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Notes:
WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2008/09
COUNCILLOR: Helen Dyke
WARD: Aggborough & Spennells
Activities
As usual it has been another busy year in the Aggborough and Spennells Ward.
I have attended the Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings which take place every 3 months. I work with residents and other panel members to find solutions and remedies for all the issues raised at the meetings. Concerns raised at these meetings include anti-social behaviour problems, litter and planning issues.
I also attend the Tenants Consultative Meetings (TCC) throughout the year.
During the year, I am invited to meet with members of the “Over 55” club which takes place in Spennells Community Centre on a regular basis. They raise issues with me about the area and general concerns and I do my best to answer and if I can't help them on the day I go back to them with the information as soon as possible. It is a very lively club and both Councillor Peter Dyke and I enjoy going there. In recognition of this we have donated a sum from our Councillors Community Grant to help enable the club to continue in this positive way.
Recently I have also attended meetings of the Kidderminster Disabled Club. I was invited to talk about my role as a Councillor and after my talk I answered questions about the District Council and how it works, its budget and any other issues that were raised.
I was also invited to meet with Spennells Brownies last year. They had carried out an Environmental Audit around the area and had divided their findings into separate reports, what was good, what was bad and what should be done about the bad things. As one of their issues was about Litter and Litter Bins I asked if a representative of Street Scene could attend one of their meetings and they agreed to do so. I think it was very important to show that we took the work of the Brownies seriously.
The Brownies were also planning long lasting environmental improvements in the area and I was able to put them in touch with Paul Allen and the Ranger Service who advised them about a site where they could plant some new trees in the Nature Reserve. I was able to help them with funding for this project from our Community Grant.
I am now working with local residents who are organising a Community Litter Pick in the ward and I am helping by organising the supply of black bags and litter pickers from Street Scene for them.
Wyre Forest Community Housing has been successful in obtaining some Lottery Funding to carry out some work in the wooded area behind the houses on Worcester Road in my ward. The company is holding a consultation session in May to which local residents, Tenant Consultative Committee (TCC) Members and ward Councillors have been invited so that every one can give their views about how the money could be spent to its best advantage.
I continue to work with residents of the houses at the end of Wilden Lane who are still suffering noise problems from a local engineering firm. We have held meetings with residents who are understandably getting very frustrated about how long the whole process takes.
As Group Leader I attend regular meetings with Chief Inspector Jim Baker at Kidderminster Police Station to discuss any police issues that are raised with me by local residents.
There are still planning issues associated with the Easter Park Development and I am liaising with residents on a regular basis about their concerns.
Work continues on the refurbishment of the Scout Hut on Hoo Road and Councillor Peter Dyke and myself have allocated more funds from out Community Grant for this project.
Case Work is very important to me and I deal with a wide range of ward issues throughout the year including - road and pavement repairs, parking issues, anti-social behaviour problems, housing issues and many many more.
Working with Councillor Peter Dyke I continue to inform residents of what is happening in the area, provide information and list our contact details through monthly editions of the Liberal Democrat FOCUS.
Council Activities
Community Services Scrutiny Committee - Chairman
Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee
Ethics and Standards Committee
I also served on assorted Review Panels convened throughout the year to scrutinise various important issues.
Community Housing where I am a member of Wyre Forest Sheltered Housing Board, Vice-Chair of Wyre Forest Community Housing Board and a member of the Resources Committee. I also attend training sessions organised by the company, Housing Conferences and have to go through a detailed and comprehensive appraisal process every year. Please find attached my training and attendance record with the company.
Charter Trustees of Kidderminster
Member of the Corporate Parenting Group representing Wyre Forest at County Hall, this group meets monthly.
Membership of Other Organisations
Founder Trustee of Kidderminster War Memorial Conservation Trust
Community Governor of Heronswood Primary School
Panel Member for the Youth Offending Team
Children's and Young Persons Theme Group which is a sub group of the local strategic Partnership.
Community Group Forum
Through my paid employment I am a member of the Town Centre Partnership, lead person on the Town Centre Community Safety Group and Chairperson of Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership.
Achievements During the Year
Many are included in the activities above but getting involved with, and visiting, local group and organisations has been a very enjoyable part of the year. 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 areas.
Members' Surgeries
Both Councillor Peter Dyke and I have tried surgeries within the ward but find that residents prefer to contact us by phone, letter or email. We also visit residents in their own homes if they prefer and find that all these different ways of communicating work well.
Training and Development
Chairmanship 20/05/2008
Scrutiny 21/05/2008
LSP ' Learning to Deliver' Workshop 30/06/2008
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