Cllr Derek Kennedy

2 Alemouth Road, Hexham, NE46 3PJ 01434 607669

Gift of light for Hexham Juniors FC

Derek Kennedy with Hexham Juniors Footballl Team

In 6 short years the Hexham Juniors Football Club has made significant progress both on an off the field. As the club advances towards a long held ambition for junior football in Hexham, having a place Junior Football can call 'home', Northumberland County Councillor Derek Kennedy of Hexham West has stepped in to back the club's ambition and effort by allocating almost £10,000 from the Council's Local Improvement Scheme Fund to the DukesHouse Wood Development. This contribution will be used specifically to provide the floodlighting for the training pitch at DukesHouse Wood.

The development at DukesHouse Wood has been almost two years in the planning and a significant amount of time and resource has been invested in the project by Tynedale District Council, Tynedale Leisure and the Football Club. When complete the facility will provide first class playing, training and changing facilities for both youth and junior football teams from within the town and wider community. By 2009 the Hexham Football Club estimate that close on 300 people will be involved in the game in either a playing or coaching capacity. The club will field 18 teams for both boy's and girls football and is today viewed as one of the largest local football clubs in Northumberland. Having achieved Development status under the Football Association's Charter Standard scheme the club now boasts 21 qualified football coaches and the facility at DukesHouse, once complete, will give junior Football in Hexham the home it has craved for so long. The facility will also enable the club to progress with it's football development plans which include player and coach training and education.

Jon Armstrong from the Hexham Football Club commented "I'm delighted that Councillor Derek Kennedy has been able to support this initiative, a worthy project that will deliver so much to young people from both Hexham and the surrounding areas for years to come. Football and sport in general is important for youngsters as they grow and develop as it helps them develop as individuals and as people. I know Councillor Derek Kennedy has been keen to understand the plans that the football club have for the development of football particularly and I think he was surprised to learn that Hexham is in fact one of the largest junior football clubs in Northumberland and has a specific and well documented development plan for football" .

Councillor Kennedy added "This is so exciting, I've been following the progress of Hexham Juniors for some time and I'm so pleased to be able to provide a contribute to the scheme at DukesHouse Wood. I look forward to seeing the club stage their first game at the new home, hopefully in time for the start of the 2009/10 season, just 16 short months away."

Andrew Duffield & Derek Kennedy write to Gordon Brown on the Retention Payments scandal

Derek Kennedy

Appalled at Conservative Tynedale Council's decision to pay senior staff £290,000 in retention payments, Liberal Democrat's parliamentary candidate Andrew Duffield has written to the Prime Minister. Andrew said in his letter "Local residents feel it is totally unacceptable for the Conservatives in Tynedale to award £290,000 and for this to be followed by the Labour County Council awarding 20% payments to their senior staff." Gordon Brown has warned the public servants that pay increases will be limited due to inflation and yet the Councils, who tried to keep these payments a secret, are paying out huge sums. Andrew Duffield has asked the Prime Minister what action he intends to take, in view that these payments are contradicting his own message on public sector pay.

The Liberal Democrats have been the only party to have opposed these excesses. Even Conservative MP Peter Atkinson is distancing himself from the Councillors when he said he "questions how necessary these payments are" and he is "very uneasy". We will let you know what Prime Minister Gordon Brown has to say when we receive the reply.

Queens Hall improvements near completion

Derek Kennedy and Geof Keys at Queens Hall

A grant from Councillor Derek Kennedy's local schemes kitty is the last piece of the jigsaw for improvements at the Queens Hall. Derek Kennedy has been in discussions with the Artistic Director of Queens Hall Geof Keys for a number of months. Geof Keys said "A total of £200,000 from Northumberland Strategic Partnership, Tynedale and Northumberland Councils has been raised to help create six new units.

The Queens Hall is looking to rent these units to small creative enterprises and in so doing help ensure the future financial viability of the hall as a regional centre of excellence for cultural activities." Derek said "The new refurbished rooms are really impressive and I hope they draw some new and interesting art organisations to Hexham."

If you are interested in renting any of the new units you can contact Geof Keys at the Queens Hall on Geof.keys@queenshall.co.uk or www.queenshall.co.uk

Hexham Leazes Cricket Club £3,000 Grant

Derek Kennedy and Colin Cessford

On a freezing Sunday morning the Hexham Leazes Cricket Club scoreboard hit the magnificent figure of 3,000 in recognition of a grant toward improvements. A delighted Councillor Derek Kennedy said "It is great news that £3,000 can be released from my County Council local improvement kitty to help improve this sports facility.

While only a small sum, I am sure it will be of huge benefit toward this ambitious cricket club." Club Chairman Colin Cessford said "Currently the ground does not have a water supply, this money will pay for a water connection, a toilet and sink. We have big plans for the 2008 season when we hope to introduce an under 14's, a Sunday veterans and possibly a woman's team if we can get sufficient support." Hexham Leazes Cricket Club plays in the West Tyne league, winning both the First Division Championship and the Knock-out cup in 2007.

Conservative Councillors award Council managers £290,000 Retention payment

Equivalent of £12.00 on your council tax bill

A Freedom of Information request to Tynedale Council by a member of the public has finally exposed the size of the retention payments scheme to be over £290,000. The controversial retention payments are to be paid to senior council managers as "golden handcuffs" in an effort to keep them at the council in the run up to the new Unitary Council.

Councillor Derek Kennedy said "£290,000 is a staggering amount and I have opposed these payments all along. It is very disappointing that the Council has deliberately kept the size of these payments a secret, this is public money and the public have a right to know how their money is being spent. How can the Conservative Councillors justify this expenditure when senior managers already get very good salaries and executive staff cars. If a manager loses their job they receive a very generous redundancy package, most managers will get a job in the new unitary council anyway, and therefore the retention payment seems to be a bonus. £290,000 is the equivalent of £12.00 on every council tax bill. We are seeing other public servants such as the Police offered derisory pay awards and the public suffering rising mortgages, utility and Council tax bills."

Please email us with your views on the Retention Payments.