About Reg
Reg Adair was first elected to Nottinghamshire County Council to represent the Ruddington division in May 2005. He is also a Rushcliffe Borough Councillor representing the Stanford ward and a member of Bradmore Parish Council.
After his successful re-election to the County Council in June 2009, Reg was appointed Cabinet Member for Finance & Property, charged with overall responsibility for managing the Nottinghamshire County Council budget. Following the change to a committee system of governance in May 2012 he is now Chairman of the Finance & Property Committee.
Born on a farm on the west coast of Ireland and one of eight children, his career has been mainly in the textile industry. He no longer works full-time but still does some mentoring and business consultancy work.
He lives in Bradmore with wife Alison. They have one married daughter, Angeline, and two grandchildren who live in Paris.
Reg holds surgeries every second Saturday of the month 10 a.m. - 12 noon at St. Peter's Rooms, Ruddington. He is also available to meet constituents at any convenient time at a suitable venue. His contact details are displayed on the left of this page.
Reg's latest Councillors' Divisional Fund awards...
Each Nottinghamshire County Councillor now has an annual fund of £10,000 to support worthy initiatives in the division they represent. The Councillors' Divisional Fund 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 Ruddington division that might be eligible to receive a CDF grant, please contact me. You can click the following link to read the eligibility guidance criteria.
Follow this link to the Councillors' Divisional Fund web page to see some of the latest projects I have been able to support.
Reg's latest news...
Council tax frozen for the fourth consecutive year
At the Nottinghamshire County Council budget meeting on 28th February 2013, I presented the Council's budget in my capacity as Chairman of the Finance & Property Committee and joined my Conservative colleagues in voting to freeze county council tax for a fourth consecutive year.
In the 2013/14 financial year, Nottinghamshire County Council will be investing: -
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an extra £13.3 million in services to children and young people;
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an extra £17.9 million in adult social care;
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an extra £3 million on the county’s highways;
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an extra £500,000 for a Youth Employment Strategy; and
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an extra £700,000 for our ‘Olympic Legacy’ sports development fund.
This followed our ‘Big Budget Conversation’ consultation process, in which 65% of Nottinghamshire respondents supported a council tax freeze, with only 21% against. Further information on the results of the Big Budget Conversation can be found in Appendix A of the budget report.
(Posted 8/3/2013)
Visits to local businesses
Nottinghamshire County Council is sounding out businesses on its economic development plans and proposals to stimulate growth and jobs. Recently I was one of a delegation of committee chairmen and council officers, led by Councillor Kay Cutts, to visit the award winning Southwell-based business, Advanex Europe.
Advanex specialises in design and manufacture of metal and plastic components, springs and assemblies to sectors as diverse as medical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, electronics and agricultural engineering manufacturers. The meeting and tour was the latest of a series of visits to companies throughout the county to talk to local businesses about the issues facing them, local growth plans and how the Council can provide support.
Senior Councillors have made twelve formal visits to Nottinghamshire firms in the last two years, including Laing O'Rourke (Worksop), Alliance Boots (Beeston), Abacus Lighting (Sutton-in-Ashfield), Synseal (Huthwaite), British Sugar (Newark), Hardstaffs (Gotham) and British Geological Survey (Keyworth).
There's no substitute for getting out there and seeing how our businesses are doing on the ground. Often there are actions the County Council can take which make a huge difference to businesses and their employees - from small things like tweaking a bus route or trading standards advice to major infrastructure projects such as improving the A453 and faster broadband.
Karl Sirrell, Regional Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses and Mark Chivers, Director of Nottinghamshire Enterprise Zone (Alliance Boots) recently became co-opted members of the County Council's Economic Development Committee. And businesses from throughout the county were involved in the production of Nottinghamshire's first Growth Plan, which is out for consultation until 7 December. It can be viewed at: http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/growthplan
(Posted 15/11/2012)
Proposal for £15 million to get Nottinghamshire housing moving
At Finance & Property Committee on 12th November I announced that would-be homeowners, frozen out of the housing market by the squeeze on lending, could be offered a lifeline by a new £15 million Nottinghamshire County Council mortgage support scheme.
Formal proposals for the scheme, thought to be the biggest of its type in the country, are set to be taken to Policy Committee in December. It would aim to help around 500 first-time buyers onto the property ladder and breathe new life into Nottinghamshire's housing market.
The County Council intends to team up with the Lloyds Banking Group to deliver the scheme, aimed at first time buyers who can afford mortgage repayments but do not have the 20-25% deposit currently required by lenders. Under the plan, approved mortgage applicants would only have to pay a 5% deposit for the property, with the remainder of the deposit being put up by the County Council. It would be open to first time buyers purchasing a property worth £150,000 or less.
The money will be provided from County Council reserves and would be paid back by the lender five years into the mortgage term. More information is available at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/mortgages
(Posted 13/11/2012)
New telephone number for Nottinghamshire County Council
Nottinghamshire County Council has launched a new telephone number 0300 500 80 80 which is cheaper than the previous 08449 number. The change to 0300 500 80 80 means that wherever you live in Nottinghamshire, you'll pay a local call rate when you get in touch with the Council. Calls to 0300 numbers are included in all-inclusive minutes and discount schemes offered by telecoms and mobile phone providers, meaning that some calls are even free of charge.
To celebrate, the County Council's Customer Service Centre has revealed some of the strangest requests it has received since it was launched in 2008, including a lady requesting an audience with The Queen and someone asking if it's okay to exercise their kestrel at a local tip!
(Posted 13/11/2012)
Olympic torch event boosts the Chairman's Charity and Ruddington Brownies
On 20th August the Council Chairman, Councillor Carol Pepper was pleased to host an event in the Civic Office giving everyone a chance to be pictured holding the Olympic Torch. In return for a £1 minimum donation, which is being split equally between the Chairman's Charity and 3rd Ruddington Brownies, visitors could follow in the footsteps of David Beckham, Torvill & Dean and hundreds of the country’s unsung heroes by holding a piece of history in your hands.
The torch being used during the event was carried by Carol Jaggers in Ingoldmells on 27th June as part of the flame’s journey to the Olympic Stadium. Carol has been Leader of Ruddington Brownies for 25 years and was chosen to carry the Olympic flame because of her years of working with local children.
This year’s Chairman’s Charity is the Nottingham Hospitals Charity appeal to build a new cystic fibrosis centre for Nottinghamshire.
(Posted 6/9/2012)
Peace Sword goes on display
An ornate limited edition sword, produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II has gone on public display at County Hall. Since being presented with the sword in 1995, members of the Ruddington & District Branch of the Royal British Legion had put it on display at various locations in the county but it has been out of public view since October last year because they could no longer find a suitable location.
They approached me as their local member and I was delighted to formally present the sword, on behalf of the Ruddington Branch, to the Chairman of the Council, Councillor Carol Pepper, at the July Full Council meeting.
The sword has now been placed on display in a showcase near to the reception area at County Hall. It is a beautiful piece of craftmanship and deserves to be on display for the public to see. It was manufactured by Wilkinson Sword Ltd as a limited edition to mark 50 years since VE Day. The stand includes a quotation from Winston Churchill: "1945-1995 The price of freedom is eternal vigilance".
(Posted 24/8/2012)
GCSE results up again in Nottinghamshire
On 23rd August young people in schools across the county received the results of their GCSE examinations.
The provisional results for Nottinghamshire based on 41 (out of 45) schools show that: -
These results show that pupils have been working extremely hard with support from their teachers and on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council I would like to congratulate them for their hard work.
(Posted 24/8/2012)
A453 preparation works underway
As reported in the Nottingham Post, preparations are under way for the planned expansion of the A453. In May 2011 Nottinghamshire County Council pledged £20m towards the scheme if it was bought forward and in November 2011 the Government announced that it would indeed be fast-tracked, bringing a potential £540 million boost to the local economy.
(Posted 1/8/2012)
Outstanding Ofsteds in Rushcliffe
Twenty three primary, secondary schools and academies in Rushcliffe have been awarded an Outstanding Ofsted in their last inspection.
The Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Kay Cutts joined the Chairman of the Council, Councillor Carol Pepper to welcome more than 150 guests to a reception at County Hall. Headteachers and chairmen of governors from more than 70 schools, special schools, children’s residential homes, children’s centres and the youth justice service from across Nottinghamshire attended the reception which recognised and celebrated the achievements of the county's children's services providers.
Councillor Philip Owen, Chairman of the Children and Young People’s committee, said he was delighted that so many schools and other children’s services had achieved such high standards. He added: "To see so many head teachers and governors receiving awards is testament to the excellent academic standards in Nottinghamshire schools."
The full list of schools and academies in Rushcliffe judged to be outstanding by Ofsted are:
Archbishop Cranmer C of E (Aided) Primary School, Aslockton
Robert Miles Infant School, Bingham
Carnarvon Primary School, Bingham
Cropwell Bishop Primary School
Crossdale Drive Primary School, Keyworth
St Peter’s C of E Primary School, East Bridgford
Flintham Primary School
James Peacock Infant and Nursery School, Ruddington
Kinoulton Primary School
Langar C of E Primary School
Orston Primary School
Radcliffe on Trent Junior School
Robert Miles Junior School, Bingham
St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary, West Bridgford
Candleby Lane School, Cotgrave
Tollerton Primary School
West Bridgford Infant School
West Bridgford Junior School
Willoughby Primary School
The Becket School, West Bridgford
Toot Hill School, Bingham
The West Bridgford School
(Posted 31/7/2012)
Access improvements at Ruddington allotments
A footbridge, new pathways and new steps have been installed at Hareham Allotments in Ruddington thanks to Nottinghamshire County Council's Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).
I was happy to support the bid for this improvement work, which has been welcomed by physically and mentally disabled members of the Thera Trust group from West Bridgford day centre. The group uses the allotments in Asher Lane every week and are delighted with the new facilities.
The funding has also created a raised bed which makes it easier for the elderly and disabled to tend the vegetables. New fencing and hedging have also been installed and two wells have been made safe with grilles.
The allotments provide produce for the James Peacock Bread Charity which in turn distributes to the needy of Ruddington and surrounding areas. The charity has been running since 1655 and provides hundreds of vegetables boxes every year.
Recent figures from the National Allotment Association reveal that the demand for allotments is still on the increase. Rushcliffe is high on the list with waiting lists showing a 30% increase year on year.
(Posted 20/4/2012)
Bunny has allot (ments) to be pleased about!
I am delighted to have supported a Nottinghamshire County Council Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) project to create seven new allotment plots off Victoria Road in Bunny.
Waiting lists for allotments across Nottinghamshire are at an all time high and the Rushcliffe area is top of the pile with a 28% rise in the last 12 months. The local allotment association applied for the £6,000 funding to help clear an overgrown area at the site.
A restored 1957 Ferguson – 35, owned by allotment holder Larry Parker, was used to clear the site and the ditch surrounding the allotments to help with drainage. It was cleared in a sensitive way so as not to disturb the wildlife. Signage has also been provided.
The seven new plots in Bunny have been welcomed with open arms and gardeners are looking forward to a bumper year of fruit and vegetables. There’s no better feeling than growing your own produce and there is the added benefit of being outdoors in the fresh air getting exercise.
The National Allotment Association has praised the county council for supporting the creation of new allotment plots and getting more people involved in having their own allotmentllot. The Local Improvement Scheme has also funded allotments in Kinoulton, Cotgrave, Hucknall, Arnold, Annesley, Elston and Bowbridge in Newark and Retford.
(Posted 5/4/2012)
Success! The A453 gets the green light!
I am absolutely delighted by the Chancellor’s announcement that the Government is fast-tracking the widening of the A453. This is the best Christmas gift that businesses and residents in Nottinghamshire could have, bringing a £540m boost to the East Midlands economy.
In May this year, Nottinghamshire County Council pledged £20m towards the scheme if it was bought forward. Since that pledge was made, the campaign to widen the road has garnered support from the local business community and other local councils, including a pledge of £500,000 towards the scheme from Rushcliffe Borough Council in October.
The A453 has been on the Council’s wishlist since the 1970s. At last it is going to happen and I am thrilled for local businesses and commuters alike. I want to particularly thank East Midlands Airport, Boots, RH Freight, Hardstaffs, the Nottingham Post newspaper and partner authorities for their support in this campaign.
In the five years up to October 2010, there were 185 accidents involving personal injury on just the Nottinghamshire part of the A453. The Nottinghamshire section of the road is the second most congested part of the national road network after a short section of the M25. This congestion has been costing larger businesses as much as £100,000 a year because of increased fuel usage, difficulty reaching customers, abandoned journeys and accident costs.
Finally, we can look forward to smoother and safer journeys on this vital road link through Nottinghamshire from the M1 and I am immensely pleased that the Government has listened to our determined campaign.
(Posted 29/11/2011)
