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Notes:
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2010/11
Ward Activities this year, including outside bodies:
Most Councillors, myself included, are elected under a political banner and part of our role is overtly political. One particular issue during the course of the past municipal year, the construction of new council offices, highlights this point. One of the definitions of “politics” which I quote most often is “the authoritative allocation of resources”. What better description could there be for the long debates and eventual decision on this issue in the period from November 2010 to February 2011, committing such a large capital sum to one project? I use this example not to re-open the debate, but to account for much of the time devoted to my council work during these months. To build a case built on strong evidence that had a Planning as well as a budgetary focus was time consuming, involving research and numerous Labour Group meetings in addition to those of the council. And, although I led on the Planning aspect, the time I spent on the issue was considerably less than fellow Labour councillors!
“Politics” is also about the making of policy. The Scrutiny process adopted by Wyre Forest District Council allows all Councillors to make a contribution, albeit sometimes only modest, particularly when there are a number of Councils and/or a range of other agencies involved. Nevertheless, through my membership of the main Community and Regeneration Scrutiny committee in 2010-11, I was part of the decision-making process on many subjects, for example, numerous reports on Housing and Environmental Sustainability. The time need to assimilate facts before the meetings of this committee was considerable. At one recent meeting, there was an appendix of 280 pages to read for one agenda item and one of 80 pages for another.
Arguably, the best opportunities for a Councillor to create policies are through membership of working parties. In 2010-11, I served on several, namely those concerned with the Local Development Framework, the Corporate Plan, Stourport Facilities and the Sports and Leisure Centres review. All but the Corporate Plan work continues into 2011-12.
Of course, the role of a Councillor must include involvement in the local community. For a full thirty years, the Labour Party has kept the residents of Areley Kings informed of local issues through its four issues per year of the “Rose” newsletter, of which I am editor. I do not hold surgeries, but my contact details feature in every Rose. I believe this to be an effective means of communication, because I always have a caseload of local issues brought to my attention by residents phoning, emailing, or stopping me in the street; (my photograph is featured in the Rose!).
Problems addressed during 2010-11 included housing accommodation, environmental and anti social behaviour matters.
Within Areley Kings ward, I have continued to be a member of the PACT (Partners and Communities Together) committee and usually have undertaken to deal with one of the three priorities identified at a particular meeting. I served on the Walshes Community Partnership board and on the governing body of St Bartholomew's Primary School, where I chaired its Achievement and Standards committee. I attended Walshes Tenants Committee meetings and continued as a trustee of Areley Kings Village Hall. I look forward to continuing in these community roles in 2011-12.
Attendance Percentage for 2010/11
96% (subject to the Sports & Leisure Centre Review Panel meeting to be held on 17th May 2011).
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