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Notes:
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2012/13
Attendance at Council/Committee and Sub-Committee meetings
Name of Committee No. of meetings held during the year No. of meetings attended
Cabinet 9 * 2
Council 6 6
Kidderminster Education Foundation 2 2
Members Forum 7 5
Overview & Scrutiny 13 ** 5
This represents an overall attendance of 91% of committees appointed to.
Number of meetings attended as a substitute:
2
(Overview & Scrutiny - 1
(Planning - 1)
* Substituted by Councillor Anne Hingley after attending 2 meetings.
** Replaced Councillor Paul Harrison after 8 meetings had been held.
Community Involvement
I am a member of the Partners and Communities Together (PACT) panel for Bewdley along with representatives of the Police, County Council, Town Council, Community Housing Group and the local churches. The PACT panel tries to work on issues brought to it by residents by way of PACT meetings, surgeries and via the post card scheme at various locations in Bewdley.
I assist the committee that organises the Christmas Festival in Bewdley and give physical help on the day of the event in terms of erecting stalls and disassembling them after the event as well as marshalling crowds for the ‘switching on' of the lights.
I am the District Council's representative to the board of Bewdley Development Trust (BDT). The officers of BDT hold regular meetings with officers of the Council in any case, however my attendance at those board meetings have been useful in informing my view of its wider activities. BDT has been heavily involved in the redevelopment of St George's Hall, a project which the District Council has supported by way of financial assistance. Along with most residents of the town, I look forward to the completion of this project.
I am also a member of Bewdley Round Table which raises money at local events such as the Carnival and Christmas Festival as well as it's “Santa” collections at Christmas. This money is then donated to local causes that make applications to us. Although it is Bewdley by name, in reality it covers all of Wyre Forest since the folding of Kidderminster and Stourport Round Tables. Recent examples of our donations include a contribution towards the refurbishment of Wribbenhall Parish Room, picnic benches for Springfield Park and a hot water urn for the Elizabeth Mills Centre.
Cllr Greener and I act as Presiding Officers for the annual election of the committee of Pound Green Village Hall every April. One of us also tries to attend the meetings of Upper Arley Parish Council each month to keep aware of issues in the parish.
I am also a Member of Bewdley Town Council which is responsible for maintaining a number of small but important functions in the town such as benches, life belts, the lengthsman scheme, the town clock, Christmas lights and other items. It is also stakeholder for consultations for projects in the town such as the possible Medical Centre redevelopment and the recent footpath refurbishments. It is often the ‘first port of call' when several residents in the community want to highlight an issue. It also has representatives that attend the meetings of other organisations in the town such as the Civic Society, Twinning Association, PACT, Museum management and BDT.
Assisting Constituents
I have assisted residents with many forms of issues including planning, environmental concerns, council tax, litter, anti-social behaviour, transport, refuse collection and much more. I do not hold surgeries as those that have been held in the past have not been taken up by the public. However I am contactable by phone, email and letter and I always respond. I am also regularly in or around Bewdley Town Centre and often speak with residents about issues then. If residents want to meet me in person to discuss issues I am always happy to go and meet them.
Supplementary Information
It is an honour to serve as a District Councillor for Bewdley & Arley and as a Town Councillor for Bewdley's East Ward. Both roles I take very seriously and do my best to serve my residents on top of my full time employment and other commitments.
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