Steve Beasant

Freeman Street’s once iconic cinema could be making a comeback, after five years spent away from the limelight.

Grimsby’s former Odeon cinema could be restored to its former glory by Shropshire-based businessmen Trevor Harris and his son, Anthony Harris.

The pair have submitted an application to North East Lincolnshire Council’s licensing section for permission to run a three-screen cinema.

Although the deal is not yet complete and the pair are still in the process of purchasing the site, it is hoped they can revive the former landmark, which has been empty since its closure in November 2004.

Anthony Harris said: “Obviously, nothing is definite at the moment and it is still in the early stages.

“But we’ve certainly got plans and, although a deal has not yet been done, everything is in place.”

So far, local businesses have welcomed the developments.

Vanessa Fenwick, a barmaid at the Freeman Arms pub, said: “Cleethorpes is a long way out of the way to go to the cinema.

“It would be brilliant to see ours reopen and I certainly think it would help other businesses in the area.”

Alan Monce, owner of Diana’s World Of Minatures, opposite the cinema, said: “It would be absolutely excellent for the area if it works out.

“It would bring new people into Freeman Street, who wouldn’t come here otherwise, and so it can only be a good thing.”

The plans come as several other premises in Freeman street are in the process of being reopened, including the nearby Wellington Arms.

Councillor Geoff Lowis, portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “These are very encouraging signs that people want to invest in the area.

“This is another step in the right direction for the regeneration of Freeman Street.”

Haringey Council has made only limited progress in improving its children’s social care services, Ofsted inspectors say; this latest report comes only months after the damaging report into the death of Baby P. 

Ofsted noted that Haringey has made good progress in some areas such as clearing a backlog of cases. But it still does not have enough competent staff and managers and as a result young people are “not yet consistently safeguarded”.  

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls has said he wants another report by January. 

Baby P - Peter - died in August 2007, aged 17 months, with more than 50 injuries, despite being on Haringey’s child protection register.  

Peter’s 27-year-old mother was given an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of five years at the Old Bailey in May after pleading guilty to causing or allowing her son’s death.  

Her boyfriend, aged 32, was given a 12-year sentence for his role in Peter’s death. He was also jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years for the rape of a two-year-old girl - he is appealing.  

The head of the children’s services in Haringey was sacked, as were a social worker and three managers. A new children’s services director was appointed in January. 

Eight cases out of 57 that the Ofsted inspection team examined - which had been judged low priority by the council - raised “serious safeguarding concerns”.  

After reviewing them the council agreed “urgent and significant action” should be taken in each case.  

Relationships between key agencies were poor, with a lack of trust compounded by frequent staff changes and “inadequate communication, sometimes perceived to be obstructive”, the report said.  

“Despite persistent and concerted action, significant shortcomings in staffing and in the capability of some managers and social workers have restricted the rate of progress and children and young people are not yet consistently safeguarded,” the report said.

  Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone said: “If there are concerns about the progress then there have to be question marks about the measures the Government has taken so far.  

  “If children are at risk they have to consider the last resort, which is effectively taking the department into special measures. I just don’t think you can leave it and see. If it doesn’t get sorted now, it’s going to get worse.  

  “They have a new head of department with an enormous salary, and with that comes enormous responsibility to get it right and get it quickly right.”  

  Lynne Featherstone also said: “What is clear is that problems in child protection and safeguarding were much deeper than anyone thought.

“Instead of being up to their waist, Haringey Council is clearly still struggling to keep its head above water.”

Benefits team aims to put an additional £1m into the pockets of residents over the next two years 

HOUSEHOLDS will be Quids In. That’s the quest of the council’s benefit team as it launched a major campaign to make sure that everyone in the borough receives the benefits they are entitled to. 

The Quids In campaign started earlier this month and aims to provide eligible households with extra cash towards rent and council tax. 

Cindy Laherty, benefits and payments manager, said: “We realise in this current economic downturn that households need every penny they can get to make ends meet. 

“The sad reality is that many residents are not aware that they are entitled to extra help towards paying their rent or council tax. The money is there waiting to be claimed. 

“Even if you or your partner work you might still be entitled to help. 

“Although we are in the early stages of the campaign we have already committed almost £100,000 in extra benefit over the past couple of months, and this is making a real difference to the lives of members of our community. These are benefits that will be paid this year and roll over into future years. 

“There is potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds which still remain unclaimed, so don’t delay, phone the Quids In hotline today and find out whether you are eligible for extra cash.” 

Mr S of Grimsby claims £62.14 per week, he said: “We were very pleased to have the council’s help to get support with our rent and council tax. 

“Without it we would find it very difficult to pay our way. It is much appreciated and I would encourage other people to get in touch with the council’s Quids In hotline to seek help with their finances.” 

Mrs H of Cleethorpes claims £16.32 per week, she said: “I never realised I was entitled to any help with my council tax but the benefits team sorted it out for me and now I don’t pay council tax at all.” 

To contact the Quids In team phone the hotline on (01472) 324999 or email: quids@nelincs.gov.uk

Today, the Daily Mail have highlighted how Asperger’s victim Gary McKinnion hacked into Pentagon computers in a bid to prove the existence of little green men. So why is the U.S. using all its might to extradite him to face 60 years in jail? And more pertinently, why are our craven politicians doing nothing to help him?

To all who know him, Gary McKinnon is a harmless computer nerd obsessed with proving the existence of ‘little green men’.

Yet the U.S. authorities insist the British UFO fanatic is a ‘cyber-terrorist’ who hacked into top-secret Pentagon and NASA computers.

They say that Gary, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism, must be extradited and tried in their courts. 

They have vowed to put the vulnerable 43-year-old behind bars for up to 60 years - which means he would almost certainly die in a notorious high-security Supermax jail.

Medical experts say the stress of extradition alone could kill him, or he might well take his own life.

Yet, incredibly, the Government is doing nothing to protect Gary from extradition; the previous Home Secretary never intervened, and now the Daily Mail have launched a asking the new Home Secretary Alan Johnson to halt the extradition.

  Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: ‘It would be an insult to British justice if Gary McKinnon were sent to America for trial”.

  On June 10 this Chris Huhne, said: “Gary’s condition should justify more compassionate treatment than would otherwise be the case.

  “It would not be fair to stick a vulnerable computer hacker with no malicious intent or previous conviction in an American Supermax prison before he has even been tried.

  “This fiasco should be ended by trying Mr McKinnon in a British court. The Government must then look at renegotiating our unfair extradition treaty with the United States.”

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University, one of the world’s leading authorities on autism, said there is a ‘high risk of serious deterioration’ of Gary’s mental health if he is extradited.

He warned: “If separated from his parents and put into the traumatic environment of prison, there is a risk that he would take his own life.”

More than 100 MPs are supporting Gary, a self-confessed ‘bumbling computer nerd’.

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats yesterday visited Leeds on the latest leg of his Outside Westminster tour, travelling across the UK to see initiatives that are making change for good and to meet real people.

Nick was met in Headingley, home of the Leeds Rhinos Carnegie Stadium and Yorkshire County Cricket by Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West.

He was then introduced to Ikram Butt, the first Asian Rugby League player to play for England, he also played for Leeds (pictured). He told Nick about the work he has been doing with engaging Asian communities using ‘the power of sport’ to promote health and education schemes through the ‘Connecting Communities’ project that he manages.

Ikram then introduced Nick and Greg to the Leeds Rugby Foundation educational and Rugby training staff who showed them how their training sessions run. Nick and Greg then took part in the session on rival teams for a Rugby drill (pictured). The foundation works with around 50,000 children and young people every year and has also been responsible for helping 500 young people back in to full time education through its ‘Reengage with the Rhinos’ scheme alone.

Nick then invited the schools group to ask any questions for a 20 minute questions and answers session with an audience of primary and secondary school pupils. He answered questions on subjects from his views on the BNP through to whether he thought he wanted to be a politician when he was at school.

Ikram then presented Nick Clegg and Greg Mulholland a copy of his newly published book ‘Tries & Prejudice’ in which Greg contributed a chapter (pictured).

A sleaze investigation has been launched into the expenses claims of George Osborne. The Shadow Chancellor has been accused of ‘flipping’ his designated second home from London to his constituency farmhouse.  

It is alleged this happened after he took out a £450,000 mortgage on the rural property - nearly £5,000 more than the price of the house. 

A Labour Party activist claims he then made expenses claims to cover interest payments on the whole debt, the activist was apparently so incensed they wrote to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.  

Naturally, the Tories are incensed but a sleaze investigation will now follow by the Commissioner John Lyon and his decision to investigate is a blow to David Cameron’s closest ally.  

It came as Mr Lyon rejected complaints about Chancellor Alistair Darling’s repeated ‘flipping’ of his second home to make claims on multiple properties.  

If he launches a full-blown inquiry it would mean a cloud hanging over Mr Osborne’s career for months, until a verdict is reached. 

It will also fuel discontent on the Tory backbenches over the harsh treatment meted out to MPs outside Mr Cameron’s inner circle over their expenses claims. 

Though several members of the Shadow Cabinet, including Mr Osborne, have repaid money to the Commons fees office, senior MPs complain that they have got off lightly compared to others.  

Mr Lyon was asked to investigate by Laurie Burton, the chairman of the local Labour Party in Mr Osborne’s constituency in Tatton, Cheshire.

And after consulting the Commons standards and privileges committee, led by Tory grandee Sir George Young, he replied saying: “I have accepted your complaint and am inviting his comments.”  

In a letter, Mr Lyon said he would look into a claim that “Mr Osborne claimed for mortgage payments that were not necessarily incurred, contrary to the rules of the House”.  

Mr Lyon said he had put the claims to Mr Osborne, adding: “When I receive his response, I will consider how best to proceed.”  

The Commissioner dismissed another complaint that the Shadow Chancellor avoided paying capital gains tax when he ‘flipped’ his second home. 

  “This is a matter for HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs)”, he wrote.  

  Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury in the House of Lords, Lord Oakeshott said the allegations against Mr Osborne suggested he was “not fit to be Chancellor”.  

  “George Osborne should know that you can’t tell the taxman one story and the fees office another,” he said. “We asked him to come clean and pay the taxpayer back weeks ago but he did nothing. 

  “This is a real test of David Cameron’s leadership - he needs to make his Shadow Chancellor pay back the tax he’s dodged. It looks like Cameron has either got one rule for the Notting Hill set and another for the knights of the shires, or that George Osborne is simply too close to chop.”  

A spokesman for Mr Osborne said he was ‘relaxed’ because he had done nothing wrong.

Children with a can-do attitude launch new-look junior warden scheme 

THE Kandoo Kids Junior Warden Scheme was launched recently at the Grimsby Town Hall.  

The young wardens will be participating in community gardening projects, short educational courses provided by the emergency services and environmental education projects such as nature trails and recycling awareness. 

Local history education, like learning about the heritage of Grimsby and Immingham, and a citizenship programme aimed at promoting teamwork and cohesion of other community groups will also be included. 

All of this will be working towards a recognised reward in the form of a presentation of badges and certificates for each of the completed activities in various categories including first aid, recycling, environmental and street safety. 

Colin Lomas, community safety manager, said: “Where the new junior warden scheme differs from the old scheme is that over the last two years we have developed into a more structured and targeted programme. 

“The overall aim of the scheme is to promote good citizenship, increase awareness of the environment, and promote community inclusion and to facilitate an understanding of the positive benefits of social behaviour. 

“It is hoped it will encourage young people to take ownership of their local area, make improvements and also get involved with the local community. 

“And it will also give young people a positive insight into all the different agencies that work together to help bind our communities together, promoting a safer, cleaner and greener environment.“ 

To find out more about the junior wardens, contact Tony Burman on (01472) 325832.

Over 500 people offer their views on parks and open spaces 

PEOPLE have been lining up to say what makes them proud about the region’s parks. 

Environmental improvement officers have been quizzing park users across the region on their views of facilities on offer.

And more than 500 people have already completed GreenStat questionnaires at People’s Park, Weelsby Woods, Cleethorpes Country Park and other green venues in the area.  

Councillor Steve Hocknell, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and healthier communities, said: “The information will help us to determine patterns of use at our parks, tell us what’s good, if the facilities provided meet the public’s needs and how we can improve. 

“There’s still time to fill in the questionnaire online to have your say on our parks’ future.” 

Everyone can have their say on North East Lincolnshire parks by logging on to www.nelincs.gov.uk/leisure/parks, or by calling (01472) 324739.

A landmark report into the prison system has been published today. The report (The Commission on English Prisons Today) is the product of a two-year long inquiry commissioned by the Howard League for Penal Reform, the final report takes a radical look at the purposes and limits of a penal system and how it should sit alongside other social policies.

It starts from premise that the prisons system in England and Wales is in crisis, reformers said today, as they called for drastic cuts in the number of criminals jailed. The commission, which was set up by the Howard League for Penal Reform, criticised the criminal justice “hyperactivity” by governments over the last 15 years.

Its report, Do Better Do Less concluded prisons have become “warehouses” where people with mental health problems and those with drug and alcohol addictions are “dumped”.

The National Offender Management Service, which runs prisons and probation, should be dismantled, and prison budgets devolved to local communities, the report said.

The authors said criminals should be given community punishments instead of short prison terms.

Cherie Booth QC, the commission president said: “This final report should be a road-map for long term and fundamental reform.

“The commission proposes that justice is more local. Crucially, more widespread use of effective community sentences would both allow us to reduce the use of prison and allow for reinvestment of resources into local communities to cut offending.”

Commission chairman, Professor David Wilson, said England and Wales punished criminals “harshly and excessively”.

He said ministers were guilty of passing legislation that increases prison terms while disregarding the consequences for the prison population.

“The result is a crisis of overcrowding which threatens to bring the penal system to its knees.”

Despite falls in crime recorded by the British Crime Survey, the prison population has more than doubled since the early 1990s, the report found.

It said constraints on public spending caused by the economic crisis were an opportunity for fundamental reform.

Money saved could be invested in communities which suffer from “deprivation and victimisation”, the report said.

Paul Cavadino, chief executive of charity Nacro said: “We can only cut crime by rehabilitating offenders effectively if we adopt radical solutions.

“This means dramatically reducing our use of prison, ending overcrowding and dealing more constructively with offenders with mental health issues and drug-related problems.”

Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said: “Decades of political posturing by Labour and the Tories in a bid to look tough on crime have left our criminal justice system in tatters.

“It is time to stop using prison as a proxy for real action and instead start pursuing policies that actually do cut crime.

“Billions could and should be saved by reducing the prison population and investing in crime prevention as well as punishment.”

Tony Hunter tours the East Marsh with the community wardens 

North East Lincolnshire Council’s Chief Executive, Tony Hunter recently went out on a tour in the East Marsh with two of the council’s community warden team. Tony as now visited the East Marsh on several occasions; he attended our East Marsh Involve in November, and he walked around the ward with the three local Councillors. Since Tony’s arrival from Liverpool he has been keen to find out about the local community and local neighbourhoods. 

The two-hour walk through areas earmarked for major redevelopment was led by wardens Jo Kirman and Jamie Taylor. 

En-route, Tony and the wardens stopped off at Guildford House and visited a Building Skills For The Future project; a project funded through Working Neighbourhoods Fund which is helping the local community and is based at the top end of Guildford Street.  

Tony was also able to see areas that form part of the Fresh Start East Marsh project to reinvigorate the area.