Councillor Information
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Notes:
WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
Annual report and review 2022/2023
Name of Member: Councillor Marcus Hart
Ward: Wyre Forest Rural
Section 1: Attendance at Council, Committee and Sub-Committee meetings
Name of Committee No. of meetings held during the year No. of meetings attended
Council 5 5
Ethics & Standards 1 1
Members Forum 3 3
Overview & Scrutiny 7 7
Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee 1 1
Planning 8 8
Strategic Review Panel 3 3
The calendar of meetings is agreed at the beginning of each municipal year. Occasionally the need arises for additional meetings to be arranged at short notice which not all Members are able to attend due to previous commitments. The table shows only the meetings in the agreed municipal calendar: additional meetings are ignored.
This represents an overall attendance of 100%
Other attendance Number
Period of Extended Absence, (e.g. Maternity leave/Sick leave):
-
Number of meetings attended as a substitute:
-
Section 2: Mandatory Training Completed
Training Activity Date attended
Planning ** 16/08/2022
Emergency Planning & Business Continuity 28/02/2023
* Desirable for returning members as a refresher
** Required to sit on the Committee
Other training Number of modules completed
Core e-learning
0
Additional e-learning
0
Cyber security training
3
Section 3: Community Involvement
I am a Trustee of Kidderminster Special Educational Benefits Trust, Trustee of Kidderminster District Scout Council, Trustee of Kidderminster Harriers Football in the Community Trust, Member of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council, Member of Worcestershire County Council, Member of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority and Non-Executive Director of Worcestershire Children's First. I am heavily involved in the community that I represent, regularly ‘on the patch' meeting residents, looking at issues, attending events and attending all 6 Parish Councils.
Section 4: Assisting Constituents
It has been another busy year in my role as an elected member, and in relative terms ‘back to normal' after 2 years disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. I have responded to all queries raised to me by constituents either by telephone call, letter or email and indeed have face to face meetings again now and have also convened residents meetings on various issues.
I respond to literally dozens of letters/emails relating to casework issues within the ward on a weekly basis.
Litter and fly tipping have been constant issues throughout the year. Planning Enforcement issues in all six parishes are very much a huge part of my post bag and liaison between residents', parish councils and the planning enforcement officers is a big part of my role.
The Local Plan and protecting the green belt has also been an issue raised by many local residents, notwithstanding it was approved by Full Council just prior to the start of this municipal year.
Localism issues within the ward, i.e. Blakedown Car Park and parking issues at Brown Westhead Park, are issues we have also been involved in.
I also deliver a regular newsletter to all households within the ward together with my two ward colleagues throughout the year. We deliver at least 3 editions per year. I also put regular posts on Facebook and share to the residents' groups too.
In addition to the regular newsletter, there are often issues which affect a particular street or area and I always communicate regarding those issues as well.
Section 5: Supplementary Information
This is now my eighth report that I am writing as a Councillor for the ‘new' Wyre Forest Rural Ward. Since I wrote my last report, I continue to work very closely with my ward colleagues Cllrs. Ian Hardiman and Lisa Jones. Lisa is stepping down and I thank her for her last 4 years of service and support.
From 2002 to 2015 I represented the Sutton Park Ward which was an urban ward. The new ward, made up essentially of the previous wards of Wolverley, Cookley, Chaddesley and Blakedown is geographically, by far the largest ward and whilst being in a three member ward, the number of electors is approximately a third larger than the previous ward, in line with all other three member Council wards.
The ward is a lot more rural and whilst there are urban parts to it, the rural nature of the ward makes this a different and more interesting challenge. In particular, there are no less than six parish councils, Broome, Chaddesley Corbett, Churchill and Blakedown, Rushock, Stone and Wolverley and Cookley of which I and my colleagues continue to attend regularly on a rota basis, providing them with regular reports and updates and I believe that liaising with the parish councils and their councillors is essential to maintain community ties in particular in the rural areas.
We attend community events and residents meetings as often as we are able and when we are invited.
Finally, I have now completed 21 years continuous service to WFDC and the electorate.
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Marcus
Hart
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