• Balancing the budget

  By Retford Times at 06:50 on 16/02/12

  

  IMPROVEMENTS to council houses, Kings' Park and Retford Cemetery are among the highlights of this year's district council budget. Labour's first draft budget since it wrested control of Bassetlaw council back from the Conservatives in May was discussed at a cabinet meeting. The authority unveiled plans to build public toilets in Retford Cemetery and to revamp the bandstand in Kings' Park, among other initiatives. "I'm...

• No practice for prayers

  By Retford Times at 06:50 on 16/02/12

  

  BASSETLAW Council has no practice of prayers in meetings, the authority has confirmed, following controversy elsewhere in the country. In a case against Bideford Town Council, in Devon, a judge ruled its practice of prayers before meetings breached the Local Government Act. This week, a Bassetlaw Council spokesman confirmed that there is no constitutional provision for prayers at council meetings in place at the authority.

• Bid to block increase in cost of crossing thrown out by the Government

  By Retford Times at 06:50 on 16/02/12

  

  THE Labour Party has defended its decision to field only female candidates in certain seats in forthcoming elections. In an anonymous letter to the Retford Times, a correspondent questions the approach of the party over its policy of making certain district council election seats open to only female candidates. "For the second year running Retford North is to be an all women seat. In other words no man can apply to be the...

• Committee debate for the council

  By Retford Times at 06:50 on 26/01/12

  

  PLANS to change the way decisions are made at the county council are to be considered. Councillors at tonight's full council meeting will decide whether further plans should be progressed on how a committee system could work at the authority. Under the present system at the county council, decisions are taken by council, the cabinet or its individual members, and in some cases officers. The committee system would involve all...

• Opposing party leaders and mayor say move is not in area's interests

  By Retford Times at 06:50 on 26/01/12

  

  DISTRICT party leaders and Retford's mayor are united in opposition to the idea of an elected mayor for Bassetlaw. A yearly notice in the Retford Times placed by Bassetlaw District Council says that five per cent of electors – 4,297 people – will need to sign a petition to force a referendum on the issue. An elected mayor is different to the current Retford mayoral position, which is a civic or ceremonial role. An...

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