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Notes:
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2010/11
Ward Activities this year, including outside bodies:
My name is Douglas Godwin and I have had the honour of representing Rock Ward on Wyre Forest District Council for the last three years. Over the past twelve months, I have also been an active member of the Rock Parish Council, which I have been on for the past seven years, this helps to keep me informed about local matters.
My principal employment is as a Solicitor in commercial practice but this also gives me a better understanding of the legal implications of the actions of the Council and rights that our communities enjoy. I travel around the Ward every weekend and visit numerous constituents either to deal with particular problems or just to say, “Hello I am here, can I help?” I have also attended Parish Council meetings in Bayton on matters of concern to both parishes.
Every month I write a article for the local magazine, Rock and District News, here I report on my activities during the past month and keep residents up to date with Council business in and around Wyre Forest, along with national points of interest and reports from the County Council.
I try to attend as many social events as my work will allow which including Rock Church services and village fetes, shows, pantomime, horticultural shows and art shows etc.
Luckily I have a supportive family, which means we attend such functions together and I believe this demonstrates that I genuinely am interested in the Ward and my family care about the people living there and what is happening to the community as a whole. My family and I attend the annual Remembrance service and other church services and events held at the five churches within my Ward including the St Georges Day Service for the Scouts and funeral services for residents of the Ward (work permitting). I visit those I know are in the more isolated places, or have special needs.
I have regular contact with the Scout and Guides and other groups within the community. I provide advice via telephone, e-mail and letters on matters including; planning, highways and rights of way, environmental concerns including drainage and sewer problems, farming and agricultural problems, waste disposal and fly tipping, recycling and refuse collection, health problems and access to services at District and County level, dealing with abandoned cars, police and security issues, some matters are referred to County Council, the Housing Association, NHS Trusts, or Central Government Departments or our MP.
Highlights:
I sit on the following; Council, Ethics & Standards, Kidderminster Educational Foundation, Local Development Framework Core Strategy Review Panel, Planning. These committee's take up a lot of time in the evening reading agendas. Planning sometimes involves site meeting to look at a specific problem. I have difficulty in attending these in the week, but often look at the site at the weekend, or in the evening on the way home from work.
Most committee meetings are in the evening and I attend them after work. The Planning Committee is often very time consuming but is one of the District Council's most important functions.
I have also attended meetings on the proposed Energy from Waste Plant (Incinerator) that may be built at Hartlebury. Meetings on developments in the Ward and District concerning the better use of energy and the potential for small-scale power generation. I was very pleased that we are to have the first small scale wind turbine power plant in the District and hope to see more of these in the near future.
I am very glad that the Bliss Gate Playing Field Charity project is up and running with a new management committee. A continuous battle with Severn Trent Water over a particular unpleasant sewage plant over flow in Sugars Lane Far Forest. Dealing with the removal of fly tipping and tyres that are dumped on the roadside and abandoned cars. Obtaining replacement grit bins for those damaged in the past and new bins within the Ward. I have been working with the Council's officers on several planning enforcement matters. Having road drainage repairs done and maintenance of culverts and repair to blocked roadside drains after years of asking!
Special Knowledge:
I am a property solicitor and practice in Bridgnorth and so have a wide experience in planning matters. Born in Mamble and brought up in the ward, I have a vast knowledge of my area and its residents and an understanding of rural way of life particularly from a farming perspective. I come from a local farming family so residents know I know what I am talking about and can relate to their concerns both on a business and personal level. My training as a lawyer means I have an insight into the many aspects of the law, which results in me being able to advise my constituents on various problems, which may not be Council related, boundary disputes or matrimonial matters for example.
I have served on the Rock Parish Council for seven years, three as the Chairman and a School Governor for seven years for a primary school in Kidderminster. I have also been active with the Church's in Mamble and Rock. (I helped have the bells of Mamble church refurbished). I maintain contacts with our MP, Mark Garnier and with neighbouring MP's Harriet Badwin (West Worcestershire) and Billy Wiggin (Leominster). The residents of this Ward know I care about our Ward and it's communities and that I have every intention to continue to do so.
Attendance Percentage for 2010/11
70%
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