Just Getting Started - May - June 2011

Since joining SKDC as a Councillor I have been elected to join the Communities Policy Development Group and Development & Control Committee (otherwise known as Planning) as well as having been elected Labour Group Chair and have hit the ground running - be it in squeaky new shoes.

My Ward activity has included:-

Working with Dudley House School and local residents to get overhanging branches sorted on Dudley Road. They not only obstructed pedestrians but also hid an important School Warning road sign.

I had to escalate this to Head of Lincolnshire County Council Highways to finally get action.

Reported damage to playground area Wyndham Park to SKDC - Repairs completed following morning.

Attended Dysart Park Fair run by the Dysart Park Group run by Libby Simpson. Thanks to everyone for such a splendid event. It was a pleasure to meet so many local groups. It was unfortunate Libby forgot to mention my attendance in her letter to the Journal. An oversight no doubt.

Attended the Grantham Carnival Fair at Wyndham Park with my daughter. Again, what a great event and many thanks to the organisers. I have arranged to join the Grantham Carnival Committee to help with future events especially given the issues regarding the Carnival route.

Provided details of the Lincolnshire Co-operative Party 150 Years fund to the Grantham Journal and a number of local groups who may have a particular need for funds.

Progressed reports that a child was hit by a b-b gun in Wyndham Park - 

I am still investigating the police receptionist response to mother's initial call.

Progressing the issues identified during our election campaign I have held meetings with:-

PC Jane Ellis (Harrowby area)

PC Simon Wright (river and Universities square area); 

Community Safety Officer Sandy Cavanagh; 

Wyndham Park Wardens, Simon and Colin

Welby Everard Court residents meeting planned with PCSOs but the meeting was cancelled.

Attended a night patrol with PC Simon Wright

Discussed local broadband issues with BT

 As a result of this a number of key activities are planned:-

 - increase foot patrols in certain hot-spots including the River Witham footpath

 - support PC Wright's plan to get a bicycle to improve access to our ward

 - new signs to be put up along River Witham between the parks

  - joint meeting with the store managers of ASDA and Sainsburys regarding disgarded shopping trolleys

  - contact Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to set up a public meeting to notify people of the value of the river wildlife, and laws relating to its protection.

 - join the Grantham Homeless Forum to better understand issues of some of the people who are causing concern to local residents.

 - set up a joint public meeting inviting residents and businesses along the River Witham/universities square to discuss issues, current initiatives and identify new initiatives - River Watch project Launch

- meet Rivercare - Dudley Road to discuss their work and how I can help

- sending out a Newsletter with key information to ALL St Anne's residents. This will include details of my planned surgeries which will also be made available on my blog.

I attended the AGM of the Citizens Advice Bureau. They face a challenging time as the Coalition Government has got rid of some departments/organisations that did work which it now expects charities like the CAB to do - "Big Society" in action. CAB will be moving into SKDC offices, which makes some sense given the council was funding their previous accommodation elsewhere.

I have accepted invitations to attend

 - the launch of Food Bank to be located at the old China 88 restaurant, where food will be swapped for vouchers and people in critical need will find appropriate advice.

 - Woodland Trust launch of a new local tree planting scheme - watch this space for more information

- Grantham Carnival Group next meeting

- SureStart AGM

I welcome invitations from all local groups.

COUNCIL ACTIVITY

Having joined the council as a member of a gruop of 6 Labour Councillors on a council dominated by Conservative and Independent Councillors I realise that it will be a real challenge to deliver some of the real changes we want to see in Grantham. However I remain committed to doing whatever I can to make Grantham and St Anne's a great place to live and work.

I realise that one area the Labour Group can make a real difference is in the scrutiny of how the council operates to ensure it fully complies with existing laws and guidelines.

I have approached the Association of Labour Councils over concerns about advice given at our first Development and Control meeting in which

8 new councillors were denied the opportunity to vote or speak on 5 planning applications.At this time the ALC solicitor is communicating with SKDC Monitoring Officer.

I also want to make a positive contribution where I can and have offered to help the council develop an improved process for capturing and progressing new policy ideas working with members of the Communities PDG (Policy Development Group) and Engagement PDG.

I am delighted to say that an idea I had regarding how the council could improve its management of Anti Social Behavioural issues was warmly received at the Engagement PDG (cross party) and is currently being reviewed by Council Officers. It differs slightly from an approach recently rolled out by Lincolnshire County Council which is not having a great impact in implementation. At present enquiries from residents are being shunted around. I am seeking clear ownership of all ASB related issues until their resolution and a single point of contact, including follow up,for residents.

Another key area of improvement identified is how councillors interact with the community. 

At present there is no way that councillors, who attend many groups by invitation, can feedback to the main council. Nor is there any monitoring of councillors attendance record, once they have put themselves forward to stand on an external body, nor, despite the fact councillors are elected onto the external bodies is there a proper procedure by which councillors have to submit the relevence of the committe to their work or skills or personal interests. I am raising this matter on behalf of the Labour Group with the Chief Executive - Beverley Agass.

Last but definitely not least there are some key areas of Government Policy that will affect local people. The Localism Bill and cuts in benefits. Each of these will bring challenges but by delivering both together in a short timescale the Government is putting a huge strain on local people and resources.

I am very concerned at the impact some changes will have, in particular changes to secure tenancy agreements for council tenants and cuts in housing benefit.

In Grantham latest stats show 5 people are chasing every job in the Job Centre. It is a myth to blame individuals for being unemployed. The work is simply not there.

I challenged the Tory group on the Communities PDG to focus on creating jobs where it can, as well as delivering the changes proposed.

I objected to proposals to increase revenues through new parking wardens and car parking charges pointing out that Grantham town centre is having to compete with the supermarkets who have free parking. I was told by Cllr Frances Cartwright (Cons) not to be "negative" about Grantham. It is a matter of opinion whether expressing concern about a policy likely to drive customers away is being "negative". To me it is much more negative to stick your head in the sand and pretend everything is all right rather than really acheive something. The Conservatives have been sitting on funds and chose not to spend them. They now boast that this is a good thing since the cuts have come. They have failed to see how the lack of investment has left Grantham in a vulnerable position.

However, despite my concern at the Tory position I also think that we must rally round and contribute whatever ideas we can, alongside an injection of realism and common sense into the debate.