotgrave Colts, Cotgrave Welfare schools pantomime, Cotgrave C of E primary school, Cotgrave Candleby Lane school, Cotgrave youth club, Cotgrave bowls club, and more. Crime advice
Cotgrave and area now see very low levels of reported crime. However, we mustn't and won't become complacent. It is very important that any issues of crime or antisocial behaviour is reported. I know that sometimes, you might think there is little point, but it if crime isn't reported, then it's not officially known about. There are two main ways of reporting non-urgent issues - call 101, or if you wish to remain completely anonymous, use Crime Stoppers website or phone 0800 555111. I had the honour of announcing live on BBC Radio Nottingham then on East Midlands Today, Central News and Notts TV that following the recent campaign, the new A453 will also be called Remembrance Way. This follows the suggestion made by families of servicemen who pointed out that 453 armed forces lives were lost in Afghanistan, and that it would be fitting to remember them as we look ahead with the new A453.
Reading to classes at Candleby Lane School.
All these different councils - what do they do?
People sometimes ask, very understandably, about the differences between the various councils who serve us. It can sometimes get a bit confusing, even for those of us who are involved! Cotgrave has three different councils; Nottinghamshire County Council, which as its name says, is the county council for the whole of Nottinghamshire, also known as "top tier" in local government; Rushcliffe Borough Council, which is a district or "second tier", and Cotgrave Town Council, which is a parish council, or "third tier". Most villages in our area also have parish councils. E.g. Cropwell Bishop, Langar & Barnstone, Cropwell Butler, Colston Bassett They all have different roles and responsibilities. County councils are responsible for services across the whole of a county, including education, transport, planning, public safety, adult health and social care, libraries, waste management, trading standards, country parks. Borough/district councils - rubbish collection, recycling, council tax collections (on behalf of all the councils) housing, planning applications and local plans, environmental health, leisure, dog wardens. Parish/town - allotments, community parks/play areas, grants to help local organisations, consultation on neighbourhood planning, street litter/dog mess clearing. There is also some crossover at times on a local level and, crucially, it is important that all the councils work well together to provide information and service to residents. You can find out more at the national "Gov" website - https://www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works/types-of-council 
Rushcliffe Borough Council is responsible for planning & development control, food safety and environmental health, alcohol & premise /event licensing, taxi licensing, waste and rubbish collection, street sweeping/cleaning
Nottinghamshire County Council is responsible for services including: children & young peoples' services (schools and care and youth clubs), adult health and social care, transport and highways, community safety/trading standards, emergency planning, environmental matters, leisure and tourism including country parks, waste disposal including recycling centres
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We helped love Cotgrave!
My colleagues Leo Healy and Christine Jeffreys joined lots of volunteers along with staff from Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Streetwise, Cotgrave Town Council and Metropolitan Trent Valley Housing to litter pick, sweep up, de-weed, re-plant and ensure gardens, verges,street signs and bus stops are up to scratch. This was an excellent job and project - the first time it has been done. If you looked out of your windows you will have seen loads of us all over the place in our reflective jackets. Fortunately the rain held off until just as we were finishing off! 
COTGRAVE'S BRAND NEW PLAYPARK OPEN!
What a fantastic day today (12th October) The weather was good and hundreds of Cotgrave residents - young and old - attended the opening of the brand new state of the art play park. This park has been provided by partnership work between Cotgrave Town Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and FCC Commmunities Foundation (formerly WREN community project grants) It's all part of Cotgrave's "Lick of paint" regeneration work. Here are a few photos from today. The park is now "owned" by residents and young people in particular - so I hope, and am sure, that everyone will take a pride in it all. 
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Promoted and published by Richard Butler, 1 Church Court, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3QW