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Notes:
WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2009/10
COUNCILLOR: Helen Dyke
WARD: Aggborough & Spennells
Section 1: Ward Activities (including Surgeries)
As usual it has been another busy year in the Aggborough and Spennells Ward.
As a panel member for Partner and Communities Together (PACT) Meetings, I have attended all the meetings for the area this year. At these meetings, residents have asked for action on issues such as litter, dog fouling, speeding, fly-tipping and of course the terrible condition of our roads and pavements. We have a very active Panel Chairman and Vice-Chairman who contact the various agencies for responses to residents' questions and I, in my role as District Councillor take away local issues to deal with. I also use our regular editions of the Lib Dem FOCUS to advertise the dates of meetings and to report back on issues raised. It has now been agreed that the PACT meetings will move around the ward and be held in different venues so that hopefully more residents will be able to attend.
I now receive a regular invitation to attend meetings of Kidderminster Disabled Club. I answer the members' questions, give information and find out what their concerns and worries are. They tell me that they enjoy the meetings and are pleased that their views are being heard.
I also join in with a group of residents that hold regular Community Litter Picks around Spennells. The idea for this was first put forward at a PACT meeting when residents expressed concerns about litter and the way that it could help make an area look run down. The Street Scene section from Wyre Forest District Council are very helpful and provide us with Litter pickers, strong gloves and black bags to do the job and we have collected up to 10 bags of litter and general fly-tipping each time we go out. We are now hoping to involve more residents in these activities by taking action to re invigorate the Aggborough and Spennells Community Action Group.
Lack of community spirit was also identified at a PACT meeting and this is another reason that I am working with local residents to start organising things like fun days which could involve the whole community and encourage that community spirit.
Aggborough and Spennells has one of the largest youth populations of the area and I am involved in meeting with various youth groups to explore the opportunity of providing more activities in the area.
Noise pollution problems are still ongoing for residents who live at the end of Wilden Lane and I continue to liaise with residents and the Environmental Health and the Legal Department of Wyre Forest District Council. I have also been involved in carrying out a residents' petition asking for action on speeding on Wilden Lane and Worcester Road. This petition has gone to the police and was presented to the County Council Cabinet Member when he visited the area to see the problem for himself.
Both residents and I campaigned for urgently needed tree maintenance on the trees on Aggborough Crescent. We were successful with this initiative and the work was much needed as the trees were causing damage to the roads, pavements and residents property.
Case work is still very important and I continue to deal with a wide range of ward issues throughout the year including – much needed road and pavement repairs, parking issues, litter, dog fouling, anti social behaviour problems, housing issues and many many more.
Working with Councillor Peter Dyke, I continue to inform residents about what is happening in the area, provide information and list our contact details through the monthly newsletter of the Liberal Democrat FOCUS.
Both Councillor Peter Dyke and I have tried surgeries in our area but they were poorly attended as residents prefer to contact us by phone or email. We also visit them in their own homes if they wish us to. We find these ways of communicating work very well for us.
Section 2: Council Meetings
Community and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee – Chairman
Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee
Ethics and Standards Committee
Budget Review Panel
I have also served on assorted Review Panels convened throughout the year to scrutinise various important issues in more depth.
Charter Trustees of Kidderminster
Member of the Corporate Parenting Group representing Wyre Forest at County Hall, this group meets monthly.
LEA Governor on Comberton Middle School
Nightstop.
Also the following: Transformation Board, Council, Domestic Waste Collection & Recycling Review Panel, Group Leaders, Kidderminster Educational Foundation, Local Development Framework Core Strategy Review Panel, Regulatory Services Review Panel and Treasury Management Review Panel.
Through my Paid Employment, I am a member of the Town Centre Partnership, Chairman of Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership, Vice-Chairman of the Safer Communities Board and Chairman of the PPO Strategic Board.
Section 3: Achievements
Many are included within the activities above but I enjoy getting involved with and visiting local groups and organisations. It is important that their members feel able to ask questions about what I do as a local Councillor and what role the Council plays in their area and their lives.
Section 4: Special Knowledge
-
Section 5: Attendance Percentage for 2009/10
93%.
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