Rushcliffe to continue to have lowest council tax in Nottinghamshire

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Council Tax level will again be the lowest in Nottinghamshire and those in bands A-D could see no increase in Council Tax for the 12 months from April, subject to a Full Council vote.

The authority’s Cabinet will discuss the proposals at its meeting on February 14 where it will set out figures which means its Council Tax charge could remain in the lowest 25% in the country and again the lowest in Nottinghamshire.

In a move to further reflect the cost-ofliving crisis, the Cabinet will also discuss proposals to discount Council Tax bills for those in bands A-D which includes over 60% of properties in the Borough.

The discount will be applied from April when new bills are issued for the new Council Tax year.

It means most residents will not pay the proposed below inflation increase of £3.02 or 2% on a band D property for the Rushcliffe part of the bill.

The discount could be introduced in addition to central government’s Council Tax Support Fund providing up to £25 reduction on Council Tax bills for those in receipt of Local Council Tax Support.

The Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Access Cllr Gordon Moore said: “We will discuss this proposed budget mindful of the current cost of living issues and we are proposing to remain the lowest council tax charge in Nottinghamshire and within the lowest 25% in the country.

“Should it be agreed at Cabinet and then at a Full Council meeting in March, it will mean no increase in council tax for those residents in Council Tax Bands A to D.

“We need to ensure the Council’s services and resources are sufficient to meet both current and future needs in the face of the challenge of a tough financial climate.

“However we are doing so without impacting further on a majority of resident’s pockets, appreciating the financial pressures households are facing.

“We are committed to providing excellent value services for our residents whilst delivering major new infrastructure include our new Bingham Arena leisure centre and

Enterprise Centre, Rushcliffe Oaks Crematorium and a commitment to our climate change reduction initiatives.

The Full Council meeting on March 2 will discuss the Cabinet’s proposed outcome on the budget from the February 14 meeting

Nottinghamshire Trading Standards Officers ensure customers receive a full tank of fuel when they fill up

Consumers in Nottinghamshire can be confident that they are getting what they pay for on the forecourt, following recent petrol measure inspections that were carried out by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards Officers.

During the routine petrol and diesel measure checks, Trading Standards Officers in Nottinghamshire were pleasantly surprised to discover petrol pumps, some from the era of flared trousers and glam rock, that were still working hard and giving customers correct measure. At one forecourt in Bilsthorpe officers discovered one pump that dated back to 1971. Along with the other pumps on the site it was given a clean bill of health for delivering the correct amounts of fuel.

Petrol and diesel measure inspections are an important part of routine cost of living checks that are carried out by Nottinghamshire Trading Standards to ensure that the prices paid for food, fuel, postal services and home heating oil are correct across the county. Officers have a range of testing equipment that can be used to check that businesses are delivering what they say they are. So far during these petrol and diesel spot checks the majority of businesses that have been visited are complying with their legal obligations. Less than 3% of the nozzles that were tested were found to be giving less fuel than stated at the pump. Following notices to fix their equipment, the petrol station owners have fixed the deficient nozzles, so they now deliver legal measures.

Councillor John Cottee, Cabinet Member for Communities at Nottinghamshire County Council, said:

“By carrying out these checks we can reassure residents that they are getting their money’s worth in Nottinghamshire, which is crucial at a time when costs are rising. Retailers have also welcomed the opportunity to have their business independently checked, and in cases where we have found they are giving customers less than required, I am pleased to say that they have willingly adjusted their equipment to ensure customers receive the correct amounts.”

If residents have concerns about the goods or services they receive from a business located in the county, they can report it to Nottinghamshire Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Savage attack on innocent taxi driver lands man behind bars

A taxi driver who was battered by a drunken and violent passenger was left requiring urgent medical attention after being pushed from the car as it was moving.

The victim, who worked for a taxi firm, had been on shift on Saturday 17 September 2022 on Arnot Hill Drive, Arnold, when he was approached by a man and woman asking to be taken home.

The victim noticed the man, now known as Reuben Commons, was in drink but despite this he agreed to take them and asked for them both to get into the back seats.

Before Commons even got into the car he attempted to open to driver’s door and sit on his lap. After being told to move he then reluctantly got into the front passenger’s seat and immediately became hostile and shouted directions at the driver.

Just after 1.20am things began to turn violent after the taxi driver asked for the fare upfront, causing 25-yearold Commons to call him a ‘tramp’ and repeatedly threaten him with violence.

He then threw a plastic bottle full of water over the driver which hit him on the head causing the victim to try and stop the car. Commons then began to kick and punch the victim over and over as he climbed into the drivers jumped over the dashboard and attacked him.

During the struggle, Commons pushed the victim out of the car while it was still moving. He then continued to attack the victim on the road, kicking him to the head causing him to lose consciousness.

Leaving the driver unconscious on the road, he then stole the taxi in an attempt to get away but only managed to drive around 50 yards before getting out and letting it crash into a parked car.

Commons, of Ulgham Close, Arnold, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (3 February) after pleading guilty to wound or inflict grievous bodily harm and aggravated vehicle taking and property damage.

He was jailed for a total of 32 months and also ordered to pay £187 to the victim.

Detective Constable Colin Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an act of sheer drunken violence out of nowhere against someone who was simply doing his job.

“No-one deserves to be treated like this and viciously battered to the point of losing consciousness.

“Commons’ actions on this night, as shown in the dashcam footage, show his complete disrespect for members of the public and the sheer brutality of his actions against a completely innocent man.

“I hope his sentence will not only bring the victim some comfort but also give Commons some time to reflect on his actions that night and hit home to him that behaving in this way will never be tolerated by any police force.”

Police have safely arrested a man and evacuated a number of people from their homes following an incident this evening.

Officers became concerned for the safety of both the man and his neighbours after being called to the property in Main Road, Underwood, at around 4.20pm today (Monday 6 February 2023).

The 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

Inspector Usha Madaraa, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The road has been closed while the incident was being dealt with, and a small number of residents were briefly evacuated from their homes and taken to a community centre as a precaution.

“They have now returned to their homes and I’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding while we carried out our work to resolve the incident safely.

“A suspect is now in custody but our investigation continues and anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number 541 of 6 February 2023.”